$500-600 First build ever

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kodern

Distinguished
Jun 8, 2011
29
0
18,530
Approximate Purchase Date: 2-3 weeks after vacation


Budget Range: $500-600


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, watching movies


Parts Not Required: mouse and keyboard


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: AMD CPU


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe


Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050

Additional Comments: A decent pc that can run Battlefield 3

MSI 870S-G46 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130590

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

MSI R6850 Cyclone PE Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127576

I need help on everything else I'm new to building a computer still learning so any help is appreciated. There's probably better parts than the above that's why I'm asking for help.
 
Nice job! I think I meant $537. I must have missed something that was $25 though......
EDIT: It is $512. I added 3 cases to my cart somehow! Lol! That should fix both of your concerns.....

I'm tired, don't blame me for missing that.
 


The mobo in your amd config is 16x by 4x. I am suggesting you a completely different view than what others have been saying. Let me know what you think.
CPU:AMD Sempron 140 Sargas 2.7GHz 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 45W Single-Core Processor 38$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103698
Mobo:ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard 90$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198
And get that 6850 gpu for 170$
PSU:XFX P1-650X-CAH9 650W 90$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207007
Case: I am sure you will find a great one or others could suggest something for around 50$
Total:450$
OS+monitor: Your choice to spend 250$
Ok, so here is the thing. Yes, I know, a SINGLE core cpu will surely severely bottleneck a 6850. But, this combination will still give you more performance than any onbaord graphics or if you used the on-die graphics of i3. Also, what i am saying, dont save on the gpu now. You are getting an 8x by 8x crossfire motherboard. Get the 6850. Its much much better than 5770 and scales much better in crossfire too. Yes, you will have to get a phenom2 when you would want to play BF. This 40$ will go to waste, but its better off spending 40$ and getting 6850x2 in the future than 5770x2. Also, you are getting a future proof psu and money to buy a much better case. And well, maybe, for around 120$, you might be able to buy a 6-core phenom II instead of a 955x4. BF series is known for using 6 cores in BFBC2. BF3 will surely do so too. I dont think it would be too bad to spen 130$ on a hexa core cpu. And then down the road, you could add that second 6850 too. Gl. hf.
 
Lol, A different perspective is right.........
With a single core, He's going to have serious issues even using word! It's a novel concept though....


Also, the i5-2400 is superior to ALL amd processors out right now, even the Phenom II X6's.

With the new 7000 series from AMD on the way, he could grab a new GPU or wait for the price drops in the future. I know the 7k series is a while away, but it's worth considering.
 
Ok my new build, since the phenomIIx4 seems to be not enough cpu power.

Grand Total:* $661.96 Its a bit over budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121390R
$116.99 ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/768MD5 GeForce GTX 460

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371044
$64.99 Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
$89.99 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.668119
$389.99 Core i5-2400/H67/4GB/1TB SuperCombo

There is a hec HP485D 485W ATX power supply with the bundle, but i have my doubts it's any good.

 
^ Don't risk on open boxes, you'll regret it. And if you get an H67 motherboard you can't use SLI in the future. SLI only is supported by 2 PCI 16x 2.0 slots running at 8x/8x H67 only sports PCI slots running 16x/4x which is CF compatible but not SLI compatible. With SLI, you need to get P67 or Z68.

i5 2400 + Z68 Gigabyte MB: $295
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.654392
4GB Ram Mushkin 41$: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226092&cm_re=4gb_ddr3-_-20-226-092-_-Product
Seagate 500GB SATA III $40: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701&cm_re=500gb_seagate-_-22-148-701-_-Product
Total: $376
 
I know its not the best board, but to build a sandybridge i5-2400 system with os and card and decent power supply for that price, you have to make some compromises.
Its not a sli board, its a crossfire board. The second slot is only 4x and covers the plugs on the board, its not even a good crossfire board. Its a ok board for a single card.

Open box is a gamble, but its a better gamble than a mail in and pray rebate. The only other choice for that price is a 6770 with a mail in rebate or a 5770.

 
Let us not confuse the issue with sli/cf. This is a BUDGET build for a single monitor.

Don't pay more up front with planning for sli/cf. No need for extra power psu's, multiple pci-e motherboards and bigger cases.
A single graphics card of some type will run most games well at 1080P resolution.
An upgrade from something like a GTX560ti or thereabouts will be fine.
If an upgrade is ever needed, change out the current card for the next best thing.

A 2100 or 2120 is fine, particularly for a budget build.
No need to pay more for a marginal increase in clock speed when the base cpu is so good.
If you find a good combo fine, but be careful about chasing them.
It is no bargain if you do not get exactly the parts you want.
 
Well I used the suggestions that people gave and since I'm really trying to keep within budget I had to sacrifice a few things but here it is:

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

ASRock P67 PRO3 SE LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157249

Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795

ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Total: ~$481
 
So I'm back now after 2 months of no reply I need to redo my list. I didn't have the time to build during summer so hopefully I can do it now. Here's my revised list with other peoples suggestions:

COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128519

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100314VXSR Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102925

Total: $707.78

Any critique is welcome and my goal is to lower it to around $600.