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Upgrade Older Desktop System > $350

201 Views 3 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  synge
Greetings all, so now I'm back to rebuild what I hope to be a medium tier gaming rig. Would appreciate any help.

Givens:
1. I'm not an overclocker/enthusiast -so just run out of the box for now
2. Need a quieter system (current CPU fan is 'hella' loud)
3. Looking more for value/bargain than latest tech. I'd like to keep it under $350
4. Going to start with CPU/mobo/RAM & Hard Drive - I'll possibly add an SSD later

The specs:

System usage: My basic usage is internet surfing and games. I'd like to make some of my older games more enjoyable, faster etc. Mostly playing Orcs Must Die, Rome TW, Medieval II, F.E.A.R., HL2 - I can play Crysis on like 25 FPS- pretty fun there. But the bottom line is mostly older stuff & Steam- running 1600x1200.

System specs & notes to would be helpers. (again, thanks for any input)

Case: Alienware A-51 case - its fine for my needs, plenty of room & air and will use it for my new build (standard ATX)

Power: The original crapped out so I have a Corsair 750W PSU.

CPU: Aah, a ***** in the armor. P4 3.40 Ghz, I'd like to drop this chip like genital warts. Slow, loud stock fan

Mobo: Intel D925xcv. I know it needs a dirt nap.

RAM: So I have 3 gigs of outdated DDR2 RAM that is going to bonfire heaven soon, very soon...

GPU: ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/1GD5 GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Harddrives: Aah, I remember when 2x160 GB Seagate Barracuda SATA 7200rpm 8MB buffer in raid 0 was fast.... I think a gallon of gas was 1 dollar back then.

Stuff I'm keeping for now, but FYI:
1. Dell 2001 FP 20' monitor - 1600x-1200x as mentioned earlier
2. Logitech MX 1000 mouse
3. Saitek keyboard
4. Logitech speakers (audio controller is on the motherboard)
5. 64 bit Windows 7 OS

So I'm looking for
1. CPU
2. Mobo
3. RAM (8 GB DDR3) - $60
4. HDD (prolly get WD Blue 1TB) - 65

So maybe I should have named this thread... best bang for your CPU & Mobo for less than $225. Any suggestions would be welcome.
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I'd go with this (Newegg prices:)

AMD FX-6350 - $129.99 w/ promo code
MB - MSI 970A-G46 AM3+ - $79.99
RAM - G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 - $63.99
HD - Western Digital WD Blue WD10EZEX - $69.99

Total: $343.96

I think most will agree that the FX-63xx is unbeatable in the price range you're looking at. It will pair nicely with current mid to upper-midrange video cards to boot, when it comes time to upgrade your vidcard you can get something like a GTX760 / HD7950 or future equivalent and have a nice system.

Hope this helps.
Some of the reviews I've read with this AMD CPU say the stock fan sounds like a vacumme or a jet. That is no-bueno, I need a quieter solution as my current rig is too loud with a stock Intel fan.

Can I use this?

Cooler Master Hyper TX3 - CPU Cooler with 3 Direct Contact Heat Pipes (RR-910-HTX3-G1)

Its $17 at newegg or Amazon.

I just want a fan that won't break the bank and will cool quietly enough to OC maybe just a little.

Thanks.
Sure, the TX3 is quiet and will be fine at stock or light overclocks. I have one in my basement server.
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