Build Your Own AMD/Intel Computer Thread III (Updated 1.15.10)

[trailzrunner]

Any good deals out there for an OS ?

[mattcham]

Great post, very useful.

There is a 7900gs deal for $100AR. This performs faster than the 8600 series but is not DX10 compatible. DX10 compatibility is useless anyway if the GPU is not fast enough to run all the eye candy:
http://forums.slickdeals.net/show...9&t=553497

For $145AR, the 7950GT will trample all over the 8600 series cards:
http://forums.slickdeals.net/show...ght=795 0

Also, don't forget the Antec 900 case deal for $80 shipped no rebate:
http://forums.slickdeals.net/show...9&t=553541

For the budget motherboard options, instead of the Gigabyte 945GZ board (which only has PCI-E x4 slot), better to get the
GIGABYTE GA-945GCM-S2 LGA 775 Intel 945GC which is newer and has PCI-E x16 slot for only $2 more:
http://www.newegg.com/product/pro...6813128049

[xtwister161]

again!

(get a 64bit os)

[Gordz24]

Hi guys. I'm a college student who has never built a pc before but I would like to try. I have a lenovo laptop as my main pc right now. I'm looking for a pc that will be good in converting video files quickly and also something to play some games on. Not a huge gaming rig, the 360 and ps3 do that, something more on the lines of MMO's.

I'm not really worried about a monitor at the moment. I can use my tv.

Things I want:
HDMI output.
Large HDD (at least 500gb)
Minimum 4 gigs ram
Intel processor

I was looking to spend as least as possible since I just spent 500 on school books. If anyone can help me at all, in any way, that would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks
Gordz24

[ch1sox]

Hey, I don't have a price preference. All I'm looking for is to get a setup similar to the following:

Intel 915g-ICH6 Mobo
Intel pentium 4
2 GM memory.

I already have a hard drive, 3870 video card, power supply, dvd drive, case and monitor. The parts I need are rather old so I'm guessing I'd have to move to dual core so I'm not sure what to do. It will be used for moderate gaming. I also have a micro center and frys near by if that's of any use.

[coast1ja]

Quote from ch1sox : Hey, I don't have a price preference. All I'm looking for is to get a setup similar to the following: Intel 915g-ICH6 Mobo Intel pentium 4 2 GM memory. I already have a hard drive, 3870 video card, power supply, dvd drive, case and monitor. The parts I need are rather old so I'm guessing I'd have to move to dual core so I'm not sure what to do. It will be used for moderate gaming. I also have a micro center and frys near by if that's of any use.

If you want a low cost gaming rig, check out the athlon II and phenom II combos at newegg... If that is overkill, check out the sempron 140.

[ch1sox]

Quote from coast1ja : If you want a low cost gaming rig, check out the athlon II and phenom II combos at newegg... If that is overkill, check out the sempron 140.

What is the difference between the amd athlon II x2 and amd phenom II x2? I thought phenom was for quads, but doesn't the "x2" indicate its dual core?

[monkeyz88]

Quote from ch1sox : What is the difference between the amd athlon II and amd phenom II? I thought phenom was for quads, but than doesn't the "II" indicate its dual core?

Phenom is simply the name of the series that it is derived from, Phenom is the top of the line AMD, then athlon is their mid range, and sempron is the low end. The II you are talking about is the fact that they are simply the second generation Phenom's. Hence the Phenom II, but it is the number after that the Xx(insert random # between 2 and 4) that tells you how many cores.

There are dual core phenoms II, they are listed as Phenom II X2, and so far are the 500 series, there are the Phenom II X3, and the 700 series, Phenom II X4 with the 800 and 900 series. Also with Athlon the II is for the second generation, so the Athlon II series has the Athlon II X2 with the 200 series, and the Athlon II X4, the 600 series (propus, 4 cores no l3 cache).

The biggest difference between the athlon ii and phenom ii, is the l3 cache which helps for gaming and other tasks. Expect a 10% boost between similarly clocked phenom II x2 and an athlon II x2, for instance the phenom II x2 550 and the athlon II X2 250 (3.1ghz and 3.0ghz respectively) have about a 10-15% gap in performance depending on the application. I hope that helps your understanding.

[FallenDeity]

Okay, here we go again. i5/i7 can't be done for around 700. I mean, it can..but it requires using second rate parts.. So I gave up. And being that I've never, in over 10 years of building and using computers owned an..intel. I decided to keep it that way..

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList...r=16206827

Only thing i'm stressing about is the 9800GTX, is it THAT much better than the 4870? They're the same price, just better choices with the crossfire boards. I don't think it'll matter, imo. I'll probably gut it and rebuild it once the snowbirds come to down and my paychecks grow exponentially.

[monkeyz88]

Quote from FallenDeity : Okay, here we go again. i5/i7 can't be done for around 700. I mean, it can..but it requires using second rate parts.. So I gave up. And being that I've never, in over 10 years of building and using computers owned an..intel. I decided to keep it that way.. http://secure.newegg.com/WishList...r=16206827 Only thing i'm stressing about is the 9800GTX, is it THAT much better than the 4870? They're the same price, just better choices with the crossfire boards. I don't think it'll matter, imo. I'll probably gut it and rebuild it once the snowbirds come to down and my paychecks grow exponentially.

If you mean a 9800gtx, and not even a 9800gtx+ from the nvidia side, it isn't better than a 4870, a 4870 crushes it as it compares to the 260gtx. Also note depending on your resolution of gaming you might want a GPU that has 1GB of VRAM instead of 512mb. But nice build you have going there. Also be aware that Sapphire has terrible RMA support because they aren't even in the USA anymore (feel free to correct me if this changed) so you might want to consider XFX (better RMA and lifetime warranty and you can get a 4870, 1gb i think for like $10 more than the one you picked) or Visiontek (also lifetime). Best of luck and enjoy your build!

[FallenDeity]

I'm sure by the time I hit "checkout" all the deals will be gone. I'm such a virgo about buying stuff. And yeah, I agree about the sapphire, theres an old AGP one on my desk with an inch of dust on it. One of the leads? on the connector part sorta rubbed off.

Back to shopping.

[ch1sox]

Could someone recommend a mobo and is the difference in performance much between a $50 and a $100 board? I'm looking at getting either an intel e5300 or AMD Athlon II X2 245. I also have a 3870 video card, but I won't be crossfiring. Like I said before, I will be doing some gaming on here.

[mcdavey]

Quote from ch1sox : Could someone recommend a mobo and is the difference in performance much between a $50 and a $100 board? I'm looking at getting either an intel e5300 or AMD Athlon II X2 245. I also have a 3870 video card, but I won't be crossfiring. Like I said before, I will be doing some gaming on here.

if you go with intel the gigabyte g31m-es2l is a bread winner in my book every time. i dunno about the regor though.

Quote from FallenDeity : Okay, here we go again. i5/i7 can't be done for around 700. I mean, it can..but it requires using second rate parts.. So I gave up. And being that I've never, in over 10 years of building and using computers owned an..intel. I decided to keep it that way.. http://secure.newegg.com/WishList...r=16206827 Only thing i'm stressing about is the 9800GTX, is it THAT much better than the 4870? They're the same price, just better choices with the crossfire boards. I don't think it'll matter, imo. I'll probably gut it and rebuild it once the snowbirds come to down and my paychecks grow exponentially.

really? second rate parts? is everything priced really bad right now? i havent really been watching the prices, ive been too busy... but if an i5 and mobo can be had for ~250 it should be possible.. also the 9800gtx+ was renamed the gts 250.