Budget gaming build... what would you change?

bossfrog

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Apr 15, 2011
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I'm about to pull the trigger on this build and I thought I would get some opinions on what might be some good changes before doing so. I'm actually already overbudget about $25, so I don't want to go any higher. If anyone has some suggestions for better quality at the same price or even some cost-saving things I could do that wouldn't significantly effect performance, I'd love to see those ideas. This is almost exclusively geared toward gaming with a decent upgrade path for the future. Thanks!

sys.jpg
 

bossfrog

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Apr 15, 2011
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I'll probably dual boot Windows 7 Home Prem x64 and Sabayon 64-bit. I'm not terribly worried about playing DVD movies on it. Would a different burner be in order anyway? I just looked for the least expensive with with 5-egg reviews on newegg.
 
HEC Blitz 40$: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121096

GTS 450 Gigabyte 100$ AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125341&cm_re=450_GTS-_-14-125-341-_-Product

Athlon II X3 450 + 880G mobo 138$: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.624994

4GB Silverline Mushkin DDR3 1333 43$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226092&cm_re=4gb_mushkin_silverline-_-20-226-092-_-Product

35$ AR Corsair 430w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017&Tpk=corsair%20430

Seagate 500GB SATA II 45$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395&cm_re=500gb_Seagate-_-22-148-395-_-Product

Total 401$ AR

You need to do more research, you can't just dump random parts into a build. That PSU is terrible in comparison to this one. You could be getting a way better CPU, which I did put in (450 vs 255). You can get a better GPU the GTS 450 which is a bit better 5750. Bottom line, can't pick cheapest parts and assume your getting the best deal.
 

Timop

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^Nice build, but think he would appreciate a little more money in his pockets:

Swap that 450 for this 4850 and you're under $400 before rebates for more or less thttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150482&cm_re=4850-_-14-150-482-_-Product

Get this set of G-Skills for $3 less, as much as I love Mushkin, G-Skill is decent rnough and $3 is something: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396

Then $5 cheaper burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

 

bossfrog

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bossfrog

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The only thing is that the prices you listed were AR, which are a hit and miss venture at best. I've probably mailed in a couple dozen rebates over the years and have only actually received money from maybe 6 or 7 of them.

Up front, the parts you listed come up to around $440 or so when you add a DVD drive to it. Your case and PSU are a $5 savings though up front though. Is 430w enough?

 
Up front the parts I listed total to how much you were able to get it to. 420$ or so. When you add the DVD drive, then it totals to 440$. After rebates, the price drops down to how much you got again. I highly doubt Corsair isn't going to return a rebate, they are a high thought of company with great support. I'm pretty sure they will, Unsure of gigabyte though.

Yes a 430w is good enough, it is almost 80+ but just almost reaches that mark.

4870 vs 5750
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/173?vs=176
We assume the 5750 is slightly below the 4870, less performing than the 4870 in most cases.

4870 vs 450 GTS
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/304?vs=316
The 450 GTS actually keeps up in most cases, rather than the 5750 which barely caught up in most games.

255 vs 450
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/121?vs=189

If you don't think I gave you the best bang for the buck, that's fine by me. You can stick with the build you formulated.
 

imaurer269

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Sep 16, 2010
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If you must stay under $400 before rebates try this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.625585 HD 4850 & Biostar A770E3 mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886 Athlon II X3 450
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017 Corsair 430W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395 Seagate 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396 G.Skill 2x2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227 COOLER MASTER Elite 430 case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289 LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner

Use promo codes: EMCKFJE34 EMCKFJE26 EMCYTZT405 you should be at 391.29 shipped. (could go with better memory one of the codes is 10% off all memory) $50 in MIR

But I would go this route personally:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886 Athlon II X3 450
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017 Corsair 430W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395 Seagate 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396 G.Skill 2x2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227 COOLER MASTER Elite 430 case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289 LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873 SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 5770 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138179 BIOSTAR A770E3

Same promo codes as above and add code EMCYTZT406 puts you at 431.29 shipped but a better graphics card well worth the 40 bucks. $40 in MIR

EDIT: Must order by midnight PST if you want to use those codes most or all expire after that
 

bossfrog

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Apr 15, 2011
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Wow. Lots of great suggestions here.

Aznshinobi... I never indicated that your system wasn't better bang for buck, just a bit more buck than I had allotted (per agreement with the wife) to spend up front. My aim was to keep it to $400 or so (maybe $410 tops) before shipping. I'm going to go with your PSU for sure... not 100% on which case yet. I like the 3x120mm fans on the Destroyer, but the cases you guys recommend look pretty good too.

Unfortunately, that Sapphire 5770 is sold out, so I'm thinking I'll end up with the GTS 450 one way or the other. I'm also sold on the Biostar MB suggested by Imaurer269 to save a few bucks. I've had mixed results with Biostar over the years, but the reviews on this one seem pretty solid.

I think I'll be able to get to my budget of $400 and certainly under my hard cap of $410 with all your suggestions.

I'm still considering the HD 4850 too. Is DX11 support worth worrying about for the next year or so?

 

imaurer269

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Dang bummer the 5770 sold out, that would have been a step up from the 4850/450. Both cards have similar stock performance: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-graphics-card-geforce-gtx-590-radeon-hd-6990,2879-7.html The 450 is newer(I think) and might be a bit better than the 4850 I can't find any benchmarks to compare them.

And a note on the Biostar board, yes it is a few bucks cheaper and I have used a couple of biostars when on tight budgets and haven't had any problems but I really dislike the BIOS options vs Asrock boards BIOS.
 

bossfrog

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It appears my funds just improved a bit. I got an unexpected offer from my neighbor to buy an old chainsaw I had lying around for $50. So I guess my budget just jumped to $450 ($460 absolute max) before shipping.

I guess I can easily fit in the Athlon II X3 and a GTS 450. I'm going to have to see where that leaves me. Might leave room for a little better mobo or RAM.