Is this ok for cheap gaming build?

[CrazyDesi]

Is this ok for a good gaming build? It mainly takes the Tom's Hardware March 2011 approach, but it replaces the case and power supply to a single case and power supply combo and adds a more powerful CPU. Please let me know if you guys find any faults with this system or can provide cheaper options even if they have to be overclocked. Thank you.

 

[xGrunty]

Please include the parts you plan on getting

 

[CrazyDesi]

Sorry, feeling kind of stupid right now. I thought I hit paste. Anyway here are the parts thank you for the reply:


SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity


SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive


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


AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX


ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard



G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBNS



LOGISYS Computer Area 51 CS51WBK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 480W Power Supply

 

[CrazyDesi]

Also people seem to be able to build fairly decent gaming PCs for less. If someone could post the cheapest they can find, I will be happy. I don't need that much power. I have been playing on my Xbox and am basically looking for just a slight upgrade that can play games at fairly decent resolution and graphics for 2 years or so. In fact, I am more interested in just being able to play them with little frame drops than getting the highest quality out of the game.

 

[crewton]

Check aznshinobi's profile one of the top experts on the right hand over there ---> he has a selection of 300, 400, 600 dollar pc builds that can help you in your decision making.

 

[CrazyDesi]

I looked at his profile but for his 450 PC many of the parts are no longer available and I am not sure how much gaming power they can provide.

 

[crewton]

Oh and as for your case+psu combo...the psu generally sucks...get a nice 500-550W with amps around 40A on the 12V. One from Antec, Corsair, Cooler Master or some of the other trusted brands that escape my head atm.

 

[imaurer269]

If you have $550 to spend try this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078 i3-2100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908 6850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241 Asrock H61
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396 2x2 GB G.skill
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395 Seagate 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227 CM Elite Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815008 XIGMATEK 500W

 

[CrazyDesi]

That seems like a pretty decent build and price. Will I save money by choosing AMD over Intel? I was looking at this:

LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24NS50

Rosewill R102-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

ASRock 760GM-GS3 AM3 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity


Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT

AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX450WFGMBOX

 

[aznshinobi]

Say what? My parts aren't available? You mean that it's just out of stock.

The Athlons fail in comparison to the i3 2100.
Best Sub-200$ CPU
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu-core-i3-2100-phenom-ii-x6-1075t,2859-10.html

2100 vs 450
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/189?vs=289

If you don't think you need USB 3.0 any time soon (seems you do think this way as you did pick a 760 chipset board. Save by getting this H61 board.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241&cm_re=H61-_-13-157-241-_-Product

 

[imaurer269]

AMD is gonna be cheaper yes but the Intel build will blow the pants off the build you have going, also I'm not sure if that 380W antec would be enough for a 6850

 

[CrazyDesi]

Ok imauerer I have decided to go with the PC that you have customized. Is there any last minute deals, combos, cheaper cases, anything that you would recommend?

 

[CrazyDesi]

Just for the record there is a Microcenter in my city.

 

[imaurer269]

Cheaper no but if you have a little more in your budget then I would go with this combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.631841 better mobo for $10
And this HDD for 10 more http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

 

[imaurer269]

Oh well check Microcenter for sure they always have cheaper CPU's and sweet cpu/mobo deals. Don't know if they are doing any i3-2100 deals atm tho.

 

[4745454b]

Yeah, the PSU in that case is junk. The build overall looks ok but I'd change the PSU and get a 500GB drive. The difference between a 320 and a 500GB probably isn't much.

 

[imaurer269]

Also if you don't mind top mounted PSU's I personally love this case when on a cheaper budget: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023
And for a few more bucks this is a really nice case with twice the fans as the others: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

 

[Dyers Eve]

That's a good setup by imaurer269. I don't like the price of the 955 and 965s right now, they are more expensive than the i3-2100 and require some overclocking to get up to i3-2100 performance.

In my opinion if you want to go AMD you want to look at the $90 Phenom II X2 555. OC the 555 just a little bit and you'll get good performance at a very low price. Here's two good cpu/mobo combo's that can start off a really good and cheap AMD build:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.625060
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.625083

 

[aznshinobi]

380 Antec is good enough. That's why THG used it to power their 500$ build w/ a 6850.

 

[Dyers Eve]

Just for the record there is a Microcenter in my city.

Well then scratch everything I just said. Microcenter says they have i3-2100s for $100 and that's a crazy good deal and the best price/performance you will get. I find the microcenter mobo selection to be poor and would probably check prices for the other parts.

 

[imaurer269]

Ah damn I didn't even notice that. I get so damn confused at how much PSU you need for different cards/builds and prolly always go a bit overboard but figure more is better than not enough. I do love the antec's(earthwatts even more so) just used that Xigma for the 1st time in my last build. I'm still a novice thats learning(next build will be my 10th) so takes the expert/addict advice over mine!

 

[aznshinobi]

GPU+CPU $360 AR+PROMO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.620215

Mobo $60: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241&cm_re=H61-_-13-157-241-_-Product

Ram $43: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279&cm_re=DDR3_4gb-_-20-161-279-_-Product

HDD+PSU $65 AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.624814

Case $40: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121096

Total: $568

Guarenteed lots of perf.

 

[aznshinobi]

My build has a 6870+i5 2400 fitted in. Granted it is with rebates and promos. Still for that deal, you gotta take it.

 

[imaurer269]

We have been forgetting a CD/DVD drive so just add another $20 or so on the price, and that is a nice build aznshinobi has going there for a step up to the i5

 

[CrazyDesi]

I can't really afford that. I am just looking for a basic gaming pc not anything that needs that much performance. I will be going with the i3 build and the case that azshinobi posted with the Antec power supply, I think.