Author Topic: Rate my upcoming budget build!  (Read 3107 times)

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Offline RobotNixon

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Rate my upcoming budget build!
« on: January 29, 2012, 03:47:32 AM »
Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

CPU:  AMD Phenom II X4 960T Black 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($23.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard:  ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX  AM3+ Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:  Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive:  Hitachi  500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card:  XFX Radeon HD 6770 1GB Video Card  ($102.55 @ Newegg)
Case:  Apex Vortex 3620 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($37.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply:  Raidmax 630W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive:  Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer  ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $529.47

I might decide on getting a 6850 instead of a 6770, but seeing as my monitor only supports up to 1280 x 1024 it really doesn't matter.
The reason I decided on an older AMD instead of a Core i3 Intel largely came down to better motherboard choices.

Offline The Doctor

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Re: Rate my upcoming budget build!
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2012, 09:50:38 PM »
Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

CPU:  AMD Phenom II X4 960T Black 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($23.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard:  ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX  AM3+ Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:  Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive:  Hitachi  500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card:  XFX Radeon HD 6770 1GB Video Card  ($102.55 @ Newegg)
Case:  Apex Vortex 3620 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($37.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply:  Raidmax 630W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive:  Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer  ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $529.47

I might decide on getting a 6850 instead of a 6770, but seeing as my monitor only supports up to 1280 x 1024 it really doesn't matter.
The reason I decided on an older AMD instead of a Core i3 Intel largely came down to better motherboard choices.


Unless you plan on overclocking I wouldn't bother with the CPU Cooler.  Retail CPUs come with a cooler that is adequate for stock speeds.

I recommend Western Digital hard drives if possible.  Seagate as a secondary.  But I know HDD prices are up right now because of the Taiwan floods, don't know if WD/Seagate is in budget for you at this point.

Video Cards I highly recommend the 6950 but it's more expensive of course.

Power Supply, I don't recognize the name Raidmax... I don't like power supplies who's name I don't recognize.  But someone else may be able to vouch for their quality.

Optical Drive: I recommend a Samsung writer.  It'll cost like $2 more, use it with Verbatim media and you'll have excellent discs.
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Offline Minimum

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Re: Rate my upcoming budget build!
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2012, 08:16:43 AM »
Power Supply, I don't recognize the name Raidmax... I don't like power supplies who's name I don't recognize.  But someone else may be able to vouch for their quality.

110% agree with you there.  Never ever cheap out on the power supply.  That is a decision the OP might end up regretting, especially if it takes out the OP's components along with it.

I did some browsing around and I found this thread over on OCN: http://www.overclock.net/t/989795/2-psus-die-within-2-weeks

If I were the OP I would be considering another PSU.  Personally I recommend a TX650 to replace that Raidmax: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

Offline mikethor007

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Re: Rate my upcoming budget build!
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2012, 04:48:58 PM »
For PSUs i usually either go for Corsair or Thermaltake.
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Offline RobotNixon

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Re: Rate my upcoming budget build!
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2012, 07:54:04 PM »
Consideration noted. I'll probably end up bumping my budget up to $750.
Better hard drive, better PSU, better video card, and I'll probably get a better monitor.

And in regards to the  CPU cooler, I am planning on overclocking eventually.
That's why I chose the 960T.

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

CPU:  AMD Phenom II X4 960T Black 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($109.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($23.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard:  ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX  AM3+ Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:  Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive:  Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($76.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card:  XFX Radeon HD 6850 1GB Video Card  ($139.99 @ Microcenter)
Case:  Apex Vortex 3620 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($37.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply:  Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive:  Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer  ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $602.91
« Last Edit: January 30, 2012, 08:26:02 PM by RobotNixon »

Offline Minimum

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Re: Rate my upcoming budget build!
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2012, 12:22:46 AM »
Consideration noted. I'll probably end up bumping my budget up to $750.
Better hard drive, better PSU, better video card, and I'll probably get a better monitor.

And in regards to the  CPU cooler, I am planning on overclocking eventually.
That's why I chose the 960T.

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

CPU:  AMD Phenom II X4 960T Black 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($109.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($23.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard:  ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX  AM3+ Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:  Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive:  Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($76.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card:  XFX Radeon HD 6850 1GB Video Card  ($139.99 @ Microcenter)
Case:  Apex Vortex 3620 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($37.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply:  Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive:  Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer  ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $602.91

Looks good as long as you don't plan on overclocking.  That motherboard has a 4+1 power phase design.  This is good enough to run your processor at stock speeds.  Anything higher would be pushing it.

Offline Foxdonut

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Re: Rate my upcoming budget build!
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2012, 05:56:02 PM »
A very good build, but I might suggest this mobo isntead:ASUS Sabertooth 990fx AM3+. Assuming you plan to overclock the system eventually that board will do much much better. I have the intel version of this board and I have my processor running at 4.8ghz OC and have no problems.
« Last Edit: February 03, 2012, 05:57:34 PM by Foxdonut »