Mega Budget AMD build - Hardware & Software

How's this for a build guys? Less than £500, and includes a 40GB SSD (windows drive) and a GTX460 (I'm only gaming at a resolution of 1680x1050, so the 1GB isn't really necessary imo). [url]https://www.aria.co.uk/WishList/D63QHRwtmEWA41BK1S5Q8A[/url],, Thoughts? Still trying to sell my PC to get the rest of my budget, not having much luck :(. Anyone on FP wanting it? Only £300 (Pentium Dual Core E5200, 2GB PC2-6400 Corsair, Sapphire HD4730, Corsair HX450W Modular PSU) Thanks guys :)

Do you really need the SSD? If not, you could put that money towards another component.

I'm not understanding your choices here: That motherboard doesn't seem to support CPUs above 95W. I assume you picked that CPU because you plan to overclock/unlock cores. That will put your CPU power demands over 95W. You really need a minimum 125W motherboard, preferably a 140W motherboard, for that kind of thing. That 4730 sucks a lot of power, you likely don't need a new PSU.

[QUOTE=TomGun;26613120]Do you really need the SSD? If not, you could put that money towards another component.[/QUOTE] I suppose. What do you suggest? [QUOTE=cecilbdemodded;26613663]I'm not understanding your choices here: That motherboard doesn't seem to support CPUs above 95W. I assume you picked that CPU because you plan to overclock/unlock cores. That will put your CPU power demands over 95W. You really need a minimum 125W motherboard, preferably a 140W motherboard, for that kind of thing.[/QUOTE] Nope, it's just a cheap dual core... [QUOTE]That 4730 sucks a lot of power, you likely don't need a new PSU.[/QUOTE] What? I've already got that in my rig atm, and it runs fine with a 450 W power supply :/. I don't really understand what you're trying to say here...

The SSD is considered a 'luxury' part. Only get it if you have a high budget, definitely does not belong in a budget build. Get rid of it. Getting a Phenom II dual core makes no sense if you don't intend on unlocking the other 2 cores, and besides, the mobo cannot handle it. Here's my try: [url]http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/9458/buildnl.png[/url] edit: VAT is a bitch, it's like 70 pounds.

The Vertex 2E 60GB is only £90 now. [url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/225415[/url] They should be standard. [editline]11th December 2010[/editline] Yeah and hurry! VAT goes up real soon.

I wonder if it's worth getting an SSD, all I ever hear is yes but I'd need to hear some relevant comparisons like TF2 takes this long to load on my regular HDD, and it takes this long on my new SSD

[QUOTE=NeoDement;26624106]I wonder if it's worth getting an SSD, all I ever hear is yes but I'd need to hear some relevant comparisons like TF2 takes this long to load on my regular HDD, and it takes this long on my new SSD[/QUOTE] A said before, SSD's are a luxury, as the only thing they're doing is decreasing load times and such, so other components is much more important on a low-budget. Only get them on a high one, and een then it should be considered if you could do something else.

[QUOTE=Scotty.;26619665]I suppose. What do you suggest? Nope, it's just a cheap dual core... What? I've already got that in my rig atm, and it runs fine with a 450 W power supply :/. I don't really understand what you're trying to say here...[/QUOTE] If a cheap dual core is all you need, get an Athlon II X2(ie a 260). Check the benchmarks, in dual core applications it's on par with the Phenom II dual cores. For a budget build getting a Phenom II is spending money for no reason. About the PSU, I was saying that the card you have now sucks lots of power and yet your current PSU can handle it. So that PSU should have no trouble with a 460, since it draws only a little more power. Especially if you combine it with an Athlon II X2, which is a CPU that doesn't draw much power itself. I was giving you two ways to save money without affecting game performance.

[QUOTE=NeoDement;26624106]I wonder if it's worth getting an SSD, all I ever hear is yes but I'd need to hear some relevant comparisons like TF2 takes this long to load on my regular HDD, and it takes this long on my new SSD[/QUOTE] Don't get a SSD if you plan to write alot onto it.

I've read that the Athlon X4s really aren't worth getting due to the lack of level 3 cache, is this true? So don't bother with an SSD, even for a boot drive? And guys, the vat increase isn't that bad, it's only an extra £2.50 for every £100 spent...

[QUOTE=Scotty.;26627104]I've read that the Athlon X4s really aren't worth getting due to the lack of level 3 cache, is this true? So don't bother with an SSD, even for a boot drive? And guys, the vat increase isn't that bad, it's only an extra £2.50 for every £100 spent...[/QUOTE] An Athlon is good for this purpose.

Fair enough. What about the SSD then? Is it not the GREATEST thing in the world to have windows boot up in < 1 minute?

[QUOTE=Scotty.;26627563]Fair enough. What about the SSD then? Is it not the GREATEST thing in the world to have windows boot up in < 1 minute?[/QUOTE] Don't get a SSD if you plan write alot onto it. I'd suggest a regular hard drive, Im not totally sure about the SSD though.

[QUOTE=Scotty.;26627563]Fair enough. What about the SSD then? Is it not the GREATEST thing in the world to have windows boot up in < 1 minute?[/QUOTE] My build has the Phenom II from above, and a 1TB WD drive. Boots in much less than a minute, probably under 30, most of that time being the POST and motherboard stuff.

[QUOTE=doonbugie2;26627739]Don't get a SSD if you plan write alot onto it. I'd suggest a regular hard drive, Im not totally sure about the SSD though.[/QUOTE] Yeah I know you're not meant to write to them too much. I'm talking 3 times a year for a windows reinstall at most? Maybe even with my most played game at the time on there. [editline]11th December 2010[/editline] [QUOTE=Killerelf12;26627754]My build has the Phenom II from above, and a 1TB WD drive. Boots in much less than a minute, probably under 30, most of that time being the POST and motherboard stuff.[/QUOTE] Would you recommend the Phenom II?

[QUOTE=Scotty.;26627997]Yeah I know you're not meant to write to them too much. I'm talking 3 times a year for a windows reinstall at most? Maybe even with my most played game at the time on there. [editline]11th December 2010[/editline] Would you recommend the Phenom II?[/QUOTE] The Phenoms will probably drop in price when Intel's Sandy Bridge is out. That's the start of next month.

[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;26628709]The Phenoms will probably drop in price when Intel's Sandy Bridge is out. That's the start of next month.[/QUOTE] Yeah hopefully. Does anyone know when Bulldozer chips come out? Also, I'll only be gaming on this rig, won't a dual core be fine?

[QUOTE=Scotty.;26628859]Yeah hopefully. Does anyone know when Bulldozer chips come out? Also, I'll only be gaming on this rig, won't a dual core be fine?[/QUOTE] Bulldozer should come around July, and the new socket may or may not be compatible with AM3. If you're not playing GTA4 or Battlefield Bad Company 2, you should be fine with a daul core. Depending on your motherboard you may or may not be able to unlock the extra cores.

It should be compatible, though some features of AM3+ or AM4 would be dropped.

I don't know wether to buy a cheap AM3 rig now (not waiting on Bulldozer) or a Sandy Bridge (VAT goes up a bit, Intel are still generally more expensive than AMD, amirite?) in January/February :/.

[QUOTE=Scotty.;26627997]Yeah I know you're not meant to write to them too much. I'm talking 3 times a year for a windows reinstall at most? Maybe even with my most played game at the time on there. [editline]11th December 2010[/editline] Would you recommend the Phenom II?[/QUOTE] I like it yes. I also unlocked the other two cores, however as a dual core it was great too. My point was more that you don't need a SSD for quick load times. Mine loads fast enough that my dad had a hard time getting into the BIOS after we installed windows, because it went so quick to loading. I amusingly had the same problem when I decided to unlock those two cores... Couldn't get in to do it, missed it if I wasn't paying attention.

Fair enough. Is there any risk involved in unlocking cores?

Sometimes, You may have to up the voltage or lower the voltage to get it stable which isnt recomended for novice overclockers. Worst case scenario is that the cores are defective. In which case you get what you paid for.

[QUOTE=Scotty.;26634607]Fair enough. Is there any risk involved in unlocking cores?[/QUOTE] Not really, aside from one or both of the cores not being stable or usable. Stress testing would point that out, then you just lock down the faulty core(s) again.

Cool stuff, I think I'll get one of those then. Would it be worth getting it at all from now-christmas? Or will Sandy Bridge put the prices of EVERYTHING down?

[QUOTE=Scotty.;26643990]Cool stuff, I think I'll get one of those then. Would it be worth getting it at all from now-christmas? Or will Sandy Bridge put the prices of EVERYTHING down?[/QUOTE] Sandy bridge will probably bring prices down on all processors, as Sandy bridge will affect the prices on the old i-series and those will bring down the prices of the C2-line. AMD will have to regulate their prices to keep up.

Cool, I guess it's another month's wait then... :(

[QUOTE=Scotty.;26644285]Cool, I guess it's another month's wait then... :([/QUOTE] Hey, we're both waiting. Wait bro's. [img]http://avatars.fpcontent.net/image.php?u=272633&dateline=1291052604[/img]:respek:[img]http://avatars.fpcontent.net/image.php?u=250646&dateline=1282208480[/img]

[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;26644449]Hey, we're both waiting. Wait bro's. [img_thumb]http://avatars.fpcontent.net/image.php?u=272633&dateline=1291052604[/img_thumb]:respek:[img_thumb]http://avatars.fpcontent.net/image.php?u=250646&dateline=1282208480[/img_thumb][/QUOTE] Did you sell your last rig? If so... where? :L I'm struggling to flog mine, got it on gumtree atm but no replies :/.