Make this gaming build cheaper! (`613$)

I'm building a gaming rig for my brother and trying to spend as least money as possible, and somewhat wanted it to resemble an old rig of mine that is able to run pretty much every game on maximum, although not on DX10.

Old Rig:
Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz
2GB Corsair 800 MHz RAM
250GB WD 7200 RPM HDD
8800GTX 768MB

(I would provide links but most of these products are not on sale anymore and I'm sure you get the general idea.)

Here is what i have so far for my brothers rig, resulting in around 613$ but if you could offer me suggestions to make it cheaper please do!

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811146050
PCU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103681
Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128387
RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231098
PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139004
HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136320
GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814129113

Thanks for the info!

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Don't waste so much money on a case, it does little or nothing for the performance of the system and adds cost. It's not that the NZXT is a bad case, it's actually a pretty good one, but you can get a decent case for $50 cheaper.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to dirtmountain

You are spending $183 on your case and power supply alone which is crazy, this case PSU combo will save you $48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.215888
Take 10 of that saved 48 and get this card instead, it will perform better and stay cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150394
Get this motherboard CPU combo instead(assuming it doesnt disappear at midnight) it is a MUCH better processor, no real change in quality of the board but it lets you get the better processor for almost the same amount.
Also 2GB of slow DDR2 ram will screw you over, get 4GB of quick DDR3 ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227341
Ends up eating up the rest of the savings from the case/PSU combo but games will run a ton better. I realize it makes your budget come out about the same, if you must skimp downgrade the GPU to a 4850 like this one, it will save you $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150337

Also what resolution is the monitor he is running?

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by hunter315 on 07-31-2009 at 11:18:03 PM

Reply to hunter315

I'd take the Antec 300 case over the NZXT case. IMO I agree with not spending so much on the case. But good luck to you.

Reply to AKM880

AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103680

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128392

Hunter315 case/psu combo $135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.215888

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231200
very low latency + low voltage

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136320
[ or spend $5 more and get the 640 gig ]

XFX HD-487A-YHFC Radeon HD 4870 512MB $134
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150403

Total is $599

For all the latest AM3 AMD set up , more ram , more powerful processor

[ and you can save another $5 buy swapping out the x2 processor for an X3 710 which will perform better in games that can use the extra core , and worse in games that cant , but will generally be better every where else ]

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by Outlander_04 on 07-31-2009 at 11:41:37 PM

Reply to Outlander_04

+1 on outlander solid build, imo go for the x3 710 tho

Reply to ill b ben

I can't say enough on how impressed I am with antec 900 & 1200 cases. I would stick with them. They move air very nicely.

Reply to jtmoney528

For one you don't need a 790x mother board if you're just going to stick with one 4850. Unless you plan to add another one latter for crossfire just get this motherboard

ASRock A780LM $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157153

And that shaves off $50 from your original build. Those ASRock budget boards are pretty good. As for the PSU the Antec Earthwatts 500 is more than enough

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371007

or I guess you could also go with a good, but a little less efficient, blue storm II

FSP Group Blue Storm II 500W $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817104034

The Blue Storm II is being replaced by the Blue Storm Pro, but I haven't seen any reviews on the Pro yet. Recently the Blue Storm II was going for $59.99 but I guess they raised the price back up ^_^. You can also save a few bucks by going with a different 4870 such as the Power Color one

POWERCOLOR AX4870 512MD5 $126.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814131140

^ oh yeah and like the others said I wouldn't spend so much on a case for your little bro if you wanna keep costs down. You could go with

Antec 300 $59.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129042

APEVIA X-Dreamer ATXB3KLW-BL Blue $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811144002

or any of the other colors of X-Dream or X-Dreamer IIs for that matter. Heck you could even go with a chepo raidmax case or something. Just make sure it will fit the 4870 ^_^

notrace wrote :

I'm building a gaming rig for my brother and trying to spend as least money as possible, and somewhat wanted it to resemble an old rig of mine that is able to run pretty much every game on maximum, although not on DX10.

Old Rig:
Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz
2GB Corsair 800 MHz RAM
250GB WD 7200 RPM HDD
8800GTX 768MB

There is no rigg that will run way better than what you got for 600$.

Sell your actual system on Kijiji (local ads (free)) for around 400$ and after that build your new computer.

edit : Maybe more like 350$...

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by redgarl on 08-01-2009 at 02:33:45 AM

Reply to redgarl

dirtmountain wrote :

Don't waste so much money on a case, it does little or nothing for the performance of the system and adds cost. It's not that the NZXT is a bad case, it's actually a pretty good one, but you can get a decent case for $50 cheaper.

Ever tried making SLI or Crossfire in smaller case... The Dremmel become your best friend during the install...

No, a good case is extremely important.

Reply to redgarl

redgarl wrote :

There is no rigg that will run way better than what you got for 600$.

Sell your actual system on Kijiji (local ads (free)) for around 400$ and after that build your new computer.

No no, i'm not trying to sell the old one i want to keep it around and build this new one for much cheaper...

I use that rig all the time and i can max out Crysis at 1680x1050 on 4XAA, with a near perfect frame rate, it runs very well.

Reply to notrace

hunter315 wrote :

You are spending $183 on your case and power supply alone which is crazy, this case PSU combo will save you $48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.215888
Take 10 of that saved 48 and get this card instead, it will perform better and stay cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150394
Get this motherboard CPU combo instead(assuming it doesnt disappear at midnight) it is a MUCH better processor, no real change in quality of the board but it lets you get the better processor for almost the same amount.
Also 2GB of slow DDR2 ram will screw you over, get 4GB of quick DDR3 ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227341
Ends up eating up the rest of the savings from the case/PSU combo but games will run a ton better. I realize it makes your budget come out about the same, if you must skimp downgrade the GPU to a 4850 like this one, it will save you $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150337

Also what resolution is the monitor he is running?

He will probably be using a 1280x1024, 1680x1050 is a possibility but not likely...

Thanks for the tips so far guys, i'm gonna throw together another customization with the parts you've recommended as soon as i get home!

Reply to notrace

If he is only going to be running 1280x1024 then a 4850 will do quite well so that saves some over a 4870 and an Antec 300 can fit it fine, definitely keep your eyes open for combos though, newegg seems to be changing them up right now so there might be some good ones in a day or two.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to hunter315

hunter315 wrote :

If he is only going to be running 1280x1024 then a 4850 will do quite well so that saves some over a 4870 and an Antec 300 can fit it fine, definitely keep your eyes open for combos though, newegg seems to be changing them up right now so there might be some good ones in a day or two.

+1

there are good 4850's for $90 that will be fine for 1280 x 1024 or 1440 x900

Reply to Outlander_04

Outlander_04 wrote :

AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103680

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128392

Hunter315 case/psu combo $135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.215888

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231200
very low latency + low voltage

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136320
[ or spend $5 more and get the 640 gig ]

XFX HD-487A-YHFC Radeon HD 4870 512MB $134
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150403

Total is $599

For all the latest AM3 AMD set up , more ram , more powerful processor

[ and you can save another $5 buy swapping out the x2 processor for an X3 710 which will perform better in games that can use the extra core , and worse in games that cant , but will generally be better every where else ]

Indeed, i also like this build alot and think i might go with the X3 710...

That combo i was also thinking of before with the Case and PSU, but my brother wanted a different case, but what he can't realize is if you're going for budget you can't always get what you want! :-p

Any further comments on this build? Is there a different RAM choice cause that one seems kind of sketchy to me, but then again i've been a long time Corsair fan over G.Skill...

Reply to notrace

That's an excellent build and that G.Skill RAM is the best choice at that price. An extra $10 will give you this Asrock AM3 780G crossfire capable motherboard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157161

Reply to dirtmountain

I agree too.
If you choose the Apevia case, I'm assuming you will toss the cheap PSU that comes with it into the trash. All the other ones mentioned have been favorably reviewed at jonnyguru.com, but any Apevia PSU reviews badly, whether or not it survives load testing.

Reply to jtt283

I'm pretty sure i'm gonna stay with the Case/PSU combo that hunter recommended...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.215888

And yeah jtt, i would probably never buy an Apevia PSU lol.

Thanks for the help dudes any other tips or recommendations feel free to throw them in but in the meantime i'm gonna order this shiz.

Reply to notrace

Actually just had a thought, if he is only going to be on XP, can i keep the RAM usage to 2GB and save another 40 bucks? On one of my current rigs 2GB is plenty for games, but i don't know the difference since he will be running a Triple Cored PCU...

How about this RAM instead?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820134790

Reply to notrace

That is very slow RAM, if he's using XP he can get by with 2GB (some will disagree with me) although more is better, as a stopgap measure if the $33 is needed to get the system built then go with this 2x1 GB kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231178

Reply to dirtmountain

Cool i'll do that instead,

why is that Kingston RAM slow? They have the same stats is it because its not Dual Channel?

Reply to notrace

The timings, the G.Skill is 7-7-7-18 and the Kingston is most likely 9-9-9-24 or higher. It will have to be set in the BIOS, both voltage (1.5v-1.6v) and timings. When in the future he upgrades to Windows7 64 bit, he can get the G.Skill 2x2 GB kit and add it to what he has.

Message edited by dirtmountain on 08-01-2009 at 09:10:56 PM

Reply to dirtmountain

I'm supprised no one has thrown out the OCZ PSU to shave another $30 off (or the 300/650w combo price changed)
600w modxtreme Pro $55 amir
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341017

+1 for the 4850.

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Reply to skora

I noticed a few of the cases linked above do not come or have a low quality PSU (ie Apevia).

Whatever you do DO NOT skimp on the PSU. For your needs a Corsair 450VX or better will do. Stick with quality PSUs from Corsair, Antec, PC Power, and OCZ.

Message edited by Shadow703793 on 08-02-2009 at 02:10:25 AM

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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3815217176_0a5be7955d_o.gif

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3553/3818083596_1a772f7162_o.gif

Reply to Shadow703793

1280x1024 = piece of cake for $600 or less

outlander's outline is a very good one...

you can save a few more bucks by lowering to 2gb of RAM, and lowering to the 4850 instead will also save some more dough

2gb of ram is fine for any current game.

i run a 4670 @ 1920x1080 and most games can be run at medium settings just fine with AA... so a 4850 @ 1280x1024 should be good

Reply to uraflit

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