Check My Build: Light Gaming $600-$800

[kanenfawder]

Approximate Purchase Date: This Week

Budget Range: $600-$800 Before Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Light Gaming, Flash Games/Videos, Word Processing

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: amazon, newegg.com

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: none

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No, Maybe Future

Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050 or 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Reliability is a must. $800 is the cap, but this is a very budget-conscious build, so lower is better



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I'm doing this build for a friend of mine. He's got $800 to spend, but the further under that number we can come the better. The only thing I feel like I'm skimping on here is the video card, but he says it's very light gaming (probably no current-gen stuff).

The new build is because his last desktop and laptop recently crapped out on him, so quality reliable parts are also a must.

Also, his current monitor only has a VGA port, so I'd like the video card to have one. It's not a must, as I know the adapters are pretty cheap.

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz
Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower - $182 Combo Price CPU + Case

ASUS M4A87TD EVO - $105

SeaSonic M12II 620 - $100

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM - $65

HIS H467QR1GH Radeon HD 4670 1GB - $65

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 2x2GB DDR3 1600 - $60

ASUS PCE-N13 - $28

ASUS Combo Drive - $22

Total: $627

 

[striker410]

I would highly suggest against a AMD build right now, since Sandy Bridge processors are so cheap. Check this build out:
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078&cm_re=i3_2100-_-19-115-078-_-Product $125

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131713&cm_re=h67-_-13-131-713-_-Product $90

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016&cm_re=antec_550w-_-17-371-016-_-Product $60

HDD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002MQC0P8/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d1_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-5&pf_rd_r=04H99NEV2B3J081KJWKS&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470939291&pf_rd_i=507846 $60

Case: (I prefer it over the challenger) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=haf%20912 $60

DVD drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188&Tpk=samsung%20sh-s223l $28

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277&cm_re=g.skill-_-20-231-277-_-Product $40

Throw in a 5670 for light DX11 gaming: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131366&cm_re=5670-_-14-131-366-_-Product $ 70

Wifi card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320048 $28

and that comes out to $561

here's a benchy comparing the X4 965 and the i3-2100: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/102?vs=289
(pay attention to higher is better/lower is better)
As you can see, the i3 does better than the 965 in most applications. And, it's newer tech so you have a good upgrade path

 

[kanenfawder]

I would highly suggest against a AMD build right now, since Sandy Bridge processors are so cheap. Check this build out:

.
.
.

here's a benchy comparing the X4 965 and the i3-2100: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/102?vs=289
(pay attention to higher is better/lower is better)
As you can see, the i3 does better than the 965 in most applications. And, it's newer tech so you have a good upgrade path

Thanks for the input!

I'm looking at a couple of potential changes to your build.

Mobo: ???
I'd like to leave the the option open of adding more RAM or a second video card in the future. What about either of these?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138298 $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157229 $160


GPU: ???
The one you linked is deactivated on NewEgg.
What about this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131387&cm_re=PowerColor_AX5670-_-14-131-387-_-Product
Or this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131367R&cm_re=PowerColor_AX5670-_-14-131-367R-_-Product

 

[striker410]

I don't think you need to worry about adding a second video card in.... You said light gaming, so why would you need to add another? Get a good one now so you won't have to upgrade. As for the mobo's, those will work, but they are obviously more expensive. Biostar doesn't make top notch mobo's, but they make cheap ones.

If you want more video card power, grab a card like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121390 Or this http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-100282XTREME/dp/B004W75ATI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305559438&sr=8-1 the 5850 is the better card, but the 460 is fine if they sell out.