Please comment on this relatively budget AM3 build

[Ruggerbugger]

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?

[Pob255]

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

[Ruggerbugger]

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.

[scaryjim]

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.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would get a Corsair HX450W:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152606

Unless you need Crossfire I would get this motherboard:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/GIGAB...770T-UD3P-MOBO

[Ruggerbugger]

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

[jim]

How about eBuyer for the 5770, Powercolor - £120, ATI - £117

[Domestic_Ginger]

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.

[Ruggerbugger]

Good suggestions guys I know about memory prices, unfortunately I really need to get this asap, hopefully I'll get lucky.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

This is what I would get:

Windows 7 Retail ~ £77

http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

500GB Samsung F3 ~ £36

http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

A better drive than the Seagate AFAIK.

Asus M4A79XTD EVO ~ £78

http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

AMD X2 550BE ~ £74

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/AMD-P...MHz-85W-Retail

OR

Phenom II X4 925 ~ £107

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/177044

Antec 300 case ~ £40

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/166518

Crucial 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333MHz/PC3-10600 Ballistix Memory Kit CL6 1.8V ~ £60

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/166996

OR

OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz/PC3-12800 Obsidian ~£65

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173933

LG DVD SATA rewriter ~ £17

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/LG-GH...SATA-Black-OEM

OCZ Stealth XStream 600W PSU ~ £50

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/127861

HD5770 1GB ~ £120

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/175978

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/175731

[Ruggerbugger]

Thanks for the graphics card tip Cat, a tenner saving is always welcome

[jim]

Thanks for the graphics card tip Cat, a tenner saving is always welcome

The penguin has been moose-slammed again

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

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!!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The penguin has been moose-slammed again

Don't worry the Panda used its special Kung Fu tricks on the Moose!

[jim]

TakTak > Cat-The-Fifth > Jim > Spammers

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The smiles have turned to sadness in this thread!

Something to cheer you up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0e10baH6cE