BUDGET gaming!

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jeremyrailton

Distinguished
Oct 12, 2006
389
0
18,780
Intel e2160, 2 gigs name-brand DDR2 800 RAM, ati 3850, gigabyte p35-DS3L, any hard drive, cheap dvd burner, cheapest case you can find, recycle an old monitor, and a decent psu (at least 35-40 amps on the 12-volt rails). That should have you up and running. An adequate gamer for a small budget.
 
Onus

Onus

Titan
Jan 27, 2006
37,037
12
89,965
Here's a build. It exceeds your budget, but includes some things you may not need. I've also not subtracted the rebates from the total, as there'd also be shipping and/or government extortion.

COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: RC-330-KKN1-GP
Item #: N82E16811119115

$39.99 -$5.00 Instant $34.99

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: GA-P35-DS3L
Item #: N82E16813128059

$89.99 $89.99

ASUS EAH3850/G/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 3850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: EAH3850/G/HTDI/512M
Item #: N82E16814121219

Mail-in Rebate
$199.99 $199.99

Antec earthwatts EA500 ATX12V v2.0 500W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: EA500
Item #: N82E16817371007

$89.99 -$35.00 Instant $54.99

Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E2160 - Retail
Model #: BX80557E2160
Item #: N82E16819116036

$73.99 $73.99

Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA804 - Retail
Model #: BL2KIT12864AA804
Item #: N82E16820146565

Mail-in Rebate
$89.99 -$25.00 Instant $64.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD3200AAKS
Item #: N82E16822136074

$79.99 -$5.00 Instant $74.99

Microsoft ZG6-00006 Black PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard 500 - Retail
Model #: ZG6-00006
Item #: N82E16823109164

$14.99 -$3.00 Instant $11.99

Logitech RX250 Black 3 Buttons Tilt Wheel USB Optical Mouse - OEM
Model #: 910-000184
Item #: N82E16826104081

$14.99 -$6.00 Instant $8.99

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S - Retail
Model #: LH-20A1S
Item #: N82E16827106057

$31.99 $31.99

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM
Model #: N09-01991
Item #: N82E16832116056

$89.99 $89.99
Subtotal: $736.89
 
M

Mando1351

Distinguished
Jan 31, 2008
20
0
18,510
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3521318&CatId=1599

Mobo and CPU 149.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3356679&CatId=1845

Case 89.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3561121&CatId=1558

3850 256MB 174.99 IF you use smaller Monitor

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3529980&CatId=1558

For larger Monitor 199.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2882686&CatId=2261

Memory for 69.99


All of this for 439.99 minus the rebates on tigerdirect.com
 
monst0r

monst0r

Distinguished
Mar 31, 2007
444
0
18,780


forgot the psu (+100$)
some HDD's even one (+60$ or 120$)

back @ 700$..
 
amd_fanboi

amd_fanboi

Distinguished
Jan 21, 2008
641
0
18,980
that seems almost exactly like my build... hmmm... anyways, go with the first build, though it's been said, the best thing may be to go for a prebuilt system...
 
C

compy386

Distinguished
Jan 17, 2008
72
0
18,630
I recommend saving a few hundred before buying any parts. The best I got with a 5000+ BE, 2 gigs of ram, case, 3850, 250 gig hard drive for about $500 including shipping. But no OS, Mouse and Keyboard, or monitor. Unless you have a copy of Vista lying around, it's probably best to save up a little.
 
C

compy386

Distinguished
Jan 17, 2008
72
0
18,630
SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model SH-S202J

$24.99

ATRIX CSCI-L8033-C43 Black SECC steel sheeting FCC class CB&CE approved ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 480W Power Supply

$39.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250310AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

$66.99


ASUS M3A AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard

$89.99

DIAMOND 3850PE3256SB Radeon HD 3850 RV650 55nm 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

$149.99


COOLER MASTER RR-KEE-L8E1-GP 80mm Rifle CPU Cooler

$9.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Black Edition Processor Model ADO5000DSWOF - Retail
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - Retail


$158.9

All items from newegg. Total price 560 - 40 in mail in rebates. Includes shipping
 
Onus

Onus

Titan
Jan 27, 2006
37,037
12
89,965
Ooh, problems. For one, the PSU that comes with that case is a cheap tier-5 sparker that only puts out 17A on its +12V rail. It will die almost instantly trying to power that system. If you're lucky, it will just shut itself off. More likely, you'll get to see and hear some pyrotechnics and it will take something else with it. Choose a PSU from tier-3 or better from the list at http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108088.
Second, Diamond earned a place on my personal blacklist recently. The HD3870 I got from them is still on a shelf; I'm hoping newer ATI drivers will allow it to work properly. Diamond's site has problems (I couldn't get support on it without signing up, but signing up was broken). I finally managed to get a free chat session with an absolutely useless drone. I could not get card-specific help on the ATI site either because Diamond wasn't even listed as an OEM partner. And finally, I just shut down another browser session on Diamond's site because of that pop-up advertising that tells you you're infected and wants to install poo-ware on your system. NO THANKS, DIAMOND.
 
zenmaster

zenmaster

Splendid
Feb 21, 2006
3,867
0
22,790
Here is a "Dell Outlet" Option for $289.
Just add a Nice Video Card such as the X3850 and you are within your $500 range and it should play lots of games decently.

Inspiron 531
(System Identifier: FCVLDFV3)

Inspiron Desktop 531 Mini-tower: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4000+ (2.10GHZ)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium

System Price : $289.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard Disk Drive
250 GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modem
V.92/56K PCI DataFax Modem
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certified Refurbished
Certified Refurbished
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base
Inspiron Desktop 531 Mini-tower: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4000+ (2.10GHZ)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media Bay
16X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardware Upgrade
Dell 19 in 1 Media Card Reader
USB Keyboard
Dell Optical USB 2-button Mouse
 
Onus

Onus

Titan
Jan 27, 2006
37,037
12
89,965
Can the PSU in that machine handle a 3850? How about the cooling in the case? We use Dell machines at work (not that one), and they run hot and many die of heat each year. The mobo has integrated video, so I doubt the PSU even has a PCIE power connector on it.
 
N

nvalhalla

Distinguished
Mar 14, 2006
1,076
0
19,360
jtt283 is on the right track, but I would substitute

a 3850 256MB for $150
Antec earthwatts 380w for $35
Patriot extreme DDR2-800 $23 after MIR

should bring you closer to your $500 budget. Obviously, if you already have a mouse and keyboard, OS, HDD, DVD burner, ect you can save even more money. I would be helpful if we knew what existing hardware/software you can use or if it's from scratch.
 
zenmaster

zenmaster

Splendid
Feb 21, 2006
3,867
0
22,790
Actually, That model is 300w.
So that would be tight on the 3850.

I guess if he wanted to go real cheap with an 8600GT and keep the system well under $400 he would be fine, but limited to about 1280x1024 at Medium Resolution for some games.
 
zenmaster

zenmaster

Splendid
Feb 21, 2006
3,867
0
22,790
Looks like the 530 w/the Q6600 comes with the 350w PSU that is designed to work with the 8800GT as an option.

So, a higher end card is a no-go on the lower end models.
 
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