Sub-$500 gaming rig; first time builder

[xparchangel]

My current store bought computer doesn't really cut it and never really did (Phenom-9500, 3 GB DDR2, GeForce 8500GT). I'm ready for an upgrade and have been wanting to try building it myself, for obvious reasons.

However, I have limited funds available to me (unless my negotiating skills improve in the next few weeks) because of my lovely wife. I will be keeping my current computer for web browsing and other needs; the new build will be strictly for gaming.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 1 month

BUDGET RANGE: 450 - 500 (I don't count on rebates)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming. Mass Effect series, Sins of a Solar Empire, Bioshock series, SupCom

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S. of A.

PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD & ATI (because they're really cheap)

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe (if I feel comfortable with the risks)

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050 (22 inch monitor)


Found this site recently and have been reading and browsing looking at the endless upon endless info that can be found here. This site seems to be the place to get great feedback and opinions on most everything. I have a comfortable idea of what I want and what to expect for $500. Here's what seems good to me:

AMD Phenom II X2 550 Callisto 3.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Desktop Processor $88
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103847

SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100273L Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102834

Foxconn A74ML-K AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $44
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186188

Rosewill R101-P-BK-450W MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case, come with 1x 120mm Fan, 450W Power Supply $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147091

AllComponents 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model $74
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820159021

ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Burner $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3320418AS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148469

That totals up to be about $425. So I've got roughly $25 to $75 more to burn, though I bet my wife would be happy with this total being so low.

Hopefully I can get more funds for the build, but currently it doesn't look good. Would this build be worth it? From what I've been reading, it seems to me that this could work for the games I would be playing compared to what I have now.

I feel most shaky about the mobo and RAM. Let me know what you think or what alternatives there are out there.

 

[Proximon]

You won't be able to overclock that CPU or unlock any cores with that motherboard I think.

My main concern would be the PSU however. You will need a better one.

This one is fairly good:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182199

Combine it with this case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111

Save a bit with this 512MB card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102901

See the PSU guide linked in my sig.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

go up to $100 and get the unlockable 555 (its a 955 with 2 cores locked. a decent mobo can unlock them. It's not 100%. Some 555s simply have 1 or 2 bad cores in them. Even if they fail to unlock, you still have a fast dual-core processor, but odds are deceny you might end up with a quad-core

You can also save a bit on the Mobo. an AS Rock AMD 770 board sacrifices only the SATA 3.0 (6 GB) ability from the 800-series. Gigabyte's model is VERY solid, and $79 at Newegg

You can find the 1 Gb HD4850 for as little as $95, while the 512MB model is as low as $80, and teh 512 is only a very slight drop in performance (less than 2 fps in most games)

 

[batuchka]

$461AR

TA785G3 HD OC/Unlock enthusiast review
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=243311

 

[Proximon]

There you go, great build from batuchka. Biostar is far from the best brand but at 500 bucks you can't be choosy.

 

[xparchangel]

Thanks for the ideas. Motherboards seem to be very important, but I'm still having trouble understanding which ones are good and why, especially when it comes to overclocking and unlocking.

And one more question, is DDR2 even worth getting now days or is DDR3 the only way to go even if it's 2 GB less than $ GB of DDR2?

 

[xparchangel]

Best answer selected by xparchangel.

 

[Proximon]

If you use DDR3 today it's possible your next build will use it, saving you some. DDR2 is being phased out though.

The first link in my sig has some motherboard chipset information that might help you.