Search
Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

First Build 600-700$ Gaming Advice

Last response: in Systems
Share

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Sometime this week

BUDGET RANGE: 500-750

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, internet, movies, school stuff

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, other reputable sites

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US

PARTS PREFERENCES: None

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Unkown

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Looking for any compatibility issues these might have, cheaply upgradable parts, and/or monitor and case advice.

My Build:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition Callisto 3.2GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Desktop Processor $100 (also wondering if this is the better CPU to take if I'm not going to be doing any overclocking)

GPU: GIGABYTE GV-R577SO-1GD Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $160 after rebate

Mobo: ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard $60

RAM G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 CAS 9 $95

PSU SILVERSTONE ST50F-ES 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply $60

HDD Samsung 500 GB SATA II Hard Drive HD502HJ $53 (Have a giftcard for Amazon)

CD/DVD LITE-ON Black 24X SATA CD/DVD Burner $20

Case I'm looking at these, but entirely open to suggestions

Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $40 (free shipping)

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $70 ($15 shipping)

NZXT GAMMA Classic Series GAMA-001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $40 ($3 shipping)

An ideal case would be simple to use and not overwhelming to myself, as a first time system builder.

Monitor Pretty clueless on monitors, but looking for something cheap in the $100-160 price range.

This is my first system build so I'm a little nervous, I've installed video cards and RAM before but nothing beyond that. I found this nice guide
Build a PC , however I'd like a real life video guide, if anyone has any good ones that they would like to recommend I would greatly appreciate it.

Feel free to also ad any general tips you would give to a first time builder. Thanks in advance for everyone's help!






More about : build 600 700 gaming advice

Register or log in to remove

AMD ATHLON II X3 RANA 440

MSI GTX 460 1GB CYCLONE

GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H

XFX 650W or CORSAIR HX650W

G.SKILL 4GB DDR3 1600MHZ CL7 7-8-7-24

SAMSUNG SPINPOINT F3 500GB

get that and ur done :) 

Whats the benefit of the Athlon II X3? Just the cheaper price point? The Phenom 555 seems to get better performance gaming-wise. http://www.anandtech.com/show/2972/the-rest-of-clarkdale-intel-s-pentium-g6950-core-i5-650-660-670-reviewed/7

And the MSI GTX seems nice but its about an $80 price hike which I'm not sure I can afford, same goes for the power supply.

And is the Mobo worth the upgrade? I know I had chosen the cheaper option. What sort of benefits does this one offer over the other one?

Thanks for the help and the post!

the athlon is x3 and its cheaper... with that money u can get the gtx.. the mobo has sata6 and usb3 and its faster and u will have it more time.. i dont like asrock cause is a secondary brand, psu u can change it for ocz fatal1ty 550w if u want to, its cheaper and it still a good psu (not good as the one i said before but good)
Related ressources
Ask the community

Or look at the Antec Neo Eco 520, if its on sale its a great PSU for that build.

I would go with the Athlon IIx3 and overclock. Mine overclocked to 3.4 easily. Also the 4th core unlocks to x4 at 3 stable. Gets you an extra core (or 2 if you are lucky) to handle all the background antivirus, updates, etc that win7/vista have. It also saves money so you can afford a stronger graphics card.

Fonstu said:
alright well with the money I save from switching to the Athlon IIx3 I could either get the better Mobo or GPU which would you recommend?


Get the GTX 460 for sure like people have been saying especially if you plan on gaming as first priority. IMO squeeze every dime into the GPU for gaming as long as you don't bottleneck. And you won't with that Athlon II x3 chip.

Alright I'll probably get the GTX then, thanks, and nice spot on the Antec Neo dndhatcher I'll definitely pick that one up.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a case and/or monitor? After that I should be good to go.

Fonstu said:
also doje would

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... (GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460)

be equivalent to the MSI GTX 460 1GB CYCLONE?

It has free shipping and is a bit cheaper.


They're the same card. Since you're on a tight budget, go with the cheaper one. I have the gigabyte version and its great.

On a side note, if you want to save even more money, you can go with the 768 mb version. Below is the benchmark comparison between the two and we're talking 1-3 fps improvements for the 1 GB version.
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/07/12/nv...
It's completely up to you though. You'll win either way. You can save close to $40 more with the 768 mb.

The antec 300 illusion is my favorite bargain gaming case. It has 4 fans, dust filters and is big enough for a 120mm CPU cooler. Right now its not on sale. If you are patient you can get it as cheap as $55 with free shipping and/or bundled with a good antec PSU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


The antec 200 is a bit cheaper, only has 2 fans and no blue leds. The 2 fans are good enough air flow for a basic gaming machine.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Alright I've been messing around with some stuff and although more expensive then I originally had hoped, I think I found a good build. Just looking for a quick compatibility check, or any additional information you guys think I should know about the products I'm buying. As always you guys have been super helpful so far, thanks for all the tips you've offered.




The monitor also has a limited time instant $36 dollar savings.

Hmm it looks like 2 140mm fans can be added but you need to buy extra rubber grommets to install the fans. So buy the time I buy those and the fans the case price has gone way up. Anyone have a different case combo/deal suggestion?

Fonstu said:
Hmm it looks like 2 140mm fans can be added but you need to buy extra rubber grommets to install the fans. So buy the time I buy those and the fans the case price has gone way up. Anyone have a different case combo/deal suggestion?



I like the Rosewill Challenger case. Its $44.99, comes with a front 120mm, rear 120mm, and top 140mm fans. the side has space for 2 more 120mm fans, with that many fans, cooling is a cinch!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Register or log in to remove
 
Ask the community
Read discussions in other Systems categories
!