Need Help building gaming PC for about $600

[squirrel15]

I'm trying to help a friend with trying to build a gaming computer for about $600 maybe $625 or so. I've looked at newegg and I honestly dont know where to start. He wants a good GPU and RAM (beggars cant be choosers), and he is mainly going to be playing source games like counter strike but mainly TF2. Any help/advice is appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[daggs]

please use the sticky format

 

[squirrel15]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: (In the next month) BUDGET RANGE: (600-625 after rebates)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (gaming, internet, movies)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: (speakers, monitor)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: (Preferably newegg but any site will do) COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: (US)

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type (Doesnt matter, along as it can run source games)

OVERCLOCKING: (Maybe) SLI OR CROSSFIRE: (probably not)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: (dont need one, already have a 1280x1024)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: (good ventilation, plays source games well, good ram and cpu.)

 

[soulbro]

It's a little old, but this article is still probably a decent starting point:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-gaming-pc,2424.html

(I don't much like the more recent Intel-only build they did., but maybe you will:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/system-Builder-Gaming-PC,2509.html

Good luck!

-Will

 

[squirrel15]

Wow thanks that was very helpful. Are there going to be anything new coming out in the next month or so that I could afford get in this budget build?

 

[soulbro]

Probably not till the end of March. In the meantime, you could take those articles, and also look at the "Best XYZ For the Money" articles posted monthly. Here are the ones from January:

CPU: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu,2520.html
Graphics: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2521.html

So, I'd take the AMD build article from earlier, and then look at current prices for the components listed in said build. Also look at current prices for similar CPUs listed in the CPU article, and prices for similar video cards listed in the graphics card article. See what you can come up with.

 

[daggs]

check the build I've posted here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&cat=31&post=279603&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=1&trash=0&trash_post=0&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0 at the buttom, it is a 955BE based with 595 after mail rebates, it has some nice combos, if you like it, get it fast before the combos will expire.

 

[daggs]

my apologize, the link is wrong, here is the right one: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&cat=31&post=279645&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=1&trash=0&trash_post=0&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0

 

[squirrel15]

Wow this is nice, I would get a little bit better case, and the I need a hard drive and DVD player which is about 75 dollars but thanks daggs, this help.

 

[daggs]

Wow this is nice, I would get a little bit better case, and the I need a hard drive and DVD player which is about 75 dollars but thanks daggs, this help.

np, find the case of your liking.
just post what you've got at the end, I'm curious...

 

[squirrel15]

Best answer selected by Squirrel15.