BEST Gaming PC Build $550

[jksingh]

I would like to build the best gaming computer I can with the price range of $550. I do not need speakers, monitors, OS, DVD-CD drive. I just need the main stuff. I will be playing on a 24 inch 1080p monitor. For the processor amd or Intel, which ever one is better. This is my first computer build. If you could give me 3 builds for the prices. Thank you. This will be used for gaming, web, movies.(Mainly Gaming)

 

[jksingh]

Any one?

 

[geekapproved]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.639053&nm_mc=AFC-C8JUNCTION&cm_mmc=AFC-C8JUNCTION-_-EMC-050611-Latest-_-Combo-_-Combo639053-LM0A&PID=4176827&SID=64xkymk271zm&AID=10521304

This would be a BEAST. Free shipping too!

 

[genghiskron]

Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822148697
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
-$5.00 Instant
$64.99
$59.99


Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817371016
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
-$20.00 Instant
$79.99
$59.99


G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNS
Item #: N82E16820231394
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$39.99


MSI H61M-E33 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813130588
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
-$5.00 Instant
$69.99
$64.99


Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32100
Item #: N82E16819115078
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$124.99
Subtotal: $371.94
Shipping: $0.00

Remove EMCKEKD73 Discount From Promo Code -$15.00
Remove EMCKEKD28 Discount From Promo Code -$5.00

Grand Total: $329.95

+$150 for gpu
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-100282XTREME/dp/B004W75ATI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1304892899&sr=1-1

+$70 for case (get what ever one you want, i really dont care
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-SGC-2000-KKN1-GP-Storm-Scout/dp/B00243HHNY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304893189&sr=8-1

 

[dalauder]

GeekApproved's link was terrible. Please ignore that. It didn't even include a video card and used a Rosewill PSU.

For starters, buy this Right Now!: http://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=2909997&sdop=1&sdfid=9&u2=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030
It will be out of stock in the next hour or so. Here is a review: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=317192

 

[genghiskron]

yeah thats SOOO much better than the $45 dollar psu i linked

 

[dalauder]

@genghiskron: Please provide hyperlinks. You provide useful information and good choices in lots of threads, but it's hard to use your info because you don't link it to the Newegg site. A lot of your effort goes to waste.

 

[dalauder]

Ehh...I guess you're right. I got too excited. That PSU is worth $55 an on sale for $40. That's nothing crazy. It's not like the 600W (actually 700W) OCZ StealthXStream 2's going for $30.

It is better than the BP550 though because it's Seasonic and the BP550 is FSP or Delta. And I can't find a single real review on the BP550.

 

[dalauder]

Do you have a Microcenter nearby? It'll save you $50. Also, you should fill this out: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

My Build:
CPU: $125 i3-2100
Mobo: $80 Gigabyte H61 w/ two (16x/4x) PCI-e http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128482
RAM: $48 Geil 4GB (2x2GB) 1600CL8 DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144436
HDD: $61 Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB on Amazon.com
PSU: $40 Antec 520W Neo Eco http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030&Tpk=520%20neo
DVD: $22 Any DVD Burner
Case: $40 Thermaltake V4 (or anything you like) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133179
Graphics: $150 Sapphire 5850 http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-100282XTREME/dp/B004W75ATI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1304892899&sr=1-1
Total: $566

It's almost exactly the same as gengiskron's, but with two PCI-e slots.

520W should handle 5850's in crossfire if you upgrade down the road according to this: http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

Notes: Double check that this mobo can do crossfire. It has two PCI-e slots but I'm not sure it can support it. I'd personally go for one of the G.Skill Newegg deals to get 8GB for $75 since you don't have the extra memory slots for an upgrade down the line.

EDIT: I sent a request email to Gigabyte to ask if the motherboard can run crossfire. I'll post the results when I get them. Emails are legally "published" documents, so you should be able to get a full refund even in 5 years if they say it's crossfire compatible, then isn't.

 

[geekapproved]

GeekApproved's link was terrible. Please ignore that. It didn't even include a video card and used a Rosewill PSU.

For starters, buy this Right Now!: http://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=2909997&sdop=1&sdfid=9&u2=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030
It will be out of stock in the next hour or so. Here is a review: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=317192

Used psu? Yeah ok, put the pipe down and walk away.

 

[jksingh]

Ok i picked out the parts and I had a 500gb hard drive and dvd/cd drive so that alowed me to add $60 to my budget. I had some questions like amd 965 x4 or intel i3 dual core and for the case antec 300 or cm haf 912, or if you could find me a case with a window for $70 only without shipping. Or should i get the intel i5 quad for 185 with a cheap $60 motherboard.

Intel http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115076&cm_re=intel_quad-_-19-115-076-_-Product

My Build.
Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131374

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

Mother Board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198&cm_re=asrock-_-13-157-198-_-Product

Edit: Fixed the links.

 

[genghiskron]

window: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227&cm_re=cooler_master_430-_-11-119-227-_-Product

many of your links are broken
whatever you do, dont get the i5-2300. the i5-2400 is completely worth the extra $5.

 

[jksingh]

I fixed the Links.(read post 2 above)

 

[springhalo]

I fixed the Links.(read post 2 above)

If you are going to go with AMD, you don't need to get the 965, instead you can get the 955 and easily overclock to the 965's levels.]

I would still suggest going with the i3-2100/H67 cpu and mobo though. They're faster than the 955, use less energy, and you can upgrade to a better chip in the future (the i3 is the worst of it's class, but still better than the 965)

 

[jksingh]

The 965 is only 2 dollars more so I dont think that really makes a difference. I have 1 more question, is the Radeon HD 6850 better then the 5850. The 5850 is $30 cheaper without the rebate and is it worth the 1-3 week wait.

6850:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131374&cm_re=6850-_-14-131-374-_-Product

5850:
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-100282XTREME/dp/B004W75ATI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1304966548&sr=8-2

 

[genghiskron]

the 5850 and the i3-2100 are both better and cheaper than the parts you have chosen (6850 and 965). believe it or not, thats why we recommended them to you.

 

[springhalo]

the 5850 and the i3-2100 are both better and cheaper than the parts you have chosen (6850 and 965). believe it or not, thats why we recommended them to you.

+1

Really. The i3 is all about the new architecture. It's SO good that with only 2 cores, it's better at gaming than AMD 4-cores.

 

[jksingh]

I keep on hearing Intel is better so what about this setup compared to my amd with the motherboard.

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074

Mother Board (Had to get cheap one because of budget.):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074

Is this could or is there anything better for this price(May b able to add $10 towards motherboard.)

 

[springhalo]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.642025
CPU and radeon 6770

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.642586
CPU and Good mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128473&cm_re=H67-_-13-128-473-_-Product
Pretty good budget mobo, looks like there is support for xfire (if you are getting the CPU and radeon combo)

Cheaper CPU/Mobo combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.642579

 

[jksingh]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.642025
CPU and radeon 6770

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.642586
CPU and Good mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128473&cm_re=H67-_-13-128-473-_-Product
Pretty good budget mobo, looks like there is support for xfire (if you are getting the CPU and radeon combo)

Cheaper CPU/Mobo combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.642579

What about the quad core i picked out with the motherboard.

 

[springhalo]

What about the quad core i picked out with the motherboard.

I don't think you're going to be able to fit an i5 in there without going WAY over budget, about 50 bucks or more. Also, the second link is the same as the first

Edit: and we keep telling you, the i3 is a VERY good processor. It's on par with your original choice of the Phenom 965. With your budget, You're better off spending the money on a good GPU first, then you can upgrade the CPU later if you really need it.

 

[cadder]

You can consider this one but your budget is a little bit higher so you can improve on a few areas.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/budget-gaming-pc-phenom-ii-radeon-hd-6850,2903.html

 

[springhalo]

You can consider this one but your budget is a little bit higher so you can improve on a few areas.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/budget-gaming-pc-phenom-ii-radeon-hd-6850,2903.html

Yeah. Somehow they manage to stuff a 6850 in there, taking up more than a third of the budget. If you want high graphics power to low CPU power, go for it.

 

[jksingh]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241

My total comes out 544 with promo code. Remember I don't need a hard drive, OS, DVD drive which helps my budget.

 

[spentshells]

Do you have a Microcenter nearby? It'll save you $50. Also, you should fill this out: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

My Build:
CPU: $125 i3-2100
Mobo: $80 Gigabyte H61 w/ two (16x/4x) PCI-e http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128482
RAM: $48 Geil 4GB (2x2GB) 1600CL8 DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144436
HDD: $61 Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB on Amazon.com
PSU: $40 Antec 520W Neo Eco http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030&Tpk=520%20neo
DVD: $22 Any DVD Burner
Case: $40 Thermaltake V4 (or anything you like) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133179
Graphics: $150 Sapphire 5850 http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-100282XTREME/dp/B004W75ATI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1304892899&sr=1-1
Total: $566

It's almost exactly the same as gengiskron's, but with two PCI-e slots.

520W should handle 5850's in crossfire if you upgrade down the road according to this: http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

Notes: Double check that this mobo can do crossfire. It has two PCI-e slots but I'm not sure it can support it. I'd personally go for one of the G.Skill Newegg deals to get 8GB for $75 since you don't have the extra memory slots for an upgrade down the line.

EDIT: I sent a request email to Gigabyte to ask if the motherboard can run crossfire. I'll post the results when I get them. Emails are legally "published" documents, so you should be able to get a full refund even in 5 years if they say it's crossfire compatible, then isn't.

Hurray for your build