$500 build

[masternook]

Hey, im looking to build a gaming computer for around $500. I already have a case/power supply/cd drive/hard drive from my computer that just stopped working. I am hoping to get something that will run starcraft and diablo 3 when it comes out. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.
Approximate Purchase Date: (e.g.: this week (the closer the better))


Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) Before / After Rebates: around $500


System Usage from Most to Least Important: mainly gaming. really like to play heroes of newerth / starcraft2 / and really hoping to be able to play diablo 3 nicely when it comes out


Parts Not Required: keyboard/mouse/speakers/case/hard drive/powersupply (not sure of brand but I think is 350 watt)


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg or any one who ships cheap to southern california


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: no preference in who makes it as long as I can run diablo 3!


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Additional Comments: I am new to building my own system, my brother came here for advice and got some really good info. I would really like thehelp the advice any one can give.

 

[manu 11]

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 BX80623I52500K 220$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

MSI P67A-G43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard 130$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130583

EVGA 01G-P3-1561-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card 250$ 225$ mir
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604

if it is out of your budget go wit this card
SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948 175

the system you are trying to make cannot run at that psu, go with an antec psu
Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W Continuous Power ATX12V version 2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply 90$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371026


and what case you have, atx or micro atx?

 

[masternook]

If you need more info of anything please say, I could greatly use the help.

 

[Soma42]

Might be a silly question, but is the hard drive SATA or IDE?

Also, are you near a Microcenter?

This is what I would get for $500:

i5-2500K - $220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128495

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB - $37
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

XFX HD 6870 - $190 ($160 after MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150521

Total: $517 after MIR

Although, with only 350W you will probably need to buy a new power supply so that will be another $50 - $100.

Here's a 750W one for $70 after MIR. It's a bit overkill, but it's a good deal:

Antec HCG-750 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1vqvgv2dgiulj

Here's another one at 600W:

OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W - $50 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

Grand Total: $567 after MIR

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the 350W PSU is not going to be strong enough. you can put a whole system together for the price of $500 pretty easily. Several will reccommend an I3-2100, but I'm going to go down a step with a 3-core AMD processor, which is slower, but will allow a better GPU, which is what you want for games.


Athlon II X3 455: $82.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103911

Gigabyte AM3+ 760 motherboard: $59.99 w/ $10 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128504

G-Skill 8 GB DDR3-1333: $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422

Samsung Spinpoint F3 SATA2 HDD: $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

Xigmatek 400W 80+ Bronze PSU: $34.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815007

Sony 24X DVD burner: $19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039

XFX HD 6850 + free Shogun Total War: $159.99 w/ $30 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.690415

Xigmatek Asgqard II Case: $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815004

total: $497.88 plus shipping, less $40 in rebates.

the Athlon II X3 is NOT as fast as a i3-2100. But the $42 difference in price is the difference between the 6850 and a 6750. Note I'm also throwing in a DVD Player, case, and hard drive

 

[aznshinobi]

TBH i don't even think you need all the crazy systems above to run Diablo 3. I don't think any of the Blizzard games have proven that you need a crazy GPU to run them. So alternatively this is the case where I think you should go with a low TDP and power usage build and also save money at the same time.

Here's the build. It's $400.
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore
Llano would be a solid build for you, the 6550D integrated is better than the 5670 if not on par and the CPU is on the same die so the 100w TDP is pretty good for a CPU performing at the level of a lower end Phenom and a pretty good GPU.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Azn: No one ever plays 'just one' game

 

[aznshinobi]

Haha I did just see that OP wants to play more than one game. But those games aren't really that graphically demanding. So I think the 6550D would work out just fine.

 

[manu 11]

yeah i agree with screwysqrl, if he wants to play another demanding games, he would be ripped off.

 

[aznshinobi]

^ What is classified is that? He can always use the CF of the integrated with an actual GPU.

 

[Outlander_04]

$500 for

cpu mb RAM gfx and psu [ if needed ]

AMD A8-3850 Llano 2.9GHz Socket FM1 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU AD3850WNGXBOX
bundled with:
1x MSI A75MA-G55 FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) $235
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.675162

CORSAIR Vengeance 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 $64
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233164

Graphics should be strong enough , no need to change the psu
http://www.techspot.com/review/418-amd-a8-3850-apu/page11.html
Total $299

 

[Zero_]

Check my sig as well. The $600 build in particular.