My budget gaming build..suggestions welcome

rpemers

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Sep 10, 2008
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Ok, my last build was 5 years ago and man how things have changed. So, I'm doing another build for gaming. I'm not a hardcore gamer and would like to keep things under $800.00. Mostly interested in BF2 online and COD4..running at high settings, which I can't do now.

Here's what I have so far. I appreciate any comments or suggestions.


CPU-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775

MB-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131335
ASUS P5Q SE/R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

Vidcard-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770
SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express

RAM-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731
mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

PSU-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006
Antec earthwatts EA430 430W ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

With case, DVD/CD burner and cooling I'm just under $800.00

Thanks!.....Ron
 
All fine, except the 430W is below the minimum recommended for HD 4850 (450W). Instead of $61 after rebate and shipping for the 430W PSU, spend $72 for this Corsair 650TX:

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-...x-cmpsu-650tx-atx12v/q/loc/101/206178324.html

The Earthwatts can probably do the job, but it leaves no room for upgrades and you won't be able to reuse it in your next PC. The 650TX on the other hand can handle even two HD 4850 cards.

Speaking of which, $26 more after shipping would upgrade your MB to P5Q Pro, which can support two cards. Even if you don't want Crossfire, it's a good selling point if you ever want to get rid of this PC. Besides, the P5Q Pro adds 2 more SATA ports, eSATA and FireWire. You can also use the 2nd PCi-E slot with a very cheap HD 3450 if you ever want 3 or 4 monitors (a MB with a single slot means one video card, i.e. 2 monitors max). There's also a GA-EP45-DS3R with similar features but more expensive.