What is best for me? (Around 600 dollar build)

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dToast

dToast

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May 4, 2013
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I am looking for a powerful rig for roughly 600 dollars, including the OS but no display.
I mainly would use the rig for gaming, and the odd bit of coding, but nothing too serious.
I don't mind playing my games on medium settings, as long as I get a significant amount of fps.
If anybody could quickly throw together a budget gaming build for me, that would be great!
Thanks in advance.
 
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photonboy


I see no compatibility issues with Rawbunnie's build, but again some minor comments:

1) Highly recommend the Antec VP450 (see review conclusion I linked),

2) the HD7850 vs GTX660's recommended should be very similar performance apples-to-apples and SAME PRICE (I couldn't find the 660 he linked at the $169 recommended though at Newegg). Here's the important thing though:
*The HD7850 I linked has 2.5 games INCLUDED in the price (digital download):
a) Bioshock Infinite http://www.bioshockinfinite.com/?RET=&ag=true
b)...
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thasan1

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Mar 27, 2013
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id say
processor: core i3-3220 @ 3.3 Ghz [ $110 at amazon.com]
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0093H8HXS/?tag=pcpapi-20

mobo : Asrock H77 Pro4/MVP [74$ at newegg]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157302&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

memory : Corsair CMV8GX3M2A1333C9 2X4 GB @ DDR-1333 Mhz [$53 at amazon]
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055LGG3Y/?tag=pcpapi-20

Storage : Seagate ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM HDD [70$ at amazon]
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005T3GRNW/?tag=pcpapi-20

PSU : corsair CX 500 [$58 at amazon]
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0092ML0MY/?tag=pcpapi-20

Case : NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) [$49 at amazon]
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005869J4O/?tag=pcpapi-20

GFX : Sapphire 100358L Radeon HD 7770 Ghz edition [$109 at newegg]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202011&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Total : 523 [included shipping,]
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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Start here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-gaming-overclock-build-a-pc,3443.html

At this price an AMD CPU/Motherboard MIGHT give the best value.

AMD has supposedly just released price cuts for many CPU's but these prices might take a few days or so to be reflected online.

The hard part is:
a) deciding on the optimal CPU (see online benchmarks for several games)
b) balancing the parts (CPU vs GPU)

*For a "gaming build", $500 (after OS) is very, very difficult. An extra $100 makes a very big difference at this point.

I don't have time to make a build, but some quick points:
1) investigate and compare the FX-6300 ($120 here):
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=76934&vpn=FD6300WMHKBOX&manufacture=AMD&promoid=1304

2) Windows 8 64-bit OEM (superior to Windows 7)
*get START8 as well
(Note that Windows 8 has some AMD CPU updates now that have improved performance in some cases).

3) motherboard (AM3+)
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=62545&vpn=GA-970A-D3&manufacture=Gigabyte&promoid=1235

4) DDR3 (could save and get 4GB, but for $56 I recommend 8GB)
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=74758&vpn=PV38G160C9K&manufacture=Patriot

5) **GRAPHICS** MUST READ!!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131472

While this is not in your current budget, it's important to note that it also comes with GAMES that a cheaper HD7770 doesn't have. The HD7850's have:
- FARCRY3 Blood Dragon
- BIOSHOCK Infinite
- Tombraider (new)
*So if these games interest you, I strongly advise throwing them into your overall budget calculations. (Bioshock Infinite in particular is an awesome game.)

Other points:
- $20, quality CPU cooler? (stock one is likely fairly loud)
- read REVIEWS on all parts
- Power Supply (reviews, ensure proper CPU and Graphics Card connectors)
- *Look at Mail In Rebate DATES, Shipping Costs, Other stores (especially if Free Shipping) and SALE PRICES.
 
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Rawbunnie

Rawbunnie

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Sep 19, 2012
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yo check this out. Those 660's are crazy cheap right now... This will max out ever game out there except crysis 3 and metro....And check it out: $599.89 almost exactly $600 :)

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/UX1i
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/UX1i/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/UX1i/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: MSI 970A-G46 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($67.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($169.00 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Full (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $599.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-04 11:04 EDT-0400)
 
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dToast

dToast

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Wow thank you all for your time and effort, the last build looks very promising, and I will just need to check out reviews and compatibility.
If anybody has some other suggestions, feel free to pots them.

Thanks, dToast
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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Pretty nice build overall. Very impressive in fact (I'm in Canada BTW which is sometimes good and sometimes bad for PC building).

Some minor points:
1) That PSU blew up on me within one day. sure, these things happen, but then I did more research it seems that the Corsair Builder series has had a disproportionate share of bad PSU's. Possibly why the Corsair CX430 is only $25. I got a different Antec for more money.

2) Nothing wrong with the GTX660 (I have a 680), but it's worth pointing out that the HD7000 series have some pretty good games included. As I said above for the HD7850, I didn't consider the extra money over a cheaper card part of the overall $600 cost though if those games were of interest (roughly $110 value those 2.5 games).

3) I always recommend a non-stock CPU cooler, even if only $20 as stock coolers are usually fairly noisy and a pain to replace later.

4) For the build price your CPU is also correct. If a little more money could be added ("around" $600) I'd probably recommend the FX-6300.

5) START8 (it's only $5 but I should add it again if I'm going to compare)

So... nice build overall.
Please realize I'm not ripping your build apart. For the price that's about as good as you can do. In fact, it's pretty amazing that a gaming PC could be built that cheaply.

My only big issue is the Power Supply. Having build 100+ systems over the years, I tend to be very cautious (actually the Corsair CX430 is the ONLY power supply that died on me in about 20 years of building).
 
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dToast

dToast

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Ok. I will for sure look into other PSU's and I will look into the CPU cooler but I am on a tight budget, and I am satisfied with the Phenom II 965.

Would any of those parts not be comparable with each other?
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Some MINOR parts updates:

PSU recommendation:
The following is my recommendation, though verify that the connections and power are sufficient:
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=62331&vpn=VP450&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1304

I no longer buy PSU's without more extensive research. Here's the conclusion to a review:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Antec-VP450-Power-Supply-Review/1487/11

Here's the PDF file to confirm connections: http://www.antec.com/pdf/manuals/VP450_manual_EN.pdf
- 4-pin or 8-pin for CPU
- 4xSATA
- 1x6-pin...

OTHER:
I don't want to nitpick. Rawbunnie's build is an awesome start. Perhaps consider my points as well, and if you CONFIRM YOUR BUDGET we can help finalize all this.
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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I see no compatibility issues with Rawbunnie's build, but again some minor comments:

1) Highly recommend the Antec VP450 (see review conclusion I linked),

2) the HD7850 vs GTX660's recommended should be very similar performance apples-to-apples and SAME PRICE (I couldn't find the 660 he linked at the $169 recommended though at Newegg). Here's the important thing though:
*The HD7850 I linked has 2.5 games INCLUDED in the price (digital download):
a) Bioshock Infinite http://www.bioshockinfinite.com/?RET=&ag=true
b) Tombraider http://www.tombraider.com/us/base/agegate?refer=184&
c) Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon (stand-alone expansion) http://www.gamespot.com/far-cry-3-blood-dragon/

All three of these games are quite awesome in fact and currently a $110 value.

*There are some slightly CHEAPER HD7850's as well, though I recommend the 2GB and not the 1GB cards. It's also to investigate if a card has a high rate or failures (customer reviews) and consider the GPU frequency (not all are the same 860MHz to 1000MHz roughly). There's also an OPEN BOX of the same card I recommended for cheaper. SHIPPING seems to be FREE if you qualify as well for some cards even when prices are listed for shipping.

Open box of 1000MHz HD7850 2GB (free shipping?):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131472R

SUMMARY:
My advice would be to base your build on Rawbunnie's basic build but modify to get the Antec VP450 and HD7850 instead. (and Start8 but that's $5 and you can get a free demo).

I'm not seeing any other issues.

(Subtract the $110 game value from the Open Box card that cost $176 and that leaves a card that cost $66. Holy doodle smacks!)
 
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dToast

dToast

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May 4, 2013
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Ok. This build seems like it is the one for me. Thanks to all of you who helped me out, it is much appreciated.
Still debating weather I will change the PSU, but I am not too interested in the games that come with the processor, so I will stay with the GTX.
 
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Rawbunnie

Rawbunnie

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I guess he could do better for the psu but i disagree in terms of your gpu selection. yes, he may get a couple of games for free, but in the long term the 660 is a much more powerful card and he will be able to go longer without upgrading... I would personally rather have a much better card than 2 games... I acctually have the 660 and it is an amazing card for the money.
 
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