"All Around" Build Under $450 Advice (Ready to buy) - Updated 10/7

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apjg

apjg

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10/7 - I'm set to buy, so I'm double checking that my build would work and I shouldn't wait for any reason or possibly purchase over the weekend (if newegg has specific deals over the weekend)?

10/1 - I think some people were confused as to what I meant by a "moderate" gaming build, so I edited that out of the title and first post since I only really want to play Civilization 5 on medium/highish settings. I also upped the budget to $450ish after rebates and shipping :D


Hello! I'm looking to build an "all around" PC for under $450. This is my first build, so any help or advice would be appreciated (I used the "$400 Gaming PC" from the System Builder Marathon as a starting point for my build)!

Below are some details on what I'm looking for/working with and below that is the potential build.

Details​

Approximate Purchase Date: [strike]2 or 3 weeks[/strike] Right now (or are there better deals on weekends?)! :D

Budget Range: Under $450 after shipping and rebates

System Usage: Civilization 5 (medium/high settings), Final Cut Express, Photoshop, Illustrator, Pro Tools, Reason/Record, and web browsing. It's pretty much just a fun/hobby pc, nothing professional.

Parts Not Required (followed by what I have if I think it might help):
Monitor: Dell 2209WAf (1680x1050, DVI, and VGA)
OS: Vista Home Premium (will purchase Windows 7 separately at a later time)
Hard drive: Seagate Momentus 2.5’’ Internal Drive: 500gb, 7200rpm, 16mb cache, and SATA connection (3.5’’ bay adaptation accounted for in build below)
Keyboard
Mouse
Speakers

Preferred Website: www.Newegg.com

Country of Origin: United States

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Potential Build (updated 10/7)​

Optical Drive: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R - $16.99
Case: Rosewill Blackbone - $39.99
Motherboard: ASRock M3A770DE - $59.99
Additional Item: Rosewill 2.5" mounting kit - $4.99 (or should I go with the SilverStone Bay Converter since the Rosewill is plastic?)
Video Card/Power Supply Combo Deal: SAPPHIRE 100283-3L Radeon HD 5770 1GB and OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W - $189.98 (before $15.00 and $20.00 MIR)
CPU/RAM Combo Deal: AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Quad-Core and OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) - $167.98 (before $20.00 MIR)

Shipping: $7.74
Rebate(s): -$55.00
Promo Code (from Rosewill Case): -$5.00
Final Cost: $427.66

Whoo! Hopefully everything is compatible? haha
 
F

falseg0d

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You have a pretty nice build already, not much to improve on and stay in the budget.

To start off I would say change your ram to this, you can buy another stick later if you need to so it makes upgrading easier. Plus it's cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146736

That case you chose is fine, you shouldn't go with that second choice seeing as it would raise your price quite a bit. But if you did go with it that power supply would be enough.

Also that power supply doesn't sit well with me. I would go with an 80 plus certified and above, nothing less.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182202
 
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falseg0d

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The only thing I see the need to wait until you have more is the video card. I would go with a 5770 in a budget build, It's a great card for such a low price. But if you really don't want to wait your card is fine.
 
Onus

Onus

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The Antec 380W Earthwatts PSU is more than enough for a HD5670; it would comfortably run a HD5750 and should even be enough for a HD5770.
The Rosewill Stallion, however, is not anywhere near the same quality. Any PSU with a little red voltage switch on it should be avoided. Antec, Seasonic, Corsair, and Enermax are among the quality brands; stick to one of them. You should be able to find one in the 350W-450W range for $40-$45 depending on which ones have deals attached.
If at all possible, go for 4GB of RAM.
You can save $5 by getting one of the cheap Rosewill cases. Any time I've ever bought one, I've had no trouble from it. They also seem to have some decent shipping cost discounts right now too.
 
deconduo

deconduo

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You can quite easily get a half decent computer for just a smidge over $400 after rebates if you combo well:

$70 4GB Gskill RAM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396

$67 Antec 300 + DVD RW

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514335

$121 Biostar 785G + Athlon II X3 445

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.500519

$195 HD5770 + OCZ 600W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514493

Total $453 - $35 MIR = $418

+ $7 for the HD converter.

The problem is the combos change around often, so you have to let us know the day you want to buy.
 
apjg

apjg

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Yah, I showed the build to a friend of mine and he said the same thing, so I bumped my budget up to get a 5770.



Ooo, I'll definitely do that!



I changed the post a bit since I think I may have been misleading. I do want to play Civ 5, but that's really it for now, so I think I can make it work :D



Yah, what I plan on doing is having a general build in mind and then checking on combo deals the day I buy. I'm new to builds, so I want to make sure I know what's compatible with what so I don't get excited and buy a combo deal that ends up not working haha



My 2.5" laptop drive has a SATA connection (I listed it up top with the parts I already have), so I'm planning on mounting it in a 3.5" bay. Even so, the $7 converter was deactivated :(

That Antec is perfect, thanks! I was also going with the RAM you suggested, but it sold out haha
 
ScrewySqrl

ScrewySqrl

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the case you have looks like it will take only an 80 or 92mm front and side.

I'd try to spend the extra $10 for the Blackbone. It comes with 2 120mm fans, and can mount either 2 more 120mm or 3 80mm on the side.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023

your drive is fairly slow, at 5400 rpm, but should suffice. If you can swing it, I'd consider a 3.5" drive. the Spinpoint f4 320 GB is amazingly fast and only $42.99

I'd strongly suggest the ASRock motherboard. Either the $54.99 770 with SATA 2 and USB 2, or the $59.99 880 chipset.

There is also a 74.99 and 79.99 version of each with USB3 and SATA3. Not needed now, but useful for the future.

 
apjg

apjg

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Ooo, thanks, I'll get the Blackbone then!

I forgot to put that the 2.5" drive is 7200rpm, but is there an advantage to having a 3.5" drive?

I'm gonna go with the 770, so would I need to change my RAM? Or does 1333 work even though the board's standard is 1600? Also, should I get the open box 770 or is that a bad idea?
 
apjg

apjg

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Thanks! Yah, I'll avoid open box then. I'll probably get a 3.5" drive at some point, but for now I'll just use the 2.5" to save a bit :D



No problem! I wouldn't want to spam up the board every time I cut $5 out of the build or found a new combo deal haha
 
apjg

apjg

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I'm all set to buy! Just double checking that my build is compatible and/or if I should maybe wait to buy over the weekend for certain deals/combos? Thanks so much for the help! :D
 
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