Looking for a low budget gaming rig

sillysoft · May 9, 2013

Approximate Purchase Date: Next week

Budget Range: $900, can go up to $1000 if need be

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing the web

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Do you need to buy OS: Yes - Prefer Windows 7

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon.com

Location: Phoenix, AZ USA

Parts Preferences: Intel or AMD is fine

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Additional Comments: Looking for a computer for mainly gaming with the latest games out for my teenage kids. Also looking for a good mic and webcam so they can chat during their games and use skype.

Rugnir_Viking · May 9, 2013

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/WaXe
Little over but perfect for this price (my opinion)

bigshootr8 · May 9, 2013

Okay so here is what I would suggest. Here is a i5 platform which is near as good as you are going to get for gaming. It not a overclocking chip however it will provide everything anyone would need currently. I found a good deal on a refurbished webcam my parents use it on there computer ( I purchased the same one ) and it has a mic with it as well which is really good quality wise. The only thing you would need to do is download the software from there website but that is a minor thing plus you save 20 dollars or so by getting it refurbished. I also picked a 7850 because its a good value firstly and secondly you get FC 3 Blood Dragon, Bioshock & Tomb Raider with it so there will be entertainment to be had right away

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($82.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.16 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.28 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.96 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.94 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($149.99 @ NCIX US)
Other: Logitech C525 USB 2.0 HD WebCam ($34.99)
Total: $955.83
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-09 17:57 EDT-0400)

bigshootr8 · May 9, 2013

Rugnir the problem with your build is you have a overclocking k sku chip in a h77 board.

RedJaron · May 9, 2013

Subtracting Windows and a monitor means you've got about $600 left for a build. Are you looking for anything other than gaming on this? Any design work, video editing? Anything like that?

Big has a great idea there. It's solid, very flexible, and will run any current game nicely. If you want this to be a dedicated gaming machine you could swap an i3 to put more money toward the video card. However games are becoming increasingly CPU dependent, so that may be kind of limiting in the long run. Keeping the i5 means you can drop in a GPU upgrade in a year or two and keep the games running smoothly for years to come.

bigshootr8 · May 9, 2013

Yea the only reason I would go against a i3 at this point is that games are becoming more optimized for more cores 4+ so its hard for me to still recommend a dual core for gaming.

Rugnir_Viking · May 9, 2013

bigshootr8 :

the 3570k is cheaper (bizzarely) than the 3570 (non k) last time i checked pcpartpicker

bigshootr8 · May 9, 2013

Look at the cost of the 3470 I have up there 150 dollars

Try and beat it it can't be done at this point. You have the 3570 at 207 and the k at 209.

non k
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i53570
k
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i53570k

Rugnir_Viking · May 9, 2013

bigshootr8 :

perhaps i was thinking of uk version of pcpartpicker seeing as thats where i live

true enough, although i seem to have gotten quite the btter gpu also, and lower total system price. cant turn down 1tb vs 500gb but for the difference in price you could just upgrade.

EDIT:
not even there. i wonder what i was thinking of. your right though, and with that in mind the systems down the the $900

bigshootr8 · May 9, 2013

yea perhaps those on the other end of the pond may have a higher cost. Trust me I was trying to squeeze a better gpu in there but going with a 7950 would of broke that budget.

Rugnir_Viking · May 9, 2013

My new build looks like this then

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470S 2.9GHz Quad-Core Processor ($197.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI H77MA-G43 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.47 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($202.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS-I ID ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.94 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Acer G215HVBbd 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $912.31
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-09 18:48 EDT-0400)
howver you did get the webcam in there.

bigshootr8 · May 9, 2013

That could work I had a good experience with my previous acer monitor. However you can't beat the warranty and service you get with the ASUS side of things there ARR service for 2 years means that you get free shipping to them and when you ship to them during the RMA process they ship you a new monitor for free on the spot. You are also missing the webcam/microphone element

Rugnir_Viking · May 9, 2013

bigshootr8 :

true but why so expensive?
i skype all the time with my cheapo
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trust-16973-Starzz-Microphone/dp/B003MFYY3Y/ref=wl_it_dp_v_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2ZT3TVZ8VICYK&coliid=I2J7QYXW3BT4MD
and
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Webcam-Microphone-Vista-Laptop-Skype/dp/B002MUPQ46/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1368140112&sr=1-2&keywords=webcam
and i never run into problems for background sound, feedback loods etc, even when playing voices from skype over my speakers also on the desk

bigshootr8 · May 9, 2013

Because I went with something that had a decent mic with it as well plus the quality of the camera is great HD status. You are essentially paying 30 dollars for a mic that's really good and a camera that is very good as well. Plus your going with quality as well going with a company like logitech.

Rugnir_Viking · May 9, 2013

bigshootr8 :

guess its up to the OP now. We have discussed the options and he can make his choice.

bigshootr8 · May 9, 2013

True enough ha! I'm sorry debating can be quite tiring hopefully I didn't disinterest you in discussing.

Rugnir_Viking · May 9, 2013

dont worry

, just wanted to end it there so it didnt go on too long. also pretty much everythign else in the builds was the same.

sillysoft · May 10, 2013

RedJaron :

No, just strictly for gaming. I have another computer I built not to long ago for video editing, design work etc.

KillerGamer · Dec 24, 2013

Go for an Nvidia GTX660 instead of an ATI/AMD Video Card. I feel they're better...

Looking for a low budget gaming rig

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