Looking to build a new system with AMD parts :)

Alright, so I've never built a computer before, but I can say that trying to play TES IV: Oblivion and Fallout 3 isn't the most enjoyable experience when you're running a stock laptop with a singlecore processor you picked up at WalMart. Really, all I want is to be able to play most games on at least Medium settings, preferably high or even max, with a solid framerate of at least 30 without the constant freezes or jitters.

I managed to play through Mass Effect on this computer with a pretty decent framerate (to me, at least.) of around 25-30, with it sometimes dropping to 15 or so when things got intense. I really want to be able to play my games smoothly, even if I have to sacrifice graphics options, but I don't want to spend more than $500.

Furthermore, while the guides on the site are very well-detailed, I can't seem to get focused enough to read through them-- All the information confuses me and then I end up not wanting to be bothered, so, I'm asking the TH members for a little help getting started!

Approximate Purchase Date: Somewhere between October and November of this year.

Budget Range: in total, $500 or less, preferably less if I can pull it off.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: general gaming, browsing, music rendering (I use FL Studio to create and export music)

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com and ncix.com (or whatever gives me the most bang for my buck )

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: Preferably AMD parts because they tend to be cheaper, and I don't really want the best of the best. Just looking for something that runs better than my current machine and will last me several years.

Overclocking: No.

SLI or Crossfire: No.

Monitor Resolution: 1440x900

Additional Comments: honestly, anything that runs better than a 2.2GHz single-core processor with a bad integrated Radeon Mobile series card would make me happy.

A list of parts my friend and I have put together that seems pretty cost effective:

AMD Phenom ii x4 3.7Ghz

Ati Radeon 6850 (1GB)

6GB Ram (x2 3GB sticks) if it'd help I'm willing to upgrade to 8GB

CORSAIR Professional Series HX650 (650w PSU) -- Willing to go lower if it doesn't lower performance or longevity.

We have yet to find a motherboard on which to base how many pins everything will use and such. But if it's at all possible I would really prefer to be able to run my system (without frying it of course) in a small form factor case such as this one: Thermaltake ARMOR A30 VM70001W2Z Black SECC MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case

So there's a general idea, if we can lower our specs to lower the cost, that would be fantastic

Thank you all in advance!

-Kioh

That sounds great and all, but I don't really want a Phenom II X6. I'm happy with X4 which is why I listed it. I don't need a CD/DVD Drive or burner, I don't need a monitor, and I'd really like to stick with the processor I listed because it costs around the same amount, has a higher clock speed and I REALLY am not looking for six cores. Way too much for me. Could you please give me a build that closer suits what I'm looking for? Thanks again and sorry for the hassle.

Also, just to further prove my point that I don't want (or need) to spend $750-$1000, take a look at this link: Kingston Genesis Blue/Phenom II X4 965 SuperCombo

And... Again... It's another $500 more with things I don't need... Thanks for your reply, but I think I'll stick with the combo.

Sounds like a prime idea. By "pile on" I assume you mean put the combo (minus the motherboard obviously )into that mobo and maybe in a HAF case?

-phenom ii x3 720 - 80 bucks
i would try to help more but i get offa work in 4 minutes soooo, but the x3 720 is beast, i know you said no overclocking but i have mine unlocked to a quad core running at 3.6 ghz on a 30 dollar cooler - 100 badass cpu

8 gigs of ddr3 should only run you like 60 bucks
find a decent motherboard - asus sabertooth am3+ suggested because bulldozer is just around the bend
and a 6870 for around 200 bucks and youll be set
rough, quick math brings you right around 500 bucks, screw a case set it on cardboard... seriously my first build ran like that for months lol

Why not go AMD A8 and cut out the video card? You'd save a good $200 on that build, and if you wanted to get a second 6670 once you get the build up and running, you could run it in Crossfire and get pretty decent performance.

Actually... He may be on to something: AMD A8-3850/A75/8GB/1TB SuperCombo

+1

^
counts as +2 and a total of 3 against the Llano for gaming..
I said it was idiotic..

Gigabyte may make crappy accessories, but they make great motherboards. I've never considered any of their other products, but I'll always consider their motherboards.

The main reason for the gigabyte is because there aren't a lot of choices for mATX motherboards that are AM3+. It is one of the few boards on newegg that has a good rating, and it also has a rebate which makes it an attractive price. While I also like ASRock, their mATX board had really bad reviews and ASUS tends to charge for name brand. That left Gigabyte as the only option. Now, maybe there are other boards out there, but I only checked newegg.

EDIT: if you don't mind leaving the mATX form factor it might be possible to find another brand motherboard that has a good feature set and is a quality product.

>Implying I didn't state that I'm not very knowledgeable with building computers and the like in my first post.

The only products of theirs I have ever seen or known about (up until today) are their cheap-o cooling pads and gamepads and things of that nature in Radioshack, so, I didn't know that they're a good manufacturer of mobos

If you suggest Gigabyte then I suppose I could give it a try, I'm REALLY looking for Mini-ITX if at all possible but I'm assuming even with the case I have on the top page I probably wouldn't get enough airflow and my system would run too hot, or I might not have enough space to put all my parts though in the comments they say it's built to fit a video card

mini ITX is smaller than micro ATX. I listed you a micro ATX build and micro ATX is what you originally asked for. I'm assuming that since you haven't built a PC before you just got the two mixed up.

I wouldn't go mini ITX unless you are making a very tiny HTPC or a small file server. mini ITX typically can't handle CPUs with a high thermal output, and they typically are lacking a lot of useful features. It also tends to cost more for the same thing you'd get in a slightly larger form factor. I have one mini ITX board and it is super tiny, but it is a file/backup server and works great for those purposes (it is also a Gigabyte). My micro ATX is my HTPC and is really tiny compared to my ATX setup which is my main PC.

you really want a 990XA chipset, nothing less than the 970X chipset.
the top is the 990FX chipset.
the 990XA and FX are mainly for gamers who run SLi or CFX.
970X chipsets are for the slightly less gamers.

According to google... 970X is intel i7? Going strictly off google here. If it is, then.. That doesn't help me. I'm going AMD and not Intel. If it's not.. Please correct me

Also I don't plan on using crossfire or SLi at all. I'm pretty happy just having 1 GPU

GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard This? Although the problem with that is it's only ATX and not Micro-ATX

Also,

G-Skill

or

Kingston?

Regarding the RAM, I figured as much. It just... Looks better. Though that may be my affinity with nice blue things. No, I don't plan on SLi in the future, and my budget is for all the parts as a whole rather than for each part individually

And regarding the Micro-ATX thing, it isn't a huge deal, I just don't want a large tower, I think the case I started with initially is nice because I could easily place it on the side of my desk and access everything while sitting rather than having to stand up and fiddle with it.

Hey, no problem! I appreciate all the help I can get! So, we're looking at this so far

CPU - AMD Phenom II X4 955 - $119

GPU - XFX HD-687A-ZHFC - $170 - $17 combo with CPU and there is a $20 rebate (so, $133) XFX has a lifetime warranty

RAM - 2x2GB DDR3-1333 Cas 9 1.5V Kingston Hyper-X - $40

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-USB3 AM3+ - $81 after rebate

PSU: Corsair Builder Series CX500 - $50 after rebate

Case: Thermaltake ARMOR A30 VM70001W2Z Black SECC MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case (A lot more expensive than the one nordlead suggested, but the shape better fits my desk layout.)

HDD: WD Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB - $45

OS: Win 7 x64 Home Premium - $100

Total is $685.92, I can reduce it if I just get a different case...

If I choose to go full ATX and not MicroATX, I'll go with your motherboard

Hey, matter of fact, could you help me look around for cases similar to the one I posted? I really want one like that but $119 for a case is a lot!

Also, that's a nice case But just using the one nordlead posted (and using your mobo) I'm at $624, with my micro-atx i had $610 (not that big of a difference but still )

Sounds good to me

I found this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811322014

it looks like it may be able to sit on it's side? I can't tell.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811108229

I kinda like this one even if it is a vertical tower. It looks nice and it's pretty cheap, plus it's a mid-tower.

so how much do you want to really spend on a case.?

yes, do not like those...

Ooh I really like the tiger direct one It's pretty and not >too< expensive. The question is: does it have good airflow and is it easy to work inside the case?

Hm.. So I'll keep my mind on the tiger/newegg ones, but I'm still really trying to push below $80. I'm a pain in the arse, I know!

Also, what do you use now as a case?