In need of a new PC...

[LA22]

I am in need of building a new PC. I have done it once 5 years ago but have since lost touch with much of the parts and what parts are good for what.

So I am asking for help. First let me say, this PC will be used for gaming, multi media, browsing the web, and some file storage. I will need to buy windows 7 also.

I already have a couple parts:

PSU: FSP Group SAGA+ 500R 500W ATX2.2 Power Supply
Newegg.com - FSP Group SAGA+ 500R 500W ATX2.2 Power Supply

GPU: EVGA 512-P3-N987-TR GeForce 9800 GT HDMI 512MB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N987-TR GeForce 9800 GT HDMI 512MB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Now I am still in need of a motherboard, CPU, Hard Drive, and Ram. My budget is "around" $200 without windows 7. I can probably stretch if the part stretching my budget is a significant upgrade over another.

Anyways, I was look at some combo deals from newegg but once again I dont know if a) the parts are good, b) if they fit my need.

Well here is the combo pages I was looking at: Some stuff jumped out but once again not sure of quality or purpose of the parts: Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

I was also recommended
Gigabyte 785G Mobo
- Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

AMD Phenom II X3 @ 3.0-GHz (Black Edition)
- Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X3 740 Black Edition Heka 3.0GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor HDZ740WFK3DGI - Processors - Desktops OR

Athlon II X3 @ 3.1-GHz
- Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX445WFGMBOX

GeiL 4-GBytes DDR3-1333
- Newegg.com - G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNS


Thank you for the help! I have lost touch with all the parts. WHen I built my first 939 was suppose to be the "new" long lasting upgradeable socket.

[David M]

I'm sorry to say that $200 is not enough to build any kind of quality gaming computer even with the parts you already have. If you were starting with nothing, expect to pay $800 to $1000 for a basic gaming desktop PC. A gaming console, which have internet access now, might be the best alternative.

The parts you are considering leaves out an optical drive, case and an operating system.

Return the PSU. It's quality is a big question mark because it is not listed in this guide....
What Power Supply should I get? How many Watts? Who made it? Guide Inside.

Return the graphics card. It's a generation old which will cause you to be disappointed with its ability to play many of the newer games.

[Nikon]

afaik, socket am2 and am3 are physicly different, but i could be wrong. they have different pin counts, and are electricly different. so that mobo leaves me confused.

im afraid that 200$ is going to go nowhere, even on minimalistic parts, the end result will probably not be much more, if any more, powerful that the machine you are currently using. especially for gaming, your budget is extremely limiting. just your pick of mobo/cpu/ram puts you over your budget, still needing a HDD.

i would suggest saving up to say, 400 or 500 dollars and then come back.

[LA22]

Originally Posted by David M I'm sorry to say but $200 is not enough to build any kind of quality gaming computer even with the parts you already listed. Return the PSU, it's quality is a big question mark because it is not listed in this guide.... What Power Supply should I get? How many Watts? Who made it? Guide Inside. Return the graphics card. It's a generation old.

Acutally FSP (Fortron Source) is listed as reputable according to that guide. The games I will be playing are medal of honor spearhead which is at least 8 years old, and mabye oblivion, maybe WoW. I wont be playing any recent games made within the last 3 years. (except WoW)

Exactly, I am actually looking for something similar to what my current sig shows, but obviously those parts arent available anymore . So I figure with the new parts it would be a slight upgrade regardless. BUT thats exactly what I am looking for, something on par, performance wise to what my sig shows.
Anyways, does anyone have any suggestions?

[David M]

Originally Posted by LA22 Anyways, does anyone have any suggestions?

Yes, you still need to raise your budget if you want to get to the level of a basic budget gamer.

[flanzig1]

For the CPU, would go with the Phenom(bigger cache).
The memeory you picked is DDR3, the board you picked takes DDR2, so look for DDR2 1066/800 from Corsair/Crucial/A-Data/Kingston.

[Nikon]

well, i know from experience that the 9800gt will play wow quite well.

you can use the mobo you were reccomended with the athlon cpu. this is because the phenom is an oem unit, and as such, will not come with a heatsink/fan, which you can expect to spend another 20 bucks on, so its out of the question.

the ram you chose cannot be used. it is ddr3, and your mobo only supports ddr2. here is some ram:

Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KHX8500D2K2/2G $47

and a HDD:
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $60

comes to $254.

you must reuse your case and optical drive (dc/dvd drive) with this one.

[asielcs]

Newegg.com - Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 Modular Active PFC Power Supply

best power supply in the range. its even modular will help with ur wire management

[LA22]

How much better is

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

over this

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

Is it worth the 40 bucks or not really? I will NOT be doing overclocking or unlocking or any of that type of stuff.

[Nikon]

regardless of overclocking, the main difference is the useable cores in the cpu.
if you can use all 4 cores, then go with the x4 one, if not, go with the x2.

imho you would be best off with the x3 athlon II, its in the middle, and will give you good gaming experience with good multitasking.

if you are set on using that combo deal, then its up to you to decide whether you need the 2 extra cores. 2 should be OK for gaming, and older games will probably only use one core at a time anyways.

[LA22]

Thank you for the help Nikon. I think you are right.

Now, I was looking at this motherboard Newegg.com - ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard but Newegg is out of stock.

I was comparing and found this, although, $20's more, it seems to be almost the same, EXCEPT it was 2 PCIe x16 slots (for SLI) and is not mATX.

Newegg.com - ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard

I will not be using the other PCIe x16 slot, so it seems like a waste but its the closest I can get to the first one I linked while still staying with Asus. There is similar but not exact same boards from MSI but it got mixed reviews..

Should I wait and see if newegg gets the first one I linked back in stock? (do they usually? or once its gone is it usually gone?), should I go with the second one I linked since its most similar, or should I go with the MSI motherboard thats similar. The main difference's are the northbridge, and the memory standard. This is the MSI Newegg.com - MSI 880GM-E43 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard


Thanks to everyone who has helped so far!

[Nikon]

the link to the out of stock mobo says 'eta 10/11/2010', so give it a few more days if you want that one. they should have some more.

there are many people here who would question MSI's quality. ASUS is the best brand afaik, and is highly recommended here.

[LA22]

Originally Posted by Nikon the link to the out of stock mobo says 'eta 10/11/2010', so give it a few more days if you want that one. they should have some more. there are many people here who would question MSI's quality. ASUS is the best brand afaik, and is highly recommended here.

Do you think the one I linked, the out of stock one is a good choice?

[Raiden619]

Motherboard Brand Rating

[LA22]

Originally Posted by Raiden619 Motherboard Brand Rating

I know Asus is one of the better brands lol.

I was more referring to the model.

[Raiden619]

if your not going to run 2 video cards i would suggest going for the other one u linked

Newegg.com - ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard

[LA22]

okay, one last question, what the heck is the difference between DDR3 1333 PC3 10600 and DDR3 1333 PC3 10666?

[David M]

The default timings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_timings

Don't mess with these unless you know exactly what you are doing.

The PC2 and PC3 ratings should probably be killed off...enough already.

[LA22]

Originally Posted by David M The default timings. Memory timings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Don't mess with these unless you know exactly what you are doing. The PC2 and PC3 ratings should probably be killed off...enough already.

Thanks

[LA22]

well it turns out I am going to go with a new model motherboard.

Which one do you guys feel is better? They are both pretty similar.
GIGABYTE GA-880GA-UD3H AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128444

or

ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131646

or

ASUS M4A88TD-M/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131654