Helping a mate build a rig

[jerdvproductions]

Approximate Purchase Date: ~ October 10th.
Budget Range: $575USD ($600AUD, I'm based in Australia).
Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Case, DVD Drive, HDD, OS.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: http://www.centrecom.com.au/ OR http://msy.com.au/Parts/PARTS.pdf
Country of Origin: Australia.
Primary Use: Gaming! Battlefield; Bad Company 2, World of Warcraft, other FPS games, should they arise.
Parts Preferences: Asus by brand, Intel CPU, any reliable GPU brand, Corsair RAM.
Overclocking: Maybe.
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe ~ 2 months after purchasing.
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 @ 60Hz, Asus VE246H dual monitors.
Additional Comments: I'm posting this to get a gauge on how overpriced http://centrecom.com.au/ is for the most part, but also to see if it's possible to get a PC to run BFBC2 at around ~ 50FPS for the aforementioned price.

I also FRAPS A LOT, so if being able to FRAPS means spending an additional ~ $100, I'll probably do it.

This PC is not for -me-, but I'm building it on someone else' behalf, as they cannot afford to go 'all out' and build a beastly rig just yet.

So far I've come up with the following; I know it's over my budget, but I seriously can't think of any other options if I want to reach my goal, other than waiting another month for more funds.

CPU: this @ $229.00AUD ($219.5423 USD).
MOBO: this @ $118.80AUD ($113.89356 USD).
RAM: this (x2) @ $257.40AUD ($246.76938 USD) OR this @ $209AUD ($200.3683 USD) (in conjunction with this @ $247AUD ($236.7989 USD).
GPU: this @ $224.40AUD ($215.13228 USD).
PSU: this @ $89.10AUD ($85.42017 USD).

Total(s) :: $918.60 AUD or $998.50 AUD(if I chose the secondary RAM & Mobo) ($880.66182 USD or $957.26195 USD).

For RAM, I'd prefer a triple kit @ 7-7-7-20, assuming it's going to be possible to find a Triple Channel MOBO & ~ 4-6GB of DDR3 (7-7-7-20) RAM.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mosox]

Some guys in here know more about what's the best 460 to get so wait for more replies. I now the ATI stuff better.

Found this:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/geforce-gtx-460-roundup-gf104,review-31981.html

 

[mosox]

Stay away from that PSU.

 

[jerdvproductions]

Stay away from that PSU.

Ima' just get the Corsair VX450, regardless of which site I buy from.

What are your thoughts on http://msy.com.au/Parts/PARTS.pdf thus far?

 

[mosox]

What are your thoughts on http://msy.com.au/Parts/PARTS.pdf thus far?

I would like to shot the guy who made that page AND dance on his grave.

 

[jerdvproductions]

I would like to shot the guy who made that page AND dance on his grave.

HAHAHAHA.

 

[jerdvproductions]

______________________________________________________

The following @ http://msy.com.au/Parts/PARTS.pdf
______________________________________________________

CPU: AM3 x4 Phemon 955 @ $159.
MOBO: Asus M4A87TD-USB3 @110.
GPU: 1G GTX460 Asus @ $262.
RAM: 4G Kitddr3 1333 Kingston @ $98.
PSU: Corsair VX450 @ $85.

Total of $715.00 AUD.
______________________________________________________

The following @ http://www.centrecom.com.au/
______________________________________________________

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 3.20GHz 8MB Cache (AM3) - Black Edition @ $169.00
MOBO: Asus M4A87TD-USB3 AMD Mainboard - 4x DDR3 / 6x Sata Raid / Gigabit Lan / AM3 @ $110.00
GPU: Gigabyte NVIDIA N460OC-1GI GTX460, 1GB, GDDR5, PCIE 2.0, DX11, 2DVI, HDMI @ $264.00
RAM: Corsair DDR3 4GB PC-10600/1333 (2x XMS3 2GB) TW3X4G1333C9DHX Ram @ $128.
PSU: Corsair CX-400 400W ATX Power Supply @ $63.80

Total of $735.50 AUD.
______________________________________________________

Which should I buy? The only thing I'm willing to change is GPU, assuming I can find one cheaper, that will still allow me to run WoW, BFBC2, BFBC2: Vietnam and MoH @ 1920x1080 - 60Hz.

 

[mosox]

Well, the first site is cheaper and you get a bigger PSU. Team and G.Skill are also good RAM. From what I know BFBC2 is pretty demanding on full HD so you can't get a cheaper GPU.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/290316-15-5770-worth

 

[jerdvproductions]

Check this out. They reckon the VX450 won't do the job if I were to OC the Phemon x4 955 to ~4.0GHz, would you be inclined to agree? Or are they retarded?

 

[jerdvproductions]

Also, what have your experiences with ATi cards been like? Mine have all died, really skeptical about buying an ATi card unless you can bet your left nut that it won't screw up on me. ><

 

[mosox]

I had a ton of cards both Nvidia and ATI, now I have two ATI, both very good, a 5750 and a 5850. Get Nvidia if you like them more. The VX 450 will power your rig no matter how you OC it.

 

[jerdvproductions]

I think I'll just get the 1GB Gigabyte GTX 460, and buy a second one later, and SLi em'. I don't mind that I'll have to upgrade other things, such as MOBO and maybe even PSU, cause funds won't be anywhere as much of an issue at that stage.

For the time being, I just want to get a stable PC to run BFBC2 and WoW on ultra settings, without feeling like I'm watching a scratched DVD.

 

[jerdvproductions]

______________________________________________________

http://msy.com.au/Parts/PARTS.pdf
______________________________________________________

CPU: AM3 x4 Phemon 955 @ $159.
MOBO: Asus M4A87TD-USB3 @110.
GPU: 1G GTX460 Asus @ $262.
RAM: 4G Kit DDR3 G.Skill-Ripjaws 1333MHz @ $105.
PSU: Corsair VX450 @ $85.

Total of $721.00 AUD.
______________________________________________________

http://www.centrecom.com.au/
______________________________________________________

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 3.20GHz 8MB Cache (AM3) - Black Edition @ $169.00
MOBO: Asus M4A87TD-USB3 AMD Mainboard - 4x DDR3 / 6x Sata Raid / Gigabit Lan / AM3 @ $110.00
GPU: Gigabyte NVIDIA N460OC-1GI GTX460, 1GB, GDDR5, PCIE 2.0, DX11, 2DVI, HDMI @ $264.00
RAM: Corsair DDR3 4GB PC-10600/1333 (2x XMS3 2GB) TW3X4G1333C9DHX Ram @ $128.
PSU: Corsair VX-450 450W ATX Power Supply @ $88.

Total of $757.50 AUD.
______________________________________________________

The final builds.

I'm leaning toward the MSY side of things. It's cheaper, closer to home, and I've purchased 5 24"+ LCD monitors, 2 cases, 3 optical drives and 2 GPUs from them in the past - so far, so good.

Thanks for all the help, really appreciate it. I'll PM you if I have anymore questions, you seem to enjoy helpin' bruthas out. 😛

Final question - is there a non 'Black Edition' Phenom II X4 955?, I don't want to get fooled by MSYs' laziness with regards to hardware descriptions on their website. If so, will the non-Black Edition CPU have a lesser potential in any (if not all) aspect(s)?

 

[mosox]

OK, glad I could help, MSY sounds good. How much is a big bad crocodile in there, I want to get a pet for my mother-in-law.

 

[jerdvproductions]

Best answer selected by jerdvproductions.

 

[jerdvproductions]

OK, glad I could help, MSY sounds good. How much is a big bad crocodile in there, I want to get a pet for my mother-in-law.

LMFAO. Good question man, I'm from New Zealand, so I wouldn't know. You have no idea how much I *** myself when I go to the country, though - Kangaroos, snakes, crocodiles ... you name it.

About a week ago I was at this cafe in a junction near the edge of town, this GIANT ASS cockatoo landed on my shoulder and shared my french fries with me .. I freaked, cause it came from behind. ><