[-73H_64M3R-]

booest need somebody to do AMD so i will do it.

BIG CREDIT TO BATUCHKA!

----------Notes----------
-All prices are in Singapore Dollars.
-For members good with hardware, please help spot mistakes like incompatibility, or if there are better deals.
-I didn't list the budget because I feel that the usage corresponds to the budget.
-These are just the common usage. Please help come up with more types of usage and I will create the specifications for them.
-Advantage of an AMD rig is that the price/performance ratio is good. It shows that you don't have to burn a big hole in your pocket to get the performance you need.
-Components not listed means it is either integrated or it is up to you to choose. You should ONLY use this guide as a rough knowledge of what you should get, not as a complete guide. DO NOT BLINDLY FOLLOW THE GUIDE. We do not know what exactly you need, so please ask if you have any doubts.
---------------------------

Rig A - Casual Gaming

CPU/Mainboard Bundle AMD AM2 X2 5200+ and Biostar Geforce MCP6P-M2 = $179
Graphic Card PowerColor HD 4850 Play! = $239
RAM Corsair PC5300 DDR2 CL5 2GB = ?
Optical Drive Pioneer 20X LightScribe DVDRW = $47
Hard Disk Seagate 7200.10 32MB 500GB Sata II = $101
Casing CoolerMaster Centurion5 = $79

Rig B - Moderate Gaming

CPU/Mainboard Bundle AMD Phenom X4 9550 + Biostar TA790GX3 AM2+ = $403 (PC Themes)
Graphic Card PowerColor Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 ZeroTherm PCS = $398
RAM Corsair Twin2X PC-6400 DDR2 2x1GB = $59
Sound Card Asustek Sonar DX PCI-E = $133
Optical Drive Pioneer 20X LightScribe DVDRW = $47
Hard Disk Seagate 7200.10 32MB 500GB Sata II = $101
Casing Silverstone KL01
Power Supply Antec TruePower Trio 550

Rig C - Heavy Gaming

Prices from PC Themes Sim Lim Square #04-19

Motherboard Biostar TA790GX3 AM2+ & Phenom 9850 = $449
RAM 2 x 2GB Kingston DDR2 800 = $80
Graphic Card PowerColor HD 4870 X2 = $769
Sound Card
Power Supply Aerocool 650W = $149
Casing CoolerMaster 690 = $129
Optical Drive LG Sata DVD 22x = $39
Hard Disk Western Digital 640 = $116

Rig D - Low-Power Home Theater PC

Notes from batuchka This shall be the base configuration, i.e end user may add TV tuner card, wireless 5.1 speakers, add more powerful (or run on IGP) discrete GPU, Blue-ray ODD at own discretion. Some advice: take care of clearance space if going with a SFF/Shoebox casing when considering after market heat sink!

CPU X2 4850E 45w = $99 (Cybermind)
Motherboard Biostar 790GX XE mATX = $150 (Tradepac)
RAM 2 x 2GB DDR2 800 Kingston = $80
Hard Disk Western Digital 640GB = $116
Power Supply Acbel E2 470w = $65 (Tradepac)
Casing Silverstone SG-02F = $108
Optical Drive Samsung SHS203B SATA DVDRW = $36

Rig E - Office + 3D Rendering/Multi Tasking

Notes from batuchka Depending on some professional 3D rendering software, it could be that mainstream GPUs may not have optimised drivers to address smooth operation of work. End user is advised to research on this and if need be, consider professional drafting/CADD GPUs like Matrox, FireGL, Quadro, etc. Also it is well documented that certain rendering/professional applications may be unstable once chip is overclocked in case you were wondering.

CPU + Motherboard Bundle Palit 780G + x3 8750 = $301 (Video Pro)
RAM 2 x 2GB Kingston DDR2 800 = $80
Graphic Card Inno/Force 3D HD 4670 = $133
Hard Disk Western Digital 640 = $116
Casing + Power Supply CoolerMaster 335+ CoolerMaster 460W = $109 (Video Pro)

Rig F - Budget/Kid's 1st Rig

CPU + Motherboard Bundle X2 4800 + Biostar MCP6P = $145 (Tradepac)
RAM 2GB DDR2 800 Kingston = $40
Casing + Power Supply Powerlogic Futura 220 + Integreated PSU = $39 (Laser)
Optical Drive Samsung DVDRW IDE = $34
Hard Disk Hitachi 160gb = $57

any suggestions are still welcome.

[batuchka]

Updated - see Posts 143-145, page 10

[-73H_64M3R-]

Originally Posted by batuchka

Rig D: Low power HTPC
X2 4850E 45w = $99 (cYBERMIND)
Biostar 790GX XE mATX = $150 (Tradepac)
2 x 2gb ddr2 800 Kingston = $80
WD 640GB = $116
Acbel e2 470w = $65 (Tradepac)
Silverstone SG-02F = $108
Samsung SHS203B SATA DVDRW = $36
$654

Rig E: SLI capable Gamer
BioStar T-Power N750 nForce 750 = $199 (Potterhouse)
x4 9850 = $274 (Video pro)
2 x 2GB Kingston ddr2 800 = $80
Palit 9800GTX+ = $299
Aerocool 650W = $149
CM 690 = $129
Samsung SHS203B SATA DVDRW = $36
WD 640 = $116
$1282

Rig F: Office + 3d Rendering/multi tasking
Palit 780G + x3 8750 = $301 (Video pro)
2 x 2GB Kingston ddr2 800 = $80
Inno/Force 3D HD 4670 = $133
WD 640 = $116
CM 335+ CM 460W = $109 (vIDEO pRO)
$739

some suggestions ?

thanks! i had HTPC in mind too. i'll add the specs you come up with with your credit.

[batuchka]

Updated - see Posts 143-145, page 8

[-73H_64M3R-]

Originally Posted by batuchka

Thanks - glad to help some other suggestion for the less fortunate maybe

Rig F: Budget/Kids 1st rig

x2 4800 + Biostar MCP6P = $145 (Tradepac)
2GB ddr2 800 Kingston = $40
Powerlogic Futura 220 + PSU = $39 (Laser)
sAMSUNG DVDRW IDE = $34
Hitachi 160gb = $57
$315

thanks!

[Chris_Moneymaker]

Hmm can revise on the heavy budget gaming rig?

Mobo+CPU: Biostar TA790GX3 AM2+ & Phenom 9850 = $449
RAM: 2x2GB Kingston DDR2 800 = $80
GFX Card: 2x Sapphire 4850 512MB Toxic Crossfire = $578
PowerSupply: Corsair 620W Modular = $174
casing: Lancool K7 Bone = $115
Optical Drive: LG Sata DVD 22x = $39
HDD: WD 640GB = $118

Total: $1553

Taken from pc themes

[ah_khoo]

board for moderate gamin can be changed to biostar 790gx3 or d upcomin dfi 790fx/sb750...

appreciate d efforts, keep it up guys...

[batuchka]

Just thinking a bit - some notes:

1) Low power HTPC shall be base configuration, i.e end user may add TV tuner card, wireless 5.1 speakers, add more powerful (or run on IGP) discrete GPU, blueray ODD at own discretion. Some advise: take care of clearance space if going with a SFF/Shoebox when considering after market HSF!

2) Rendering rig: depending on some professional 3D rendering software it could be that mainstream GPUs may not have optimised drivers to address smooth operation of work. End user advised to research on this and if need be consider professional drafting/CADD GPUs like Matrox, FireGL, Quadro, etc Also it is well documented that certain rendering/pro apps may be unstable once chip is OCed in case you were wondering...

[-73H_64M3R-]

thanks!

[sabe]

That's slightly misleading, 4850 is capable of playing graphical intensive games even at 1920x1200, just don't set AA/etc to max. If you want something that's NOT capable of playing graphical intensive games, you're thinking more of like a 4670 or 3850. Even those are arguable really.

If you want a GFX for a heavy gaming rig, why not try a 4870x2? Then you're not limited to Nvidia chipset boards.

[-73H_64M3R-]

Originally Posted by sabe

That's slightly misleading, 4850 is capable of playing graphical intensive games even at 1920x1200, just don't set AA/etc to max. If you want something that's NOT capable of playing graphical intensive games, you're thinking more of like a 4670 or 3850. Even those are arguable really.

If you want a GFX for a heavy gaming rig, why not try a 4870x2? Then you're not limited to Nvidia chipset boards.

thanks for the suggestion.

guys i have another idea. why not we list down recommended hardwares instead of just rigs for specific usage. like which are the recommended monitors or motherboard and what usage they are good for. users who are slightly advanced will have flexibility in choosing their new rig.

[batuchka]

Ok i can kick off processors + motherboards:

Processors:
1mb L2 brisbane 65nm/65w
x2 3600 - x2 6000 (89W)
1.9-3.1ghz
unlocked multiplier: x2 5000/5400 black

2mb L2 windsor 90nm/89-125w
x2 4800 - x2 6400
2.4-3.2ghz
unlocked multiplier: x2 6400 black

1mb L2 brisbane/45w
x2 4050e, x2 4450e, x2 4850e
2.1-2.5ghz

Tolimans, 95w Tricores AM2+ / phenoms x3
x3 8450 - x3 8750
2.1-2.4ghz
unlocked multiplier : x3 8750 black just released in USA

Agenas B3 revision, 95-140w AM2+ / phenoms x4
x4 9150 - 9950
1.9 - 2.6ghz
unlocked multiplier: x4 9850/9950 BE
9950 latest rev is 125 not 140w

Agenas B3 revision, 65W EE AM2+ /phenoms x4
x4 9150e, 1.8ghz
x4 9350e, 2.0ghz

Denebs, 125W TDP AM2+/phenom 2 X4
x4 920, 940 Black Edition
2.8GHZ, 3.0ghz with unlocked multi
New Cool n Quiet 3 system
2mb L2
6mb L3
45nm process

Motherboards:

Ultra budget/IGP/discrete (<$88)
Biostar MCP6P
Biostar GF7025
pALIT n68s
Ok for low end brisbanes or even up to x2 6000 Windsor if mobo can support and not planning on any upgrades in future

AM2+/budget/IGP/discrete (<$120)
Palit 780G--SB 700
Biostar GF8200
Biostar TA770 <--no igp./SB 600
Still in el cheapo range but ability to take in AM2+ natively with full HT 3.0 and ddr2 1066 support when phenoms are used. IGP on these can do blue ray and light gaming no issues on its own with hybrid crossfire and sli with certain GPUs. Once here i would look to run maybe x3/x4s in the future

AM2+ midrange gaming mobos ($150-$200)
Biostar 790GX series--SB 750 (latest) 8x + 8x crossfire
MSI K9A2CF-F--SB 600 8x + 8x crossfire
Gigabyte MA-770-DS3--SB 600
Abit AX78--SB 600
aSUS M3A 770--SB 600
Biostar TPower N750 SLI 8x + 8x SLI

Once u hit these boys u have single GPU and crossfire/SLI Price difference depends on if solid capacitors used, brand, etc. I would be looking for no less than a x2 5600 Windsor (if gaming asap) as the lowest entry chip here and can go all out till 9950be if mobo supports it!

High end > $200
MSI K9A2 Platinum
DFI LP DK 790FX
Gigabyte MA790GP-DS4H
MSI DKA790GX
Asus M3N-HT

Here u have crazy 4 way crossfire or 3 way sli

[batuchka]

Ok after prowling SLS yesterday i have a 'budget' DX10 Blueray capable cpu+mobo bundle alternative hehe

Biostar GF8100 + X2 4800 = $184 (Bell)

Those looking to upgrade to AM2+ with an AM2 chip: the mobo sells for $99 alone

[-73H_64M3R-]

thanks! continue posting if you have anymore.

[skweam]

even for casual gaming, id rather you dun skimp on the rams. 2gb is the sweet spot.

btw, from the looks of it, im using a casual gaming range pc for heavy gaming. rofl.