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Budget Gaming Rig Questions

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Anonymous
Homebuilt system Expert
Gaming Expert

Hello everyone,

I'm looking to build my first computer, which will be geared towards gaming. I have a few questions about my choices for components.

Motherboard: ASRock P55 Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Case and PSU: RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CPU: Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale 2.93GHz 4MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Graphics Card: XFX HD-583X-ZNFV Radeon HD 5830 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM: A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model AX3U1600GB2G9-2G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

For my hard drive and cd/dvd drive I'll be using just generic options. The OS will most likely be a 64-bit version of Windows 7.

My main question is about the video card/power supply. In the card's specifications, it says it requires a 500W power supply, minimum. I was wondering if this may cause an issue or if the card will run just fine. Regarding the case/graphics card, I've read that the card is quite large and I know this is a long shot, but if anyone has any experience fitting this card (or one of similar size) into a case the size that I have chosen that would be great. I'm looking to keep this <= $800 so in accordance with that, any other comments on the components would be greatly appreciated, negative or positive.

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Homebuilt system Master
Gaming Authority

Overall it's a very poor build. The i3 isn't a great CPU at it's price. The board is a low quality one. The case is alright, but the PSU is a POS. The 5830 is a waste of money because it's not powerful enough to play games at 1080p, but waste power when gaming at a resolution under that. You'd save money and lose nothing with the 5770, or gain a lot with a minimal cost increase with the 5850.

Compare it to this one:

CPU: X3 440 $75
Mobo/GPU: Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4 and HD 5850 $400 after rebate
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 2x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $120
HDD: Seagate 7200.12 500 GB $55
Case/PSU: Antec 300 Illusion and Earthwatts 650W $120
Optical: Cheap SATA DVD burner $20

Total: $790
Anonymous
Homebuilt system Expert
Gaming Expert

Thanks for the quick response. I got the idea for most of the components from some blog posts about budget gaming computers so I really wasn't going on too much more than that. I like the recommendations that you've given. Is it typical that AMD processors are more bang-for-your-buck type of CPUs opposed to their Intel counterparts?
Homebuilt system Expert

Yes, AMD is good, but becomes so much better when on a tight budget because of its performance/price both for the CPU and the motherboard.

To me, if you cannot afford an Intel i5 750 CPU then AMD is the way to go, for Intel, anything less than the i5 750 is significant loss in CPU power for gaming, whereas with AMD they usually have better performing CPUs in the price range below i5. That's not to say you shouldn't go AMD if you can afforf the i5, its just years of Intel have been ingrained in my soul so I always end up going to them
Homebuilt system Master
Gaming Authority

The X4 isn't better than the X3 440 for gaming. You'd save some money and get a newer CPU that's better for overclocking.

Don't get a factory overclocked GPU. You can do the overclocking yourself and save $30. The 5770 is also a lot weaker than the 5850 I included in the budget, so you'd be taking a huge performance hit there.

That HDD is an older model that is very slow. The reason is that the Seagate 7200.12 500 GB (or Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB) use 500 GB platters while that WD uses smaller platters. That means the Seagate and Samsung are already a lot faster without showing it in the specs. If you're worried about not having enough space, the Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB is only $70 with a promo right now.

I'd also save a little by getting a different optical drive. There isn't a real difference between the drives, so you might as well get the cheapest one you can find.
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