<$800 gaming build

[jbaldachino]

So I struck out to build a gaming PC <$800

I will be resuing a full tower, 22" inch montior 1680x1050, keyboard, mouse, speakers.

I would like very quiet PC. I chose the barracuda, CPU cooler, and PSU all for their relative performance/value/sound levels.

How loud is the GPU I have here?

Everything priced on newegg.com. Check Amazon and TigerDirect, but didn't see anything better priced.

8 gb of memory may be a bit high, but I have 4 DDR2 slots to fill on the Mobo and want more than 4gb.

Here's what I have:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 940 3.0ghz

Motherboard: Biostar TA790 GXB AM2+ (no SLI or Crossfire) 4 DDR2 slots up to 1066

CPU + MB - $202

GPU: eVGA GeForce GTX 260 Superclocked

Memory: 8 GBs DDR2 1066 OCZ Reaper HPC

GPU + 4gb Memory: $202
Additional 4gb Memory: $44.99


Cooler: Coolmaster Hyper tx2

$19.99

PSU: 700 watt OCZ ModXStream Pro 80 Plus certified

$70.99

DVD-RW: LG DVD Burner

$25.99

Wireless Card: ENCORE ENLWI-N PCI 2.3 Wireless Adapter - Retail

$24.99

OS: Windows Vista Home Premium w/ free upgrade to 7

$100

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1 tb

$87.99

Total cost pre-mail-ins: 879.51
Total cost after mail-ins: 779.51

What do you think? Biggest weakpoint IMO is the motherboard...but that's a major $$$ saver (Bundled with the CPU, only costs me $10).

 

[hunter315]

Please edit your post into the format shown here
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice
It gives us alot more information to work with to suggest parts. Also please link the parts you are thinking about so we can find cheaper versions of a similar part.

 

[xaira]

forget the baracuda, get the wd or thew samsung
unless you plan some pretty extreme overclocks, get a cheaper quad
i hope vista is x64 or ull be missing 5gb of ram
u wont use 8gb, might i suggest 4gb in dc

 

[jbaldachino]

Why the advice against the barracuda? It doesn't seem any pricier, good reviews, low sound levels?

Is there a reliability issue?

 

[hunter315]

The WD Caviar Black is a bit more expensive but is also one of the faster drives out there today
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284
And for gaming you have no need for 8 GB of RAM, you wont see a benefit above 4GB of ram.

 

[jbaldachino]

Any thoughts on the motherboard? That is my chief concern.

Would I be better off with a slower CPU better motherboard? If so why?

Thanks for your help.

 

[ragsters]

I recently build a computer for a friend with that motherboard. It is actually a pretty good motherboard. The onboard graphics is not bad and is HDCP. According to Newegg you are actually paying $20.00 for it not $10.00 although still definitely worth it.

 

[goony20]

I'd look at a mobo that supports am3 and crossfire like the gigabyte ud4p

 

[xaira]

i meant, a 720,810,920 would give you more room to spend on graphics, you might buy a cheaper quad and get a gtx275

 

[10sion]

I have this motherboard/processor setup and I can't get my GTX285 to work with it for the life of me.. and i've been researching it forever. Be careful if you go with this motherboard-