Performance question as it pertains to AH

[bacon8tr]

I've spent the better part of the last few months reading posts here and doing general research on the net regarding graphics cards and processors.  All that has really done is given me a very large headache.  I have given very serious considerations to building my first gaming rig because it appears that I can get more bank for my buck in doing so.  My wifes gift to me this year is a new computer(mainly so she can have the current one I use).  This brings me to my question:

I have seen very little written here in reference to the AMD FX-4100(3.6 GHZ).  I am eye-spying a cyber week deal on a rig that has this at it's root.  However, it is paired with a Radeon HD6670 graphics card.  My wife gave me a spending limit of $750.  If this prebuilt rig is of sufficient quality to play and support the "eye candy" graphics then I will have enough fun funds left over to get a CH stick to boot.  

Or am I better off sinking those funds into other components and building my own machine?  Just looking for some feed back from those of you in this community that know alot more about this stuff than I do, as I seem to have hit a wall in my thought process and I change my mind by the hour when considering all of the choices.  Thanks in advance for any information.  

 

[cattb]

Building them yourself is not so hard, and if you can insatall the drivers and operating system.

Building them yourself can have its headaches though like any other project.

[TequilaChaser]

bacon8tr,

any way you could post a link to that pre built PC you are thinking about or could you post the complete specs of it here and the total cost?

in regards to the AMD FX-4100 ........  I have 3 Phenom II processors myself ( 1 dual core & 2 quadcore ) that I am hoping to swap out for those when I get the funds........ they run cooler and use less power than the phenom II's I am wanting to swapout.... ( although the first version of these are fine by most, some are saying wait for the 2nd revision of this particular FX-4100 AMD cpu ....... )

with a lil bit more info / details, I am sure you will get more responses / opinions, etc.....


TC

[bacon8tr]

TC:

I tried to link it, and wasn't successful.  This is the first model on sale for $459.  The power supply is a little weak IMO, and would have liked a little more wiggle room.  The other worry is yes, it's a Cyberpower PC and I know they sometimes like to skimp on quality parts. I've added a second PC for comparison purposes as the second one I have also been considering.  Also, both of these prebuilts are found on Newegg.

CyberpowerPC
ModelGamer Ultra 2098 (GU2098)
TypeGaming
ProcessorAMD FX-4100 3.6GHz
Processor Main Features64 bit Quad-Core Processor
Memory8GB DDR3 1333
Hard Drive500GB SATA II 3.0Gb/s 7200RPM
Optical Drive 124x DVD±R/±RW Dual Layer Drive
GraphicsAMD Radeon HD 6670 1GB
AudioSound card - Integrated
EthernetGigabit Ethernet
Power Supply500W
KeyboardXtreme Gear USB Keyboard
MouseXtreme Gear USB Mouse
Operating SystemWindows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Special FeaturesAZZA Orion Gaming CaseMotherboard
ChipsetNVIDIA GeForce 7025CPU
CPU TypeAMD FX-Series
CPU SpeedFX-4100(3.6GHz)
CPU Socket TypeAM3+
CPU Main Features64 bit Quad-Core ProcessorGraphics
GPU/VPU TypeAMD Radeon HD 6670 1GBMemory
Memory Capacity8GB DDR3
Memory SpeedDDR3 1333
Memory Spec4GB x 2
Memory Slot (Total)2Hard Drive
HDD Capacity500GB
HDD InterfaceSATA II
HDD RPM7200rpmOptical Drive
Optical Drive TypeDVD±RW
Optical Drive Spec24x DVD±R/±RW DUAL LAYER DRIVEAudio
Audio ChipsetIntegrated
Audio Channels7.1 Ch AudioCommunications
LAN ChipsetIntegrated
LAN Speed10/100/1000MbpsFront Panel Ports
Front USB2Back Panel Ports
PS/22
Rear USB4
RJ451 port
Rear Audio PortsYesExpansion
PCI Slots (Available/Total)1x PCI-e 16x
2x PCI-e 1x
1x PCIPhysical Spec
Dimensions20.00" x 17.00" x 7.5"
Weight30.6 lbs.

#2 This one is $579 and is also on sale.

ModelGamer EXTREME 923i
TypeGaming
ProcessorIntel Core i5-2320 3.0GHz
Processor Main Features64 bit Quad-Core Processor
Cache Per Processor6MB L3 Cache
Memory8GB
Hard Drive1TB
Optical Drive 124X DL DVD+/-RW Drive
GraphicsAMD Radeon HD 6770 1GB
Audio8 Channels
EthernetGigabit Ethernet
Power Supply600W
Operating SystemWindows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Special FeaturesXion Echo Black ChassisCPU
CPU TypeIntel Core i5
CPU Speed2320(3.00GHz)
L3 Cache Per CPU6MB
CPU Socket TypeLGA 1155
CPU Main Features64 bit Quad-Core ProcessorGraphics
GPU/VPU TypeAMD Radeon HD 6770 1GBMemory
Memory Capacity8GB DDR3
Memory SpeedDDR3 1333
Memory Spec4GB x 2
Memory Slot (Total)2
Memory Slot (Available)0
Maximum Memory Supported16GBHard Drive
HDD Capacity1TB
HDD InterfaceSATA IIOptical Drive
Optical Drive Type24X DL DVD+/-RW DriveAudio
Audio Channels8 channelsCommunications
LAN ChipsetIntegrated
LAN Speed10/100/1000MbpsFront Panel Ports
Front USB2
Front Audio Ports1Back Panel Ports
PS/22
Video Ports1 VGA
Rear USB6
RJ451 port
Rear Audio Ports3 portsExpansion
External Bays4 x External 5.25" drive bays
Internal Bays5 x Internal 3.5" drive bays
PCI Slots (Available/Total)1 x PCI-Express x16
1 x PCI-Express 2.0 x1Mouse
Mouse TypeiBUYPOWER USB MouseKeyboard
Keyboard TypeiBUYPOWER USB Deluxe KeyboardPhysical Spec
Dimensions19.4" x 16.9" x 7.9"
Weight35 lbs.Packaging
Package ContentsMB Driver disc

[guncrasher]

he's talking about this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229285

and this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227370

semp

[bacon8tr]

Thanks for the assist semp....working from the phone and wasnt cooperating 

[TequilaChaser]

you would be better off using the money your wife is giving you for a PC or gift, by either purchasing your own components or maybe even a Combo kit ( if it looks good ) and building your own DIY PC  ....... or keep searching for a better pre built PC........

the AMD version you have linked above is using a gigabyte GA-M68MT-S2  motherboard......... the FSB is only 1000MHz Hyper Transport (2000 MT/s).....  this is like / ='s using an old dual core sempron processor...... this motherboard will BOTTLENECK the FX4100

MB newegg link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128529

AMD FX4100 newegg link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996

TO KEEP THIS REPLY SHORT!

I did the same research on the Intel pc package you posted/linked above........ it too has the same drawbacks......

some of the most notable are giving you USB mouse & keyboard to use up 2 USB slots when they come with both PS2 ports for the mouse and keyboard yet these are worthless since they are not being used

the boards on both builds are of the lowest economy value boards   ( ASRock  for the Intel  /  Gigabyte for the AMD )

no USB 3.0 ports,    no SATA III 6.0 GBs ports

the Intel PC has an H61 northbridge chipset, thus will not let you have many options or top performance from the Intel Core i5-2320 3.0GHz  cpu


I recommend you look for other alternatives.........

THERE IS NO FUTURE UPGRADE PATHS AVAILABLE FOR EITHER OF THESE COMPUTERS  ( you can only use maybe a few of the components in the future if you build a new pc later on....... examples are the DVD Burner, The Case, the AMD FX-4100 cpu )

hope this helps

TC

[TequilaChaser]

Or am I better off sinking those funds into other components and building my own machine?

Better off applying those funds to components for your own personally built machine, regardless if you go INTEL  or AMD

for a shorter answer

if you need help selecting anything, their are many here who can easily and quickly select the components and post a build for you, if you desire

hope this helps and best of luck

TC

[TequilaChaser]

just a quick example of a DIY list of components

AMD FX-4100  cpu  build   ( FX-4100 newegg combo # 765930 )

-AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4100WMGUSBX  
-GIGABYTE GA-880GM-USB3 AM3+ AMD 880G USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard  
-G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL  
-Rosewill R218-P-BK Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case  
-COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS500-PCARD3-US 500W ATX12V v2.3 Power Supply  
-Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive  
-LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM  
-Linkworld Electronic LLC FAN-9 90mm Case Fan - OEM  

was: $486.92
Discount: -$56.93
Combo Price:$429.99

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

then add a Video Card:

-MSI R6770 Twin Frozr II/OC Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
 
Radeon HD 6770 1GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 Chipset Manufacturer: AMD
Core Clock: 875MHz
Stream Processors: 800 Stream Processing Units
Effective Memory Clock: 1200MHz(4.8Gbps)
Model #: R6770 Twin Frozr II/
Item #: N82E16814127590
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy

Now: $139.99     ($119.99 with Rebate)
$7.56 Shipping
 

_____________________________ _____________________________ _______________________
Total = $569.98  +  Shipping & Taxes if taxes apply  ( Even costs Less after the rebates )

compared to the cyberpower prebuilt PC this example combo deal has Better/Faster System Ram, USB 3.0,  SATA III 6.0 GB/s ports & 1 TB SATA III 6.0 GB/s  Hard Drive, better Northbridge chipset

you can opt for a Rosewill media card reader 40 in 1  for just $7.99 more  free shipping

and you will need to purchase your Windows 7 Home/Professional/Ultimate  64 bit  SP1   OS ( oem dvd disc )   this will cost around 119  to 189 depending on the version you want, although you can get the upgrade win7 from microsoft store via student at a cutrate cheap price, if you have a student id or a family member does........ last check was around $30 or so......  I heard these worked just the same as a full price installation dvd of the retail version......  YMMV

*******************************************************************************************

NOTE: ONLY FOR illustration / example purposes............ am not recommending buying this!

I would not purchase the  System Ram though, I would opt for Corsair Vengence  1600 MHz  8 GB ( 4GB DIMM x 2 ),  and I would search for an AMD AM3+ cpu socket Motherboard that had a 990 Northbridge chipset,  or at least 890 minimal

I only picked the Videocard to match the same model in the prebuilts, although the model I selected is far and beyond better than the prebuilt versions of the same VC, regarding the "msi twin frozr II model", I selected

Remember this is just a quick example of extremely better components  verses buying the above linked pre-built PCwith the FX-4100 cpu



hope this helps ( helps shed why I recommend you build your own or keep searching )

TC
  

[zack1234]

I believe it can get quite obsessional building PC's

[bacon8tr]

TC,  Thank you for your input and research on this matter.  It is much appreciated and after reading your reply I am fairly certain that I will follow your lead and build my own rig.

[gyrene81]

glad tc said those component choices were "for illustration purposes only"... 

[bacon8tr]

   I caught that as well 

[TequilaChaser]

 

I was about to fall asleep on the keyboard............. I meant it was for example only....... I am 

anyhows............ am off to see the Doc


cheers

TC