Help in putting together a cheap-ish gaming rig <$450

[trickynick]

AMD/Intel? Doesn't matter to me
I just want something to last & be upgrade proof-ish.
Will I ever go with SLI/CF, probably not.
Same with OC'ing.

Sorry for all the posts, I'm just wanting to get the best bang for buck.

Approximate Purchase Date: 8-10 Days (when I get my tax refund)

Budget Range: <= $450 (doesn't matter if before or after rebates)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Watching/Streaming Movies, Surfing (maybe F@H)

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, PSU, GPU, HDD

PSU: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700W

GPU: XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: NewEgg.com or any others with good pricing & shipping prices.

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: None

Overclocking: Doubtful (Scared I'll ruin the equipment)

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1440x900

Additional Comments:

 

[sandybridge]

newegg.com
--
Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
select item 1 quantity of item 1


LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04

LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM
Item #: N82E16827106289
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options27-106-289|hide options27-106-289)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge.(more info27-106-289.0.18)

* 1 year: $6.99
* 2 year: $11.99



$15.99

select item 2 quantity of item 2


GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813128443
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options13-128-443|hide options13-128-443)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge.(more info13-128-443.0.120)

* 1 year: $9.99
* 2 year: $16.99

-$10.00 Instant


$104.99
$94.99

select item 3 quantity of item 3


G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Desktop Memory Model F3-8500CL7S-4GBRL

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Desktop Memory Model F3-8500CL7S-4GBRL
Item #: N82E16820231307
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy



$39.99

select item 4 quantity of item 4


AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDX945FBGIBOX

AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDX945FBGIBOX
Item #: N82E16819103675
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options19-103-675|hide options19-103-675)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge.(more info19-103-675.0.120)

* 1 year: $16.99
* 2 year: $25.99



$134.99

Subtotal: $285.96
--

You pick out a ATX case. It's really a matter of personal preference. If you don't mind dust, get a mid tower case with perforated front panel. Otherwise, go with a case without that. The cpu will more then suffice for your usage. If budget allows, upgrade the cpu to:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

 

[ScrewySqrl]

for this, the usual build is:
AS Rock 880 GM ($60)
Athlon II X3 450 ($80)
4 GB DDR3-1333 ($40)
500 GB HDD ($50)
Rosewill micro ATX case: ($30)
Antec EarthWatts 380 ($45)
HD 5770 ($130)
22x DVD burner: ($16)

total $451

 

[trickynick]

Looking for more suggestions before I make up my mind.

Remember, my budget is 450.
Need Mobo, CPU, RAM,Case(decided on Rosewill Challenger),optical drive.

Any money left over will mean I can also get additional HDDs.

 

[trickynick]

Anyone?

 

[sadams04]

You won't do much better than what ScrewySqrl put together with the exception of going with the ASRock 870 Extreme3 motherboard if you wanted to do crossfire down the road.

 

[aford10]

If all you need are the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and optical drive, you can do a decent build.

i5 750/ASUS P7P55D-E LX - $305 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.592250

8GB Kingston HyperX DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) - $88 with promo code EMCKHKG43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104173&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL020311&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL020311-_-EMC-020311-Index-_-DesktopMemory-_-20104173-L08A

Sony Optiarc - $19 (free shipping with promo code EMCKHKG45 - expires 2/9)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL020311&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL020311-_-EMC-020311-Index-_-CDDVDBurners-_-27118040-L0E

Comes out to ~$415.

 

[simon12]

Take screwys build
for this, the usual build is:
AS Rock 880 GM ($60)
Athlon II X3 450 ($80)
4 GB DDR3-1333 ($40)
500 GB HDD ($50)
Rosewill micro ATX case: ($30)
Antec EarthWatts 380 ($45)
HD 5770 ($130)
22x DVD burner: ($16)

total $451

Change board to 870 Extreme 3
You don't need HDD or PSU so upgrade to 955 BE instead of Athlon X3
You already have a 5770 with this build you have 2 for crossfire.

 

[aford10]

Eh, I'd much prefer the i5 and the added RAM.

 

[vibhas]

[strike]Eh, why the HD 5770 ($130) instead of the cheaper and significantly better GTX 460 768mb? ($120, allows you to upgrade to 1600MHZ 4GB RAM by GSKILL that is $50 instead of your current 1333MHZ $40 ram)
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/172?vs=156

Wins in every benchmark for performance in frames per second (significantly), amount of sound made, has lower temperatures, and lower idle system power draw. The only benchmark that it loses in is the max power draw. Thats like 29 wins / 1 loss... for cheaper\

[/strike]
Edit, just saw he alr has GPU..

 

[trickynick]

I've been looking, and tell me what you think?

Rosewill Challenger - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

Mobo - $90
ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870

CPU - $149
AMD Phenom II X4 955

Ram, I don't know, but am looking at these....Opinions???
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308

The timing are 7-7-7-18, but shouldn't the last number be 21 fomr what I read about timing? Or are these fine?


EDIT:
Total price: $374 (rounded up)

 

[aford10]

I've been looking, and tell me what you think?

Rosewill Challenger - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

Mobo - $90
ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870

CPU - $149
AMD Phenom II X4 955

Ram, I don't know, but am looking at these....Opinions???
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308

The timing are 7-7-7-18, but shouldn't the last number be 21 fomr what I read about timing? Or are these fine?


EDIT:
Total price: $374 (rounded up)

You're missing the optical drive.

Add that, and you're right about the amount for the parts I listed above. The i5 is a better build.

 

[trickynick]

You're missing the optical drive.

Add that, and you're right about the amount for the parts I listed above. The i5 is a better build.

I know I missed the optical drive. Looking around, haven't decided if I want to go blu-ray or not. I probably won't, but that is why I skipped it for now. Going to price your sytem to see what I get.

What about the ram I listed, was there something wrong with the timing or am I worried over nothing on them?

EDIT:
Since Sandy BRidge is about to re-launch, doesn't that make the current I5 obsolete or since I'm going on the cheap route still good for me?

 

[aford10]

Since you're looking for more of a budget build, sandy bridge is a bit out of the range.

The RAM I linked above is better.