$1000 AMD Gaming PC... critiques?

G

Gavinburt

n00b
Joined
Dec 21, 2006
Messages
15
Hey guys, looking to pull the trigger on a $1000 AMD gaming rig but wanted to hear any opinions first, since I'm relatively new to the whole PC building operation. (3 years ago I built an Intel Core 2 Duo system but I'm more interested in a better system thsi time around).

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc

Gaming

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?

$1000, and no.

3) Where do you live?

Western Washington (state)

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.

Motherboard, CPU, RAM, Video Card, Hard Drive, Power Supply, Case

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.

N/A

6) Will you be overclocking?

Yes, though I will be a first-time overclocker.

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?

24in. at a later date, 19 in. for now.

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?

This week.

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.

I'm not picky. Crossfire is important. RAID for a later time as well.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?

Yes.

Here's the build...

MOTHERBOARD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131402

ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail ($104.99)

CPU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail ($175.99)

HDD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($74.99)

RAM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ - Retail ($95.99)

PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002

CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail ($149.99)

CASE

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail ($139.99)

CD/DVD BURNER

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM ($31.99)

GRAPHICS CARD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121308

ASUS EAH4890/HTDI/1GD5 Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail ($214.99)
 
Just FYI, Phenom2 is as good as Core2. So you'll be upgrading to a quadcore, but its not the best option for your budget. Intel Core i5/i7 is out now, and completely outperforms Core2/Phenom2.

For your budget, I'd make these changes:
$200 - Intel Core i5 750 quadcore (FS) [if you're near a Microcenter, its $150]
$125 - Gigabyte GA-P55-UD3L
$100 - CM HAF 922 (FS)
$100 - TP-650 Semi-Modular (FS)

Saves you $45 and gets you a superior CPU and slightly more powerful PSU. Then put that money saved towards a better CPU cooler, like a CM Hyper 212+. Though, I didn't have a chance to look for combos... sorry.

Oh, I'd also suggest changing to a Samsung F3 or Seagate 7200.12 500GB for faster performance (due to higher platter density; 500GB/platter vs 320GB/platter)... also saves you $20.
$55 - Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA300 16MB Cache
$55 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA300 16MB Cache

BTW, when do you plan on buying a new monitor? If its not for another 3 months or so, I'd suggest dropping down the vidcard to an HD5750 or something cheaper, and upgrading the vidcard when you get the new monitor. GPUs are the fastest depreciating components in a gaming PC, and you can always sell your "old" card to help offset the cost of the new card.
 
Last edited:
enginurd is soo correct. $1,000 now can easily put together a Core i5 build if you utilize the combo deals on NewEgg. For under $900

Intel Core i5-750 + ASUS P7P55D LGA 1156 Intel P55 + Coolermaster Silent Pro 700 + Coolermaster HAF 922 all for $499.95 ($10 MIR on PSU)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.290519

XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB + LG DVD Sata Burner for $218.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.280423

Seagate Barracude 500GB Sata Drive for $54.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

G. Skill 4GB DDR3 1600 for $95.99 wfree shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

Total: $869.91
Shipping: $6.98
Grand Total: $876.89

$100 cheaper than your AMD build and faster.

With the money saved here, you can invest that in a larger monitor.
 
Last edited:
You guys are awesome. Thank you so much for the suggestions. These builds are indeed better and faster.

With the i5/4890/4gb ram combo above, is aftermarket cooling suggested? If so, what would your suggestions be? It seems for $100 or so I could get something decent with the HAF midtower.
 
CM Hyper 212+, Xigmatek HDT-S1283 w/1156 bracket, Corsair H50, TRUE120 w/ bracket, etc.
 
What about Arctic Cooling? I noticed its about $14 more than the CM Hyper 212+.

EDIT: Should do my won research as well...
 
Last edited:
AMD PII 955 + Antec 900 $245.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.285168

Corsair 750TX + Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P $209.98 ($10 MIR on PSU)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.291437

XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB + LG DVD Sata Burner for $218.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.280423

Seagate Barracude 500GB Sata Drive for $54.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

OCZ 4GB DDR3 1600 for $78.99 w/free shipping ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227495

Total: $808.92
Shipping: $6.98
Grand Total: $815.90

I have cut down the price for the PSU+CPU+mobo+case so that you can afford a HD5850 and that will be better than an i5 with HD4890

Edit: RAM too can be cheaper.
 
Last edited:
That GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P mobo is only DDR2 support so.. you won't be able to use DDR3 RAM.
 
Here is the build:
AMD PII 955 + Antec 900 $245.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.285168

Corsair 750TX $109.99 ($10 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

GA-MA790GPT-UD3H $114.99 ($15 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128398

XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB + LG DVD Sata Burner for $218.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.280423

Seagate Barracude 500GB Sata Drive for $54.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

OCZ 4GB DDR3 1600 for $78.99 w/free shipping ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227495

Total: $823.92
 
Gavinburt said:
What about Arctic Cooling? I noticed its about $14 more than the CM Hyper 212+.

EDIT: Should do my won research as well...
Click to expand...

For i5 OC'ing, the AC F7 Pro is not a good choice - these chips get hotter than Core2's.

You never answered my question about your monitor...

enginurd said:
... BTW, when do you plan on buying a new monitor? If its not for another 3 months or so, I'd suggest dropping down the vidcard to an HD5750 or something cheaper, and upgrading the vidcard when you get the new monitor. GPUs are the fastest depreciating components in a gaming PC, and you can always sell your "old" card to help offset the cost of the new card.
Click to expand...

alg7_munif said:
... I have cut down the price for the PSU+CPU+mobo+case so that you can afford a HD5850 and that will be better than an i5 with HD4890 ...
Click to expand...

If you're getting the monitor soon, the reduced price AMD build with a better graphics card would be a nice option. However, since vidcards depreciate so fast, I find it hard to recommend any card over $250, IMO. So if you're not getting the monitor soon, the HD5870 would go to waste on a 19".
 
$1,000 for an AMD Build, let's throw in a 24" monitor in there. Let's do 50/50 combo purchase from NewEgg and Zipzoomfly


Antec Earthwatts 650 + Antec Three Hundred both for $109.94 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.285167

ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X + AMD Phenom II X4 955 both for $260.98 ($10 MIR on MOBO) w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.293441

OCZ Obsidian 4GB DDR3 1600 for $78.99 ($20 MIR) w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227495

Coolermaster Hyper N 520 for $44.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103057

XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB or $181.99 w/combo purchase and free shipping
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10011110

Seagate Barracuda 500GB HDD for $53.99 w/combo purchase and free shipping
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010067

Samsung 22X Sata DVD Burner for $28.59 w/combo purchase and free shipping
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10011470

ASUS VK246H for $227.99 w/combo purchase and free shipping
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010393

Total: $987.46 w/shipping
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top