<$600 Gaming Build Help

[blkpanther09]

Approximate Purchase Date: The Closer The Better

Budget Range: Looking to spend ~$600 before rebates(Don't mind rebates if it is a good deal)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Only Gaming

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Windows 7 64-bit, and speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Prefer newegg. I also do not have a fry's or microcenter near me

Country of Origin: U.S.A

Parts Preferences: Do not really mind

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe(MOBO can but doesn't have to be)

Monitor Resolution:Any resolution greater than 1600x1200

Additional Comments: Turning 18 in May and I want this to be my firt build. I have put together computers before so I don't need anything pre-assembled.
Any help is appreciated!

 

[aznshinobi]

I don't mean to be plain or anything but check out the $600 build.
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore

 

[genghiskron]

so you need a monitor in the budget? ouch. if not:



LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM
Item #: N82E16827106289
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
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$20.99


Antec Six Hundred Black Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811129079
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$30.00 Instant
$25.00 Mail-in Rebate
$99.95
$69.95


SAPPHIRE 100282XTREME Radeon HD 5850 Xtreme 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with ...
Item #: N82E16814102932
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy
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$139.99


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


Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817371044
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
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SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822152185
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
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-$25.00 Instant
-$15.00 Combo
$159.98
$119.98


Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52400
Item #: N82E16819115074
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
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ASUS P8H61-M LE/CSM (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131724
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
-$20.00 Combo
$269.98
$239.98
Subtotal: $630.88
Calculate Shipping
Zip Code: GO
FREE 2-Day Shipping learn more

Shipping: $6.77

PSU11APRIL Discount From Promo Code -$8.00
ANPV10 Discount From Promo Code -$10.00

Grand Total: $619.65 ($595 after rebate)

 

[blkpanther09]

A moniter would be nice, but for now I will be using my tv. I will purchase one later if I find a good deal on Slickdeals

 

[dalauder]

Hi BlkPanther09, I'm glad you took my suggestion to stop by Tom's.

Genghiskron's build spent $20 to much on the case, but otherwise is pretty solid. The only real difference between that and Aznshinobi's is that Genghiskron uses combos to get an i5-2400 instead of an i3. Although, I can't find an i5-2400/61 combo like the one he suggested (but did not provide a link for). That Antec PSU/HDD combo is pretty good. FYI: the cheapest i3/H61 Newegg combo is usually $189.

As far as I know, and somebody correct me if I'm wrong, an i3-2100 should get about the same framerates as an i5-2400. For $50, you may as well save it for graphics down the line (EDIT: or a GTX 560Ti now).

I have two build suggestions. Neither should be possible, but I'm am trying to either fit an i5-2500K/P67 in your budget or a Radeon 6950 2GB/GTX 560Ti.

CPU: $330 i5-2500K/MSI P67 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.622006
Mobo: $0 Included above
Case: $40 Thermaltake V4 (on Newegg) w/ free shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133179
Graphics: $140 Radeon HD 5850
HDD: $120 Genghiskron's combo above http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.627707
PSU: $0 Included in Genghiskron's combo
RAM: $48 G.Skill 4GB 1600CL8 DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144436

TOTAL: $678

See, I didn't succeed in the $600 budget. Let me try again.

CPU: $190 i3-2100/ASUS H61 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.631850
Mobo: $0 Included above
Case: $40 Thermaltake V4 (on Newegg) w/ free shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133179
Graphics 6950: $245 XFX Radeon 6950 2GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150530&cm_re=radeon_6950-_-14-150-530-_-Product
Graphics 560: $205 GTX 560Ti http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187136&cm_re=gtx_560-_-14-187-136-_-Product
HDD: $120 Genghiskron's combo above http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.627707
PSU: $0 Included in Genghiskron's combo
RAM: $48 G.Skill 4GB 1600CL8 DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144436

TOTAL w/ Radeon 6950 2GB: $643
TOTAL w/ GTX 560Ti: $603

Hey, this actually get close to $600! $205 is actually an amazing price for a GTX 560Ti. It's about as good as a $140 5850. I think this might be the best option out there.

8GB DDR3 is pretty pointless for a gaming build. That said, I personally would buy the $69 G.Skill Snipers 1600CL9. But that is BAD advice since you're actually on a budget.

 

[genghiskron]

if you look the case has a $10 promo code and a $25 rebate, so its actually a $35 dollar case AR. Imo thats a pretty good deal (if you dont mind rebates, personally i dont count em, but this guy specified AR).
Also note that you get 8 dollars off the PSU+HDD combo with promo code PSU11APRIL, even though this isnt advertised anywhere currently. But both deals expire tonight

 

[blkpanther09]

Is $200 for the I5 2500k a good price?

 

[aznshinobi]

^ Pretty good, is that used though? If it is, bad deal. I wouldn't suggest used parts at all. You don't know what can be done to them. Bent pins can be rebent to look like a new chip, but in reality it'll never work again.

 

[blkpanther09]

It's new at compusa

 

[aznshinobi]

Ok yeah it's a good deal.

 

[dalauder]

Although the i5-2500K @ Compusa will actually cost you more to buy the mobo separately than if you just buy a Newegg combo. But if it's only a $10 difference or so (especially if you include shipping), a real store is much nicer in case you want to return items.

 

[blkpanther09]

I found this combo at newegg(i3-2100 and mobo) for $194
Let me know if this is a good price... I was reading on another thread that this is a good cpu for gaming.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.638749

 

[blkpanther09]

Also if this is a good case & psu combo?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.639232

 

[dv5]

I'd stay away from Rosewill PSUs. I've been looking up a PSU to buy and based off reviews Rosewills either come dead on arrival or last a few months.

 

[dalauder]

That's a good combo for the mobo, not for the PSU. Stick to Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, Silverstone, or XFX. If you see an amazing review (see jonnyguru.com for examples), then another brand might be okay. More expensive brands like PC Power & Cooling are good too.

Here's another mobo combo I like: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128491

It has two PCI-e slots and is a Gigabyte, which is as good as ASUS. It runs 16x/4x though instead of 8x/8x, so it won't run SLI (NVidia disables it to ensure SLI performs as well as they want it to). You can run crossfire, but it would hurt performance with a high end card (should be fine if you go with 5850's or 6870's though. It would own with one Radeon card and a low end GeForce for PhysX as well. It also has four RAM slots, which I like.

But you still might be best served getting your link and putting that $27 towards a better single graphics card. I'll be back a little later with some full build suggestions.

 

[aznshinobi]

Dalauder didn't exactly link the combo right so here it is. I'd also suggest this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.638725

As for building, you should wait. No good combos on Newegg AT ALL right now w/ the exception of that CPU+MB combo.

If you want to build it now, you could support my website and get this GPU. There really aren't any GPU combos currently that are really that good. The F3 is 10$ above MSRP on the Egg as well. Amazon sells for 60, Newegg sells for 70.

F3 1TB: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-Cache-Desktop-HD103SJ/dp/B001U3S5S0%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquid1240995-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB001U3S5S0

5850: http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-100282XTREME/dp/B004W75ATI%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquid1240995-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB004W75ATI

 

[dalauder]

Haha, yeah what AznShinobi said.

If you can stretch your budget to $700, you might be able to get the GTX 560Ti and i5-2500K into the same build, which would be an amazing feat and a very formidable gaming machine.