System Builder Marathon, December 2010: $500 PC

[Onus]

For reasons given, the PSU is perfectly adequate for the system, even overclocked, or with a 125W CPU. SLI is not an option on the chosen mobo. Whether or not Crossfire at 16x,4x is a good idea is rather moot, because by then you're way out of the budget segment this machine targets. I think this machine demonstrates quite well that it is NOT necessary to spend lots of money to get a perfectly competent gamer.
I almost bought a[nother] Phenom II X3 740BE when they were discounted to only $68 recently, but such deals can't be counted on for these SBM machines.

 

[Guest]

How much would be the gain, in the CPU-bottlenecked games and resolutions, for using an Athlon II X4 processor instead?

 

[Onus]

Just for grins, I tweaked this build for current prices, and came up with this. I made the wishlist public, called "Tweaked SBM500" for those interested:

MSI 870-G45 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
Model #:870-G45
Item #:N82E16813130290
$69.99 -$15.00 Instant $54.99
Although I have become somewhat of a fan of ASRock, I didn't see a loss of quality going to this version of the 770; same solid caps and ferrite chokes, but a little cheaper.

AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX450WFGMBOX
Model #:ADX450WFGMBOX
Item #:N82E16819103886
$79.00 $79.00
Time has given us a little speed bump, but that's it.

Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ...
Model #:996586
Item #:N82E16820146748
$41.99 $41.99
Same RAM.

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3320418AS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Model #:ST3320418AS
Item #:N82E16822148469
$44.99 $44.99
With the disappointing results from the F4, I thought I'd use this instead.

SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support - OEM
Model #:SH-S223L
Item #:N82E16827151188
$17.99 $17.99
This burner supports Lightscribe.

EVGA 01G-P3-1366-TR GeForce GTX 460 SE (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Model #:01G-P3-1366-TR
Item #:N82E16814130591
$199.99 -$40.00 Instant $159.99
Price drops put this 1GB version of the GTX460 within reach. I believe there's a MIR on it too.

Rosewill R218-P-BK Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Model #:R218-P-BK
Item #:N82E16811147073
$39.99 -$15.00 Instant $24.99
I didn't see the value of the NSK case over this cheap Rosewill. I've used this case, and the rear fan is quiet but does a decent job. I did just use a similar VSK case, and was sorely disappointed.

[strike]SeaSonic SS-500ET Bronze 500W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - OEM
Model #:SS-500ET Bronze
Item #:N82E16817151080
$59.99 -$4.00 Instant $55.99[/strike]
Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Model #:NEO ECO 520C
Item #:N82E16817371030
$69.99 -$15.00 Instant $54.99

Updated due to availability. The 500W Neo Eco offers a pair of PCIE power connectors and a little more capacity, in case YOUR tweaks to this build call for a GTX580 and/or 125W X4 CPU.

Rosewill RCX-ZAIO-92 92mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
Model #:RCX-ZAIO-92
Item #:N82E16835200056
$19.99 $19.99
Same cooler. Seems adequate, and hard to argue with the price.

Subtotal: $498.92
This just shows how much things can change on prices. More tweaks are always possible; some may want more or bigger drives, or care more about the CPU and will take a weaker GPU.

 

[lunyone]

Now this system is close to what I was suggesting for quite some time. I do agree that other GPU's would possibly be better, but at the time of the build they went with what was available (which seems to always be before new technology is released). I would've probably picked an item or 2 different, but this is about what I would get (CPU, PSU, Case, & Mobo). The GPU and Memory I might've bought differently, but that is my preference. This build shows you that you don't need to spend $1k - $2k on a system to have a decent gaming machine on a budget (which was started by Tom's several years back.).
The Case/PSU combo, that Antec puts together, is a nice one for the $ (when on sale, of coarse). When the PSU/Case combo falls into the ~$100 range, than there are other options to consider. I've built at least 2 builds, based on this same PSU/Case combo (maybe a bit older now) but they both came with Antec's 380w PSU with the same Antec case design. I like the build quality and ease of entry (2 thumbscrews and your in). I would prefer to have the PSU at the bottom and also an option for a 120mm intake fan on the front, but besides that, the Case/PSU combo is pretty good.

 

[tom thumb]

But to answer you're question, I guess a 700W? or a reeeealy beefy 600W.

There goes the usual overestimation of power usage. Did you not read the 570/580 articles? You can easily get by with a quality 500W psu for this build if you were to replace the 460 with a 580 - if you have the right power connectors.

 

[edhalsim]

So if you move to a Phenom chip with L3 cache, which would would give you the most bang for the buck for gaming? Phenom II X3 BE 720/740 (can you even buy one of these)? Phenom II X2 560/555 BE? Or do you have to go all the way up to the Phenom X4 955/960?

 

[bourgeoisdude]

...EVGA 01G-P3-1366-TR GeForce GTX 460 SE (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Model #:01G-P3-1366-TR
Item #:N82E16814130591
$199.99 -$40.00 Instant $159.99
Price drops put this 1GB version of the GTX460 within reach. I believe there's a MIR on it too...

I thought the SE versions were the slower of 460 series? Other than that, looks like a solid build.

 

[Onus]

@edhalsim, the only chip of those I wouldn't buy is the X2; if it doesn't unlock, you'd be rather hosed. The X3 is no longer available on Newegg, but may be elsewhere. Even if that one doesn't unlock (mine did!), you've still got three cores AND an unlocked multiplier AND the L3.
@bourgeoisdude, I'd hope the added buss width (256 vs. 192) makes it worthwhile, but I did miss that one, including the loss of some cores. Fortunately, with free shipping and if you play the rebate game and win, there are a few non-SE versions available that also come to $159 (but you need that rebate to get it, otherwise it is $20 more).

 

[triculious]

On topic: this build is looking very solid. Seeing how the other 2 were more experimental than improvements over we-know-it-works builds this one might take the medal for this quarter's marathon.

Out of topic:
[citation][nom]Crashman[/nom]So you think there's going to be a replacement platform for the $2000 PC in January? That's not going to happen for a while. Or are you suggesting the next $2000 PC should be downgraded to P67?[/citation]
Probably not for the 2k build, but I think it might make an interesting 1k game field. Probably for the budget one as well (not sure on that, though).

 

[caamsa]

Why didn't you get the X3 455.......................?

 

[RADIO_ACTIVE]

If they would have waited a weeeeee bit longer they would have better options for a sub $500 build with the price drops of the 460 and teh release of the 6950. O well though great little build.

 

[gidgiddonihah]

If you had the 1GB version of the GTX 460 wouldn't that remove the Crysis failure in 1080p?

 

[RADIO_ACTIVE]

[citation][nom]gidgiddonihah[/nom]If you had the 1GB version of the GTX 460 wouldn't that remove the Crysis failure in 1080p?[/citation]
It would defenately help

 

[gidgiddonihah]

What they need to do is compare this one to the 1000$ and the 2000$ build.

 

[pinkfloydminnesota]

I don't understand why you don't include microcomputer's deals which have been going on for what, a year? You have to buy at store but ... so what? Why is the standard all world shipping?

 

[pinkfloydminnesota]

sorry, microcenter

 

[pinkfloydminnesota]

it's a great build, but how about the best value build you can make? this may be close, but is it $500, $600 or $782? An ATI 5850/AMD 460 1 GB with a Althon 645 and a nice set of cheap $50 memory ... you come close here but what is the sweet spot for performance in gaming computers and yes, I think you throw in the extra $30 for a BluRay reader. Certainly that offers more value than a CPU cooler and a few extra MHz of performance.

Where is the sweet spot?

 

[youssef 2010]

I think this is the best $500 build ever. for the people in Egypt, this is the most common budget for a gaming PC. $1000 is very rare and $2000 PCs are a dream that can't be reached for 99% of the gamers here (not that anybody has a 30" monitor at their disposal)

 

[Onus]

What they need to do is compare this one to the 1000$ and the 2000$ build.

They're going to. I fully expect this one to win in the final value analysis.

 

[husker]

[citation][nom]Quote[/nom]As we’ve stated many times in the past, core unlocking is based on luck of the draw, and shouldn’t be assumed when it comes time to buy. If you really need that fourth core, spring for the X4 model. In our SBM series, we're batting just a 50% success rate with AMD’s Athlon II.[/citation]
Then why include it in an article of this nature? The numbers for September's build are hard to compare to this month because you "got lucky" then, but not now. The stronger performance (for some benchmarks) that the September PC had over December's was not based on any rational, informed, or experienced decision making. It was based on pure dumb luck. Maybe it would be more informative to treat any unlocked cores the same way as you treat overclocking, that is, as an optional bonus rather than a baseline for comparison.

 

[egowhip69]

I like the build... looks like a pretty good lil system. I'd probably go with a cheaper Video card and beef the CPU to a true quad. (After all, not all of them unlock) But that's just due to my usage type.

I think something that needs to be highlighted is that while this build is decent, the additional "bang" that can be had for dumping another ~$100 on top is enormous.

More into photo editing and the like? That extra $100 can take you to 8 gigs of memory and a much better CPU. More a Gamer? That same cash can take the CPU to almost the best AMD quad core and give you a 6850 to boot. More an all around user? Upgrade the motherboard to one with usb 3 on it, with a bigger case for more storage drives, etc.

That final $100 can take a decent little box and change it into an amazingly powerful one for the money.

You did mention a bit of that in the conclusion... but it would be interesting if you could throw up a benchmark to show. I'm sure you have an Phenom II quad knocking around... and maybe that 6850 too. Slam them in for laughs and show what that upgrade would give you.

 

[jerreece]

[citation][nom]gidgiddonihah[/nom]What they need to do is compare this one to the 1000$ and the 2000$ build.[/citation]

They will in the next article. That's how they do these articles.

 

[dark_lord69]

My recent build is similar:
Phenom II X4 955 Black @ 3.6 Ghz
SAME MOTHERBOARD
OCZ 8-8-8-24 1600MHz DDR3 4GB (2 X 2GB)
Sapphire HD 4870
Antec 300 Case
PC Power and Cooling 610 Watt
(Basic hard drives and DVD burner)

So my build is very similar but the video card isn't as powerful. I just can't bring myself to spend a lot on a video card since they loose value so quickly. The other components will be fine still when I upgrade to a new video card in the future. But my next upgrade will actually be a Solid State Hard Drive then a new video card.

 

[gidgiddonihah]

[citation][nom]jerreece[/nom]They will in the next article. That's how they do these articles.[/citation]


Cool . I'll be waiting in anticipation .

I'm building a similar rig (So im waiting to see how it compares to the 2000$ :lol: ):

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
Cooler Master Elite 430 Case
MSI GTX 460 Cyclone 1GB
AMD Athlon II x3 445
MSI 870-G45 Motherboard
4GB G. Skill DDR3 1600 RAM
Corsiar Builder Series 500 Watt
Kingston 64 GB SSD
1TB HDD (2 Old Drives)

 

[accolite]

I would of separate the case and PSU and get a ANTEC 300 case even if it adds 50 over the budget.