300 Dollar Build for Civ 5 - Possible?

[nativeson8803]

Budget: $300 USD


Preferred place to purchase: Amazon (no tax, free shipping), but could go with TD or Newegg for combos


Games to be played: Civilization 5


Not needed:

Monitor

Keyboard

Mouse

Optical Drive

Operating System


Needed:

Mobo:

PSU:

Ram:

Graphics:

CPU:

HDD:

Case:


I am open to rebate deals and possibly running up to 350. but I was really hoping not to with this build. Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

FWIW:

Recommended Requirements

Operating System: Windows® Vista SP2/ Windows® 7
Processor: 1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 8 GB Free
DVD-ROM Drive: Required for disc-based installation
Video: 512 MB ATI 4800 series or better, 512 MB nVidia 9800 series or better
Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card
DirectX®: DirectX® version 11

 

[nativeson8803]

Thanks Dougie, forgot about that. I'm thinking that we can safely go to 350 ~ 400 (most plz) with this build, by the way.

 

[mortonww]

I feel like this isn't possible. I'm thinking

CPU and MOBO combo: Gigabyte board with Athlon II x4 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.524271
-$153 after rebate

RAM and CASE: NZXT M59 and Corsair XMS3 4 GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514332
-$103 after rebate

GPU and PSU: HD 4870 and 600 W OCZ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514500
-$125 after rebate

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB
-$55

TOTAL: $436

That's about as close as I could get. Someone else might be able to do better. I don't know at what point it just becomes more worth it to have your client save up some more money, though :/

 

[Proximon]

You do not need a quad. I'm running fine on an overclocked dual... but it's demanding on large maps, not unlike Civ IV.

I'll put up what I would consider a good budget rig for it, and we'll see where it lands cost-wise:

i3 540
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115221

ASRock H55 board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157190

G.skill DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231394&cm_re=4GB_DDR3-_-20-231-394-_-Product

Rosewill Green Series RG430-S12 430W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182202
Yes, there are a few good Rosewill PSUs made by ATNG

XFX 4670
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150450&cm_re=4670-_-14-150-450-_-Product

Samsung F4 320GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152244&cm_re=f4-_-22-152-244-_-Product

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

 

[mortonww]

I'm calculating $460 for Proximon's build. What if he removed the $55 500 GB hard drive from my build and replaced it with Proxi's F4, then you're down to $424. Don't know what else to change, though. Switching out too much else will end up disrupting combos and any savings will be negated.

It looks like $424 is as low as you can get.

 

[Proximon]

Yep, that seems like the best he'll do. The Propus is probably the better bet.

 

[alandjackson]

$78 Athlon II X3 445e 3.1
$38 ASRock M3A770DE (Open Box)
$67 Gskill 4gb
$40 Rosewill Blackbone
$30 CoolerMaster 460W
$43 WD Caviar Blue 250gb
$100 Asus 4870 (after $30 rebate)

$396 Total

3 core 3.1ghz processor with 4gb of ram and a 4870 should be a great gaming or desktop rig.

 

[alandjackson]

Correction to my last post, get that 600w PSU / 4870 combo to shave $5 off the price (391): OCZ 600W / Asus 4870

 

[tedsomango]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102858&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL101210&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL101210-_-EMC-101210-Index-_-DesktopGraphicsVideoCards-_-14102858-L08C

get a 5770 for like 15 bucks more it will blow your mind how much better it is

 

[nativeson8803]

Best answer selected by nativeson8803.

 

[nativeson8803]

Thanks for the advice guys. Good answers all the way around but I think it will be tweaked further anyway with some input from the person who is actually getting the rig. He might just hold off for a month or two and save up. Also, I like the 5770 idea.

Thought it would be good to throw some points to the new guy! aland.