Search
Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Solved

600$ CAD Budget gaming PC build questions.

Last response: in Systems
Share

Required stuff:

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This month BUDGET RANGE: 500-600 After Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, surfing the internet, minor picture editing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, HDD's, CD/DVD drive

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: www.NCIX.com, newegg and tigerdirect.ca COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada

PARTS PREFERENCES: none, although bad parts are obviously not wanted.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Not certain, no real difference but dont need it for my performance level.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Do not care about looks, noise is not paramount but no jet engines please.



Hello all, First post here!

Ive been building PC's for a few years now but I rarely get a chance to build something cutting edge and as such have no idea were the top of the line hardware is at. The top of the line stuff i was last dealing with is now looked upon like dirt, worth nothing and not good at doing much either.

I want to build a new PC for myself, my current specs follow and I would more then likely keep my current hard drive and DVD/CD reader/writer. I also would be transferring some fans and their controllers from my current case. I will also be keeping my OS.

Specs of old machine:

OS: Vista (32-Bit)
MOBO: Biostar TF570 SLI
HDD: 140GB Seagate, 100GB of which i use with a marginal amount of photo's.
RAM: 4GB of OCZ Gold XTC PC2-6400 (1GB per stick) 5-5-5-12 DDR2
CPU: AMD 64 X2 5600+ OC'd to 3 GHz
GPU: 1x - XFX Gefore 8600 XXX series (OC'd a bit, not much.)
PSU: Corsair 650W Modular, forget the name.

My budget would be within the ballpark of 500-600$ (Canadian, ~500 US) including a new MOBO, CPU, GPU, RAM, PSU and hopefully a case, I could re-use but i would rather get a new one. I dont need screaming performance but being able to play most if not all recent games with acceptable frame rates at high settings without compromising reliability and life with extreme OC'ing.

Any suggestions?


PS:
Canadian sites...
www.NCIX.com
www.tigerdirect.ca
www.newegg.ca

More about : 600 cad budget gaming build questions

Register or log in to remove

Hi newcomer and welcome to the Tom's hardware forum.

For a good gaming system, you need at least a configuration like this:

CPU $ 99.00 Here
MOBO $ 99.99 Here
RAM $ 99.99 Here
GPU $ 159.99 Here
HDD $ 54.99 Here
COMBO PSU + CASE $ 129.98 Here


Total: $ 678,94 USD + MIR + SHIPPING. I think that you can find the same components in newegg canada, or another page, maybe a little more cheap.

Ok, So after reviewing both your posts ive got a general idea of were my money should be spent and what is currently up to spec. I spent a couple hours touting around and came up with the following. I was wondering what you though, and what GPU i should add to this combo - there are just so many options that its very difficult to decide which best suits my use.

So Far:

108.99$ (With price match 99.99$)
CPU - AMD Athlon II X4 620 Quad Core Processor Socket AM3 2.6GHZ 2MB Cache 95W
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42600&promoi...

106.99$ (With price match 99.99$)
MoBo - ASUS M4A785TD-V Evo 785G Socket AM3 DDR3 2PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 3PCI Video Sound GBLAN 1394
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=41862

110.66$
RAM - OCZ OCZ3P1333LV4GK 4GB DDR3 2X2GB DDR3-1333 PC3-10666 CL 7-7-7-20 Dual Channell
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42869

49.99$ After 25$ rebate
PSU - OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135mm Fan Active PFC
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=33041&vpn=OC...

Total: 376.63$ (360.63$ with price matches)

So another 120 to 145 in a 500$ build or 220 to 245 in a 600$ build for a GPU and a good case.
I figure a case will cost me 50-80$ and therefore i have ~170 for a video card, so:

- What GPU will get me the most bang in this price range?
- What is the weakest link in what i have posted above / what should i spend the money on to improve over other items?

I'll look for a case...
Thanks,
Related ressources
Ask the community

@ Saint19

1 - How much of a performance drop will i see with the 512mb version over the 1GB version which is only 15 bucks more?

2 - Ram makes sense - thanks for pointing that out! Will switch that out and edit above post.

3 - I cant see any big +'s to that new mobo, they both seem to run the same. Mind outlining the performance differences?


@ tserich

The 5770 seems like a good deal but i'm still tearing myself apart weather or not to go with the 5750 or 5770 - how much does the extra money make?

1- You can see a big difference in games like GTA IV, Crysis and the most currently games. You can get an ATI HD 5770 for $179.99 CAD See here

2- Remember that the normal for DDR3 is CL7 or CL8 and 1.65V

3- In OC you can see a difference, but in normal use maybe not.

I will definitely go with the ATI card (1gb) over the lower card, worth the price as i can see in some reviews online.

With the motherboard im not sure if a 20% increase in price will be worth it, if i could find a price match lower it would - but i cant. If it would really make that much of a difference for minimal OC'ing (I plan on bringing the 2.6ghz cpu to close to 3ghz which from what ive read in others reviews of this cpu will be no problem.) then maybe I will bite the bullet and shell out for a nicer board.

Im still undecided through 5750 or 5770 though, I would go with the 1gb ATI version of 5770 if i went in that direction.

Ok, So i've got it all laid out.
My last question to you before selecting Best Answer would be What do you think is the weakest link in the above set-up? (With the 1GB version of the 5770)

Thanks,

Best solution

Dizodax said:
Ok, So after reviewing both your posts ive got a general idea of were my money should be spent and what is currently up to spec. I spent a couple hours touting around and came up with the following. I was wondering what you though, and what GPU i should add to this combo - there are just so many options that its very difficult to decide which best suits my use.

So Far:

108.99$ (With price match 99.99$)
CPU - AMD Athlon II X4 620 Quad Core Processor Socket AM3 2.6GHZ 2MB Cache 95W
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42600&promoi...

106.99$ (With price match 99.99$)
MoBo - ASUS M4A785TD-V Evo 785G Socket AM3 DDR3 2PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 3PCI Video Sound GBLAN 1394
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=41862

110.66$
RAM - OCZ OCZ3P1333LV4GK 4GB DDR3 2X2GB DDR3-1333 PC3-10666 CL 7-7-7-20 Dual Channell
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42869

49.99$ After 25$ rebate
PSU - OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135mm Fan Active PFC
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=33041&vpn=OC...

Total: 376.63$ (360.63$ with price matches)

So another 120 to 145 in a 500$ build or 220 to 245 in a 600$ build for a GPU and a good case.
I figure a case will cost me 50-80$ and therefore i have ~170 for a video card, so:

- What GPU will get me the most bang in this price range?
- What is the weakest link in what i have posted above / what should i spend the money on to improve over other items?

I'll look for a case...
Thanks,


Well, if you refer to this configuration with a 5770 1GB, would be a good gaming rig with your budget.
Register or log in to remove
 
Ask the community
Read discussions in other Systems categories
!