Budget Gaming Rig - Suggestions

Bjwert

Distinguished
Oct 19, 2008
3
0
18,510
Hi,
I'm wanting to build my first P.C. and I'm trying to start out fairly cheap.

I'm using my Xbox 360 for the majority of my gaming, so the main uses of the P.C. will be general surfing, watching films and the odd new game here and there (Guild Wars 2 mainly, when it comes out).

Here's what I'm planning on buying:

Processor
■Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 2.5GHz Socket 775 800FSB 2MB Cache Retail Boxed Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148715

Motherboard
■Can't decide which motherboard to get - looking for suggestions (preferably available on eBuyer)

Graphics Card
■XFX 9600GT 512MB GDDR3 Dual DVI HDCP HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148012

Hard Drive
■Seagate ST3500320AS 500GB Hard Drive SATA II 7200rpm *32MB Cache* - OEM
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130826

RAM
■OCZ 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 CL 4-4-4-15 PLATINUM XTC
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/116755

Case
■Casecom Black Mid Tower Case - Front Blue LED 120mm Fan - With Side Window
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/115479

Power Supply
■Extra Value 550W ATX Silent Neon PSU - 12cm Fan/PPFC
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/102994

Monitor
■Samsung SM2032BW 20"TFT Monitor Widescreen 1680x1050 3000:1 300cd/m2 2ms VGA/DVI-D Glossy Black
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132115

That's about it.
So basically I'm looking for motherboard suggestions, and opinions on the rig in general.
Any help is much appreciated, thanks! :)
 
I have several suggestions, but first you'll have to lose the awful PSU.

Never buy a no-name PSU, and always get one that is properly tested and recommended by people that know what they are talking about. (Not me, I just know who those people are.)

Here is one suggestion:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/120377

And a quality review to get you started:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=35

Here's a good quality budget MB:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149276

You are "paying" for that CL4 OCZ RAM with voltage. You are better off with CL5 RAM that needs 1.8V:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129954/show_product_specifications#specifications