Computer Build Templating and Pricing...

A M D B U I L D T E M P L A T E S

In trying to figure out the easiest way to represent the different options that I have for designing my PC it has come to my attention that I tend to forget certain things. Therefore I have decided to place things into groups. I am listing Processor, motherboard, RAM and graphics as varying packages since they are the things most likely to be changed. I am listing hard drive, optical (DVD) drive, wireless card and Windows 7 as a group since they are most likely to stay the same. I am also listing power supply and case as their own grouping since they are the most likely thing that will have to be really decided "on location". At the end I will try to show some examples of completed packages.

C P U / M O T H E R B O A R D / R A M / G P U S E T U P S:

I have changed two variables consistantly in these examples: the processor and the graphics card. I could just as easily back down to 4GB of RAM for $110 - $130 and get 4 more later, I may also be able to find a motherboard that would suit my needs just as well that is less expensive -- GIGABYTE an 890gx model for $145 or Asus has an 890fx for $190, although I would prefer to stay away from this as I think I would value USB 3.0 more then I would 4 PCI-E (graphic card) slots.

I currently have 1333 DDR3 RAM chosen because that is the highest non-O.C. RAM type that the GIGABYTE board I am looking at will support. I would not want to buy RAM that would not work. If I have the wrong RAM listed I would certainly appreciate knowing this.

From the absolute cheapest model (1d) to the most expensive model (8a) there is a $395 price difference. Within each model family (1+2, 3+4, 5+6, 7+8 or "whatever processor is labelled") there is a $255 difference from the most expensive model (a -- 5870 edition) to the cheapest model (d, standard edition)

OPTION #1: Phenom II x4 955 3.2ghz

Option 1a:-- $920 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890fx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 1b:-- $865 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890gx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 1c:-- $830 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890fx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 1d:-- $765 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890gx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

OPTION #2: Phenom II x4 965 3.2ghz 5870 Edition

Option 2a -- $1,020 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890fx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 2b -- $965 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890gx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 2c -- $930 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890fx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 2d -- $865 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890gx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

OPTION #3: Phenom II x4 965 3.4ghz

Option 3a: $940 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890fx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 3b: $875 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890gx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 3c: $830 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890fx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 3d: $785 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890gx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

OPTION #4: Phenom II x4 965 3.4ghz 5870 Edition

Option 4a: $1,040 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890fx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 4b: $975 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890gx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 4c: $970 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890fx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 4d: $885 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890gx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

OPTION #5: Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz

Option 5a: $960 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890fx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 5b: $895 -- 2.4ghz six core / 890fx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 5c: $870 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890fx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 5d: $805 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890gx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

OPTION #6: Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz 5870 Edition

Option 6a: $1,060 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890fx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 6b: $995 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890gx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 6c: $970 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890fx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 6d: $905 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890gx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

OPTION #7: Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz

Option 7a: $1,060 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890fx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 7b: $995 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890gx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 7c: $970 -- 3.2ghz / six core / 890fx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 7d: $905 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890gx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

OPTION #8: Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz 5870 Edition

Option 8a: $1,160 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890fx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 8b: $1095 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890gx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 8c: $1,070 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890fx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 8d: $1,015 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890gx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

***

HDD, Optical, Wireless and O.S.: $260

Nothing all too shocking to see here. A nice solid setup that should work just fine regardless of what setup I decide to put with it:

Western Digital Caviar Black 640gb / 64mb cache / 7200rpm -- $70
dvd burner -- $30
wireless card -- $50
Windows 7 Home Premium -- $110

Power Supply and Case

Antec EarthWatts Power Supply 650W ($80) (Fine if I am using one or two 5870s or one 5970)

Antec EarthWatts Power Supply 750W ($120) (Needed if I ever do decide to get 2x 5970. They are $700 plus right now so I don't see this happening soon.) (EarthWatts power supplies claim to be good for the environment, consume less energy reducing hydro bill, and still have excellent performance, according to the manufacturer. I will need to do research.)

All I am missing from my equasion is a case. Once I have that figured out this all becomes wonderfully simple, a matter of following the data here and finding an acceptable price point. Of course this all assumes that I am keeping my mouse and keyboard, otherwise I'll need to add another $50 or so.