$600 Budget Gaming PC - No Vid Card

[gonzodamus]

My current PC is on it's last legs and I need a new one. I need to have the new one for the beginning of next year, since I use my desktop for work as well as for games, but in order to get the best I can for my budget, I'm buying everything else now, and the video card next month. I plan on a GeForce GTS250.

The budget is $600, and I will need an operating system.



APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: By Dec 31st

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming > Media Center > Video/Audio Editing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Video Card

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg

PARTS PREFERENCES: No preference

OVERCLOCKING: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920 x 1200 (native) Sony GMD-FW900 (also sadly seems to be dying)


So here's what I'm thinking about...



Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

AMD Athlon II X4 620 Propus 2.6GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor - $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103706

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - $79
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 - $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231188

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA -$70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Current Total - $569.90

Thanks in advance for the help folks!

 

[Silmarunya]

Switch the WD to a Seagate 7200.12 or even better a Samsung F3. Both, especially the Samsung, are a lot faster and cost roughly the same. Other than that, it's the best you can get at that budget.

 

[rockyjohn]

It is an excvellent build and I concur on switching to the Seagate of Samsung F3 HD.

I also recommend changing memory. What you listed has timings of 9-9-9-24. For only $4 more you can get G.Skill with 8-8-8-21 timings and that is on the mobo compatibility list:

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK - Retail - $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231189

And for only $5 more you can get even faster timings at 7-7-7-21 -with G.Skill Ripjaw memory:

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH - Retail - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276

While this memory is not specifically on the mobo compatibility list (likewise many other memories that are compatible but never paid to get tested for the list), the mobo is listed on the memory compatibility list:

http://www.gskill.com/products.php?index=223

I would go with the latter. You will find few, if any, chances to improve system performance so much for so little.

 

[gonzodamus]

Great advice all around. Thanks guys!

 

[AMD286]

I was just looking at your power supply and you can go with 650 for the same price right now. The 500w looks like it has gone up $5. It might come in handy in the future.

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015