[thefreeduck]

Hello all

My friend needs a new computer. He plays quite a number of games ranging from Empire Total War, Team Fortress 2, etc. and would get newer, more demanding PC games
I was originally going to do Intel/ with an e8400 processor but then I looked into the AMD/ Phenom II X2 550 BE, which I heard performances just as good as an e8400, and much cheaper too!
I don't want it to be a super-expensive build, but i dont want to cheap out in some areas
So here is what I got so far

CPU AMD Phenom II X2 550 :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103680

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128392

PSU: Antec earthwatts EA500 500W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371007

GPU XFX GS250XZDFC GeForce GTS 250 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150356
OR
I was thinking of the XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB, which is about $50 more and pretty good. Will it run with that Power Supply? It says 500 watts in the newegg specs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150359

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119068

HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200AAJS 320GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136098

DVD burner: LITE-ON
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106291
Total is about $540
What do you guys think? I think the PSU should be good? I did one of those PSU calculators and i used all this specification and it said it needed about 300 watt, and that was with the ATI HD4890.
Thanks in advance

 

[shadow_419]

Just as good if not better, cheaper after rebate, quieter with 120mm fan:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139003

Either of those cards will run fine with a quality psu that has 25A or more on the +12v rail.

 

[thefreeduck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadow_419 Just as good if not better, cheaper after rebate, quieter with 120mm fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139003 Either of those cards will run fine with a quality psu that has 25A or more on the +12v rail.

Thanks for that reply
I feel though that I should get higher watts than 450.. What about this PSU?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015

Anyone else have any comments

 

[diligenthunter]

1gb on a 250 is gonna be pointless, go with a 512.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150357

Or move up to a GTX 260

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150329

Edit: reread your OP, Take the 4890 hands down.

 

[goodolsen]

Look for a mobo with a SB750 and you should be able to make that X2 into an X4.

Like this one...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128387

 

[metallicamaster3]

9600GTs are real gems, if you had an SLI board you could SLI two 9600GTs for just about the same price as a GTX 260, or maybe a bit less!

If your buddy isn't into overclocking, then that AMD is the way to go. If he is, the E8400 will blow it away. They got to 4GHz+ without a hitch on air, with little voltage bumps (E0 ftw)

 

[Heavymetal.fan]

I say you go with this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341017 psu and go with a 260 or a 4870.

 

[jimibgood]

please post the max $ he wants to spend. This helps in recommending any hardware.

 

[shadow_419]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefreeduck Thanks for that reply I feel though that I should get higher watts than 450.. What about this PSU? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015 Anyone else have any comments

Not all 450w power supplies are built the same, but if you insist the one you linked is fine.

 

[oliverw92]

i would go modular PSU, the coolermaster realpower pro 520w is great. silent and not too expensive. looks good too.

i think the antec 300 is a nicer case in that price range.

definately get the 4890 over that 250.

i agree with goodolsen, get x4 if u can. i prefer intel though.

 

[goodolsen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oliverw92 i agree with goodolsen, get x4 if u can. i prefer intel though.

Just to avoid confusion I wasn't saying buy an X4, just stating that you should be able to unlock the other 2 cores of an X2 with a SB750 mobo. Most people seem to be able to anyway. And if you aren't able to, well you've still got a good dual core.

 

[shadow_419]

Quote:

Originally Posted by metallicamaster3 9600GTs are real gems, if you had an SLI board you could SLI two 9600GTs for just about the same price as a GTX 260, or maybe a bit less! If your buddy isn't into overclocking, then that AMD is the way to go. If he is, the E8400 will blow it away. They got to 4GHz+ without a hitch on air, with little voltage bumps (E0 ftw)

I wouldn't exactly say you can't overclock on AMD and E8400 can't do this :

Before

After