£250 - CPU - Case - Mobo!

Gamer_T

Gamer_T

Gamer_T

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Hi guys,

I know I had a previous thread on this, but now I have been able to extend my budget.

I'm after a new CPU, Case and mobo. I already have a PSU, HDD, RAM and GFX.

I will be gaming, mainly WoW. The GPU I'll have is a 4850.

CPU - Would obviously like the best I could get with my money, a Core 2 Duo?
Case- I think I'm pretty sure that I'll go for the Coolermaster 335 Elite as it's cheap and a decent case, used one before.
Mobo - I have no idea with. I wont really be overclocking.

So guys, what can I get with £250?

Cheers
 
stulid said:
amd phenomII X4 955
asus M4A79XTD-EVO
Zalman Z7
Click to expand...

I did search them in OcUK but nothing of match came up. Ideally I'd like the parts from OCUK as they are really local to me, so if anything goes wrong they're only a small trip away.
 
CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
I assume you already have a decent PSU??

I would look at the following parts:

Phenom II X4 955BE ~ £126

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-244-AM&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=1328

Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD3P ~ £89

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-199-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1482

NZXT Gamma Mid-Tower Case ~ £35

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-019-NX&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

OR

Zalman Z7 Plus Midi Tower Case ~ £43

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-033-ZA

OR

Antec 300 Three Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case ~ £46

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-101-AN
Click to expand...

Phenom II X4 955BE ~ £126, Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD3P ~ £89, NZXT Gamma Mid-Tower Case ~ £35 look brilliant mate. I bought a corsair 400w PSU today from OCUK so I'm assuming it'll be good enough?

Cheers
 
I suppose I could go with the Zalman case although it'd be strecthing it a little bit. :)

So will those components be good for a couple of years of gaming?
 
CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
It should be fine with a Phenom 955BE and an HD4850.

The Corsair is a decent unit:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/750

The GA-MA790X-UD3P is Crossfire capable motherboard also. However the Corsair may not be enough if you intend to add another HD4850 though.
Click to expand...

I don't intend to have another graphcis card in at all really. Is there a board that'd be me fine without that big of a price tag?
 
CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
It is a solid motherboard though(one of the higher end ones) and the 790X and 790FX are the best chipsets for a DDR2 based AMD build IMHO.

This is another motherboard worth a look at:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-180-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1482

I would check compatibility with the X4 955BE and I also would make sure that you have decent airflow over the CPU area.
Click to expand...

That would be good as it gives me a bit more money back to play with. I will try and find out compatability on Google now.

Thanks
 
CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
I looked at some of the reviews on OcUK and they state that the Northbridge runs a bit hot - I would have a look at this too.
Click to expand...

To be honest the really technical stuff goes over my head lol. I can build a PC but don't really know much about the indepth stuff.

Should I just stick with the other mobo you linked?
 
I am getting excited now :D Will be getting these new pieces tomorrow. Hoping everything goes smooth!

I have never fitted an AMD CPU before, is it much different than fitting a C2D?
 
Hi again guys.

I purchased the hardware today and now they're all together and working!

As I'd never installed an AMD before, I did something stupid.

I looked at the motherboard CPU slot and noticed there was a white thing over the CPU. This white thing had a lot of holes for pins in. I later realised that AMD's had pins etc etc.

So I was gently pulling that white thing up as I thought it was a CPU protector like most LGA775 boards have. I eventually pulled it up a little bit and the locking bar pulled out too!

I then realised what happened. My heart was in my mouth, I thought I fubared the mobo up!

Anyway, it clipped back down, the locking bar went back in and the CPU installed fine.

My cable management skills are very very poor though, my PC looks like a jungle at the moment! When I have a bit more patience I'll have to rebuild and get the cables nice and sweet.

So yeah, just waiting for my 4850 to arrive now. I doubt I'll see much difference with my 3870 but oh well.

I hope I haven't done any extensive damage by being a fool with the CPU slot, everything seems to be running fine anyway.

Should I be worried? Kinda paranoid as the board cost me £90 hehe.

Cheers!
 
Well it has been fine for the past 48 hrs so I can only assume I didn't do damage :D

Loving the performance increase, can see such a difference!
 
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