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~$350 First Build AMD

1261 Views 41 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  gerikoh, 
tykenfitz
This PC will be used for daily web/email/stuff and L4D, HL2, and a couple other games. Do you think the specs are good enough? L4D lags to the point that it's unplayable on my current laptop.

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147099
mATX w/ 420W PSU

MOBO:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186151
AM2/AM2+ mATX

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103254
AMD Phenom AM2+ Triple Core 2.1GHz

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162026
Galaxy Geforce 8400 256MB

HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136149
WD 500GB 16MB Cache

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227364
2X2gb FATAL1TY DDR2 1066

DVD/CD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827118023
22X DVD Burner

I'm pretty sure all the hardware will work with each other but if someone would like to double check it would be greatly appreciated!
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Bellatrix
Change the 8400 to a 9600GT/4670. It will improve the performance a LOT over the 8400GS.
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FatalityxZ
Quote:


Originally Posted by Bellatrix
View Post

Change the 8400 to a 9600GT/4670. It will improve the performance a LOT over the 8400GS.

Agreed. Anything but the 8400.
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tykenfitz
Quote:


Originally Posted by Bellatrix
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Change the 8400 to a 9600GT/4670. It will improve the performance a LOT over the 8400GS.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814140092
^Hows this?
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usmcz
I'd say go with a faster clocked dual core over the triple core - for your listed usages you would benefit from higher clocks.

I also have to agree on upping the graphics card. There are a lot of available options, and I'd recommend checking for used ones - better bang for your buck.
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tykenfitz
Changed RAM to
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820161323
to save some $ cuz that 9600 is EXPENSIVE
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Enigma8750
If you want to drop your cost get the 7750 Kuma. It runs at 2.7 and is overclockable to around 3.5. And still takes 1066 ddr2.
Also. use what you save on the CPU on the 32 mb cache WD 500 gig Hdd.
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tykenfitz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103300

OK is this good for a dual core? its the only one thats AM2+ and the MOBO won't suport 1066 ram if its just an AM2
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FatalityxZ
Yes; the Kuma is very good.
For RAM i would go with this :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231226
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tykenfitz
ok changed the hdd what exactly is a cache anyway?
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usmcz
That RAM looks to be sold out, if you aren't set on getting 1066 & really want to cut costs, you'd be fine with a ddr2-800 set of ram.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231207

I'd also still suggest something like:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103210

for your CPU. (Chose retail for stock heatsink/fan)

If you don't need all 500GB harddrive, you can find suitable options for less $$ as well,
and I would suggest comparing prices when you find a case with free shipping & a seperate powersupply with free shipping (otherwise, generally cases cost $20+ to ship - wasted cost with so many free shipping options).

If you take all those routes, you can probably save enough money to pick up the Sparkle 9800 GT 512mb card which would suit game play a lot better.
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FatalityxZ
In computer science, a cache (pronounced /kæʃ/) is a collection of data duplicating original values stored elsewhere or computed earlier, where the original data is expensive to fetch (owing to longer access time) or to compute, compared to the cost of reading the cache. In other words, a cache is a temporary storage area where frequently accessed data can be stored for rapid access. Once the data is stored in the cache, future use can be made by accessing the cached copy rather than re-fetching or recomputing the original data, so that the average access time is shorter.
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usmcz
I just saw the posts about the Kuma - great processor (I use it too). The best of the dual core options.
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Enigma8750
Look dont go with the old Athlon 5600+. It has no good Cache and it runs 800 speed ram. and cost almost as much as the KUMA ZOOMA. And G-Skill is Awesome ram Period. Its cheap too.
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Enigma8750
Quote:


In computer science, a cache (pronounced /kæʃ/) is a collection of data duplicating original values stored elsewhere or computed earlier, where the original data is expensive to fetch (owing to longer access time) or to compute, compared to the cost of reading the cache. In other words, a cache is a temporary storage area where frequently accessed data can be stored for rapid access. Once the data is stored in the cache, future use can be made by accessing the cached copy rather than re-fetching or recomputing the original data, so that the average access time is shorter.
__________________

What he means is the Hard drive dont have to work as much and gets the data twice as fast.
16 mb Cache Good
32 mb Cache Screamin with your hair on fire.
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FatalityxZ
Quote:


Originally Posted by Enigma8750
View Post

What he means is the Hard drive dont have to work as much and gets the data twice as fast.
16 mb Cache Good
32 mb Cache Screamin with your hair on fire.

Yep

I agree. Don't bother with the 5200. The Kuma is a very good CPU.
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tykenfitz
so w/ the kuma and 1066 ram set up I could upgrade to a phenom if i felt like it later?
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gerikoh
can't you squeeze more to your budget like closing it at $400?
just aim for this cpu:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231166

it is your best bang for buck.

and go for the ram mentioned by usmcz.

you can save costs by going for this mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138140
or this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813138130R

you can use the onboard gpu for those games, and when you have the money, buy yourself a 4830 or 4670
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tykenfitz
Replaced the case w/ this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146025

And the PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817339020

The case looks cool and has free shipping. I hear the 420W PSUs they come w/ are **** anyway
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tykenfitz
I already went over $400


So I changed the mobo to the 2nd one suggested and went with the on board video and the 800 ram

got the price down to $390
Do you think it would be a good idea to go with the 250gb 16mb cache hdd?

'night!
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