Can I game while saving with this?

[Manji022]

Can I game with a sub $500 system while I save for a better rig. The system I was using died (after over 5 years of service with an Athlon X2 64) and I need something to hold me over. I really want to get some gaming in for Fallout New Vegas, Dead Rising 2, Civ V, Sims 3, Crysis, and some other titles. The most intensive game out there has to be able to run at least, my system that died ran Fallout NV on max settings with my trusty old 9800GT in her.

So i am asking for some options here basically. Is it possible to build a sub $500 system on cyberPower that can run the games at 1360x768 and support 2 monitors (I cant live without that now lol, its great) while looking pretty?

For example will a simple system like: http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/AMD_Dual_Core_Configurator/ do the trick? In it's default config is it good enough to keep me gaming while I save for a really great system, and by really great I mean $1,500+ range.

Thanks in advance for the help on this one, I am good with building and fixing systems but I am just learning the ropes still when it comes to custom builds.

 

[mosox]

Get the parts and build it yourself, it's easy:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/274745-13-step-step-guide-building

BIOSTAR A880G+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138283
AMD Athlon II X3 450 + GIGABYTE GV-R577SO-1GD Radeon HD 5770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.544487
G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396
LITE-ON Black 24X DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395
CORSAIR Builder Series CMPSU-500CX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139018
HEC Blitz Black Steel Edition ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121096

$499.92

 

[Manji022]

I see, thanks for that

 

[Onus]

The only thing I would definitely change on that is the PSU. The Corsair "Builder" series is not 80+ certified, so it represents a backwards step compared to earlier Corsair PSUs, or to current Antec or Seasonic offerings.
A HD5770 can be run on a 380W Antec Earthwatts, which is 80+ bronze, very quiet, and otherwise solid. If you want something stronger for more headroom, Newegg has the old and new 430W Earthwatts, for $50 and $60. The new one is 80+ bronze, the old one just 80+.
Another motherboard to consider is this ASRock: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157176 for $60. It is cheaper than the Biostar, but I believe the quality is higher. You don't need the Biostar's onboard video, and the ASRock has 4 RAM slots.

Edit: if you were satisfied with the performance of your 9800GT and just want this machine to "get you by" until you build your nicer system, you can drop the video card to as low as a HD5670 to save money, or get a HD5750 or GTS250 (although the HD5770 combo is a good deal).

 

[Manji022]

Wow, thanks for the advice. This community rocks. I am thinking of going with some very cheap prebuilts like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883108362&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID= or http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=ET1352-53 and putting a good GPU in the mix.

 

[Onus]

The PSUs in those machines won't be able to handle a "good" GPU.

 

[Manji022]

I see, thanks. So a better PSU would be needed, what do you think of the CPUs? I am mostly concerned with that as upgrading a psu is not too rough.

What do you guys think of these configs:

CONFIG#1
* CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-661 3.33 GHz 4M Intel Smart Cache LGA1156 [+4]
* HDD: 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD (Single Hard Drive)
* MEMORY: 4GB (2GBx2) DDR3/1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Module (Corsair or Major Brand)
* MOTHERBOARD: [CrossFireX/SLI] EVGA P55 TR Intel P55V Chipset DDR3 Socket 1156 mATX Mainboard w/ 7.1 HD Audio, GbLAN, USB2.0, SATA-II RAID, 2 Gen2 PCIe, & 2 PCIe X1 [+1]
* SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
* VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 SE 1GB 16X PCIe Video Card [+114] (EVGA Powered by NVIDIA [+5])

CONFIG#2
* CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-650 3.20 GHz 4M Intel Smart Cache LGA1156 [-30]
* HDD: 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD (Single Hard Drive)
* MEMORY: 8GB (2GBx4) DDR3/1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Module [+94] (Corsair or Major Brand)
* MOTHERBOARD: [CrossFireX/SLI] EVGA P55 TR Intel P55V Chipset DDR3 Socket 1156 mATX Mainboard w/ 7.1 HD Audio, GbLAN, USB2.0, SATA-II RAID, 2 Gen2 PCIe, & 2 PCIe X1 [+1]
* SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
* VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 1GB 16X PCIe Video Card [+79] (EVGA Superclocked [+15])

 

[Manji022]

I take it the 650 and 661 are going to be getting too slow soon then? I suck at keeping up with CPU stuff I am sad to admit.

 

[Manji022]

Makes sense.

 

[Manji022]

ok, been a while, sorry bout that. Here is what I have come up with.

keep my 9800gt

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131366R

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156063

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152035

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226063R

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

myHDD is a 350gig and that should be fine since I have 1tb external for storing larger folders like movies and music collections.

So tell me what you think, my total with shipping and thermal compound is 432.73.