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Gaming Build $400

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dnulnoj   11-08-2009 at 02:07:19 AM

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This week

BUDGET RANGE: (e.g.: 600-800) Around $400
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (e.g.: Folding@Home, gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor(22in wide screen), speakers, OS, 350Watt PSU, ATX Case

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD/ATI

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Looking to Play World of Warcraft, Dragon's Age: Origins, AION, and any other new game title that would be released.

Currently What I have found:

MB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

CPU/Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.285930

Graphics:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150450

HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181


Total Price: $378.96

Any thoughts/insights or comments would be greatly appreciated.

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Bronze Home Brew badge gkay09   11-08-2009 at 08:22:04 AM

^ That is a good build but instead of the DDR2 of the graphics, go with DDR3 version...they will be faster...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102855

And which 350W PSU do you have ? If it is of decent quality, then you can check out even the HD 4770...

Reply to gkay09
Anonymous   11-08-2009 at 08:32:03 AM

I don't believe the video card is sufficent, i would get a cheaper brand of memory , even something that won't overclock in order to have more to spend on the video card. Your monitors resolution is high and you'll need something powerful to play games at high speed. a 10% speed increase from overclocking expensive memory isn't worth it. A better card will get you alot more.

Reply to Anonymous
dnulnoj   11-08-2009 at 05:00:52 PM

I am leaning towards this setup now, although a little less $$ would be great, this build will need to last for some time to come. I opted for a new case, so I can keep my current rig up and running in case of issues.

CPU/Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.286521

MB/Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.285335

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022

Graphics:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161297

HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181


$535 total with $35 in Mail in Rebates.


**I am going to partition the new HDD and install XP on one(20gb). I have most of my programs currently on 2 other drives. Can I reuse these old drives(No Boot partitions) without reinstalling ALL of my programs? What is the best way to do so?

Reply to dnulnoj
Anonymous   11-09-2009 at 12:53:54 AM

That's a good choice, the video card is good with low ram but according to a recent article on tomshardware it isn't as important as once thought.

Reply to Anonymous
ohiou_grad_06   11-09-2009 at 03:23:07 AM

Or you could hold out for the 5750 cards. They were at about 130 bucks, but I think most of those are sold out.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to ohiou_grad_06
redgarl   11-09-2009 at 03:38:39 AM

A 4670 is not for gaming, more for an HTPC setup. You need at least a single 4850. Also, no need for DDR3 if you don't need it. Still, in Canada, the difference between DDR2 and DDR3 is about 20$ on most 1333 MHz ram.

Sincerely, you need to invest a little more to get a decent gaming PC. What you can do is buying a AM3 system with an IGP (Integrated Graphic Processor) on the motherboard and buy the graphic card for your gaming purpose later.

Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive

OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P16002GK - Retail

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

ASUS M4A785-M AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

total : 369.96$
before MIR
After MIR 344.96$

It leaves you 65$ to save for a new graphic card. I strongly suggest you to get this card if you can purchase it now...

HIS H489FN1GH Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail 159.99 after MIR of 20$

Reply to redgarl
redgarl   11-09-2009 at 03:44:37 AM

ohiou_grad_06 wrote :

Or you could hold out for the 5750 cards. They were at about 130 bucks, but I think most of those are sold out.



The 48XX series are a better purchase for now. The only reason you get 57XX cards are for HTPC. They don't perform too well. A 4850 is stronger than a 5770 which is not a good thing.

Reply to redgarl
Bronze Home Brew badge gkay09   11-09-2009 at 05:31:45 AM

^ The 5770 is stronger than the HD 4850...they loose to the 4870...I think you are talking about the 5750...And also in that case, the 4850 and the 5750 are pretty evenly matched...But as the 5750s are scarcely available, its hard to find them at a good price...So I would suggest you buy the graphics card last...By then the availablity might improve...But do check everyday for any deals...

And change your CPU RAM combo to this...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.286523

@redgarl the mobo you have listed is an AM2+/ AM3 board so it will support only DDR2 and not DDR3

Reply to gkay09
dnulnoj   11-09-2009 at 05:57:07 AM

Quote :

And change your CPU RAM combo to this...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.286523



Can you give me insight why you would change this?

Reply to dnulnoj
Bronze Home Brew badge gkay09   11-09-2009 at 06:02:15 AM

^ These are the latest version of that RAM sets that you had listed...And they have the same timings, speed and voltage and cost $2 less...And the ones that you had listed dont have Free shipping but these have...

Reply to gkay09
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