$500 Gaming Build

[trginter]

Looking to upgrade my system with $500 to spend. I plan on playing Skyrim and BF3 and my monitor resolution is 1680x1050. The parts I need are:

CPU
PSU
Motherboard
Video Card

I already have 4GB of this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231190

So I would like to use that on this new build. I can buy another 4GB if I have to.

 

[mquick66]

----CPU----- $124.99
Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz LGA 1155 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

----MOTHERBOARD---- $59.99
ASRock H61M-VS LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241

----VIDEO CARD----$89.99
EVGA GeForce GTX 460 SE 1GB
http://www.evga.com/products/prodlist.asp?switch=20

----PSU----$59.99 -- $39.99 after rebate
CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

TOTAL-----------------------------------------------------------------------
$334.96 before shipping and before rebates. This setup should play 1680x1050 easily.

 

[008Rohit]

The person above posted a really nice build. i3 2100 is indeed a great gaming CPU, but as you plan playing BF3 when it comes out I'm unsure that the i3 can play it without any hiccups as its expected that BF3 will be able to utilise 4 cores and 6-8 threads.

So, an alternative AMD Build :

Processor : AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE - $120
MoBo : A good ASUS or ASROCK AM3+ MoBo - $80
Graphics Card : Sapphire Raedon HD 6850 - $150
PSU : Corsair CX500 - $50
RAM : 1x4GB Corsair or Gskill DDR3 1333 - $35

Total : $430 before rebates.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

with $500 to spend, you can do noticably better:

AS Rock H61M/U3S3: $75
(This has USB 3 and SATA 3)

i5-2400: $190
A great quad core, much better than the 955

Graphics card: HD6870: $175

PSU: Xigmatek PC402 400W 80+ Bronze PSU: $34
It'll handle the system just fine.

total: $495

 

[trginter]

Thanks guys. Any reason not to go with NVIDIA over ATI at this price range?

I've never heard of Xigmatek. I'd be wary of trusting it to power all my components.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Xigmatek is a very solid brand. its 400W is really the same as their 650W, right up to the fact it handled 675W with no complaints in a Tom's Hardware review in Oct, 2010.

the Xigmatek 400w is on a par with the Corsair CX430 and Antec EarthWatts 380, and XFX 430W PSU in capability. Its a good PSU.