Awesome X2 Overclockers Budget Gaming Build

[Sora]

This is a build I put together that is for an overclocker on a budget. With these parts 2.8ghz+ on the X2 3600 is easily possible. It has the pottential of hitting 3ghz which is Equvilent to a C2D at around 2.5ghz; so basically it would perform around the same as a stock E6600 in gaming. The second part listed in an area is a step-up from the original if you want to but every part in the build would build a fine gaming PC. This is an overclockers build which is used to take advantage of the cheap X2 OEM for only 65 bucks, as there are cheaper non overclocking parts . This will keep up with a C2D just fine.

CPU: X2 3600
Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - OEM

Cooler: Arctic Freezer Pro 64
Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail

Mobo: Biostar Tforce 550
Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TFORCE 550 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 550 MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

RAM: 2x1GB G.Skill DDR2-800 NQ's OR G.Skill NR's
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail


PSU: Xclio 450w OR FSP 450w
Newegg.com - XClio 450BL ATX 450W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, CUL, TUV, CB - Retail
Newegg.com - FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.2, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail

HDD: Western Digital 160GB 16MB Cache or Seagate 7200.10 250 or 320GB.
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar RE WD1600YS 160GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Video Card: EVGA 7900GS OR X1950XT or X1950XT OPEN BOX
Newegg.com - EVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO Video Card - Retail
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 VIVO HDCP Video Card - Retail
Newegg.com - Open Box: SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 VIVO HDCP Video Card - OEM


Case : Cooler Master Centurion 5
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Total came to $600 with the cheaper parts and then $710 with all of the secondary parts combined. Not bad considering they will max out tons of games..

I wanted to see how cheap I could make a build that still kicks major arse.

Cheers, go ahead to try to find better Price/Performance parts to fit this budget and its needs if you can.

 

[Nagasama]

here's a good review of the x2 3600/550 combination.

AMD X2 3600 and Biostar T-Force 550 Combo, Page One

i may have to try this out. that foxconn 590 board is pretty high dollar cha ching cha ching and it looks like this board could quite possibly overclock just as well.
nice build sora.

 

[Sora]

Woah thats a real nice link you found there man!

The Foxconn 590 is a crazy overclocker and it's so much money becuase it supports SLI. It's not really worth it unless you have SLI. It's in comparison to buying a 680i over a DS3 or P6N when going to overclock.

 

[Nagasama]

yeah, and i dont need sli lol we both know that.
you think the 550 chipset is as good as the 590 overclocking wise?
it says something in that link i posted about what is missing on the t550 (compared to the newer chipsets), but it was nothing major...

 

[ThirdLeft152]

wow. thats nice a $150 set-up that could rival my $400 set-up at a decent overclock...

 

[Sora]

The only difference between the 550 and the 570 the 570 supports partial SLI with 28 PCI-E lanes and then the 590 supports full SLI with 48 lanes as well as uses the MCP55XE Northbridge and C51XE Southbridge. I'm not exactly sure what those are but regardless I think the OC would be very similar as the Biostar .

 

[Nagasama]

i think i'm sold. i'm gonna buy it, a 3600, and 2gb of that HK goodness.
ima sleep on it, but it looks like i am decided.
although, i've got to ask a few questions about swapping mobos and stuff before i am absolutely certain.

 

[Trotter]

Ten Tips for Easy Motherboard Upgrades--ExtremeTech How-To

 

[Whirlwind]

Nice job on that gaming build,man that is a fantastic price.

 

[veg1992]

u can easily go atleast 3.1 ghz, i mean in the article the most he could go to was 2.9 ghz and thats because he has Super Talent RAM instead of GSkill's this system kicks butt!!