Need Feedback on 650$ Build. (HDD question as well)

infinity117

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Aug 16, 2012
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10,530
Hey guys.

So I made a BIG mistake by buying laptop last year, and I had thought I would forget Gaming in general to get better grades in school. But actually I'm doing good, but I get mad when I play BF3 and Arma 3 at 15 to 25 FPS. So I got job which doesn't pay well. (Obviously for a 17 year old). And I need a good PC for 650$-700$.


  • Preferably, Intel and Nvidia or AMD.

    Don't care about looks (mostly the Case)

    Don't need DVD Drive, HDD, Power Supply (old one has 450 watt, Bronze) and Windows 7

    Need a Monitor (Already have one in my sights HERE

The Build needs to include the Monitor!!!!!!! So the PC and Monitor NEEDS to be around 650$ to 700$.

And the question about the Harddrive. I currently have one WD Caviar Blue 500GB, with old Data including Vista. Formating is not an option due to my PC not working (No booting). Is there a way to use it, in a new build? Or do have buy a new one?

AND another Question! When is good to buy PC parts? (the cheapest) I had my eye on Black Friday. Is that a good idea?

Here is what I came up with, feel free to send me feedback.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1dKfI
 
Solution
Hey, have a look at this. It is a better deal, overall costing less than the 7950 Graphics Card itself.
This one is a definite buy, replace the Graphics Card and PSU of my previous build with this Graphics Card and PSU

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Cooler Master i700 700W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $259.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-06 15:10 EDT-0400)
You will be borrowing the laptop's HDD ? If yes , then make sure it supports SATA2 or 3. Same for HDD. And we will need to change the PSU , your PSU doesn't seem to match any midrange GPU's minimum requirements and might not even have the connectors to power the GPU.
 
Here you go -

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 500R Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ Microcenter)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $680.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-06 04:37 EDT-0400)
 
This build is better for the price with 8GB RAM, &950 3GB Video Card. I would go for this build any day for the price.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI 970A-G43 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($75.91 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($264.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Cooler Master i600 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $711.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-06 05:09 EDT-0400)
 

infinity117

Honorable
Aug 16, 2012
28
0
10,530


Thanks for your Feedback!

No, not my laptop's HDD. I will still be using my laptop. My old HDD is a SATA 2 but hasn't been formatted (still Vista and games etc. on it)


My old PSU is a Enermax Pro 82 Plus 425 Watt, and has enough connectors (24pin, 2x6pin, 2x4pin, and some SATA Power connectors as well as Molex) And PC PartPicker told me the build with old HDD and CD Drive is about 344 Watts.


I took you idea and made my adjustments on it. Here!
 

infinity117

Honorable
Aug 16, 2012
28
0
10,530


Thanks, but too expensive.
 
I took you idea and made my adjustments on it. Here!

Wait! That build does not have a PSU, which is a very important component and is needed.

And if you are planning to use your old PSU, then please don't, it can give problems. The PCPartpicker might say that the build uses 344Watts, but if you push it very much then the PSU might struggle to properly convert AC current into DC which might damage your parts. So, please get a new PSU. It is very much needed.

And get a 7870 for much cheaper, no need to get a 660 Ti. They perform almost the same.

And the last thing is that in my build that i suggested, just replace the graphics card with a 7870, then it will fit in your budget. Not much problem there.
 

infinity117

Honorable
Aug 16, 2012
28
0
10,530


Okay, what about now? The price is about the same. But with a 7870 and a new PSU 500watt.

Here
 
Hey, have a look at this. It is a better deal, overall costing less than the 7950 Graphics Card itself.
This one is a definite buy, replace the Graphics Card and PSU of my previous build with this Graphics Card and PSU

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Cooler Master i700 700W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $259.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-06 15:10 EDT-0400)
 
Solution

infinity117

Honorable
Aug 16, 2012
28
0
10,530


Thanks, looks good!