$500 budget gaming RIG

Beh162 · Mar 14, 2013

Looking to build my first ever gaming rig and I'm very very new to this! Majority of this will be used to play Sim City 2013. I don't need anything fancy, I just my game to look like the trailers do

Approximate Purchase Date: Ready to start buying ASAP
Budget Range: $500
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming
Are you buying a monitor: No
Do you need to buy OS: Yes
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Open
Location: Long Island, NY
Parts Preferences: Open
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: ?
Your Monitor Resolution: Samsung SyncMaster P2770's 16:9 aspect ratio supports a "Full HD" 1,920x1,080-pixel native resolution
Additional Comments: Building this to be able to play Sim City 2013.
Need a desperate upgrade from this:

First suggested advice:
CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 PRO3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($82.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z9 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $635.47

FinneousPJ · Mar 14, 2013

Seems pretty good.

fallenicarus · Mar 14, 2013

$635 to $500,
i wonder how to cut it off,

mjmacka · Mar 14, 2013

Might want to invest a bit more in the graphics card and you might like Windows 7 better than 8 but it's harder to find.

jessterman21 · Mar 14, 2013

fallenicarus :

No. You do not want to go lower than these specs for a gaming rig. And you'll never regret spending more on electronics (in the budget space, that is).

Jim_L9 · Mar 14, 2013

Do you live near a Microcenter? They often have motherboard CPU combos at a good price.

mikerockett · Mar 14, 2013

If you need to cut to $500, something like this might suit.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.71 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Raidmax Super Hurricane (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 400W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($44.97 @ Outlet PC)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $499.58
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-14 10:31 EDT-0400)

envy14tpe · Mar 14, 2013

Why do you need a 7770 for this game? It doesn't need that much. It's only $90, but a place to save money.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131481
This is $70 and you get Far Cry 3 ($30) for free.

The best way for you to save is on CPU + mobo. Your listing is $140 +$83 = $223

At microcenter, you can get a bundle: FX-6300 + ASRock EXt 4 for $180
AND microcenter is in Long Island too.

Those changes saves $60.

mjmacka · Mar 14, 2013

The Microcenter bundle looks like a good deal for what the poster needs... I wish there were some on the west side of Michigan.

Beh162 · Mar 14, 2013

I'm going to price a few things on microcenter now and post my findings.

One reply said to upgrade the card and another said that I don't need that particular one. What to do?

mikerockett · Mar 14, 2013

For sim city i can't see the 7770 having many problems handling it.

Beh162 · Mar 14, 2013

mikerockett :

If you need to cut to $500, something like this might suit.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.71 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Raidmax Super Hurricane (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 400W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($44.97 @ Outlet PC)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $499.58
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-14 10:31 EDT-0400)

I'm really liking this setup for just shy of $500

envy14tpe · Mar 14, 2013

Beh162 :

I said to down grade the GPU to save money. Also, you can check "Recommended System Requirements"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SimCity_(2013_video_game) (just a quick search)

You can see that you don't need a 7770 to run this game. The website says:
"nVidia GTX 275 or better, or ATI 5850 or Better" you can buy those for $30.

mikerockett · Mar 14, 2013

Glad you like it, it's using a slightly older processor but when were looking at budget rigs we need to look at all avenues available. A good quad core CPU with a 7770 will be a fine set up for a cheap gaming rig. I recommend when you've got a spare $20-30 lying around, investing in a good CPU cooler.

jesot · Mar 14, 2013

Just from NewEgg...
CPU: Intel 3350P ($170)
MoBo: ASRock B75 Pro ($75)
RAM: G.Skill ARES 1600 8GB ($60)
GPU: Radeon HD 7850 ($155)
HDD: Seagate 1TB ($80)
Case: Thermaltake V3 Black ($30)
PSU: Corsair CX500 ($40)
Total: $610

mikerockett · Mar 14, 2013

jesot :

Good, but $110 over budget and missing an optical and a copy of windows.

Beh162 · Mar 14, 2013

envy14tpe :

Oh yeah makes sense. I'll upgrade slightly above that and add a CPU cooler just to be safe!

mikerockett · Mar 14, 2013

Not saying that envy is wrong but for the price difference of $15 between the 7750 and 7770 i would get the 7770. It should net you 5-20 extra fps depending on the game, also gives you more room if you want to play other games as well.

jesot · Mar 14, 2013

If you have access to a Microcenter, that's where you'll want to get your CPU, MoBo, and RAM. They always have lower prices than anyone on CPUs and they give a really hefty discount when you get a CPU/MoBo combo and often also give you like $5 off RAM. I put together an HTPC last month and ended up getting $55 off the in-store prices from combining CPU, MoBo, and RAM...which ended up being $85 cheaper than anywhere online because of their great CPU prices.

Cases and PSUs tend to be cheaper on NewEgg and the other online stores. HDDs vary.

envy14tpe · Mar 14, 2013

mikerockett :

I agree, but for someone who wants to play Sim City (not Battlefield 3) and $500ish budget, you need to save money somewhere. Also, is there any difference between a 7750 and 7770 in Sim City?

mikerockett · Mar 14, 2013

envy14tpe :

I honestly couldn't say for sure, not exactly the most benchmarked game out there

From what i can tell from the system requirements it looks like it may be more processor bound than GPU. Really depends on the OP, either will be perfectly fine, just depends if he wants the extra and if he's likely to play other games.

Beh162 · Mar 14, 2013

Going with the 7750 to save a few extra bucks is fine. I'm not a huge gamer so just enough to get by is fine! I'm just sick of laggy game play and crappy graphics.

jesot · Mar 14, 2013

If you can get to a Microcenter, you can go with the FX 6300 with mikerockett's build and actually save $26 on the bottomline when you bundle it with that same motherboard.

Beh162 · Mar 14, 2013

I'll be checking out Microcenter tomorrow!

Thanks for all the help, can't wait to get this started

mikerockett · Mar 14, 2013

Good luck with your build and enjoy your new rig

$500 budget gaming RIG

Honorable

Splendid

Honorable

Honorable

Splendid

Distinguished

Distinguished

Champion

Honorable

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Champion

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Distinguished

Champion

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Share this page