Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
Pricing myself to around £500 (+ Windows 7), I was going for a pre-built system. However, I'm pretty sure this is better. I already have a case I can use (Antec Super Lanboy), but pretty much everything else needs replacing. I'd appreciate opinions on this setup, with a couple of caveats.
I want to order everything from one place (ideally Scan, as I trust them)
I'm limiting myself to what's in stock, my current system is on its' last legs, definitely
750W TX Corsair PSU, single 12V rail, quiet & cool 80%+ Eff
LG GH22NS40 22x DVD±R, 16xDVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RWx6 ,12xRAM SATA, Black, OEM
AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition, Callisto, S AM3, 3.1GHz, 7MB Total Cache HT 4000MHz, 85W, Retail
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair Dominator DDR3, PC3-12800 (1600), 240 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 9, DHX
Asus M4A79XTD EVO, AMD 790X, AM3, PCI-E 2.0(x16), DDR3 1333/1600/1800, SATA 3Gb/s, ATX
500GB Samsung HD502HJ Spinpoint F3, SATA 3Gb/s, 7200rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ, OEM
512MB XFX HD 5750, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), 4600MHz GDDR5, GPU 700MHz, 720 Cores, 2x DL DVI-I/ HDMI
My only other question is how will I install Windows 7? When I installed XP, I needed a floppy with the SATA driver, has this been sorted out now? Will Windows install straight from the DVD?
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
Ok, what are the prices on thoes?
The 5750 stick out as not that good, and the 750w TX as overpowered for what you have in there.
Replaceing the 750w TX with a VX450w should cut the cost down a chunk, which I'd then put back into the graphics card (assuming you want it for games) look at a 5770 or 5850
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
Damn, edited the prices out. The whole lot including £82 for Windows 7 comes to just over £550. The 5750 I've put in based on reviews, because it's DX11 and availability, there aren't any 5770s on Scan, and the 5850 is too expensive for me.
Thanks for the PSU suggestion though. I did think that 750W was probably over the top. The 450W has saved me £40. :)
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
The 5750 certainly isn't a slouch of a card, being in the same performance bracket as the 4830, 4850 and 4770. Unfortunately, Hexus reviewed it against the 4870 / 4890 so I've not found a direct comparison, but I don't see any reason to avoid it. In fact, it makes eminent sense in a mid-range gaming PC supported by 790X and a Phenom II X2, both of which are also mid-range products.
The only change I'd make would be to get a lower powered PSU than that. The 5750 is very energy efficient - Hexus' fully loaded i7 Extreme test rig only managed to pull 150W at full load when they stuck a 5750 in it!! A decent 400W modular wouldbe your best bet.
EDIT: to back up my assertion about the 5750, here's a Tom's Hardware review which pits a 5750 against a 4770 (amongst other cards) and shows the 5750 slightly, but consistently, ahead.
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
OK, I've refined my ideas a bit, and I'm pretty happy with this build.
450W Corsair VX Series PSU, ATX, PS/2, UK Version, 80 PLUS® certified £53.42
Antec Three Hundred Black Midi Tower Case w/o PSU £43.95
500 GB Seagate ST3500418AS Barracuda 7200.12, SATA 3Gb/s, 7200rpm, 16MB Cache, 9.5 ms, NCQ £35.87
AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition, Callisto, S AM3, 3.1GHz, 7MB Total Cache HT 4000MHz, 85W, Retail £74.54
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX DDR2 XMS2, PC2-8500 (1066), 240 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-6-6-18 £72.39
Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD3P, AMD 790X, S AM2/AM2+, PCI-E 2.0, DDR2 1333(OC), SATA 3Gbps, SATA RAID, ATX £77.61
LG GH22NS50 22x DVD±R, 16xDVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RWx6 ,12xRAM SATA, Black, OEM £16.99
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium - Retail (Green) 32 & 64 Bit £82.88
1 GB Radeon 5770 £131 from Amazon, everything else from Scan
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
How about eBuyer for the 5770, Powercolor - £120, ATI - £117
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
This motherboard looks ok to me. Just a thought; I don't know if its any good but for £10 saving....
The DDR2 looks a little steep (it was half that price 4 months ago); prices are meant to fall next month. AM3/DDR3 may be a better route for just a little more or start with 2GB now? DDR2 should be available second hand too.
The Phenomx2 555 C3 launches early next year; the C2s will run at about 3.8 OC'd whereas the C3 seems to be able to get to 4ghz.
I am not sure if the a 450W PSU will handle crossfire and any overclocking; I've assumed thats why you've gone for the very nice 790.
Thats my 2 pence!
WRT to core unlocking Asus and GB have a function to selectively lock cores if you are lucky enough to get a unlockable CPU.
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
Good suggestions guys :) I know about memory prices, unfortunately I really need to get this asap, hopefully I'll get lucky.
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
Thanks for the graphics card tip Cat, a tenner saving is always welcome :)
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ruggerbugger
Thanks for the graphics card tip Cat, a tenner saving is always welcome :)
:o
The penguin has been moose-slammed again :(
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ruggerbugger
Thanks for the graphics card tip Cat, a tenner saving is always welcome :)
Also,there should be some other savings I have made for you elsewhere in the build. Some DDR3 and an AM3 790X based motherboard will cost you less than some DDR2 and an AM2+ 790X based motherboard. Remember that the X2 550BE will perform a little better with DDR3 than DDR2.
The OCZ 600W PSU is also worth a look as it will be better suited for a Crossfire setup than the VX450W. OTH,the VX450W will be fine for a single card setup.
Hopefully you can unlock the X2 550 too!!
Anyway,enjoy building your computer!! :)
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
snootyjim
:o
The penguin has been moose-slammed again :(
Don't worry the Panda used its special Kung Fu tricks on the Moose! :(
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
TakTak > Cat-The-Fifth > Jim > Spammers :(
Re: Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build
The smiles have turned to sadness in this thread!:(
Something to cheer you up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0e10baH6cE