Under $550 Gaming Computer

[Tlechem]

Approximate Purchase Date: Before December
 
Budget Range: $400-550 Before Rebates
 
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Watching Movies, Surfing the web, Creating Documents
 
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor
 
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: amazon.com (I know it's not the greatest website for parts but threes no tax and I get free "prime" shipping on most things), newegg.com, tigerdirect.com

Country of Origin: California, US
 
Parts Preferences: AMD cpu, mid sized case, Mobo that supports ddr3 and USB 3.0. I would like a blu-ray optical drive.
 
Overclocking: Yes
 
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe later on
 
Additional Comments: I would like 4 gb of ram. I don't know where to get Windows 7 for a built pc. I would like the case to look cool (black with a lot of grill) but not if it will cost a ton more.
 
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I have already picked out an AMD Phenom II X2 processor. I will probably unlock the other two cores. Tell me if it isn't a very good CPU.

http://www.amazon.com/AMD-Phenom-Callisto-Dual-Core-Processor/dp/B0036F2Z7W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1288500721&sr=8-4

I also found a LITE-ON 4x Blu-ray Disc SATA Internal Optical Drive.

http://www.amazon.com/LITE--Blu-ray-Internal-Optical-iHOS104/dp/B002EE996Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288501411&sr=8-1

Thank you so much,
Thomas

 

[werxen]

First: don't need DDR3 over DDR2 if you're going a dual core AMD
Second: don't buy a chip hoping to unlock - get the X3 instead
Third: Blu-ray optical drive is not a gaming PC and should be omitted - you can buy blu-ray releases instead

 

[silversurfernhs]

AS rock has a great and cheap 870 based (i think) mb that has multiple gfx capabilities and usb3... look that sucker up, and all u gotta do is look for win 7 home premium on amazon or newegg...

 

[loneninja]

The Phenom II X2 are a great deal if you can unlock the extra cores, or what you do can only use 2 cores. If the cores fail to unlock, the Athlon II X3/X4 processors offer better performance, and much better bang/buck.

Some odd reason Chrome won't load newegg right now, but you should be able to fine both OEM and retail versions of Win7 on newegg or tigerdirect if you look into their software.

 

[mosox]

You can't have all that in your budget. No way. And unless there's a 50% tax and 20% shipping on newegg, Amazon is worse. A lot of good cheap parts are not to be found on Amazon.

Anyway

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IGCLAA/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003PJ6PW0/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TISFCG/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017KE3DM/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035K6H2C/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0028ACYMC/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002J65AHQ/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SIMPXM/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

$590.90

 

[Tlechem]

You guys are awesome. Thanks a lot!!

 

[Tlechem]

Best answer selected by tlechem.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey