Building a Custom desktop PC.

ive looked at some new parts, what do you think?

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H 780G Sockel AM2+
Phenom X3 8650 2 MB (AMD Processor in a Box (PIB)) (Cooler (fansink))
4 gb Corsiar ram
500 gb Seagate

sergio,

I do not know what pricing is like for you so that may mean the difference, but for $600 - $1000 in the states that is a very solid mid to high end system.

I agree with get DDR2 at the minimum, no reason for DDR. DDR3 can be great if you match it up with Amd's AM3 motherboards or if you go the Intel route, drawback there is price and limited options.

I have to redo my system specs, been busy , but I am currently using the Phenom II 920 X3 on a AM3 Gigabyte MA190XT-UD4P motherboard with 4gb of G.Skill DDR3 1333. I went back and forth with this and my "old" system (in specs) and found that the X3 with DDR3 does better than the X4 with DDR2 with stock RAM speeds. It improves desktop and game experience very well, video encoding is still better on the X4 but that is going to be my second work machine with the X3 my gaming general use machine.

Point being that here in the States the X3 920 Black Ed goes for $130 with free shipping online, $150 for my MB, $150 for a GTS 250 512mb, $90 for a Corsair TX650, $60 for 500gb HD, $70 for 4gb DDR3, $25 for DVD-RW, and even $60 for a nice case and you are still under $800!

So if pricing is close you can have a very solid mid level system that will play games all most maxed at 1680 x 1050 without issue. If you wanted to go even stronger put another $100 on the video and get a Core 216 or a good ATI at that level, sorry I stay with Nvidia so not much help there but go where the value is. Same note with the Intel side, I am not putting Intel down I am just not familiar with them as I also stick with AMD but I am pretty sure the Intel would cost you much more for the same level.

AMD bonus is that the X3 II 920 is black ed so on air cooling and stock a little bump to vcore I am running my 2.8Ghz at 3.6Ghz stable.

Do let us know how this goes for you, always fun to build new systems!

Cheers!

Good board, I am using the DDR3 atx version but Gigabyte is a very solid board, I love the latest Ultra Durable line.

You can put the AM3 Phenom II X3 in the AM2+ board, so again with the black editition you could bump it to 3.4 to 3.8!

Iboc,

I don't go anywhere not even for shoes to put on my feet to let you know how much I love Computers I locked my self in the room for 3 years+ studying Computers ya I build my self three PC's one for the Family and Recycled old hardware lots of times, Yes I came out to eat and shower lol. If your going to build one now the next upgrade should be in 3 years anything before that will only get you 20% to 30% performances with out OC it.

Example My 3DMark06
Old System: P4 @ 3.00GHz 1MB L2 Cache 90nm CPU Score: 914
New System: Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.00GHz 6MB L2 Cache 45nm CPU Score:2845
Well over 120% in Performances, 3 Years Minimum 4 Years Maximum for Full Upgrade.
Moore's Law "That" they have a 30% to 40% in telling the future Intel show that with there 32nm Westmere-based Core i7 processors that was running XP/Vista OS last month.

Now for GPU 2 years to the most, Mother, Ram, CPU is all in one when you buy it that's it, maybe one CPU upgrade if you didn't get the right one the first time and maybe a fat HDD down the road but that's it. So with a 94% Average in Upgrading & Repairing PC's I got a couple of chapters left but who cares about floppy drive or serail ports here's what i got and better then a X2 that a Intel Pentium Duo Core can smoke for little or noting. Here it is prices are going to change so try to get something close to what's here:

Motherboard: Asus M3N72-D

AMD Phenom II X4 810

Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X2048-6400C4 2GB $39.99 NCIX.ca

EVGA GTX 260 core 216 get the new 55nm not the 65nm $265.99 tigerdirect.ca

Corsair VX550 Watt or PC Power & Cooling Silencer for tha price

NZXT Tempest case or look at my profile and see my case Apollo$99.99 NCIX.ca

Microsoft Vista Home Premium $151.99 tigerdirect.ca

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition OEM $116.99 NCIX.ca

Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB or the Caviar SE16 640GB $89.99 NCIX.ca

Samsung SH-S223F or any Liteon DVD drive will do

Parts:
Price:
Motherboard $128 + US
CPU $169 + US
Memory $39.99 CA
Video Card $265.99 CA
Power Supply $89 US
Case $99.99 CA
Operating System $100 US
Hard Drive $89.99 CA
Optical Drive $23 CA
Total: $1,005.95

Prices will change hope this helps!

Would this work for a processer?: AMD Phenom X3 8750 Black Edition Triple-Core Processor - 2.40 GHz, 3.5MB Cache, Socket AM2+, 95W, 65 nm, 3 Year Warranty, Retail Boxed LINK: [ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-Phenom-Black-Triple-Core-Processor/dp/B001F4WZNK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1238096437&sr=8-1]AMD Phenom X3 8750 Black Edition Triple-Core Processor: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo[/ame]

AMD processors are cheap but performance wise, you'll be better to choose an Intel CPU which is maybe more expensive but they are worth the price.

By the way, if you get that AMD CPU, don't be surprised that it hardly overclock (if you are an overclocker...)

Like a Core 2 Quad ?

Yes this is a good CPU and just right on the Minimum 2.40GHz is good for Games watching move Ripping burning DVD/CD and downloading all that porn lol :) Crysis calls for a Intel Core 2.0Ghz so your should be good but it's not all about the CPU if you want to game buy a good Videocard the one thats there is the best for mid range I'm getting 50+ FPS @ 1680+1050 with 2xAA hell the 4850 is a bang for the buck too look @ my System Spec on my Profile but for a media center it's over kill hope this helps!