$1,000 AMD Dragon Platform

[Xinthran]

Net year around tax seaon, I will be building a new gaming rig. I don't need anything other than the actual tower and it's guts. Just hopingt hat this will be enough to push some wicked frame rates. Here it goes:

CPU: AMD Phenom II x4 965 BE 3.4Ghz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103692

Motherboard: Asus Crosshair III Formula
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131392

RAM: G.Skill 4GB DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 5770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102864

PSU: Raidmax Hybrid 2 730w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152036

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

Optical Drive: MSI 24x DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827100058

Case: XClio Windtunnel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103011

This setup, with discounts, is totalling $915.91.

Now, I am hoping that this setup will give me what I want. I don't think there should be any bottlenecks with the hardware, but not sure. Also, not sure if the PSU will be enough to push everything, or be enough to get another 5770 after a while to CrossFireX them. What do you folks think of this build? I know I won't be getting anything for several months, and new technology will be out long before that, but I like to dream early. lol.

 

[Clone512]

The CPU your using is similar to the one I'm using (just better), the hard drive your using is the same brand - I think. And the RAM is the same I'm gonna use as well, I just forgot to post that on my topic.

And yes, very nice.

I just looked the computer case and I must say, nice.

 

[Xinthran]

I am hoping that this build would last me for a year or 2, and with AMD wanting to keep the AM3 socket, it will have some decent upgradeability. After getting another 5770 (or a better if one is available at a decent price) I will upgrade to 8GB of 1600 RAM. I am thinking this system would push a Vantage score to 20k+, but not sure on that.

 

[Xinthran]

I may change the case to one with really good ventilation (Water-Cooling ready) with a side-view to be able to check out all that nice hardware. I like the idea of the Windtunnel case though, so that's a big "maybe."

 

[Ritwik7]

Consider the HD 5850 maybe by getting a slightly cheaper motherboard. Rest of the build looks great. (However, if you're anyway planning on CF then the 5770 is good.)

 

[Xinthran]

I had thought about the HD 5850, but since I was planning on CFing them anyway, I decided to go with 5770 for the price/performance. I really want to Crosshair III because it was one of a very few 790FX boards that boasts x16/x16 PCI-E 2.0 setups. The rest are x16 but are only x8/x8 in CF plus the Crosshair III comes with a decent sound card too. So that was definitely one of the big draws. Also, the Crosshair III is the best rated gaming MB for AMD out at the moment and at 199.99 it's a helluva deal compared to comparable Intel chipsets. Going a little cheaper on the RAM, HDD, and Case made it possible to add the MB. I was going to go with 2 sets of the G.Skill for 8GB, a more expensive case, and 2 1TB HDDs, but wanted that MB so badly I went with a little more conservative approach. Though it's not like at $915 I don't have a little space to move to adjust for a little better HDD.

 

[jasonbernal]

it is decent but i would still go i7

 

[Xinthran]

Why go i7? Everything Intel is more expensive for fairly comparable performance. I am no ones fanboy, but why spend more for a name?

 

[jasonbernal]

You know, you are right when it comes to that. I have been amd all along and recently came into money to buy the name and just love it. When I was on more of a budget, I would go amd. However you are right when it comes to paying more for the name.

 

[Xinthran]

I would LOVE to build an i7EE PC, but the price/performance ratio just isn't high enough to justify it. Plus, they are going to be coming out with new stuff Q1 of 2010 anyway.