New PC gamer looking for extreme budget diy build.

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PatrickCr

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Apr 15, 2013
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I am completely new to this with some minor research done(Don't even quite know whats compatible with what). I'm looking for a Gaming pc on a cheap budget
I have monitor/KB/Mouse/ Can get OS.
Price range: Free - $650 USD
I'm trying to build a pc for Blizzard Games/BF3(if possible)/Crysis(If possible) and going to be attending college this year so i'll need it to run word/powerpoint/ etc. If this is impossible than ty for letting me know.
That's all i can really give an input on, sorry for the lack of information, i tried to do a cheap build to start but i was having trouble with all the different information flowing in.
If i have a lacking of info. again i am sorry, but thank you in advance for any and all opinions/advice.
 
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JD88
In all honesty, this is probably a better rig for the money since the i3 3220 is on sale for $109 right now on Newegg. It is actually a solid performer at that price.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($234.99 @ Newegg)...
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JD88

JD88

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I would suggest something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($84.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.25 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($234.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Tempest 210 ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $646.15
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-15 18:17 EDT-0400)

This is a pretty solid build that will play the games you listed on High or Ultra at 1920x1080.

It is also able to be upgraded down the road.
 
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PatrickCr

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Thank you for your input here. Would you happen to know the settings i would be able to run on say BF3?
 
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PatrickCr

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Not 100% on that, probably not very high seeing as im getting a used one from a friend, i'm just trying to run games smoothly, not worried about the graphics or anything too much until i can get more money saved up and upgrade everything.
 
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JD88

JD88

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You could cut down to a 7850 if you needed to in order to shave about $80 off the price of the build I quoted you. It would still be able to play Battlefield 3 on High or better, especially on a lower resolution monitor.
 
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bak0n

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Find out what that resolution is. If its 720P you can get away with a much cheaper system and still max out settings. If its 1080p or higher, you'll want JD's recommended. Otherwise go with an APU like an A10 or A8 if you only need to drive 720p and you'll be able to take off the discrete video card cost.
 
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Swordkd

Swordkd

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You have an AM3+ Motherboard, and an AM3 Cpu.
 
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JD88

JD88

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I don't see any problem with this. Upgradability down the road certainly isn't a bad thing. There aren't any AM3+ CPUs in the same price range and the more expensive ones don't offer enough of a performance benefit over the 965 to be justified in this case.

The FX-6300 is $45 more and performs less than 5% better in the games he listed. Simply not worth the added cost which can be dumped into graphics for much better performance.
 
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Swordkd

Swordkd

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Very similar to the build that was posted earlier, except for the Motherboard. This Mb will allow you to save money on the Cpu at first by using an AM3 Cpu, then next year upgrade to the best AM3+ Cpu from AMD(they will still be using the same socket then). If you need to cut money, I'd drop down on the video card a bit, easily get it under 650 dollars then. Also later on you'll want to add a heatsink/fan combo so you can overclock the Cpu. Figure about 30 dollars for one that will do just fine(Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo).

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($234.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $655.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-15 18:50 EDT-0400)

Used a white Case because it was a bit less expensive, and it's nice to step out of the box every now and then.
 
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Swordkd

Swordkd

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Right, but will that motherboard accept an AM3 Cpu?

:Edit: Nevermind, it's under the Cpu supported list. Then I'd just scrap my build and definitely go with yours. Allows him to throw the equivalent of an Fx8350 after the next Amd Cpu refresh comes out since it'll still be an AM3+ socket.

 
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JD88

JD88

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You're spending more on the motherboard than on the CPU, and for features that he will likely never use or know existed. It will absolutely accept an AM3 processor.
 
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ScrewySqrl

ScrewySqrl

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$650 can do better than a 4 year old chip.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($135.08 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($98.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 431 Plus (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $613.97
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-15 19:04 EDT-0400)

its $643.97 before $30 in rebates
 
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Swordkd

Swordkd

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The 965 with a 7870XT will give better game performance than the fx6300 and 7850.

 
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JD88

JD88

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The FX-6300 is hardly worth $45 over the Phenom. It's performance on average is almost identical, especially in the games the OP listed.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-processor-frame-rate-performance,3427-9.html

The money is MUCH better spent on graphics.

The entire FX line is rubbish in terms of gaming value aside from the 8350 which is questionable at its price point.
 
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ScrewySqrl

ScrewySqrl

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you're mistaking the Piledriver line with the Bulldozer Line. Bulldozer was awful. Piledriver is competitive with Sandy/Ivy Bridge.

the 4300 runs neck-and-neck with an i3-3220 (behind it in single thread, ahead in multithread).

6300 is a compromise between the i3 and i5. And graphically, the 7850 2gb will be better than an i5 with a 7770. a less expensive motherboard (like say a 960), would allow a 7870
 
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bak0n

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You've also left off the OS which is required to do anything.

Stay to the Phenom II, I have 2 of them and they are great, not as strong as my I5 but for the price they are really strong. Unless of course you only need 720P gaming then go with the A10 or A8 instead.
 
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JD88

JD88

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Not mistaking it at all. If we go by this fairly recent comparison done by Toms:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-processor-frame-rate-performance,3427-9.html

the Phenom II 965 is competitive with the entire FX line all the way up to the FX 8350. The 4300 and 6300 simply don't offer enough extra performance to justify the cost when that money could be better spent on graphics.

I don't recommend the i3 at its price point either. The Core i5 3350p is currently $169 and is much better than the i3 or FX-6300 for only $25 more.

This simply doesn't leave any price point in which the FX line offers good value in terms of performance per dollar as far as current gaming is concerned.

AMD needs to cut the prices of its FX line by about $30 across the board in order to change this.

The OP said he already has an OS.
 
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JD88

JD88

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Feb 25, 2013
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In all honesty, this is probably a better rig for the money since the i3 3220 is on sale for $109 right now on Newegg. It is actually a solid performer at that price.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($234.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Tempest 210 ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $624.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-15 20:04 EDT-0400)
 
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PatrickCr

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This looks like the best deal to me, Thanks to everbody for your time and opinions, Will refer back to toms if i have any other problems, Thanks :)
 
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