New computer build for a friend

[acpowell]

Okay so I was charged with the task of helping a friend build a new computer for under $500. He said that he will re use is old case. I came up with the following on new egg.

 

• Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
  
• ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
  
• XFX HD-677X-ZNFC Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
  
• hec X-Power Pro 600 600W Continuous @ 40°C ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply
  
• ADATA XPG Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model AX3U1600GB2G9-2G
  
• AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
  

total: $499.94

 

 

Then when looking through the public wish lists, I found the following setup:

• SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
  
• XIGMATEK NRP-PC Series ACXTNRP-PC402 400W ATX12V Ver.2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
  
• Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32100
  
• BIOSTAR H61MGC LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
  
• Kingston HyperX Blu 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model KHX1600C9AD3B1K2/4G
  

Total $422

 

Any opinions? I personally think the AMD version is a better machine but I am not sure.

[hierovision]

HEC PSUs are to be avoided at all costs. They're not quite the worst brand out there, but they're bottom 3. I have no idea how good Xigmatek PSUs are, they just started making them... or rebranding them or whatever.

 

The AMD 955 will take advantage of multi-threaded applications a bit better than the i3-2100, but the i3-2100 with the 6870 (vs 6770) will definitely do better in games.

 

Here's a good hierarchy chart to help you compare: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu,2971-5.html

 

Tom's also has another article for each price point: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu,2971.html

[wevsspot]

And the last thing you want is a problem with the power supply. So I second Hiero's recommendation to avoid the HEC - and other off brands in general. Are you sure his current case supports both ATX and mATX motherboards? Important question Also need to know whether he'll be running a 32-bit or 64-bit OS.

 

Let me help you rethink your build;

 

BIOSTAR A870U3 AM3 AMD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-138-318&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=1#scrollFullInfo

$64.99 + $4.99 shipping = $69.98 total

 

AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871

$99.99 Free Shipping = $99.99 total

 

ADATA XPG Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) - if running 32-bit OS - if considering 64-bit OS spring for 2 x 4Gb kit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409

$34.99 Free Shipping = $34.99 total

 

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795

$59.99 free shipping = $59.99 total

 

eVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (eVGA B Stock)

http://www.evga.com/products/prodlist.asp?switch=20

$179.99 + $10.00 shipping = $189.99 total

 

Antec BP550 Plus 550W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

$54.99 + free shipping = $54.99 total

 

Total $509.93

 

A little over budget, but this would make an above average machine. The GTX 560Ti card is a stronger performer than the HD 6870, however it is eVGA B stock. I've bought stuff from eVGA B stock and usually it's problem free, so I wouldn't hesitate considering that route myself.

[hierovision]

What he said! That's a great budget gaming system... no idea how to improve it lol.

[Krieg1337]

What he said! That's a great budget gaming system... no idea how to improve it lol.

 

The sandybridge route would be more cost effective to be honest.

[wevsspot]

But he left the cost of a new hard drive off of the Sandy Bridge wish list. So that's another $60 no matter how you crack it up.

 

Plus he lists two different form factors for motherboards - first build = ATX second build = mATX

 

Choice of motherboard would depend on whether the "old" case supports both form factors. If not that can change recommendations dramatically.

[IVIYTH0S]

A perfected Wev influenced build

 

BIOSTAR A870U3 AM3 AMD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-138-318&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=1#scrollFullInfo

$65 + $5 shipping = $70 total

 

AMD Phenom II X4 945 3.0GHz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103809

$110 Free Shipping = $110 total

 

Kingston HyperX Blu 4GB (2 x 2GB) - if running 32-bit OS - if considering 64-bit OS spring for 2 x 4Gb kit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104221

$33 Free Shipping = $33 total

 

Western Digital Caviar BLUE WD5000AAKX 500GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

$40 + $2 shipping = $42 total

 

eVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (eVGA B Stock)

http://www.evga.com/products/prodlist.asp?switch=20

$180 + $10 shipping = $190 total

 

Antec BP550 Plus 550W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

$55 + free shipping = $55 total

 

Total <$500

 

Improved and cheapened!