Buying phenom II custom build

[acerinpa]

Hi - Guys- have been lurking for months and learning- purchased and upgraded laptop from advice on this site. etc.

Have "opportunity" to buy a custom build 1 month old computer. See specs below:

1) Logitech Black USB Wireless Desktop MK300 Keyboard and Mouse - Retail
Item #: N82E16823126069 $36.42

2) BELKIN F8E081-BLU Standard Mouse Pad - Retail
Item #: N82E16826999025 $1.98

3) Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Item #: N82E16822136319 $74.99

4 ) 3 - MASSCOOL FD08025S1M4 80mm Case Fan - Retail
Item #: N82E16835150007 $5.16 ($1.29 ea)

5) Rosewill RH-40C 3.5mm Circumaural Multimedia Stereo Headset
Item #: N82E16826193029 $6.99

6) XFX HD-489X-ZSFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail Item #: N82E16814150438 $199.99

7) ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131402 $119.99

8) Nippon Labs 3 ft. ESATA Male to ESATA Male Flat Cable – Green Color Model SATA-3-GN l
Item #: N82E16812816098 $7.19

9) CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139006 $109.99

10) SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model SH-S222A - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151175 $30.99

11) G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231193 $191.98
($95.99 ea)

12) AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 140W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ965FBGIBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103692 $194.99

13) COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811119137 $69.99

This has Win7 -64 premium, adobe 10, both legal copies with disc/codes, and is working perfectly. He wants $950 for it.

Options= 1) Buy this as is. parts without OS and adobe run over $950

Option 2) ) buy without the 4890 - $200 and then buy a 5770 - I prefer the HDMI out of the 5770 as I game on my 54" plasma TV and the direct11 support.

Options please. Thanks

 

[iBaker]

Go option 2. I know how nice it is to have an HDMI-out when you have a nice TV to play on. Another perk on the 5770 is that it's DirectX11.

Plus you can pocket $30 since you can pick up the XFX 5770 for $169.99

 

[acerinpa]

So , pretty good deal???

 

[dirkpitt45]

Idk about a deal, about the same price as buying that stuff apart. But I'd say go for it, seems decent enough. Though it has an IDE dvd drive, and an extra SATA cable for no apparent reason, along with the headset and stuff which seems kinda superficial but up to you.

 

[acerinpa]

Yes- not really a "great deal" - other than lacking the time and knowledge to put the parts together. I was actually looking forward to building my first PC. But, with 3 kids, work,etc. keeps putting me behind on all my projects. This way it is already done. Definitely will be getting the 5770, and not using the 4890, or if anybody could suggest any other video card that will work - let me know. I don't think I can put out the $$ for a 58XX card and I want to stay with an ATI card due to the HDMI out on them - the 5770 is about $170. I would go as hi as $220. Or would I be better off with two 5770's in the future?? I will have to check out the specs on the MOBO to determine if that option exists. Dirk , you mentioned the IDE DVD drive - is that good or bad?

 

[Slaymate]

IDE is getting pretty old, my office pc doesn't even have an IDE plug. But it will work ok, just get a SATA drive if it dies, you can get them for about $25

 

[acerinpa]

Thanks for info guys. Well this "deal" is maybe blowing up. Seller now admits he does not have the Adobe license. So - I offered $700 and for him to keep the 4890 video car. He is "thinking about it". I will wait a day and then go back to putting together my own build using the 5770 card, a 955 black Phenom II, corsair 650 watt PSU, 2 x 2gb memory, a SATAS DVD drive, the 640 gb WD black HDD, etc. Will then ask for help on Mobo pick , fans, case, type of memory, which DVD drive,etc.

 

[iBaker]

Your custom build sounds almost identical to mine.

Ever think about getting the PhenomII X2 550 Black edition and unlocking the 2 extra cores? Saves you about $70.

 

[acerinpa]

hmm.. I am not real "teckie" - so don't know how to "unlock" cores. I am scared about even putting together a build of regular parts that are "approved" by very knowledgeable people on this site. So , doubt I would unlock/modify a processor, or overclock anything. I have learned a ton just following along on different threads for the past months.

 

[iBaker]

I can understand that, There is nothing wrong with keeping it simple. However, it wouldn't hurt to read about it HERE and expand your knowledge on the topic.

I only bring this up becuase my build was identical to yours except when I learned about unlocking a Dual core 550B.E. into a quad core (there after dubbed B50) is as easy as reflashing the BIOS on certain motherboards like this one, I changed out my plans of getting the 955 to the 550 since it is nearly identical performance once unlocked and costs $75 less.