$550 - $600 Starcraft 2 first build

[pokernut]

We are noobs to computer building, but want to give it a try. Looking for a budget build that will play Starcraft 2 and Warcraft 3 well.


APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ASAP BUDGET RANGE: $500-600 After Rebates. Additional for a monitor

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

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: none

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: don't have it yet

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: hope this is possible.

 

[banthracis]

It's Doable if you don't need an OS.

Optical $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

HD
Spinpoint F3 $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

GPU
5770 $158 w/ $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121363

RAM
G Skill Eco DDR3 1600 7-8-7-24 $116
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231321

Case/PSU
Antec 300 Illusion and Antec TP 550 $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.410730

MOBO/CPU
GIGABYTE GA-770TA-UD3 and Athlon II x3 $155 w/ $10 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.407609

$624 before $30 MIR and shipping

 

[batuchka]

Starting from your min point of your budget @ $471AR

 

[lucuis]

Yup, best to go a DDR2 platform for this budget build. Also for comparison my 8800GTS 512mb maxes out SC2 minus AA with smooth frame rate even in heavy battles, etc. Smooth frame rate being a minimum of 30 fps at 1920x1080, quite acceptable for an RTS imo.

So i'd suggest not going lower then that. Higher if you want to turn AA to 4x or more. Which the 5770 will do nicely. The 5750 'should' also do that, if you want to take the risk, it's cheaper.

 

[dirtmountain]

Good balanced build by Batuchka.

 

[ultimabeam]

man. there's pretty much no reason to ever post in one of these threads after batuchka gets in there

 

[dirtmountain]

Yeah, i checked for a different GPU, thought maybe i could find a deal or combo with something else, but came up empty.

 

[pokernut]

Best answer selected by pokernut.

 

[laweinhander]

Some money could be saved (after rebate) getting a 4850 from newegg instead of the gts250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125236&cm_re=4850-_-14-125-236-_-Product

$85.00 after rebate free shipping