BestConfigs - Budget Intel-Based Gaming PC

It's that time again! Time to update the Tom's Hardware BestConfigs! Once again, we are opening the field to user recommendations to get the best consensus for the absolute best of the best in each category. Post the best configuration you can put together for the following build category and our editorial team will pick 5 of the best to be put up to a public vote right here in the Systems forum. The top-ranking build will go on to become one of Tom's Hardware BestConfigs and you'll get the credit for having put together a brilliant build with a special credit in the feature article.

Post your entries to this thread for the category of:
Budget Intel-Based Gaming PC

Stay within $1,000 (without shipping) and no need to include OS, monitor, mouse/keyboard. Please be sure to format your list of components as follows:

Joe's "Barely Runs Crysis" Chug-along Rig
Processor: Component Name and Component Price
Motherboard: Component Name and Component Price
RAM: Component Name and Component Price
Graphics Card: Component Name and Component Price
Hard Drive: Component Name and Component Price
Case: Component Name and Component Price
Power Supply: Component Name and Component Price
Cooling: Component Name and Component Price
DVD Burner: Component Name and Component Price

See below for quick-copy/paste text of the BBcode.

You can also use the Tom's Hardware System Builder to build your recommendation and use the BBCode export option at the bottom of the build. If you do, be sure to include a link in your post to your build on the app for quick viewing.

Good luck, and may the best builds win!

Striker's "Gamer's delight" build

Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor $305

Motherboard: MSI P67A, bundled above

RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory $33

Graphics card: Galaxy 58NLH5HS3PXZ GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $439

Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $40

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $60

Power supply: Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-750 750W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply $70

Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler $30

DVD Burner: Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner $18

That comes to $998 after rebates.
This is a GTX 580! The most powerful single GPU gaming card! This is the epitome of a single GPU card configuration. It doesn't get better than this.

With full SLI support (minus power supply ) this build can take anything you can throw at it. It outperforms similar builds with dual 6850's, and demolishes any single GPU config there is.

If you want a single card, this is the way to go.

wow, thanks for the catch. I must have missed that 2nd 560 ti in my calculations....

For the price I think it is an excellent power supply. I do not think it will hamper airflow at all.

I also wanna point out you forgot to add a CPU cooler. It would be a cryin shame to get a 2500k and not OC that bad boy!

Derp's "That'll Work PC" Build

Cpu
Intel Core i5 2300 $185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115076

Mobo
MSI P67A-G43 $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130583

Ram
Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4Gb (2x2Gb) 1333 $39
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146748

Case
Rosewill Challenger $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811147153

HDD
Seagate Barracuda 500Gb $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148701

DvD
Samsung $17
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151233

Psu
Antec Earthwatts 650w $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371044

Gpus
2x XFX Radeon HD 6950's 1Gb $240/$480
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150523

Total= $1001 before rebates and shipping. I hope a dollar doesn't kill my chances

I redid my whole build as after building my Highend AMD and Budget AMD builds I realized I just want as much Graphic power as possible and this is it.

I found information concerning the Nvidia surround, shame you have to have two Nvidia GPU's in order to achieve it

Yeah sorry for sounding a bit harse. I got a little defensive when I saw your build become uncomfortably similar to mine. I meant you no disrespect, I guess this got my competitive juices flowing hehe. If you need any other advice be sure to shoot me a message as we probably should stop spamming up this thread.

Last thing. Get that build back up! I liked the first one and thought it brought some interesting choices to the table. Don't forget that certain 6950's can be flashed, adding lots of low cost value

GenghisKron's "Kronic Raider" :

2x GPU: XFX HD-687A-ZNFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s $404 Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.644197
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost)
MOBO: MSI P67A-G43
$330 Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.660242
CASE: Antec 300 Illusion $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129066
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 $48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231277
DVD: LG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS70 OEM $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136238
PSU: XFX P1-650X-CAH9 650W $89
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817207007
HEATSINK: Scythe SCMG-2100 Sleeve CPU Cooler $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] =scmg-2100

Total: $997.45

Well I feel a lot more comfortable with my build now. Seems I've chosen near identical components to yours.

Unfortunately I got the p67 verson and not the z68, so my board only does 16x/4x PCIe and not 16x/8x for it's video cards. I was hesitant to crossfire some 6850's, but after reading some articles comparing 16x/4x and 8x/8x, I wasn't too worried. The p67 was less than $100, too.

Can't wait til all the components arrive.

Serjs "First Gaming" rig
Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz - $225
Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.0) - $175
RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop - $88
Graphics Card: EVGA 01G-P3-1373-AR GeForce GTX 460 - $200
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB - $90
Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion -$55
Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V -$110
Cooling: ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink - $43
DVD Burner: ASUS 24X DVD Burner- $21

Total comes down to $1007

This was my fist build, except I had cheaper Motherboard and Video Card.

that mobo will run the cards at x16 and x4 that isnt good.

Mjmj's 1000$ gaming great-

i5 2500k & Rosewill CHALLENGER 254$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.669841

GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3-B3 140$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

CORSAIR XMS 4GB 33$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

Antec High Current Gamer Series 750w 70$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

Palit GeForce GTX 560 Ti x2=400$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

Seagate Barracuda 500GB & LG DVD Burner 51$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.668011

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 30$- http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-lis [...] dition=new

Total=978$

Thanks for the suggestion crystal. However, I don't think I can pull it off. Also the EVGA I listed comes with a 10 year warranty which should be plenty.

I think I may rework the build, and submit a second one around dual gtx 560's...

I'm confused as to why you actually classify $1000 as a budget build. Real budget builds are $500-$700, where you would use an i3 for gaming, which for the average gamer, still kills EVERYTHING ELSE AMD HAS TO OFFER, it is an amazing chip, and perfect for true budget gaming. Not everyone going into the PC gaming scene has $1000 to shell out.

Looks good. However, I would NOT run 2 6950's on a 650w. It's probably safe, but not very efficient.

are you kidding me? this is pissin' me off!!

ok. ill just edit my post

Yeah I agree. I was gonna go K and 6870's, then I saw your build
However, I think the 2400 and 560 Ti's is still a very strong combo as it's more important to have GPU power than CPU power.

Edit: Yeah Genhiskron, pretty hard to justify 2 560 Ti's. After reviewing benchmarks, it's a small performance gain. however the 560's I listed have $30 rebates each, so it's really depending on whether you send in rebates or not. However the 6870's have $20 rebates..... I guess it comes down to overclocking. The 560 Ti's overclocked I think would prove their worth. Stock? No way.

LT's "Jack of All Trades" Build

CPU= 2500k : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115072
$225

MB = ASRock Z68 xtreme4 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157250
$190

RAM = 4GB(2x2GB) GSkill ripjaws 8-8-8-24 @1333 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231275
$45

GRAPHICS CARD = MSI 6950 TwinFrozr 2GB : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127555
$280 MIR $25

HD = 500GB WD CavBlack SATA 6Gb/s 7200rpm 32MB cache : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136795
$60

CASE = Logisys MidTower ATX : http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?i [...] BK&cat=CAS
$35

POWER SUPPLY = CoolerMaster 650W : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817171052
$80 MIR $15

COOLING = Stock; The ASrock MB is designed w/ extra holes so you can use 775 HSF
$0

DVD Burner = Pioneer Black 12x BLU-RAY BURNER : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827129066
$110

SubTotal = $1025 - $40 MIR = grand total $985 plus S+H
also the case comes with an 'unkown' PSU (I prolly wouldnt trust it, thus adding the CoolerMaster) ..BUT IF (and that's a mighty big IF) the PSU turns out to be decent (in case you didnt see Tom's FANTASTIC Article on PSU OEM's, Designers, Manufacturers etc , I highly reccomend reading it) ..I didnt have time to FULLY research the who is who in PSU, but I chose CoolerMaster cuz I know my 750W has been rock solid for 3.5 years now..soo IF the case psu is ok, that'll save ya another $65-$80 ..

ok..heres the idea ...it does everything, can play a decent game, be a solid HTPC, but also can BURN BLU-RAYs ..did I mention can BURN Blu-Rays? lol for under a grand.
here the 'How?'s and Why?'s short story
CPU= 2500k enough said
MB = ASRock , Toms approved, plus can use 775 HSF, plus THX sound stuff
RAM = GSkill ..8-8-8-24 ..enough said (had to skimp here to squeeze in Blu Ray BURNER)
GRAPHICS = MSI 6950 TwinFroz 2GB ..enough said
HD = WD CavBlack ..would have like to had 64MB cache and TB, but its SATA 6, and big enough ..again had to skimp somewhere for BluRay Burner
CASE = Logisys ..went with this cause its 8" Wide, my LianLi is 8" and I like the lil bit of extra width for cable management and 'fingerability' ..plus it kind of looks cool, though I would get rid of the opening panel thingy, will prolly break off anyway..but price was right ..again I had to skimp somewhere to squeeze in the Blu-Ray
PSU = CoolerMaster ..enough power to Xfire later if ya want to, and solid proven brand
COOLING = Stock (plenty OC on stock for 2500k, OR use ur old 775)
DVD/Blu-Ray Burner = Pioneer Black , great reviews, solid brand name, back in the Day, Pioneer made some great CD/DVD Product that I personally owned anyone remember the old 6 CD changers? or the DVD x16 ? ..both I had personally used daily , and they great ..oh did I mention it BURNS Blu-Rays, lol ..
I skimped on the RAM and went single GPU cause those are the easiest parts to upgrade later on.
ok, so it prolly wont BEST at anything, but will be able to do Everything..hence the build name ..thanks for looking ..lemme know what yall think ..critics welcome as well

CPU & MB combo deal
Intel Core i5-2400 $295

MoBo
GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 $0

Memory
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB $46

Case
Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel $55

PSU
Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W $90

Hard Drive
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM $65

DVD Burner
LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk 24X $21

Video card
HIS H685F1GD Radeon HD 6850 1GB $160 -$10 MRB

Video card 2
HIS H685F1GD Radeon HD 6850 1GB $160 -$10 MRB

Grand total $892 - $20 MRB = $872

Considering that rebates aren't even cash or check most of the time (prepaid cards, often only usable on products issued by that manufacturer), they really shouldn't be considered.

Also, people keep including shipping when they shouldn't.

Wow, nice build. It's a very, very good one. But just so you know you're links are screwed up. Especially the case one.

You need a DVD in order to install anything...

Then you'll need to include that in your build.

How do you figure? The instructions don't include any peripherals or OS. Plus, it's not like they have to pick mine if they think it needs DVD. Then again, after MIR there's plenty of money left over for a DVD drive.

Actually, he is correct about the 6950. Look at the reviews.