CPU deal and video card

[bharat617]

Hey guys

How is this deal?? NewEgg

The mobo using DDR2 instead of DDR3 good or bad ??

Also looking for a video card around 50 bucks that will be SLI'ed or Cross Fired in the future. Any suggestions??

Thanks

 

[Proximon]

It's a good choice for a tight budget. Biostar is not one of the top brands, but it's not complete junk either.

The CPU does not use DDR3. It does not have a DDR3 controller built in, only DDR2. So, it HAS to go on a DDR2 board.

50 bucks is not a lot for a video card.

4670
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102820

4650
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102820

 

[bharat617]

I checked closely and saw that the mobo does not have an optical out which I'd like so that I can connect to my receiver.

I picked the CPU and mobo separately and it came to the same price. How is this (better or worse than that combo?)

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

This CPU was on a combo deal a few days ago but I delayed purchase and its gone now 🙁

Now I have to pick DDR3 ram for this mobo.

 

[Proximon]

Both boards have only one PCI-E slot. The Biostar has onboard graphics and uses DDR2, the Gigabyte 770T does not have onboard graphics and uses DDR3.

There will be no difference in speed between the two options, except in programs and games that use 4 cores. In those cases, the 940 will be better.

If you get the 720+770T, you will also need DDR3 RAM, which will cost about $10 more.

 

[Proximon]

Here is the AM2+ version of the 770:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376

 

[bharat617]

I checked closely and saw that the mobo does not have an optical out which I'd like so that I can connect to my receiver.

I picked the CPU and mobo separately and it came to the same price. How is this (better or worse than that combo?)

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

This CPU was on a combo deal a few days ago but I delayed purchase and its gone now 🙁

Now I have to pick DDR3 ram for this mobo.

But Phenom II X3 needs AM3 right?

 

[Proximon]

No It's very confusing I know. All current AM3 CPUs have BOTH the DDR3 and DDR2 memory controllers. The X3 720, X4 945, and X4 955 will all work in AM3 or AM2+ boards.

920, 940: DDR2 only

720, 810, 945, 955: DDR2 OR DDR3

 

[bharat617]

Actually found another combo at newegg for the Phenom II X4 and a motherboard with optical out and graphics chipset

I also have this graphics card in my build, SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

its says GDDR3 ... not sure if that means the mobo shd be DDR3 as well, will it work with the above combo?

Thanks

 

[Proximon]

ECS would not be a brand I would recommend.

Video RAM does not need to match system RAM, so the card is fine. I'm glad you decided to spend a bit more there 😉

Really, my problem with most low-end motherboards is the chance of getting a bad one. The lower down the list you go, the greater the chance of getting a bad board that doesn't work or has some part that doesn't work right.

Any board can be defective, but your chance of getting a bad one probably increases 5 or 10% with some brand like ECS.

 

[bharat617]

OK, then no ECS. I'll keep that in mind.

Looks like I have everything figured out but a CPU/mobo combination. Since I don't have any urgency to buy this, do you think I should just wait until NewEgg comes up with the good combo?


G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 ... - Retail

SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L - OEM

My criteria are these
1.Cheaper the better.
2.Used mostly for gaming, not much multitasking.
3 Should be upgrade friendly, crossfire ready.
4. Easy to install, I am doing this for the very first time!!

Thanks for your help.

 

[Proximon]

Yep wait until the big changes in July. Newegg always changes everything up the first few days of the month