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phenom II build

Z

Zeroheaven

n00b
Joined
Jul 13, 2008
Messages
11
i've been out of the game for a while now and i need some advice on a new build. any help is appreciated.

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
mainly gaming like wow/cod4/tf2. also trivial stuff like web/music.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
around $800 before taxes and shipping
3) Where do you live?
USA
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Case, CPU, HSF, Mobo, RAM, GPU, HDD, and Optical Drive
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
corsair tx750 psu
6) Will you be overclocking?
mildly
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
17", will upgrade to 22"-24" by end of the summer
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
within the week
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
don't plan to SLI or xfire
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?
OS is taken care of


I was thinking about the AMD Phenom II x3 or x4 (is it worth getting the quad core?). I was also looking at the 4870 1gb and the 4890...i'm not sure which one would be best for gaming on a 22"-24" monitor.

When reading about mobo's there doesn't seem to be a huge advantage when jumping to ddr3 with the phenom II's so i was thinking about sticking with an am2 board. i always see the Gigabyte GA-MA790x and the ASUS M4A78 recommended but i don't know much about either.
 
 
I like it_shiros setup. I will just make some minor adjustments to cut the cost under your $800.00 budget.

CASE/HEATSINK - Coolermaster Storm Scout + Coolermaster Hyper N520 combo both for $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.198737

MOBO - Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P for $110 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

VIDEO CARD/CPU - Sapphire Radeon HD 4890 1GB + AMD Phenom II 940 3.0ghz both for $380 ($10 MIR on VIDEO CARD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.199015

HDD/RAM - WD6401AALS 640GB + OCZ Blade Series 4GB DDR2 800 both for $117 ($10 MIR on RAM)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.199064

Samsung 22X DVD Burner for $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

Total: $752 before shipping & taxes
 
HardwareGuru said:
I like it_shiros setup. I will just make some minor adjustments to cut the cost under your $800.00 budget.

CASE/HEATSINK - Coolermaster Storm Scout + Coolermaster Hyper N520 combo both for $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.198737

MOBO - Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P for $110 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

VIDEO CARD/CPU - Sapphire Radeon HD 4890 1GB + AMD Phenom II 940 3.0ghz both for $380 ($10 MIR on VIDEO CARD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.199015

HDD/RAM - WD6401AALS 640GB + OCZ Blade Series 4GB DDR2 800 both for $117 ($10 MIR on RAM)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.199064
7221e5c8ec6b08ef6d3f9ff3ce6eb1d1.gif

Samsung 22X DVD Burner for $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

Total: $752 before shipping & taxes
Click to expand...


Go with this.. Best bang for your buck'
 
Hmmm.. you have a point there It_shiro. Those OCZ Blades are pretty tall. A minor adjustment, just swap the RAM with the G. Skills. The HDD/RAM Combo is only a $5 savings.

CASE/HEATSINK - Coolermaster Storm Scout + Coolermaster Hyper N520 combo both for $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.198737

MOBO - Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P for $110 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

VIDEO CARD/CPU - Sapphire Radeon HD 4890 1GB + AMD Phenom II 940 3.0ghz both for $380 ($10 MIR on VIDEO CARD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.199015

HDD - WD6401AALS 640GB for $75 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

RAM - G.Skill 4GB DDR2 800 for $47 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

Samsung 22X DVD Burner for $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

Total: $757 before shipping & taxes
 
HardwareGuru,

If the original poster wanted to basically take your suggestions with the exception of building on the AM3 Platform, what hardware changes would you make?
 
alteredform said:
If the original poster wanted to basically take your suggestions with the exception of building on the AM3 Platform, what hardware changes would you make?
Click to expand...

Assuming that the OP would really want an AM3-only platform, a combination like the Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P and a 2x2GB G.Skill DDR3 1333 dual channel kit would be a good, relatively inexpensive solution.

But there is no performance benefit from using DDR3 RAM (compared to DDR2 RAM), and AMD is offering AM2+ and AM3 compatibility with this generation of Phenom II processors at the very least. I don't believe that an AM3-only board is a must have for the Phenom II lineup any time within the next 12-18 months.
 
Yah, what tiraides mentioned. Also, they have the GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P with DDR3 RAM support. As tiraides mentioned earlier, the performance using DDR3 RAM is not that much. There is only a slight performance increase but, it's marginal like 5%. Your better off O/C the cpu, getting a faster video card and a faster HDD for a more noticeable performance gain.
 
Last edited:
i was hoping to experiment with OC'ing after i got the system running stable...should i upgrade the x4 to the BE? is that ram ok to OC with or should i bump it up to 1066 as well?

is there goin to be a big difference between that cpu cooler and one of the more popular ones like the dark knight?

thanks for the help!
 
I am also looking at getting the X3 720. going with the PNY GTX 260 deal with the GA MA-790x-ud4p
My problem is I am going for a HTPC case like the silverstone LC20, which is 170mm high. What would be a good cooler for this to keep it cool and quiet? Wont do much over clocking over 3ghz.
 
The Phenom X4 940 that I specified earlier is the BE line. $8 more, you can go with the G. Skill DDR2 1066 for $55 w/free shipping. The Coolermaster Hyper N520 is a pretty decent cooler considering its size. The N520 uses a 92mm fan compared to heatsinks that are larger using 120mm fans. It performs pretty good considering its size. Here's a Review of it.

Zeroheaven said:
i was hoping to experiment with OC'ing after i got the system running stable...should i upgrade the x4 to the BE? is that ram ok to OC with or should i bump it up to 1066 as well?

is there goin to be a big difference between that cpu cooler and one of the more popular ones like the dark knight?

thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
 
The COOLER MASTER GeminII heatsink is pretty good and quiet. Review


Max-Powers said:
I am also looking at getting the X3 720. going with the PNY GTX 260 deal with the GA MA-790x-ud4p
My problem is I am going for a HTPC case like the silverstone LC20, which is 170mm high. What would be a good cooler for this to keep it cool and quiet? Wont do much over clocking over 3ghz.
Click to expand...
 
All Black Edition processors come with unlocked multipliers to make overclocking a bit easier. (But a comparatively higher overclock isn't guaranteed with an unlocked multiplier, so YMMV.) Having said that, you don't need a quad-core processor for a gaming machine; the Phenom II X3 720 would be a good alternate that won't break the bank.

I personally know little about the Cooler Master Hyper N 520. The reviews that I've read on the CPU cooler suggest that it's good, but the higher-end coolers (like the aforementioned Dark Knight) are better. I recommend going with the Xigmatek Dark Knight, as you'd obtain better cooling performance for only a bit more cash

Max-Powers, you'd be better off creating your own thread for your question. Regardless, check out FrostyTech for suggestions.
 
getting ready to pull the trigger on this build...unfortunately i forgot that i need a new keyboard and mouse as well which upped the price on the purchase a bit.

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P for $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE for $189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471

Case/HSF: Coolermaster Storm Scout + Coolermaster Hyper N520 for $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.198737

RAM: G. Skill DDR2 1066 for $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

GPU: XFX HD 4890 1GB for $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150359

HDD: WD Caviar Black 640GB for $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-S223F for $25.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

Keyboard: Keytronic Classic-U2 Black for $32.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823131035

Mouse: Logitech G5 for $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104076

Total: $853.92

not sure if i should downgrade to the phenom II x3 720 and keep the 4890 (would the x3 bottleneck the gpu?), if i should downgrade to the 4850 or 4890 and keep the x4, downgrade both, or bite the bullet (which i'd really rather not).

i also saw an HIS 4890 on zipzoomfly for 179...is there a big difference between the HIS and the XFX to warrant the extra $20?

any help is appreciated!
 
XFX offers a "double lifetime" warranty that can be passed over to the next person who buys/uses the video card after you're finished with it (provided that the card is registered beforehand). XFX is also one of the better manufacturers in terms of customer service. If those aren't a concern for you, go ahead and get the HIS HD4890 over at ZZF. ZZF also does a better job of protecting its hard drives during shipping.

You can go with the Phenom II X3 720 if you want that instead -- it won't be a performance bottleneck.
 
I don't know anything about the board's potential overclocking capabilities, if it even has any.

If overclocking is a concern for you, you may want to find out more information about that board.
 
That biostar board has non cool 4+1 phased powersupply, where the gigabyte one suggested has 12+2 and 2 for the memory.

and layout is horrible
 
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