Overclock.net › Forums › AMD › AMD - General › Build Recommendation
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Build Recommendation

post #1 of 9
2/10/12 at 7:22am
Thread Starter 
Hey everyone! I've been out of the game for quite a long time now and don't know anything about new component tech. Found other hobbies, life, job, etc. My rig is showing its age in newer games now, and I need recommendations for a refresh. I don't play a whole lot of PC games anymore, and I plan on staying with my 19" monitor. The main games I'm concerned with are Mass Effect 3 and TF2.

I just updated my sig, so the specs are accurate.

Looking at spending $200 or below.

Would I be better off getting a new video card, or getting one of the new cheap AMD quad cores and open box mobo? I've looked at intel stuff, and it seems like I'd be lucky to get a CPU, mobo, and memory for under $400...

Thanks for your help!
Mercury 7
(15 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 2600k (Thanks Microcenter!) ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 PNY/Evga 560 Ti SLi @950/1900/4600 Corsair Vengeance Newegg Exclusive (red)  
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingOS
320Gb Western Digital Samsung  SilenX EFZ-92HA3 Windows 7 x64 
MonitorKeyboardPowerCase
Asus VS247H-P 24-Inch LED Rosewill RK-8100 Corsair 750TX MYOPENPC DOMA Pro PCI 
MouseMouse PadAudio
CoolerMaster Spawn Razer Mass Effect 3 N7 Creative X-Fi Titanium / Razer Carcharias 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Mercury 7
(15 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 2600k (Thanks Microcenter!) ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 PNY/Evga 560 Ti SLi @950/1900/4600 Corsair Vengeance Newegg Exclusive (red)  
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingOS
320Gb Western Digital Samsung  SilenX EFZ-92HA3 Windows 7 x64 
MonitorKeyboardPowerCase
Asus VS247H-P 24-Inch LED Rosewill RK-8100 Corsair 750TX MYOPENPC DOMA Pro PCI 
MouseMouse PadAudio
CoolerMaster Spawn Razer Mass Effect 3 N7 Creative X-Fi Titanium / Razer Carcharias 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #2 of 9
2/10/12 at 7:46am
I have three Items on your computer that need updating.

1. The RAM, you can get 8 gigs of RAM for under $50 bucks! it will boost your performance greatly.

2./3. CPU, and a new Motherboard. I recommend a AM3+, because 1155 socket, and 2011 won't last 2 years, AM3+ will, I would wait a couple months for the new PCI express 3.0 to come out, then good ATX come cheaper, Asus ,makes a seriously high end, low price Motherboard. Its the EVO, if you want higher overclocking the saber tooth is coming down in price, wait for a sale and snatch it up for cheap! No matter what you do though, it will hit about $300, also, a cooler-master EVO air cooler ($30) can overclock you CPU to over 4.6 Ghz! that's fast enough for at least a couple years, and by then AMD will have faster and newer processors out too!

Waiting, and sales will bring these prices down though, good luck hunting! hope I could help!
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 9
2/10/12 at 8:24am
You'd be able to get a fine Intel build for your budget.


Motherboard + CPU + Memory ($200)

- i3 2120 ($120)
- 1155 low-end H61 motherboard ($55) Can't think of a good one off the top of my head
- 4GB 1600MHz RAM ($25)


Motherboard + CPU + Memory ($390)

- i5 2500k ($220)
- ASRock Extreme3 Z68 1155 ($125)
- 8gb 1600MHz RAM ($45)


Those builds will outperform any equally-priced AMD alternative.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jacobwt226 View Post

I have three Items on your computer that need updating.
1. The RAM, you can get 8 gigs of RAM for under $50 bucks! it will boost your performance greatly.
2./3. CPU, and a new Motherboard. I recommend a AM3+, because 1155 socket, and 2011 won't last 2 years, AM3+ will, I would wait a couple months for the new PCI express 3.0 to come out, then good ATX come cheaper, Asus ,makes a seriously high end, low price Motherboard. Its the EVO, if you want higher overclocking the saber tooth is coming down in price, wait for a sale and snatch it up for cheap! No matter what you do though, it will hit about $300, also, a cooler-master EVO air cooler ($30) can overclock you CPU to over 4.6 Ghz! that's fast enough for at least a couple years, and by then AMD will have faster and newer processors out too!
Waiting, and sales will bring these prices down though, good luck hunting! hope I could help!

An 1155 socket will last a long time (in PC terms, anyway). Sandy bridge CPU's are fantastic, and Ivy bridge CPU's will be even better. New boards (like the one I posted in the $390 build) are PCIe 3.0 - ready. And if you go with a Bulldozer and overclock it to 4.6, you still won't be Intel. You will, however, succeed in consuming huge amounts of power to feed that overclock.
Edited by jackofhearts495 - 2/10/12 at 8:27am
Skynet
(15 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Intel i5 2500K ASRock Extreme Gen3 P67 XFX Radeon HD 6950 2gb 16GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHz 
Hard DriveHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
Corsair Force GT 120gb Samsung 200gb 7200RPM SATA II ASUS 24X CD DVD RW XSPC Rasa RS240 with Primochill Tubing 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Sceptre 21.5" 1080p Microsoft Sidewinder x4 Raidmax RX-850AE 850 Watt GOLD Modular 
CaseMouseAudio
Cooler Master 690II Advanced Logitech MX-315 Logitech Z-623 200 Watt 2.1 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Skynet
(15 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Intel i5 2500K ASRock Extreme Gen3 P67 XFX Radeon HD 6950 2gb 16GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHz 
Hard DriveHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
Corsair Force GT 120gb Samsung 200gb 7200RPM SATA II ASUS 24X CD DVD RW XSPC Rasa RS240 with Primochill Tubing 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Sceptre 21.5" 1080p Microsoft Sidewinder x4 Raidmax RX-850AE 850 Watt GOLD Modular 
CaseMouseAudio
Cooler Master 690II Advanced Logitech MX-315 Logitech Z-623 200 Watt 2.1 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #4 of 9
2/10/12 at 4:28pm
What res is your 19 inch monitor? CF 5750 is still fine in most games 900p and below.

RAM, Mobo, and CPU would be where I'd look. You'll have to get DDR3 if you get a new motherboard. If you can find a Phenom II X4 for under $100 those are a good deal. Newegg had the 925 OEM for 94 (on sale down to 80) but now it is out of stock. I think NCIX also has a good AM3+board/phenom ii x6 combo for ~200 but that doesn't include ram. RAM is really cheap now though you can get 4gb ddr3 for 20 bucks.
i7
(14 items)
 
AMD
(10 items)
  		 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 2600k ASUS P8Z68-V Pro Sapphire 5770 2x2 + 2x4 Gskill 1600 
Hard DriveHard DriveCoolingOS
Crucial m4 64gb ssd Samsung F3 1tb Corsair H80 Windows 7 x64 
MonitorKeyboardPowerCase
Gateway FHX2402L LED-LCD 24in 1080p Logitech K120 Corsair TX 850W NZXT Phantom White 
Mouse
Rude Fierce Gaming Mouse 
View all
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
AMD Phenom II X3 740 Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3 Sapphire 5770 Vapor-X 2x2 Mushkin Silverline DDR3 1333 
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingMonitor
WD Black 1tb ASUS DVD-RW Coolermaster Hyper N-520 Acer S231HLbid Black 23" 5ms LED 1080p 
PowerCase
Coolermaster 450 GX 80+ Bronze Antec 300 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
i7
(14 items)
 
AMD
(10 items)
  		 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 2600k ASUS P8Z68-V Pro Sapphire 5770 2x2 + 2x4 Gskill 1600 
Hard DriveHard DriveCoolingOS
Crucial m4 64gb ssd Samsung F3 1tb Corsair H80 Windows 7 x64 
MonitorKeyboardPowerCase
Gateway FHX2402L LED-LCD 24in 1080p Logitech K120 Corsair TX 850W NZXT Phantom White 
Mouse
Rude Fierce Gaming Mouse 
View all
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
AMD Phenom II X3 740 Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3 Sapphire 5770 Vapor-X 2x2 Mushkin Silverline DDR3 1333 
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingMonitor
WD Black 1tb ASUS DVD-RW Coolermaster Hyper N-520 Acer S231HLbid Black 23" 5ms LED 1080p 
PowerCase
Coolermaster 450 GX 80+ Bronze Antec 300 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #5 of 9
2/11/12 at 8:31am
ya i pretty much agree with what everyone has said so far with amd you can get a cheaper system that will be up gradable for a longer time, but intel by far has the ability to be a much faster more powerful system.. its decision time.. i would go to newegg.com and look at the DIY PC combos. i found these three. i love newegg.com

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.752639

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.789240

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.793675
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 9
2/11/12 at 8:45am
i just can't think of anything that would be a fantastic upgrade within a budget of $200 or less
wait a min..
motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138332 ($55)
RAM http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-Extreme-MV-3V4G3D-US/dp/B00592002W ($55)
so..$90 left for cpu..http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116397
Yes..it would be snappier than your current system
but..i'd save a wee bit more..and get a true quad-core setup+better videocard
At least you have a good psu biggrin.gif

on the AMD side..
it'd be about $250 for what i'd have in mind..
zosma +$60 refurb OCing board +samsung RAM
Zosma Powah!
(14 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
AMD Phenom II X4-6 960T Zosma M4a89GTD-Pro XFX Radeon HD 5870 8gb Samsung ddr3 1600 11-11-11-28@ 8-8-8-24 
Hard DriveHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
OCZ Agility2 40gb WD Blue 500GB Lite-On RASA waterblock 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows & Linux Samsung 1080p 2 ms Dell Thermaltake TR2-800 
CaseMouse
Cooler Master Elite 330 (was) cheap 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Zosma Powah!
(14 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
AMD Phenom II X4-6 960T Zosma M4a89GTD-Pro XFX Radeon HD 5870 8gb Samsung ddr3 1600 11-11-11-28@ 8-8-8-24 
Hard DriveHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
OCZ Agility2 40gb WD Blue 500GB Lite-On RASA waterblock 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows & Linux Samsung 1080p 2 ms Dell Thermaltake TR2-800 
CaseMouse
Cooler Master Elite 330 (was) cheap 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #7 of 9
2/11/12 at 8:54am
+1 for the pentium build. Someone with some sense.
Skynet
(15 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Intel i5 2500K ASRock Extreme Gen3 P67 XFX Radeon HD 6950 2gb 16GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHz 
Hard DriveHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
Corsair Force GT 120gb Samsung 200gb 7200RPM SATA II ASUS 24X CD DVD RW XSPC Rasa RS240 with Primochill Tubing 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Sceptre 21.5" 1080p Microsoft Sidewinder x4 Raidmax RX-850AE 850 Watt GOLD Modular 
CaseMouseAudio
Cooler Master 690II Advanced Logitech MX-315 Logitech Z-623 200 Watt 2.1 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Skynet
(15 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Intel i5 2500K ASRock Extreme Gen3 P67 XFX Radeon HD 6950 2gb 16GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHz 
Hard DriveHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
Corsair Force GT 120gb Samsung 200gb 7200RPM SATA II ASUS 24X CD DVD RW XSPC Rasa RS240 with Primochill Tubing 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Sceptre 21.5" 1080p Microsoft Sidewinder x4 Raidmax RX-850AE 850 Watt GOLD Modular 
CaseMouseAudio
Cooler Master 690II Advanced Logitech MX-315 Logitech Z-623 200 Watt 2.1 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #8 of 9
2/11/12 at 12:26pm

Phenom II x6 1055T + ASUS M5A97 - $200 shipped

Just throwing this out there

Quote:
Originally Posted by bobnoho View Post

ya i pretty much agree with what everyone has said so far with amd you can get a cheaper system that will be up gradable for a longer time, but intel by far has the ability to be a much faster more powerful system.. its decision time.. i would go to newegg.com and look at the DIY PC combos. i found these three. i love newegg.com
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.752639
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.789240
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.793675

You do realize that if you buy a supercombo like this, the last thing you are going to get is a good system for price.  These are ripoffs... individual parts selections often (well, nearly always) allow you better quality parts for the same or lower price.

 

Here's one to beat the A6 combo, but with an A8 APU for the same price:

 

Promo code WALNUT [Superbiiz] - $15 off
Promo code NEWCUSTOMER10 with new account order [Newegg] - $10 off

 

A6 Supercombo cost: $368 + $19 shipping = $387 shipped, $377 after rbate

My combo cost: $374 shipped

 

I beat the after-rebate price of the supercombo by $3 while offering the following advantages:

  • Better A8 APU with 3Ghz quad core over 2.7Ghz and HD 6550D graphics over 6530D
  • Motherboard that is actually ready for OC (VRM cooling)
  • 33% larger HDD (2TB vs 1.5TB)
  • Equivalent case and PSU quality
  • Keyboard, mouse, speakers (not included with other combo)


(If NEWCUSTOMER10 doesn't work as I'm not sure, then swap the HDD for this one (1.5TB size, $8 less) if your budget is strict and you're still getting a better PC for less than the after rebate price of the supercombo)

 

I think I've very well proven my point.


Edited by xd_1771 - 2/11/12 at 12:58pm
Hexagonal (Cost ~ 1000)
(15 items)
 
New Traveller
(10 items)
 
Pocket Traveller
(13 items)
 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
AMD Phenom II x6 1055T [4GHz, 300x13.5, 1.4V] Gigabyte GA-990XA-UD3 AM3+ [Northbridge OC at 3... Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5850 Xtreme 8GB [4x2GB] G.Skill ECO DDR3 [1600 6-8-6-20-24-1T] 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveCooling
80GB Intel X25M SSD WD 1TB Caviar Black (WD1001FALS) WD 1TB Caviar Black (WD1002FAEX) Noctua NH-D14 
CoolingMonitorPowerCase
Scythe GT-15 Gentle Typhoon 1500RPM fans (2x, o... LG E2411T 24" 1920x1080 LED monitor [x2] Corsair HX520 Modular PSU [520W] Antec 1200 gaming case 
MouseAudioAudio
Gigabyte GM-M6900 precision gaming mouse ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Headphone Amp Audio Technica ATH-M30FS 
View all
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
ARM Cortex A9 [1Ghz] Amlogic AML8726-M Mali Adreno MP-400 512MB RAM 
Hard DriveHard DriveOSMonitor
8GB included memory storage 32GB class 10 MicroSDHC card Android 4.0.3 "Ice Cream Sandwich" (CyanogenMod 9) 8" 1280x768 capacitive TFT 5-point multi capaci... 
PowerCase
Battery Ainol Novo 8 Advanced  
View all
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
ARM Cortex A8 [1 GHz] Motorola Milestone A853 PowerVR SGX530 256MB RAM 
Hard DriveHard DriveOSMonitor
133MB included phone storage 16GB Micro SDHC card Android 4.0.4 "Ice Cream Sandwich" (CyanogenMod 9) 3.7" 854x480 Capacitive Multi Touch Screen 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Slide-out QWERTY Keyboard Battery Motorola Milestone and plastic exterior case D-Pad on slide-out tray 
Other
Camera - 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, d... 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Hexagonal (Cost ~ 1000)
(15 items)
 
New Traveller
(10 items)
 
Pocket Traveller
(13 items)
 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
AMD Phenom II x6 1055T [4GHz, 300x13.5, 1.4V] Gigabyte GA-990XA-UD3 AM3+ [Northbridge OC at 3... Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5850 Xtreme 8GB [4x2GB] G.Skill ECO DDR3 [1600 6-8-6-20-24-1T] 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveCooling
80GB Intel X25M SSD WD 1TB Caviar Black (WD1001FALS) WD 1TB Caviar Black (WD1002FAEX) Noctua NH-D14 
CoolingMonitorPowerCase
Scythe GT-15 Gentle Typhoon 1500RPM fans (2x, o... LG E2411T 24" 1920x1080 LED monitor [x2] Corsair HX520 Modular PSU [520W] Antec 1200 gaming case 
MouseAudioAudio
Gigabyte GM-M6900 precision gaming mouse ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Headphone Amp Audio Technica ATH-M30FS 
View all
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
ARM Cortex A9 [1Ghz] Amlogic AML8726-M Mali Adreno MP-400 512MB RAM 
Hard DriveHard DriveOSMonitor
8GB included memory storage 32GB class 10 MicroSDHC card Android 4.0.3 "Ice Cream Sandwich" (CyanogenMod 9) 8" 1280x768 capacitive TFT 5-point multi capaci... 
PowerCase
Battery Ainol Novo 8 Advanced  
View all
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
ARM Cortex A8 [1 GHz] Motorola Milestone A853 PowerVR SGX530 256MB RAM 
Hard DriveHard DriveOSMonitor
133MB included phone storage 16GB Micro SDHC card Android 4.0.4 "Ice Cream Sandwich" (CyanogenMod 9) 3.7" 854x480 Capacitive Multi Touch Screen 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Slide-out QWERTY Keyboard Battery Motorola Milestone and plastic exterior case D-Pad on slide-out tray 
Other
Camera - 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, d... 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #9 of 9
2/11/12 at 5:37pm
  • Joined: Feb 2012
  • Location: Canada
  • Posts: 161
  • Rep: 6 (Unique: 5)
  • Folding Team Rank: 2,779
  •  
    Name Team Rank Points / May Work Units / May
    JQuantum 2,779 111,782 / 0 62 / 0
     
  • Select All Posts By This User
Quote:
Originally Posted by xd_1771 View Post

Phenom II x6 1055T + ASUS M5A97 - $200 shipped
Just throwing this out there
You do realize that if you buy a supercombo like this, the last thing you are going to get is a good system for price.  These are ripoffs... individual parts selections often (well, nearly always) allow you better quality parts for the same or lower price.

Here's one to beat the A6 combo, but with an A8 APU for the same price:
Promo code WALNUT [Superbiiz] - $15 off

Promo code NEWCUSTOMER10 with new account order [Newegg] - $10 off

A6 Supercombo cost: $368 + $19 shipping = $387 shipped, $377 after rbate
My combo cost: $374 shipped

I beat the after-rebate price of the supercombo by $3 while offering the following advantages:
  • Better A8 APU with 3Ghz quad core over 2.7Ghz and HD 6550D graphics over 6530D
  • Motherboard that is actually ready for OC (VRM cooling)
  • 33% larger HDD (2TB vs 1.5TB)
  • Equivalent case and PSU quality
  • Keyboard, mouse, speakers (not included with other combo)


(If NEWCUSTOMER10 doesn't work as I'm not sure, then swap the HDD for this one
(1.5TB size, $8 less) if your budget is strict and you're still getting a better PC for less than the after rebate price of the supercombo)

I think I've very well proven my point.

Since he has a HDD already couldn't he just omit the HDD? Also, his case and power supply might work with it soo... he probably wouldn't need that case/psu/keyboard/mouse combo either well it's 38 bucks and he can always reuse his current psu. Save at least the hdd 110 wink.gif


BTW OP do you have the 560Ti or the 5750? I see that it's the 560Ti right now but I swear it said 5750 before.


back to the 1055T he needs to grab some new ram but on that note I've seen those 1090/1055T combos go much cheaper previously.
Edited by JQuantum - 2/11/12 at 5:41pm
{ }
(23 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsGraphics
i7-2700k Asus P8Z68 Deluxe Visiontek HD6970 Visiontek HD6970 
RAMHard DriveHard DriveHard Drive
Mushkin Blackline OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS OCZ Vertex 3 Seagate Barracuda LP 
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingCooling
WD20EARS LG BH08LS20 Koolance CPU-370 EK-FC6970 v2 
CoolingCoolingOSOS
Koolance RP-98 magicool extreme dual 180mm Windows 7 Professional Fedora 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Ubuntu Asus VH238 Logitech G510 OCZ ZX Series 1000W 
CaseMouseAudio
NZXT Phantom Saitek RAT-7 Corsair Vengeance 1500 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
{ }
(23 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsGraphics
i7-2700k Asus P8Z68 Deluxe Visiontek HD6970 Visiontek HD6970 
RAMHard DriveHard DriveHard Drive
Mushkin Blackline OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS OCZ Vertex 3 Seagate Barracuda LP 
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingCooling
WD20EARS LG BH08LS20 Koolance CPU-370 EK-FC6970 v2 
CoolingCoolingOSOS
Koolance RP-98 magicool extreme dual 180mm Windows 7 Professional Fedora 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Ubuntu Asus VH238 Logitech G510 OCZ ZX Series 1000W 
CaseMouseAudio
NZXT Phantom Saitek RAT-7 Corsair Vengeance 1500 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: AMD - General
Overclock.net › Forums › AMD › AMD - General › Build Recommendation