New PC build for ~600USD

[Vaidas B]

Hey there boys and girls. I'm new at this whole PC building thing, so pardon me if this a bad build. I'm doing this on a budget, so I can't go for the "top of the line" stuff. I've got pretty much everything I need, but I'd like some comments from people who actually know what they're talking about.
A few things to point out:

This is an AMD build, because, as I said, I don't have the money.
I'm from Europe, so sites like newegg won't really do me any good, I still use them for price reference though. I won't use Amazon.co.uk because they're costly as heck (I can find most parts for at least 10~15 USD less, don't worry about that).
I haven't bought anything yet, so we can change stuff and see how that works out.

So let's begin.

Case: Thermaltake Commander MSI http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133190&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4003003&SID=olwqhrqjvlba
This case is fairly cheap, it has good air flow and esthetics. However, I would like something with buttons, LED's and USB's on top, since the PC is going to be under my desk. So yeah, any tips would be great.

PSU: Crossair 600W supply. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3899435&SID=skim1402X558040Xa394f194a10c39ccf742c057f8f2e3 ec This seems to be enough to run my current system, and has loads of room for future upgrades, plus I can reuse it if I ever decide to build a new PC.

Motherboard: ASRock 970DE3/U3S3. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157305 This seems to be the best option, I simply get the most out of my cash. I would like some options that support CrossFireX

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3899435&SID=skim1402X558040X13131e60fa4ab553473a0de0645639 4e
Seems to be the best option, since a couple of my friends advised me this processor.

RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145263&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3899435&SID=skim1402X558040X9c3e7a2f2627516e3214da288c682a b6
Since the card has four ram slots, I can easily upgrade by adding more ram sticks.
I do have a question, let's say I have 2x2 ram (with a total of 4GB), and I want 12GB, can I add 2x4 ram sticks to the ones I have or do they have to be the same?

Graphics card:SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6850 1GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3899435&SID=skim1402X558040X27a48b65cfd2fbb52b9620b90f02b6 36

Sound card: Onboard will do, later on I'll get an external sound card like the Creative X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro.

Hard Drive(s): Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3 500GB 7200 RPM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

Optical Drive(s): I have no idea, I'll probably reuse my old one, I won't be using it for anything other than OS and driver installation.

Monitor: a 1280 x 768 Samsung, maybe I'll upgrade in the future, but right now this is enough.

Speakers: Doesn't really matter, I mainly use a wireless Samsung headset.

Operating System: Windows 7, I have a copy.


That's about it, feel free to change stuff. I don't really want to step over 600USD.

Thank you for your time.

[RickyTick]

How about this AMD combination. It should perform the same or better, and put you into a more updated cpu architecture.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

Your build is solid with or without what I recommended above.

[zburns]

Neither the motherboard in Vaidas list, nor Ricky Tick's mobo choice has on board connectors on the motherboard for USB 3.0. They have USB 2.0, but not 3.0. The selected case (as most other cases) has front panel USB 3.0 female plugs.

Point is a motherboard needs to be selected that has terminals for at least two 'onboard' USB 3.0 front panel plugs. I am looking but it will take a little time. Wanted to alert Vaidas and Ricky.

[zburns]

Vaidas,

The following are eleven motherboards that use the AMD FX990 chipset for socket AM3+ . One of the them is marked 'no usb3.0' -- do not consider it. Look at the rest of the various manufacturers products, look at the mfg website, not newegg for specs. Click on specs at each site and read them carefully. Make a choice, let us know. If you are picking by budget, I think any of them work for any of the FX AMD processors (these are different than your spec). The FX 4170 as opposed to the FX 4100. I recommend the FX 4170 which is faster than the one Ricky's post listed yesterday. The FX 4170 is a new release and has very good speed. Edit: It is a Quad Core. AMD FX-4170 Zambezi 4.2GHz (4.3GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+
Newegg link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106009 AMD link: http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/processors/amdfx/Pages/amdfx-model-number-comparison.aspx

Please go thru them, specs and price wise; pick whatever suits your budget. Let us know the choice.

AMD 990FX ECS A990FXM-A AM3+ ATX
AMD 990FX GIGABYTE (No usb3.0) GA-990FXA-D3 AM3+ ATX
AMD 990FX ASUS CVF AM3+ ATX

AMD 990FX ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX AM3+ ATX
AMD 990FX ASUS M5A99X EVO AM3+ ATX
AMD 990FX MSI 990FXA-GD80 AM3+ ATX

AMD 990FX GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD7 AM3+ ATX
AMD 990FX GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD5 AM3+ ATX
AMD 990FX GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 AM3+ ATX

AMD 990FX Biostar TA990FXE AM3+ ATX
AMD 990FX ASRock 990FX Extreme4 AM3+ ATX

Whatever you choose, let us know. Ask any questions !!! (I tried to spread the chart out but to no avail. Little harder to read, sorry!)

EDIT: All of the above mobo listings (except the one marked NO) have USB 3.0 as a feature but they all have an internal connections for two front panel USB 3.0 plugs from the case.

Edit 8:15pm: All the motherboards above support a version of SLI and/or Crossfire. There is at least two that support Quad versions, a couple that support 3 way versions.
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Edit Wed am: The list above is from a hugh AMD list of motherboards/chipsets that support a particular AMD Cpu (in this case FX cpus). All of the above mobos have at least two PCIe x16 identical slots for Crossfire support (or Invidia SLI). I also went thru the list leaving out any mobo that did not support USB 3.0, in particular, USB 3.0 with the internal connection terminal to handle the Case front panel USB 3.0 female terminals.