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Whats the best gaming cimputer $550 can buy?

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Whats the best gaming cimputer $550 can buy?

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After doing much reading and researching I've gotten no closer to figuring out what I should buy for my new computer. I want it for gaming, watching movies and surfing the internet. I've never overclocked before, and really don't like messing with it, but would be willing to try, especially given that I've heard it's quite easy with the core 2 duos. I was initially planning on a E8400 and a Radeon 4670, with plans to crossfire it down the road. That setup comes in at a hair over, but know I wonder if it would be better to go with a weaker cpu and a beefier graphics card.

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GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128337

Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819116072

OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227284

GIGABYTE GV-R485ZL-512H Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814125238

CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139003

Antec Three Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129042

Do you need an HDD? Do you need an OS? This is the absolute best you can do $550.

Message edited by emp on 09-28-2008 at 08:17:01 AM

------------------------------ Anxiously awaiting the Hydra 100 and the Hydra Engine...
www.lucidlogix.com
Reply to emp

my vote is for an Xbox 360 for gaming and an AMD 780G setup for your basic web surfing--i bet you can get both and still be in less than $550 if you resuse your current case and PSU.

Message edited by hesskia on 09-28-2008 at 08:34:41 AM

Reply to hesskia

^That's more like an upgrade that you should overclock to get the most out of ^_^.

Yeah with that budget I'd go with AMD.

GIGABYTE GA-MA770-S3 $69.99 + 8.25 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128327

OCZ Vista Upgrade 4GB 58.99 + 6.99 ship
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227195

Athlon 5400 BE+ $77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103289

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD322HJ 320GB $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152096

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner $25.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106264

HIS Radeon HD 4670 512MB 89.88 + 8.25 ship
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161249

And so far that would be $400.33. I don't know if you already have a case and drives, or OS you can re use. If not then you would also need

Vista Home Basic 64-bit for 89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116483

Raidmax Scorpio Black 420W 47.99 + 19.99ship
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811156135

which would give you a total of 558.3. You have to be careful about picking different version of the Raidmax Scorpio since different versions have different PSUs with different 12v AMPs. This one has 20Amps on it's single 12V Rail. That will be enough for this build, but overclocking anything is gonna require you to replace the PSU. If you have a tiger direct, or a compusa that was bought by them, then you can get a better case such, as an Ultra with a 600W PSU, since you won't have to pay shipping, just sales tax ^_^. They also have Corsair PSUs now \^_^/. When you're ready to order look for combo deals on new egg.

Message edited by megamanx00 on 09-28-2008 at 08:59:38 AM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813186141
780G for $67 shipped

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103211
X3 5000+ for about $60 shipped

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146526
2GB Ram for $30 shipped

Reuse your old case/PSU/DVD drive from your current setup

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6868105002
Xbox 360 for $260.

Total cost of PC & Xbox 360 is $417 dollars. You probably could pickup a 4850 for another $139 or so after rebate and still be in under the $550 mark (but you woudl need to be sure that yoru current PSU is powerful enough)

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