New to this 675$ Budget gamer

[RiftGamer]

Hello, I am looking for a new computer I can run games on very good settings. I was told by many friends to come post here.

The game I want to play on max settings on the games site it says this as reccomended settings:

Operating system: Windows XP, Vista or 7
Processor: Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz or better
Memory: 4 GB
Hard disk space: 15.0 GB available
Desktop Video: Nvidia GTS 250 or better
Notebook Video: Nvidia GTX 200M series or better
Sound: DirectX 8.1 compliant card
DirectX®: 9.0c, June 2010 update
Broadband internet connection (DSL, cable modem or other high speed connection)

I don't know if I can meet that with a 675$ budget with shipping and everything.. But any help you could give would be highly appreciated. I was going to purchase a prebuilt from tigerdirect but I guess its better to get a homebuilt. Thanks.

 

[matessim]

someone help him? he's my friend please its urgent.

 

[hamitaltintop22]

whats the game? Is it Rift? I don't have much experience with that game.

Edit: I would recommend the budget build tecmo34 recommends in his list here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/269162-31-recommended-builds-usage

In the link he has the links for each part on newegg.

Directly from his post:

"Budget: $662.91 Updated CPU & MOBO

* CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX450WFGMBOX
* MOBO: ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
* RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM
* HSF: Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - Retail
* HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
* PSU: Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified ...
* GPU: XFX HD-685X-ZDFC Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
* DVD: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD Writer Black SATA Model iHAS424-98 LightScribe Support - Retail
* Case: COOLER MASTER RC-692-KKN3 CM690 II Basic Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
* Thermal Compound: Comes with heatsink.

This build will allow you to play games at mid. to max. settings at a monitor resolution of 1920x1080 or less"

 

[RiftGamer]

Alright thanks

 

[ahthurungnone]

Having built several computers, here's my advice...

1) Look for inexpensive cases that come with a power supply. These are easily found for under $50. You can upgrade your case later if it matters to you. But functionally this will be fine.
2) You really don't need more than 500 or 600 watts. If you want such an expensive graphics card, make sure your power supply has at least 1 pcie plug or you will have to buy a converter cable.
3) When it boils down to RAM and you have little to work with, just buy whatever is on sale. Right now you can get great deals at Newegg for 4GM for under $40.
4) Buy a micro ATX motherboard as you don't need a full ATX since you aren't running two gpu's.
5) AMD processors are always less expensive than Intel's. However, buy the latest cpu socket mobo and get a cheap cpu that you can later upgrade without having to change your mobo. (For example, the AthlonIIx2 cpu's are about $50 and very quick.)
6) Remember that gaming uses more of your gpu than anything else, so if you want to splurge, splurge on a gpu.

Finally, this is what I'd build with a budget...

Case and PSU: http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=CS2008BK&cat=CAS = $50
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128458 = $65.00 (This is AMD's latest chipset and best mobo manufacturer)
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103920 = $75 (3 cores is plenty)
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227559 = $35 (OCZ makes awesome RAM.)
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161338 = $100 (This is better than even I own.)
Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 = $65 (best 7200rpm drive you can get)
DVD Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289 = $16 (free shipping before Tuesday)

TOTAL = $406.00
(If you have more money, I'd buy an OCZ 60 or 120GB SSD to really watch this system scream.)

Note: With the above Iconic case, you will probably need a 4-pin extension cable and even a 24-pin extension cable.

 

[photonboy]

When building a gaming system you always look at the CPU/GPU combination first. In general, most people have a CPU which is more powerful than their CPU.

$700 isn't very much when building a gaming PC and recommended and minimum settings for games are often too low IMO. I've put together medium-range gaming PC's and had a hard time doing it for under $1000; once you add the bare essentials (case, PSU, Windows etc) you don't end up with much left over for a good graphics card.

Look at the Tomshardware Graphics Charts that compare graphic card performance.

*A $300 versus a $200 graphics card is a HUGE, HUGE difference.

If I only had $700 and wanted to game I'd probably buy an XBox 360 or PS3.

 

[Onus]

Sorry, but do NOT listen to ahthurungnone. Logisys PSU-shaped objects should not be connected to computer equipment. With the exception of Antec, I cannot think of any PSU that comes with a cheap case that I'd risk powering my computer. If that sounds snobbish, read the reviews of cheap PSUs on jonnyguru.com and hardocp.com, and the tutorials and PSU reviews on hardwaresecrets.com. No other components can make up for the problems caused by a crappy PSU.
Unfortunately, now is not a great time to build new. That's because any currently available socket is a dead-end. The Sandy Bridge chipset won't be fixed for at least a month or two, and socket AM3 won't take Bulldozer, which needs socket AM3+.
That said, it is still quite possible to build a machine that will be competent for games like RIFT for years to come, even if it isn't the latest and greatest.
Quick rundown:
ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
Model #:870 EXTREME3
Item #:N82E16813157198
$109.99 -$20.00 Instant $89.99

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
Model #:HDZ955FBGMBOX
Item #:N82E16819103808
$148.99 $148.99

Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm ...
Model #:CHALLENGER
Item #:N82E16811147153
$59.99 -$5.00 Instant $54.99

Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7261S-0B LightScribe Support - OEM
Model #:AD-7261S-0B
Item #:N82E16827118040
$18.99 $18.99

SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Model #:S12II 520 Bronze
Item #:N82E16817151094
$79.99 -$10.00 Instant $69.99

MSI N460GTX Hawk GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Model #:N460GTX Hawk
Item #:N82E16814127518
$209.00 -$10.00 Instant $199.00

Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ...
Model #:996586
Item #:N82E16820146748
$39.99 $39.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Model #:HD502HJ
Item #:N82E16822152181
$49.99 $49.99

Subtotal: $671.93

There were some MIRs in there that would lower it a little. If you need to cut it down further, get an Athlon II X3 450 for $79.

 

[hamitaltintop22]

Sorry, but do NOT listen to ahthurungnone. Logisys PSU-shaped objects should not be connected to computer equipment. With the exception of Antec, I cannot think of any PSU that comes with a cheap case that I'd risk powering my computer.

I agree.