Mid-Range Computer Building

SuMa.Lustre

Hello PA, my computer is five years old and I am about ready to move on up! My budget is roughly $666, and I already put together a rudimentary list to pick apart. Please note: I already have a case, mouse, keyboard, and monitor, plus I am salvaging my old power supply (Antec Smartpower 500W) for this computer, so no worries!

The list

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157161

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227320

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

Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127427

Cooling: stock, with arctic silver 5 cooling paste

Help much appreciated!

bigwah

Links no worky?

SuMa.Lustre

Fixed. Thanks for the heads up!

1ddqd

That's a budget build, not mid-range...

...but that being said, here's a suggested build:

119.00___CPU_____AMD Phenom II X3 720
69.99____Mobo____MSI 770-C45
79.99____RAM_____Kingston HyperX 4GB
142.99___Video____HIS Radeon 4870 512MB
63.99____HDD_____Western Digital Caviar 500 Black
54.99____PSU_____Rosewill RP550V2-S-SL
104.99___Case____Antec 900
$635.94__Total

$7.56 shipping, BAM! Basically, this is MaximumPC's budget DreamPC from this year.

ACK - just realized you said you have a case/PSU - well, you can upgrade the hard drive, video card, and CPU at will to make up the difference the case and PSU will save you - about $160.

lowlylowlycook

i5s should be out any day now and should be competitive on price with that CPU. Why not wait?

That memory is expensive has high voltage requirements and is awfully tall looking. Also I don't think memory performance really matters for Phenom IIs. I'd say this might be better.

SuMa.Lustre

Alright, will keep that in mind. Though I would prefer having a new computer before college. Also waiting for new computer parts always leads to more waiitng, which I would like to try to avoid.

1ddqd

It's up to you to wait, but the i5 hasn't had any press or samples to show prospective performance. Intel usually has something out and available for reviews but Anandtech doesn't even have a benchmark.

lowlylowlycook

1ddqd wrote: »

It's up to you to wait, but the i5 hasn't had any press or samples to show prospective performance. Intel usually has something out and available for reviews but Anandtech doesn't even have a benchmark.

True. Hardocp had to do some serious ninja shit to get the one they have.

They bought it at Fry's.

1ddqd

Well now, the PCI-E controller is on-die, I forgot about that - huge advantage to waiting. Forgo what I said earlier.

SuMa.Lustre

alright then, waiting for a month or so. thanks for all the help!