Want to build a new system

[myaccount_123]

I want to build a new PC. The processors I am considering are either the AMD Phenom II X4 840 3.20 GHz, or the AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4GHz.

I am not looking to build a fancy system, just a system capable of playing the latest games at a decent framerate and capable of handling any task (barring 3d image graphics programs obviously).

I need help with the motherboard (preferably USB 3, but not that important), graphics card, memory, case and advice about the processor.

My budget would be £300 max. Any ideas or suggestions for different components?

[Phage]

Not for that budget. Unless you get it second hand. I recently built a complete system from 2nd hand parts based on an X4 640 and the all up cost was >£500 inc W7 and a screen.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

If you need to include an OS and a decent PSU(essential for a gaming system) then £300 is not a very big budget.

[cub1061]

What have you got at the moment, would it be possible to upgrade your existing system.
The budget of £300 is this to include monitor, case, mouse, keyboard and speakers or have you already got these.

As the post above, your best bet would be 2nd hand.

List below is from Scan, might save a few quid if usb3 was taken out.
AMD Athlon II X4 640 £73.97
Asus M4A87TD/USB3 £71.84
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair XMS3 Classic, DDR3 PC3-10666 £33.72
1GB ScanFX RADEON HD 5770 £88.28
Coolermaster Elite 335 with Coolermaster Elite 460w PSU £46.78

Total £314.59 with free P&P from Scan.

[myaccount_123]

What have you got at the moment, would it be possible to upgrade your existing system.
The budget of £300 is this to include monitor, case, mouse, keyboard and speakers or have you already got these.

As the post above, your best bet would be 2nd hand.

List below is from Scan, might save a few quid if usb3 was taken out.
AMD Athlon II X4 640 £73.97
Asus M4A87TD/USB3 £71.84
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair XMS3 Classic, DDR3 PC3-10666 £33.72
1GB ScanFX RADEON HD 5770 £88.28
Coolermaster Elite 335 with Coolermaster Elite 460w PSU £46.78

Total £314.59 with free P&P from Scan.

Thanks mate. I already have a monitor, Windows 7 Ultimate edition (brought it for 40 quid because im a student) and peripherals.

Isn't the fan which comes wih the processor good enough to cool it down? Also, doesn't the motherboard come with a psu?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thanks mate. I already have a monitor, Windows 7 Ultimate edition (brought it for 40 quid because im a student) and peripherals.

Isn't the fan which comes wih the processor good enough to cool it down? Also, doesn't the motherboard come with a psu?

You need to get separate PSU. The case cub1061 suggested has a PSU bundled with it. Most motherboards do not come with a PSU. The components list also needs a hard disk and an optical drive.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The following build uses parts from Ebuyer.



The Casecom case has a bottom mounted PSU and the Antec PSU has decent efficiency for a PSU in its price range. The motherboard has both SATA3.0 and USB3.0 ports.

This graphics card is faster but it is quite long:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/265356

[myaccount_123]

The following build uses parts from Ebuyer.



The Casecom case has a bottom mounted PSU and the Antec PSU has decent efficiency for a PSU in its price range. The motherboard has both SATA3.0 and USB3.0 ports.

This graphics card is faster but it is quite long:

cool. thats exactly what i was looking for. Of course I dont mind exceeding £300 if the right components are there. Ill probably tweak the list to get a 1tb hd and some cheap phenom 2 processor. Do you think 4 gig memory is OK for 64-bit windows 7 ultimate, or should I get 8 gig?

[Attila the Bun]

cool. thats exactly what i was looking for. Of course I dont mind exceeding £300 if the right components are there. Ill probably tweak the list to get a 1tb hd and some cheap phenom 2 processor. Do you think 4 gig memory is OK for 64-bit windows 7 ultimate, or should I get 8 gig?

4 gig will be absolutely fine. I get no problems with mine whatsoever.

Actually it is a shame you missed out on the Phenom II price wars thread on tuesday you might have picked up a 955 BE for £60.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

cool. thats exactly what i was looking for. Of course I dont mind exceeding £300 if the right components are there. Ill probably tweak the list to get a 1tb hd and some cheap phenom 2 processor. Do you think 4 gig memory is OK for 64-bit windows 7 ultimate, or should I get 8 gig?

4GB will be fine. An Athlon II X3 450 should do the job IMHO. The Phenom II X4 840 is basically an Athlon II X4 650. The Phenom II X4 955BE can be had for under £90 now.

If you are willing to spend a few more quid then I would wait a few more weeks as AM3+ motherboards are starting to enter retail and these will work with AMD Bulldozer. There was a Gigabyte one for £68 on Ebuyer but it seems to have disappeared.

BTW,this PSU has a longer warranty and better quality parts than the Antec:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/264381

However,for the price the Antec seems decent.

[Homeking]

There are 3 ASRock AM3+ motherboards still showing as in stock on ginger6.

890FX Deluxe5:

http://www.ginger6.com/asrock-sktam3...s-p-45539.html

890GM Pro3:

http://www.ginger6.com/asrock-sktam3...s-p-45541.html

and 880G Pro3:

http://www.ginger6.com/asrock-sktam3...s-p-45540.html

That's all I can find in stock with UK sellers at the moment as I'm looking for one myself.

Quite like the 880G Pro3 - looks good for a good price but waiting to see what else becomes available soon.

[myaccount_123]

4 gig will be absolutely fine. I get no problems with mine whatsoever.

Actually it is a shame you missed out on the Phenom II price wars thread on tuesday you might have picked up a 955 BE for £60.

I really need to read the rest of this site then. Ill wait a while and then get such a processor. I want to build it by september really.

If you are willing to spend a few more quid then I would wait a few more weeks as AM3+ motherboards are starting to enter retail and these will work with AMD Bulldozer. There was a Gigabyte one for £68 on Ebuyer but it seems to have disappeared.

So the selling point of these is that they are future-proof due to being upgradeable to bulldozer? am3+ being bulldozer compatible?

[myaccount_123]

There are 3 ASRock AM3+ motherboards still showing as in stock on ginger6.

890FX Deluxe5:

http://www.ginger6.com/asrock-sktam3...s-p-45539.html

890GM Pro3:

http://www.ginger6.com/asrock-sktam3...s-p-45541.html

and 880G Pro3:

http://www.ginger6.com/asrock-sktam3...s-p-45540.html

That's all I can find in stock with UK sellers at the moment as I'm looking for one myself.

Quite like the 880G Pro3 - looks good for a good price but waiting to see what else becomes available soon.

thank you for the links.

[Homeking]

So the selling point of these is that they are future-proof due to being upgradeable to bulldozer? am3+ being bulldozer compatible?

That's certainly one of the selling points for me. An AM3+ board will allow for a future upgrade to Bulldozer.

Another is that the AM3+ boards I've seen for sale so far appear to be a few pounds cheaper than their AM3 counterparts. Not sure if this will stay the same or whether it is just to encourage people to buy the 8 series chipsets before the 9 series are released. Hopefully prices will stay the same or even decrease in the next few weeks.

As Bulldozer is being released next month and you want to build by September it will be worth waiting a few weeks to see if prices do drop and there's more choice.

[myaccount_123]

That's certainly one of the selling points for me. An AM3+ board will allow for a future upgrade to Bulldozer.

Another is that the AM3+ boards I've seen for sale so far appear to be a few pounds cheaper than their AM3 counterparts. Not sure if this will stay the same or whether it is just to encourage people to buy the 8 series chipsets before the 9 series are released. Hopefully prices will stay the same or even decrease in the next few weeks.

As Bulldozer is being released next month and you want to build by September it will be worth waiting a few weeks to see if prices do drop and there's more choice.

thats probably a good idea. I saw some mobos for around £25-30 on scan.co.uk, I guess I will hold off from using these and buy an am3+

[Joeroe_92]

1 tb samsung spinpoint f2
amd phenom II X2 555 BE
Gigabyte 880gma - ud2h
corsair 440cxw builders power supply
4gb ddr3 corsair xms3

pretty cheap build i did for my girlfriend. anythig else i needed came cheap or off ebay