Budget Gaming Computer

drs92

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Aug 6, 2009
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I need help as im looking for a $600-$650 gaming computer, that means everything even monitor! But I also need a wireless antenna for the computer too for school needs, to get my signal. Can anyone help me out? First build unless there are ones already built? I know some stuff about computer but not in depth stuff lol. I would like to order everything from one site..thanks derek
 
Im not afraid of a challenge , and I think you can build an ok gaming pc for $600 including a 19 inch monitor , but b4 I try can you ask in the format suggested at the top of the forum in the thread called "how to ask for ..."

Also it needs wireless to connect to your home network? so you can connect to the net ?
 
Acer X193Wbd Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD OPEN BOX $84
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009194R

AMD Athlon II X2 250 Regor 3.0GHz + BIOSTAR TA790GXE $149 [ after MIR]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.230131

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231148

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAKS 320GB $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074

GIGABYTE GV-R485ZL-512H Radeon HD 4850 512MB $90 [ after MIR]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125238

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W $40 [ after MIR ]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016

A sata dvd drive of your choice $27

wireless adapter card ... lets see what kind of router you are connecting too , and besides there will be othr here who know much more about this than me even though I can sometimes get a laptop and my router talking call it $30 because the $12 ones will be rubbish


$585 [ after the rebates ] and you still need a cheap keyboard and mouse

It should be able to play any game at OK quality settings , but what the price doesnt include is a copy of windows . Fortunately you can download the new windows 7 OS from microsoft and use it free till march next year
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/default.aspx

get the 64 bit version
 
Here is a build. It includes everything but the OS (Edit: oops, and the drives!). The nickels & dimes added up quickly, but I think this system will serve pretty well, and there are plenty of ways to upgrade it as your budget allows:

GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #:GA-MA785GMT-UD2H
Item #:N82E16813128397
Current tech, AM3 so it will accept future upgrades.

$89.99 $89.99

AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor Model HDZ550WFGIBOX - Retail
Model #:HDZ550WFGIBOX
Item #:N82E16819103680
A Regor X2 might be tempting to make budget (you can still do that), but to maintain any kind of balance I think you'll want the stronger CPU. Really, a 710 or 720BE would be even better.

$114.99 $114.99

Rosewill R102-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #:R102-P-BK
Item #:N82E16811147111
I've used this case, and it is simple and nice. Any of the cheap Rosewills will do; I chose this microATX to save space. I remember how cramped my dorm room was, and every last cubic foot counts.

$29.99 $29.99

Antec earthwatts EA380 380W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Model #:EA380
Item #:N82E16817371005
Quiet, dependable, 80 Plus, and strong enough to power a 4850.

$59.99 -$10.00 Instant $49.99

Logitech Internet 350 Black USB Standard Desktop - OEM
Model #:967972-0403
Item #:N82E16823126018
Basic set, but the mouse has a tilt wheel on it, and I know I've come to love those.

$16.99 $16.99

Acer X193Wbd Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP Support - Retail
Model #:ET.CX3WP.001
Item #:N82E16824009194
There are cheaper, but not with DVI. I think I've got one of these; might be my wife's. No troubles.

$129.99 -$10.00 Instant $119.99

Cyber Acoustics CA-2011WB 4 Watts 2.0 Amplified Computer Speaker System - Retail
Model #:CA-2011WB
Item #:N82E16836150055
Not the absolute cheapest, and I'm sure crappy, but this is just so you can hear something until you get better.

$8.99 $8.99

ENCORE ENLWI-N PCI 2.3 Wireless Adapter - Retail
Model #:ENLWI-N
Item #:N82E16833180052
Has mixed reviews, but I bought this for my wife's PC in a different room and down a [short] hall from my draft N router, and it worked perfectly, with -0- grief, and much faster than the b/g card it replaced.

$39.99 -$15.00 Instant $24.99

HIS H467QSS1GP Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail
Model #:H467QSS1GP
Item #:N82E16814161273
Yes, this card will game, particularly at 1440x900. For only $30, you can get the XFX 4850 that exhausts its heat (and the Earthwatts 380 can power it), but you look at your budget and make that call.

$79.99 $79.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBPI - Retail
Model #:F3-10666CL7D-4GBPI
Item #:N82E16820231200
After mushkin, I've had good results with G.Skill RAM. You can get slower for cheaper, but I think this is more worthwhile.
$74.99 $74.99

Subtotal: $610.90

And there you have it. As you contemplate upgrades, I would suggest keeping the CPU high on the list, even though a GPU upgrade to a 4850 is very tempting. Accessing your school's LAN will no doubt require a layer or two of security software, and somewhere among the game-playing you'll need to get some real work done too. You'll probably also want to play music, or your roommate will want to stream something you've downloaded while you're playing, or............

Oops, and I just realized I forgot the drives. Hmmm, that's another $75; uh oh...

Edit: Dropping back to AM2+ and using DDR2 would save maybe $30-$40 but I think it would be penny wise and pound foolish, buying yourself too many future limitations. You could "save" $40 by getting a Regor X2 CPU, but that would just end up as money wasted; it would make more sense to spend $5 MORE for the 720BE (would have been more yesterday).
 
Attempting to power your computer with fecal matter will likely do less damage to it than using a Logisys PSU.
You won't need the AS5, as the stock AMD cooler has pre-applied paste. You'll need to add a mouse, and probably speakers, as the ones in the monitor are not powered; good for diagnostics, but not much else. You won't need to buy Vista because you can download the Windows 7 RC, or check with your school for a student discount on it.
 

amnotanoobie

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Aug 27, 2006
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PSU! At least try to buy a better namebrand psu, any generic psu might do but it's better to have confidence in your rig that it'd run when you need it.

CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W - 74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

Or if you really want to go cheap:
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W - 49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008


The AS5 really isn't needed, as jtt said.

As for the speakers, go with the headphones that you have while you save up to buy a good pair of speakers. :D
 

sjwpwrpro

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Jun 4, 2009
26
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18,530
Hey as for the key board and mouse and speakers some one in the dorms should have an extra set or willing to sell for cheap. this is the best i could come up with, and it really depends on the games you will be playing.

LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - OEM 24.99

Rosewill R901-P BK Triple 120mm Cooling Fan, Mesh Design Front Panel, ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail 39.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM 74.99

Hanns·G HW-191DPB Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 Built in Speakers
85.99 i know its open box but with that price range.....

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail 84.99

SAPPHIRE 100245HDMI Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card 99.99 but if you buy today instant 15 rebate. 85.00

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail 49.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBNQ 74.99

AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor - Retail 99.00

This comes out to $634.92

 

drs92

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Aug 6, 2009
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18,510
My bad, here we go!! I think this is a really good setup, what ya think?
Image Product Description Unit Price Savings Total Price .

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Update14-102-801

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #:100259-1GL
Item #:N82E16814102801
Return Policy:VGA Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add14-102-801)


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$159.99 $159.99
.

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Update22-152-096

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD322HJ 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD322HJ 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
Model #:HD322HJ
Item #:N82E16822152096
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add22-152-096)


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$49.99 $49.99
.

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Update13-128-397

GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #:GA-MA785GMT-UD2H
Item #:N82E16813128397
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add13-128-397)


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$89.99 $89.99
.

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Update19-103-649

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor Model HDZ720WFGIBOX

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor Model HDZ720WFGIBOX - Retail
Model #:HDZ720WFGIBOX
Item #:N82E16819103649
Return Policy:CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add19-103-649)


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$139.00 -$20.00 Instant $119.00
.

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Update20-104-073

Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 Desktop Memory Model KHX8500D2K2/4G

Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 Desktop Memory Model KHX8500D2K2/4G - Retail
Model #:KHX8500D2K2/4G
Item #:N82E16820104073
Return Policy:Memory Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add20-104-073)


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$54.99 $54.99
.

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Update20-816-001

Nippon Labs Delux 3.5" Internal All In One Card Reader/Writer with USB2.0 & eSATA Ports Model ICR-BB

Nippon Labs Delux 3.5" Internal All In One Card Reader/Writer with USB2.0 & eSATA Ports Model ICR-BB - Retail
Model #:ICR-BB
Item #:N82E16820816001
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add20-816-001)


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$24.99 -$5.00 Instant $19.99
.

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Update33-704-006

TP-LINK TL-WN651G 32bit PCI G & eXtended Range 108M Wireless Adapter

TP-LINK TL-WN651G 32bit PCI G & eXtended Range 108M Wireless Adapter - Retail
Model #:TL-WN651G
Item #:N82E16833704006
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add33-704-006)


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$21.99 -$7.00 Instant $14.99
Subtotal: $508.94
 
You are going to have a hell of a time getting it running without a PSU, for a 4850 get a corsair 450vx or an antec EA500. If you are going to be using a 19" monitor get a 4850, the 512MB version will save you a good chunk and maxes out everything except for crysis. Also make sure you get DDR3 ram, this is very good low timing ram, it is hard to find cheaper stuff that is still good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231200&Tpk=gskill%201333
 

drs92

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Aug 6, 2009
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Is this the best I can do for $800? From this site?
- Free Shipping & Ready to Ship in 3 Business days
- aBX: iMicro [ CA-IMJ233P ] ( Front USB, Audio ), Black
- Standard 400W Power Supply
- AMD Phenom II X3 720, Socket AM3, 2.8GHz, 64-Bit, 3x512KB Cache
- AMD factory Auto-RPM Silent CPU Air Cool
- GIGABYTE AMD 790X, AM3, 8GB DDR3 Max, RAID,1394, S/PDIF, Audio, GbLAN. [ GA-MA790XT-UD4P ]
- 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 at 1333 MHz Dual Channel
- EVGA GeForce GTS 250 1GB Superclocked Edition [ 01G-P3-1156-TR ]
- Non-SLI/CrossFireX Mode Supports Multiple Monitors
- LCD: 19": , 1440x900, Widescreen LCD Monitor,
- Western Digital 500GB Serial ATA-II 7200RPM w/ 16MB Buffer
- Standard Setting : Non-RAID
- 20x Dual-Format/Dual-Layer DVDRW Driver
- 12-in-1 Flash Media Reader / Writer
- High Definition 7.1 Digtial Surround Sound
- 2.0 Systems: aBX MM2. [ 669-8817 ]
- Onboard Gigabit LAN Network
- 108Mbps: TrendNet TEW-443PI, 802.11b/g PCI Internal Wireless Adapter
- ( Free Upgrade Coupon ) Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition
- Wired: aBX Standard Black: Keyboard only, [ KB-101-BLK ]
- Wired: aBX Optical 2 Button Optical - Black: PS/2, 2-Buttons, [ MS-BLK ]
- - Ultra Enhanced Packaging Solution.
- Professional Wiring for All WIRING Inside The System Chasis with High Perormance Thermal Compound
- Fully assembled and tested. 3-Years Labor, 1-Year Parts warranty plus lifetime tech support.
- ( Free Upgrade! ) Rush!!! Ready to Ship in 3 Business Days