Looking to build budget WoW computer

[Hairodog]

First time writer, long time reader.

Ok, so it is time to put that tax return to good use and build a new computer for playing WoW. I would like to keep it in the 500-700 dollar range taking full advantage of available "bang for your buck" type of items. I do forsee playing SC2 on this computer and D3 so I assume the parts will need to be fairly modern inorder to meet the specs for those games (don't know the specs, neither have been released but knowing blizz they will release for the masses).

If any of that made any sense, you are bored, or just want to help a brother out, how's about a list of some pc parts.

 

[kubes]

Need to know a few things first.

Does this budget include items such as Mouse, Keyboard, Monitor, OS? Knowing if this stuff is included or excluded from the budget will make a huge difference.

(I can't wait for sc2 and D3 to come out *rubs hands together* )

 

[Hairodog]

I have all of the above, although my OS is 32 bit Vista.

Gracias

 

[kubes]

MB: $125, $110 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299

Ram: $57, $27 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

HD $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

DVD/CD Burner: $21
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136144

Case: $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

PSU: $100, $80 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

GPU: $145, 130 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770

CPU: $185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036

Total: Before rebates: ~$778. After rebates: ~$698

This rig however would require a 64 bit OS to be able to fully see all the memory (ram, vidoe ram ect...).

If this is still to pricey there are still a few more corners we can cut. Let me know what ya think.

 

[Mrbumbum]

I would change a few things from the above build

E8400 and 650tx combo (e8400 is enough power)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.159753

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB (higher capacity and cheaper)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

LG 20x dvd SATA (the above poster’s drive is a IDE)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136149

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (faster timings and lower voltage but no rebate, but still same upfront cost)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209

Antec 300 ($60 and free shipping) other case does not come with free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300

I would keep the Asus p5q pro and the 4850 Kubes suggested

Total with shipping before any rebate is $737.52

Total with shipping of Kubes build before any rebate is $818.55

If you need to shave more money off then you have two options in my opinion

Downgrade the e8400 to a e7400 (the $120 processor)

or

Downgrade the 4850 to a 4830 which comes really close (maybe equall to i'm not 100% sure) to a stock 4850 once the 4830 is overclocked.

 

[Hairodog]

That looks like a great comp, maybe we can trim just a little fat.

 

[Hairodog]

Alright, I think i will settle with a 4830 instead of 4850 and e7400 instead of e8400.

I was thinking about getting this right now since they are running a sale @ 84.00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102803

 

[Hairodog]

e7400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206&Tpk=e7400

4830
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102803

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB (higher capacity and cheaper)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319

LG 20x dvd SATA (the above poster’s drive is a IDE)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136149

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (faster timings and lower voltage but no rebate, but still same upfront cost)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231209

Antec 300 ($60 and free shipping) other case does not come with free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ntec%20300

MB: $125, $110 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131299

Will this PSU work?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153052

Do I need a fancy heat sink or will a $15 job work just as well?

 

[theAnimal]

Will this PSU work?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153052

Do I need a fancy heat sink or will a $15 job work just as well?

Don't get that PSU. PC Power & Cooling Silencer 500W is a better choice.

The stock HSF is fine even for mild OCing.

 

[Hairodog]

So if I purchase that cpu will it come with a stock hsf?

 

[Mrbumbum]

So if I purchase that cpu will it come with a stock hsf?

yes

I would still get the 650tx if you can afford it but the minimum i would suggest that still allows for 4850 crossfire (according to amd's site, so i'm assuming it works with 4830 crossfire aswell) would be the 550

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

You save only $15 but it still supports crossfire so you can upgrade to 4830 crossfire at a later date if you so desire.

the 4830 by sapphire you linked above is good, that is the one I would buy if I was in the market for a 4830

 

[Hairodog]

Ok, here it is then:

$20.99 CD/DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136149
$59.95 Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
$74.99 HD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320
$94.99 Vid Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102803
$84.99 PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004
$54.99 Ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209
$124.99 Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299
$119.99CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206

Total before Rebates $635.88 - after Rebates $590.88

Will all the locks and keys fit?

 

[Mrbumbum]

Ok, here it is then:


Will all the locks and keys fit?

Antec 300 will house everything with room to spare.

Newegg reviews confirm that the PI Black works with the p5q pro so there should be no compatability issues there.

Your Optical and harddrive are both SATA so you wont have to deal with some reported IDE issues with p5q pro (although i'm using IDE dvd drive and it works fine on my p5q pro)

Powersupply is plenty of power and allows for some expandability

I would get the 640gb black harddrive in your above post you have the 500 which actually cost more

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

 

[theAnimal]

Change the HDD to Caviar Black 640GB, it's a bit faster for $5 more.

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R is also an excellent mobo.

Otherwise looks great.

 

[Mrbumbum]

Change the HDD to Caviar Black 640GB, it's a bit faster for $5 more.

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R is also an excellent mobo.

Otherwise looks great.

unless im linking the wrong one its actually $5 less

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

 

[dirtmountain]

Frankly i'd pay the extra $$ and go with the E8400. Not that the E7400 isn't a good CPU, but the E8400 is better.

 

[theAnimal]

unless im linking the wrong one its actually $5 less

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

They must've just changed the price.

 

[theAnimal]

Frankly i'd pay the extra $$ and go with the E8400. Not that the E7400 isn't a good CPU, but the E8400 is better.

For a budget build, I'd actually go with E5300 and OC.

 

[Hairodog]

I think I will go with the items I have posted making the suggested HDD change.

Do the benefits outweigh the costs to justify spending the extra $ on the E8400 - E7400 - E5300. I believe the difference in costs are approximately, $160 - $120 - $90, respectively

 

[theAnimal]

I think I will go with the items I have posted making the suggested HDD change.

Do the benefits outweigh the costs to justify spending the extra $ on the E8400 - E7400 - E5300. I believe the difference in costs are approximately, $160 - $120 - $90, respectively

E5200 is $73, should easily hit 3.5GHz. By far the best bang for the buck.

 

[Shadow703793]

^True that.

 

[kubes]

I'm sorry I actually meant to link the WD Black 640gb verison not the 500gb verison. So ya their right. Go with the 640gb verison. Its a real solid HD. Other than that, it looks like your build has shaped up really nice.

 

[gkay09]

And if u are planning even for mild overclocking then y not invest abt 30 or 40 bucks for a gud heatsink...Dont skimp on tis...

 

[dirtmountain]

The OP really made no comment about overclocking and since his build didn't contain a HSF my thoughts are that he isn't going to be overclocking this system and he'd be better off with the E8400 at 3.0GHz with the 6MB of cache. Also since his motherboard choice is the Asus P5Q Pro there's a - $15 combo deal with the E8400 so he'd only be paying an extra $29 for the upgrade in CPU.

 

[IH8U]

Here's a dirt cheap build for ya.

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111
$30 Rosewill (get 2 120mm fans and replace their POS fan)
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023
$41 Thermaltake 430W
MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186155
$40 Foxconn M61PMV (decent stable board, just completed a similar build with this one)
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103647
$38 AMD BE-2350 dual core buisness class proc 2.1GHz (OEM)
HSF: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186010
$16 Arctic Cooling Alpine64
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227199
$42 OCZ DDR2 800 2x2GB
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136098
$50 WD 320GB (OEM)
DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135187
$25 ASUS 22x DVDR retail
Vid: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150340
$110 XFX 9600GSO 1GB retail
Fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999099
$15 for 2 Enermax UC-12EB

Total: $392 + S&H (not counting MIR, or combo/special)

WOW is not all that graphics intensive, I have friends running it fine on an 8500. So the 9600GSO is overkill for it.