AMD Pheom II X4 955.....

[jlmorgan01]

I have done some research and I think I would like to go with a Pheom IIx4 (unless you talk me out of it, I like AMD). The primary things I need the computer for are gaming and Computer Science classes that I will be starting in the fall. Here is what I am thinking of building, let me know what you think (budget is negotiable but keep under 2k)

Proc: AMD Phenom II X4 955
Mobo: (suggestions please)
Ram: Corsair or Kingston at least 4GB thinking of going 8GB (DDR3 is a must)
HD: 1TB (gotta love space)
Video: ATI 4870X2 (expensive, I know) or a Crossfire setup (suggestions on cards plz)
Drives: DVD Burner (and maybe a Blue-Ray)
Monitors: 2 23" (minimum)
Case: (Don't really care, something that works but doesn't have to look great)
Power: 600W+

Now here is the kicker, my current computer is an AMD Atholon 64 3000+ with Nvidia 6800GT, I know I could use almost nothing out of it at all, unless I am mistaken, because it is an AGP video card.

 

[hunter315]

When are you planning on buying the parts and from where? If you are going to crossfire i suggest one of the 790gx boards or if you are willing to pay a premium for 16x/16x crossfire a 790fx board as there is currently very few 790X boards available.

 

[jlmorgan01]

I will have to have it ready in the next month or so, as far as where I will get them, thinking newegg, unless you know of a cheaper place.

 

[mindless728]

Proc: Phenom II 955
Cooler: Sunbeam 92mm Core-Contact Freezer
Mobo: ASUS M4A79T Deluxe
Ram: G.Skill 4GB(2x2GB) DDR3-1600
HD: Western Digital Black 1TB
Video: 2 x Radeon HD4870X2
Drive: Samsung DVD Burner
Monitors: 2 x ASUS VH242H 23.6" 1080p monitor
Case: Antec 300
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-850TX

all from newegg under 2k

EDIT: forgot cooler

 

[hunter315]

nope just making sure you werent in canada or europe. Are the two monitors included in the budget? If you have ~1500 to spend on the computer itself you can get an i7 which will out perform a Phenom build.

Depending on the stock of the 955s there may be some good combos with ASUS motherboards. With your budget i would suggest comboing it with the M4A79T Deluxe board when it gets back it stock. Like this combo

AMD 955/Asus 790Fx $320
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.212581

 

[mindless728]

^+1
i agree on the i7 build in this price range, he had the Phenom listed so thats what i went for

 

[jlmorgan01]

^+1
i agree on the i7 build in this price range, he had the Phenom listed so thats what i went for

Well I am not against an i7, and the budget is flexable. I mean I have more to spend.... but I'm not sure how much I want to spend.

 

[jbakerlent]

Save some money by sticking with AMD, the 4870x2 will already give you outstanding gaming performance.

 

[mindless728]

well the rig in my first post is just bumping the 2k limit with a lot of GPU horsepower

 

[jbakerlent]

Yes I like mindless' build, and you could combo the GPU with this RAM:
RAM+GPU

Like Hunter said, if the 955 wasn't sold out, you would see a combo with the motherboard as well.

 

[mindless728]

Yes I like mindless' build, and you could combo the GPU with this RAM:
RAM+GPU

Like Hunter said, if the 955 wasn't sold out, you would see a combo with the motherboard as well.

your combo is not so good, the phenom II's don't use triple channel memory (and you would have an extra stick lying around or no dual channel)

 

[mindless728]

also when i do builds i don't look into combos since you never know how long it is going to be there

 

[shortstuff_mt]

your combo is not so good, the phenom II's don't use triple channel memory (and you would have an extra stick lying around or no dual channel)

+1

I'm not sure why Newegg's putting RAM designed for the Intel i7 CPU's in combo's with AMD CPU's.

 

[jbakerlent]

Whoa my bad, guess I overlooked that, doh

 

[mindless728]

@shortstuff_mt it was with a GPU and we were talking about phenom II builds, though if he went i7, it would be a good combo

 

[shortstuff_mt]

@shortstuff_mt it was with a GPU and we were talking about phenom II builds, though if he went i7, it would be a good combo

I know, but I've seen 6GB kits in combos with AMD CPU's on Newegg before. Here's an example:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.207084

It sure throws the noobs for a loop.

 

[mindless728]

I know, but I've seen 6GB kits in combos with AMD CPU's on Newegg before. Here's an example:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.207084

It sure throws the noobs for a loop.

lulz, i never noticed that doing builds for people, though i suppose it might be cheaper to do that and pick another single stick up than not having the combo and buying 2 sets of 2

 

[xaira]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128378 board

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227324 ram x2

wd caviar black 1tb

corsair 750 watt

u can get either the 4870x2 or 2 4890s

 

[jlmorgan01]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4897114&csid=ITD&body=MAIN#detailspecs

Found this combo with the 955 at Tiger Direct, what do you think of it?

 

[redgarl]

nope just making sure you werent in canada or europe. Are the two monitors included in the budget? If you have ~1500 to spend on the computer itself you can get an i7 which will out perform a Phenom build.

Depending on the stock of the 955s there may be some good combos with ASUS motherboards. With your budget i would suggest comboing it with the M4A79T Deluxe board when it gets back it stock. Like this combo

AMD 955/Asus 790Fx $320
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.212581

An i7 build? He will needs to keep his 4870X2 to see a marginal difference...

Seriously, money for money, an i7 build don't give much better results than a Phenom II platform.

Also, for single card configuration, a Phenom II is way enough.

 

[alberthynek]

very similar build to the one im getting in a few weeks

the phenom 955 is a great processor especially in terms of value

the 4870x2 is an amazing card but you could also get 2 4890s for better performance for a little less price. im also not sure about which one of those to get tho so il be watching this thread

in terms of motherboard i would highly reccomend the MSI 790fx GD70
its a great mobo with amazing overclocking for the 955 and supports up to four cards in crossfirex. it also has 9 sata ports, an esata, and dual lan. and its cheaper than the m4a79t but has better performance and overclocking and features

unfortunately right now the 955 is out of stock at newegg damn it i would order it now bu i cant

as for psu i would suggest corsair's 850tx

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009&Tpk=850tx

its a great psu tho its not modular

ram id actually say get 8gb of OCZ PLATINUM ddr3 1600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227297

two of those

i hope this helps

 

[jlmorgan01]

I was looking around for the processor since NewEgg didn't have it and i found it on zipzoomfly (no idea if they are any good for other stuff) for 199.00

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010385

But this is what I am looking at now for the build to start(all from NewEgg except the proc):

Case: NZXT Beta Series CS-NT-BETA-B
Mobo: MSI 790FX-GD70
Proc: AMD HDZ955FBGIBOX Phenom II x4
RAM: 2x OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB)
Power: NZXT PS-NT-PP600-R 600W
HD: Western Digital Black 1TB
Video: MSI R4890-T2D1G OC Radeon HD 4890 1GB (Only 1 but might add another later)


All that stacks up to about 1k, under the budget I asked for I know, but I don't have to meet it. But if you see any problems with this let me know please.

 

[yoyojam55]

The only problem I see with your build is your power supply. With your kind of budget, I would get one of, if not the best PSU ever made, the Antec Signature.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371018
If you would prefer something a bit cheaper, but still high quality and will be able to powe CF 4890s, get the Corsair 750tx.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750tx