Contents:
A) Builds for non overclockers
- 1: Budget build
- 2: Budget-mid range build
- 3: Mid range build
- 4: High end build
B) Builds for overclockers
- 1: Budget build
- 2: Budget-mid range build
- 3: Mid range build
- 4: High end build
These are general purpose builds. They will do everything you want and are not designed for one specific task. Whilst the budget system will be competent in everything (Hell, it'll actually be pretty good), the high end machine will excel in everything
Please remember that the HDD and case recommendations are just used as a template. They depend on your needs.
A) Builds for non overclockers.
Budget system. $400
CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor
Motherboard: MSI 880GM-E41 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
RAM: GeIL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10660) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
PSU: COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-500-PCAR-A3-US 500W ATX12V v2.3 Power Supply
HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
Case: COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Disk Drive: LG Black 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner
The 880G chipset is now available so it makes sense to go with that in place of the 785G. We can also afford an Athlon II X3 now, they are extremely cheap for a very decent CPU.
Total: $361
Budget-mid range system $600
CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
Motherboard: Foxconn A9DA-S AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s ATX AMD Motherboard
RAM: GeIL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10660) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
GPU: XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
PSU: XIGMATEK ACXTNRP-PC502 500W ATX12V Ver.2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
Case: Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Disk Drive: LG Black 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner
What you can get for this amount is pretty crazy: A 3.0GHz quad core, a very good DX11 video card, a motherboard that supports Crossfire and 4GB of DDR3. The Crossfire support allows for a good upgrade path and everything else in this build should age very well.
Total: $590; with rebates: $575
Mid range system: $750
CPU: Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock P55DE3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
RAM: GeIL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10660) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
GPU: ZOTAC ZT-40404-10P SYNERGY GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 768MB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Green WD8000AARS 800GB 5400 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
Case: COOLER MASTER RC-692-KKN3 CM690 II Basic Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Disk Drive: LG Black 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner
In this budget we can afford a Lynnfield quad core, which is a step up from the Athlon II quads in terms of performance per clock (so don't think it's slower because it has a lower clock speed), as well as a GTX 460 which is a great DX11 card in terms of price/performance.
If you are doing more gaming, and don't want to go over the budget, you can swap out the quad for a higher clocked dual
(i5 650), and upgrade the GPU to the
HD 5850.
Total: $715; $670 with rebates.
High end: $1000
CPU: Intel Core i7-870 Lynnfield 2.93GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard: BIOSTAR T5 XE LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
RAM: GeIL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10660) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
GPU: GIGABYTE GV-N470D5-13I-B GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Case: COOLER MASTER RC-692-KKN3 CM690 II Basic Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Disk Drive: LG Black 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner
Just made some changes with the release of Lynnfield and the and the drop in price of the GTX 4xx cards. The GTX 470 is now a competitively priced cards and with the new drivers it can sometimes challenge the
HD 5870, which could be considered as a bit of an upgrade if you can spend a little more.
8GB of RAM could also be considered, although I don't feel that it's necessary.
Total: $1025; $985 with rebates
