[Under $800] Budget Gaming Rig - Round 2

[Hexamony]

Hello again,

Back in May I asked for help building a budget gaming computer but when funds didn't quite pan out it didn't happen. (First thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/285945-31-under-budget-gaming ) Here I am, back in the hope of having funds soon to build a new gaming and general use computer. I took the advice from before and haven't noticed any major shifts in technology and have come up with this build.

Only part I have concern about, unless I didn't notice something, is the motherboard. The whole PCIe 2.0 16x (16x single, 8x dual) or various combinations thereof confused me. Couldn't find a highly rated dual 16x board.


Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198

Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103846&cm_re=Phenom_Black_Edition-_-19-103-846-_-Product

Heatsink: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873&cm_re=5770-_-14-102-873-_-Product

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

Optical Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

 

[Wolygon]

Hello your build looks pretty nice though it would be best to hold off buying a new build if you can wait. New Intel and AMD processors will be coming soon Q1 and thus you'll get a better deal, also HD 6XXX in November. What are your current specs? Maybe you can hold off...or not.

x16/x16 is not required for only 2 cards. Just watch out for the x16/x4 ones they can be a problem but x8/x8 is good.

Your Phenom II X2 could be a bit of a problem when you upgrade your graphics in the future, though you could have a go at OCing and unlocking it.

The CM Hyper 212+ is a much better cooler: $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&Tpk=cooler%20master%20hyper%20212%2b

 

[gkay09]

^ Some changes...did you check for combos ?
X2 + NZXT M59
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.493007

RAM -
Mushkin Silverline
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226092

HD 5850 + Corsair 650TX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.507649

DVD, Mobo - Same...And as for mobo, x8x8 Crossfire would suffice for current graphic cards except dual-chip cards like HD 5970 and such...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Samsung F3 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

CPU Cooler -
CM Hyper 212+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Total - ~$728 | $688 Including rebates...
And unlocking the cores was the reason to choose the X2 right ??

 

[Hexamony]

A few notes about what I'm thinking.

I would prefer not to wait. My hope is to have a Windows 7 desktop to match my Windows 7 laptop so when I get Office 2010 I can be productive at either machine. Currently running XP, I'm extremely hesitant to install SP3 which is a requirement for Office 2010 on XP.

I also have no intention to OC my computer parts. I've been fairly lucky building stable long-lasting machines but I'm pretty sure the moment I start poking at the finer workings it'll all go to pot. I'm looking at a dual-core since I don't see much reason I would need quad-core right now. I'm not a gamer that stays on top of new games. I'm a yesteryear gamer. I haven't even played the first Dragon Age yet and the only thing on the horizon I'm interested in is Portal 2.

As for current specs.

Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz
ASUS P4800-VM
3 GBs of RAM
nVidia GeForce 7600 GS

I happen to have a video card that induces incredible load-times on Bioshock which is another reason I want to upgrade. My current computer is fine for older games and MMOs, even amazingly StarCraft II, but it's time to get something more modern that should last me a couple years.

Also, while I say my budget is $800, the more I can beat that by and still get a solid gaming computer on budget is best. I didn't know it was possible to build one for under $700 yet seems I can.

 

[dndhatcher]

If you are not going to overclock/unlock cores then at least get a triple core.
Athlon IIx3 445 3.1GHz ($78)
ASRock 870 Extreme3 motherboard ($90)
4GB RAM ($80-100)
Samsung F3 500GB HDD ($55)
Coolermaster HAF912 case ($60)
Seasonic 520W PSU ($60)

pick your GPU to fit budget <ordered fastest to slowest>

XFX 5850 ($270)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477

EVGA GT 460 1GB OC ($230)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130570

EVGA GT 460 768MB ($170)

XFX 5770 1GB ($150)

 

[gkay09]

^ Tri-Core is also a good balance between a gaming and multitasking CPU IMO...