Sub US$700 (pref 600) budget gaming build

gray_chicago · Nov 22, 2010

Approximate Purchase Date: within 3 weeks

Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) 600-700 with shipping/not including mail in rebates (ie, what I have to spend out of pocket now). ~$600 sans monitor, ~$700 with

System Usage from Most to Least Important: medium gaming (STO, Fable 3 - if it ever comes out, Civ 5), possible photoshop use, general internet (including flash games), email, office productivity suite

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, maybe monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: new egg, microcenter (cause it's down the street)

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: none

Overclocking:Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: undecided

Additional Comments: must have windows and prefer a 1tb hd; I spec'd out LuigiVN, adding windows 7 pro 64-bit for system builders (in a combo) and upping the HD space, and as far as I can tell it'll be ~$770 from newegg. If I could get some help on figuring out what swap out to reduce it by $100 I'd appreciate it.

Can't seem to insert an image unless it has it's own URL, I'll see if I can figure it out to show the $770 price.

dave0305 · Nov 22, 2010

Look into somethink like this:

CPU: AMD phenom ii x4 955 BE

GPU: ATI HD 6850 or GTX 460 (HD 6870 if you can afford it)

MOBO: ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard ( with new features and crossfire at x8,x8 wich is good)

PSU: Corsair HX 650W or higher. You can go cheaper with OCZ modular PSUs

CASE: Antec 902, antec 300, antec 900 or cooler master HAF 922 (depending which one can you afford.

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-4GBRM

HDD: Samsung f3 1TB 7200RPM

If you thinking of overcloking then get one of these coolers:

Corsair H50/70

or

I would sugest coolIT E.C.O. wich beats the H50

gray_chicago · Nov 22, 2010

EDIT: posted this before I saw Dave's recommendation ....
Here are the specs I have so far:

Processor: Intel Core i3 530

Motherboard: ASRock H55DE3 LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI ATX

RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

Graphics Card: SAPPHIRE 100283-3L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 combo with Windows 7 Pro 64-bit

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EARS 1TB 5400 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"

Case:COOLER MASTER CM 690

Power Supply: Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 Modular Active PFC

DVD Burner: LG Black 22X

Total: $770 before shipping

dave0305 · Nov 22, 2010

gray_chicago :

There is one way of getting it down, and thats by going AMD based......

With your budget i wouldn't go INTEL.

gray_chicago · Nov 22, 2010

Hey -

I priced out the config you posted on newegg (adding the OS), and unless I'm missing a combo here or there, I'm coming up at close to $900. Maybe I'm missing something?

Thanks for your help, I'll look at swapping out the processor (I think there might be a combo I can take advantage of with the motherboard), changing the memory to what you suggested ... and maybe rethink the case.

-gray

Lutfij · Nov 22, 2010

I'd like to differ - the i3- stated above actually has native frequency of 1066/1333MHz according to this

so getting a pair of lower frequencies and of 4Gb kit will do you good. PLUS - DON'T get the XMS - thas one way of getting a higher price quotation - get G.skills they are cheaper - i just noticed one a while ago can't remember which one. But get a dual channel kit.

Lower your HDD to 500Gb, get larger HDD's in the future when you have some dough saved up.

The H55's GPU (together with the i3) will give you 'playable' frame rates not the best solution but in essence, your saving up on buying the GPU. When the Ati 6900 series cards'll come out - the 5700 will already have become cheaper. To that note - get a lil higher PSU Wattage.

I have a friend who has the exact config and he's played POP-The Forgotten Sands, CoD-MW2, BFBC2 with the IGPU of the H55 along with an i5-(which is a dual core w/ HT). Civ 5 ain't that taxing on GPU - only when your unhappy with its frame rates, you can splash cash on the GPU.

so the new HDD, lowered ram specs and no GPU will LOWER the price

hopefully

EDIT - Hang on a minute if your on a budget build why get a CoolIT ECO or a COrsair H50, get a coolermaster Hyper 212+ and you've done your work with cooling and OC'ing the cpu. More money saved...

mosox · Nov 22, 2010

You sure want a lot in your budget, usually this leads to bad parts.

BIOSTAR A880G+ AM3 + Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.552638
AMD Athlon II X3 445 + Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.555640
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
GIGABYTE GV-R577SO-1GD Radeon HD 5770 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125327
SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094
LG DVD Burner + HEC Blitz Black Steel Edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.542984
Acer G235HAbd 23'' 5ms 1920x1080
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009266

$754.90

dave0305 · Nov 22, 2010

mosox :

Nice build but he dosn't need a monitor so the build can be twice better with AMD phenom ii x4 995 and GTX 460 or HD 6850

with these upgrades OCZ 600W would do.

Lutfij · Nov 22, 2010

Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) 600-700 with shipping/not including mail in rebates (ie, what I have to spend out of pocket now). ~$600 sans monitor, ~$700 with

so $700 w/ monitor

mosox · Nov 22, 2010

Don't know, he wrote

~$600 sans monitor, ~$700 with

. My build is $595 without the monitor.

LE: Lutfij beat me to it.

dave0305 · Nov 22, 2010

mosox :

OK

Lutfij · Nov 22, 2010

heh by 2mins43secs

gray_chicago · Nov 22, 2010

Thanks mosox, this looks like a great build for my extremely limited budget - with or without the monitor

ScrewySqrl · Nov 22, 2010

$754 is over budget

ScrewySqrl · Nov 22, 2010

here;s my build option, its $627.92, but the monitor price is only good for today, so it leaves you some room for a more expensive monitor or faster CPU

LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - 22x SATA: $16.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
its cheap. it works.

Rosewill Destroyer case: $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147144
my favorite case for its seven 120mm fan slots

4 extra case fans: $6.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200061
fills out the fans. these are relatively quiet.

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB Hard drive: $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
On sale thsi week for the price of a 500GB. get it while it's hot!

LG 20" 1600x900 Monitor: $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005148
On sale *TODAY ONLY* (11/22).

AS Rock 770 Extreme 3 mobo: $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157195
USB 3, SATA 3, and a 16x/4x PCIe slot set.

Mushkin 4 GB DDR3-1333 kit: $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146748
All you really need

Gigabyte GTX 460 and AMD Athlon II X4 640: $263.99 w/ $10 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.543697

Free copy of H.A.W.X.

total: $627.92 with $11.96 shippong for a final $639.68.

You can easily swing the extra $50 for an Acer 1650x1050 or 1920x1080 monitor.

gray_chicago · Nov 22, 2010

Choices, choices ... thanks for another option!

It'll take me a while to go through these builds, y'all are very fast at this!

gray_chicago · Nov 23, 2010

ScrewySqrl's didn't have a windows os, which I wanted (unless I missed something) ... but assuming one of the parts I can combo with the os, I'm thinking that minus the monitor + the os will be about the same price. I'll hop over to newegg to check it out.

Lutfij · Nov 23, 2010

@ screwysqrl - when you add this - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817116009, your price will go up not to mention the OS.

ScrewySqrl · Nov 23, 2010

your right, I did forget the PSU. but its still $685 when I add his:

SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply: $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094

gray_chicago · Nov 23, 2010

Here are what I think are my two best options:

Option 1:

PSU:SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W Power Supply $59.99

HD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $54.99

Graphics: GIGABYTE Radeon HD 5770 GV-R577SO-1GD Video Card $149.99

Case/DVD: HEC Blitz Black Steel Edition ATX Mid Tower Computer Chassis Gaming Case
LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24NS50
COMBO $49.98

Motherboard/Os: BIOSTAR A880G+ Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders
COMBO $149.98

Processor/Memory: AMD Athlon II X3 445 3.1GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor
Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory
COMBO $129.98

Total $594.91 Edit: had additional $20 off with a mail in rebate, which doesn't impact out of pocket, but does the total price

Option 2:
PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W Power Supply compatible with core i7 $74.99

HD: Seagate SV35.5 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $49.99

Motherboard: BIOSTAR A880G+ Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $69.99

Case/DVD: HEC Blitz Black Steel Edition ATX Mid Tower Computer Chassis Gaming Case
LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24NS50
COMBO $49.98

Graphics Card/Processor: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 5770 100283-3L Video Card
AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor
COMBO $223.99

OS/Memory: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
COMBO $173.98

Total: $642.92 Edit: has additional $40 off with a mail in rebates, which doesn't impact out of pocket, but does the total price

One is completely from mosox' recommendation, one is a hybrid. Once I added the OS, ScrewySqrl was getting too pricey.

Will both work? Is option 2 worth the $50 more? Are both expandable in the next year or two or maybe 3?

And, as this is my first build, are there any other things (I have tools, not parts) that I need - cables, etc?

ScrewySqrl · Nov 23, 2010

the one suggestion I'd make:
Replace the Biostar motherboard. Same $69.99 gets you the AS Rock 770 Extreme 3, a more reliable company.

Lutfij · Nov 23, 2010

@ OP - get option 2

medium gaming (STO, Fable 3 - if it ever comes out, Civ 5), possible photoshop use

the quad core will be handy for multitasking and photoshop work.

@ screwysqrl - getting the 770 will actually wallup future upgrade path for processor - once bulldozer come out or whatever it is from AMD.

ScrewySqrl · Nov 23, 2010

thats true no matter what AMD board you buy.

If you really want an 880, AS Rock has one of those as well, for $59.99

gray_chicago · Dec 1, 2010

Best answer selected by gray_chicago.

Sub US$700 (pref 600) budget gaming build

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