Looking to build a $500-$600 Computer - Hardware & Software

So after realizing my old computer can't even run Fallout NV and showing it's age for 6 years I wanted to make a rig to play some more open-world or something with realistic graphics. My main budget is probably at least $400-550 My idea for the components are here: Motherboard: MSI 760GM-P34(FX) Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard for $49.97 CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor for $91.98 Case: Thermaltake Commander MS-I ID ATX Mid Tower Case for $39.98 Ram: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory for $59.99 GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 650 1GB Video Card for $79.99 Power Supply: and a Antec EarthWatts Green 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply for $69.99 Should I switch to another motherboard and consider going for an Intel processor or stick with AMD?

This thread would interest you: [url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1290203[/url] This is the build so far [at time of posting] from it: [url]http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1hpyp[/url] AMD isn't generally worth the buy for the most part right now. For that budget, you can get a Haswell CPU. You'll also want 1600 Mhz ram and a better video card then the 650 (which the build above provides). Micro ATX motherboards have trouble with crosstalk, and that processor is 4 years old. Are you going to be reusing any parts from your old rig?

[QUOTE=flayne;41496000]This thread would interest you: [url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1290203[/url] This is the build so far [at time of posting] from it: [url]http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1hpyp[/url] AMD isn't generally worth the buy for the most part right now. For that budget, you can get a Haswell CPU. You'll also want 1600 Mhz ram and a better video card then the 650 (which the build above provides). Micro ATX motherboards have trouble with crosstalk, and that processor is 4 years old. Are you going to be reusing any parts from your old rig?[/QUOTE] My dad has an digital internal drive with my mouse and monitor that should be bigger than my last one, so far yes. Also what's the cons of buying a AMD processor? [editline]17th July 2013[/editline] Updated on the components [url]http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1hNRh[/url]

If you're going to get 4 gigs of RAM, at least go for dual channel. Edit: As far as the other stuff goes; Case will last a build or three. PSU might last a build or three. Haswell does not add THAT much to performance; I'd stick with Ivy, just because the price is lower. If you still think Haswell is a great choice; get a 4570. You can overclock it. Not much, but it's better than dropping down in price a few bucks with a bunch of unused processing power. Either Ivy or Haswell; do replace the thermal compound on the die if you feel safe doing that. Intel has cheaped out on it, cooking up their processors.

[QUOTE=xNickston;41503198]If you're going to get 4 gigs of RAM, at least go for dual channel.[/QUOTE] Forgot to put that there, either way I'm gonna buy 8 gigs of RAM anyway.

[QUOTE=xNickston;41503198]If you're going to get 4 gigs of RAM, at least go for dual channel. Edit: As far as the other stuff goes; Case will last a build or three. PSU might last a build or three. Haswell does not add THAT much to performance; I'd stick with Ivy, just because the price is lower. If you still think Haswell is a great choice; get a 4570. You can overclock it. Not much, but it's better than dropping down in price a few bucks with a bunch of unused processing power. Either Ivy or Haswell; do replace the thermal compound on the die if you feel safe doing that. Intel has cheaped out on it, cooking up their processors.[/QUOTE] The price of Ivy is barely lower than that of Haswell. It's worth the performance gain, even though it is small. You can't overclock a 4570; you can only overclock those processors ending in "k" (4670k, 4770k). Intel does not put thermal compound on the die. It's attached to their stock heatsinks, so as long as you never use them (and (s)he's getting a HSF), you don't get any thermal paste on the processor. I wouldn't cheapen out on the video card either. I also don't know why you are getting that motherboard. The only real upgrade is the chipset, and for that exact price you can get a z87 chipset motherboard (specifically the z87 version of the one in the build [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130695[/url]), so it's absolutely pointless (especially considering MSI is generally considered the best motherboard manufacturer, at least as far as most recommended on this forum). That power supply is also overkill. 500 is perfectly adequate (in fact you could go lower).

[QUOTE=doomevil;41495055]So after realizing my old computer can't even run Fallout NV and showing it's age for 6 years I wanted to make a rig to play some more open-world or something with realistic graphics. My main budget is probably at least $400-550 My idea for the components are here: CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor for $91.98[/QUOTE] So you want to replace a machine that's 6 years old with a machine that's chronologically over 4 years old? That doesn't make much sense. [QUOTE=doomevil;41495055]Should I switch to another motherboard and consider going for an Intel processor or stick with AMD?[/QUOTE] Unless you're building a media server or office machine with an AMD APU, there's no point in going with AMD. Their latest arch (Bulldozer) has been a train wreck from launch and they aren't doing anything to improve it. You should go with Intel and at least an Ivy Bridge processor. [QUOTE=flayne;41496000]Micro ATX motherboards have trouble with crosstalk[/QUOTE] Are you buying fake Taiwanese 486 boards from 1989 or something? Regular ATX boards have just as likely of chance of having bus noise as MicroATX boards do. The form factor has nothing to do with it, the quality of the product does. [QUOTE=xNickston;41503198]If you're going to get 4 gigs of RAM, at least go for dual channel.[/QUOTE] Dual channel mode has almost no performance benefit over single channel mode. At most you'll see a 3-5% improvement, and in some cases it can cause performance degradation.

[QUOTE=flayne;41504603]The price of Ivy is barely lower than that of Haswell. It's worth the performance gain, even though it is small. You can't overclock a 4570; you can only overclock those processors ending in "k" (4670k, 4770k).[/QUOTE] The awkward naming of their processors had me confused; Was referring to the 4570 as the Haswell 3570k counterpart. [QUOTE]Intel does not put thermal compound on the die. It's attached to their stock heatsinks, so as long as you never use them (and (s)he's getting a HSF), you don't get any thermal paste on the processor. [/QUOTE] Might've worded it wrong ; Under the heatspreader on the CPU itself, Intel places compount (instead of efficiently soldering it. Makes the heatspreading less efficient. [QUOTE]I wouldn't cheapen out on the video card either. [/QUOTE] I didn't suggest cheaping out on it, I suggested delaying it, so you can buy a good vidcard and other nice components. [QUOTE]That power supply is also overkill. 500 is perfectly adequate (in fact you could go lower).[/QUOTE] That's not the point; There is a fair chance that he would want a different build in the future, and using the same good PSU saves a few bucks.

[QUOTE=xNickston;41506785]The awkward naming of their processors had me confused; Was referring to the 4570 as the Haswell 3570k counterpart. Might've worded it wrong ; Under the heatspreader on the CPU itself, Intel places compount (instead of efficiently soldering it. Makes the heatspreading less efficient. I didn't suggest cheaping out on it, I suggested delaying it, so you can buy a good vidcard and other nice components. That's not the point; There is a fair chance that he would want a different build in the future, and using the same good PSU saves a few bucks.[/QUOTE] Only the first two lines were addressed at you, the rest was for the OP, apologies for not clarifying this. It's true that upgradeability is a very valid reason for such a PSU, but the build was put much over budget, and that's the reason I suggested the lower end PSU. However, if the OP is willing to pay for it, then it is a fine choice. As for getting a better processor now and saving up later for a video card, I wouldn't disagree with it, as I am doing that myself. I have a 4670k, and it's actually run surprisingly well. For example: Just Cause 2 with High Texture Settings, and low most everything else plays at about 40 FPS at 1080p. It's a good course of action if you know you are getting more money soon.

So the final update I'll be puting in. Let me know any problems [url]http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1i1Gv[/url] Also what makes parts last so long? My old one is still running. Also I'll be upgrading once I get the money to get some of the parts you guys suggested.

In case you are planning to stream sometimes then you should choose an FX 8350 or an i7 3770k/4770k. Are you planning to stream things?

Nah, just for playing.

That looks good. In general long lasting parts comes from a few things: 1. Quality products (obviously). 2. Low temperatures - Higher temperatures reduce life span, especially in processors. 3. Care (obviously). 4. A good power supply, although as long as it's not an IED you will probably not see much improvement with a better power supply (not totally sure about this though). 5. Getting high performance parts, so you don't feel the need to upgrade until much in the future (or just plain willing to deal with lower [relative] performance). 6. Luck - the fact is some products will be DOA on arrival and some will last for years.

Alright thanks for your help.