Toms $650 build turned into a $700? What would you do.

[savage308]

So, I'm thinking to myself, I want a great gaming rig at a low price, seems I found it when toms crew came up with their $650 gaming computer, but they seemed unhappy with some items and mentioned they would like to upgrade if they had the added cash for the build.

So taking the $650 build tom made during the SBM ( Stats found here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-phenom-radeon,2427.html

What would you personally decide to add/tweak with this build if you had another $50 bucks? To make it a better gaming machine?

 

[jitpublisher]

Phenom 720 X3 black edition, which is only $10 more now than the dual core they used.
And it is a bit of a stretch over your $50 limit, but I would get a single 5850 for around $259.
I am not sure how much "better" that would really be, but I would at least go for the triple core CPU, and if you can swing it, you have DX11, and a new generation card that you can add another to later down the road for crossfire. Thats my 2 cents anyway.

 

[tecmo34]

I agree changing to the Phenom II x3 720 BE would be an improvement. Also, I would switch out your hard drive to either the Western Digital 640GB Black or Samsung Spinpont F3 hard drives. Both are a lot faster than the one in the build. Switch the Case to the Cooler Master RC-690.

Here is the list... Plus $49 dollars over the Tom's $650 build...
■AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor Model HDZ720WFGIBOX - Retail + $16
■SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM - $7
■COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail + $40