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Tom's Hardware > Forum > Systems > New Build > ~$600 Gaming Rig Advice

~$600 Gaming Rig Advice

Forum Systems : New Build ~$600 Gaming Rig Advice

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This will be my first custom rig that I will actually be putting together... Ordering mainly from Newegg and I'm really just planning on playing WoW and Battlefield 3 on medium / high settings when it comes out. I'm hoping the rig wont become dated for atleast a couple years and want it to be reliable. It's basically the $500 rig that they featured on this site ( http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,2903.html ) but I had to change the case, power supply, and processor because of out of stock items. I just want to make sure everything here is good and approved by people who know what they're talking about, because I sure don't. :pt1cable:

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next week or two.

Budget Range: $600 final price. With rebates, shipping, etc. (Give or take ~$20 is fine)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Music, Internet, School work.

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Monitor, Mouse.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg or TigerDirect (TD if it's just one or two parts).

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: AMD build, other than that no strong preferences.

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050 or possibly 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Doesn't need to be flashy. OS: Windows 7 Premium 64 bit.

LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106289

Xigmatek ASGARD II B/B CPC-T45UC-U01 Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811815004

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152244

ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157176

SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102908

Antec Basiq BP430 430W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371023

G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231396

AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103871

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116754

Total with shipping and discounts/ rebates included: $583.51

So my questions to you guys: What do you think about the rig? Will it all fit in the tower I chose? Is there anywhere where I can save or should be spending more? And anything else you feel like saying?

Thank you so much this community has been extremely helpful so far :bounce:

Reply to domokauf
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Looks alright to me for the price point. I would suggest upgrading the ram to DDR3 1600 such as this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231277

And perhaps you could think about a small SSD (64GB) for OS and productivity software. I bought a X25-M last year after using RAID0 74GB Raptors and the improvement in speed and responsiveness was night and day.

Other than those, this should do okay as a low to mid level gaming rig for a couple years.

------------------------------ P7P55D-E Pro, Core i5 760, 16GB DDR3-1600, 120GB X25-M SSD, 1TB WD Black, Corsair AX750, GTX 570, NZXT Lexa Case, Windows 7 Pro 64-bit
Reply to SingeMagique

Looks good but I do recommend this PSU over the Antec, it has more plugs for stuff and its a Corsair.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139018

Also you it would be wise to buy an additional 120MM fan since your case comes with one installed.

Reply to mattius92

Thanks for the replies.

Singemagique: I read somewhere earlier today that there was hardly a difference between 1333 and 1600 RAM. Is that true? And that small drive is a good idea, I'll look into it. What's productivity software though?

Mattius92: Hmmm, it probably would be a good idea to buy a PSU from a more reputable company.

Reply to domokauf

Productivity software is like Microsoft Office or Photoshop.

1333 vs 1600, 1600 is supposedly better but you can just OC your memory to at least 1500 easily. So I really don't think its a big issue.

Reply to mattius92

In gaming i don't think there is a really big difference maybe 2 -7 fps, couple % increase maybe.

Reply to Subidoo

I would concur with going with the 1600ram since it's supported by the motherboard you chose. There isn't really a price difference but there will be a performance difference.


Message edited by Supermuncher85 on 03-30-2011 at 03:53:07 AM
Reply to Supermuncher85

I'd spend a few more bucks on this HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152181 Spinpoint F3 500GB

This is a decent PSU also: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371035 Antec earthwatts 500W


Message edited by imaurer269 on 03-30-2011 at 04:36:12 AM
Reply to imaurer269

You are correct, there will only be a minor (a few %) increase in performance by using 1600 ram. That said, that motherboard supports it and the price difference is only ~$15. Also, the ram you have listed does not have a heat spreader and you should keep that in mind if you do plan on overclocking it.

------------------------------ P7P55D-E Pro, Core i5 760, 16GB DDR3-1600, 120GB X25-M SSD, 1TB WD Black, Corsair AX750, GTX 570, NZXT Lexa Case, Windows 7 Pro 64-bit
Reply to SingeMagique

Check my build guide in mah siggy.

BTW, from 1600 to 1333 no difference at all in reality.

Reply to aznshinobi
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