First Build $400 Budget

[TT10]

Hey all my laptop just bit the dust.. So looking to build my first PC, as I don't know much yet as I'm just starting to learn so all advice is welcome. Budget is around $400 which is relatively low since I'm a college student.. But looking to play BF3 or equivalent on any setting really with minimal lag, although if budget allows to crank up the graphics I'm all for it.

Approximate Purchase Date: next 3 months


Budget Range: (approx $400) After Rebates


System Usage from Most to Least Important: (everyday use, gaming, movies, internet, college work)


Parts Not Required: ( keyboard, mouse, speakers) Mostly everything. This looks like it will be my downfall with no OS or Monitor. Although I can get windows 7 for like $20 at the university luckily, HAVE MONITOR

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


Country of Origin: (USA)


Parts Preferences: by brand or type (none really, decent case and monitor)


Overclocking: maybe


SLI or Crossfire: maybe


Monitor Resolution: (whichever is best quality for the price, using 1366x768 now)


Additional Comments: (Want quad core but I'm not sure budget allows for it, decent looking case)

 

[zooted]

So the budget includes the monitor? If so that is going to be practically impossible to run bf3/current games at a reasonable framerate.

 

[abekl]

You need a more reasonable budget.

 

[008Rohit]

You want a Quad Core?

Phenom II X4 Build :

Processor : AMD Phenom II X4 955BE - $119.99
MoBo : ASRock 760GM-GS3 AM3 - $47.99
RAM : G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - $28.99
Graphics Card : XFX HD-667X-ZAF3 Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 - $79.99
Hard Disk : Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200rpm - $30
Optical Drive : $20
Case : $30 - ATX Mid Tower
Power Supply : Antec Earthwatts Green 380W - $39.99

Total : $397 after rebates

Alternative i3 2100 build :

Processor : Intel Core i3 2100 - $124.99
MoBo : ASRock H61M-VS MicroATX LGA1155 - $59.99
RAM : G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - $28.99
Graphics Card : SAPPHIRE 100287L Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit DDR5 - $62.99
Hard Disk : Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200rpm - $30
Optical Drive : $20
Case : $30 - ATX Mid Tower
Power Supply : Antec Earthwatts Green 380W - $39.99

Total : $399 after rebates

* Why 1x4GB RAM instead of 2x2GB? If you can sacrifice the Dual Channel mode for now, you'll be able to add one more 4GB stick if needed and use those in Dual Channel mode THEN.

Both the builds will be able to run any game atleast at medium details at 1366x768 or 1680x1050.

The Phenom build will multitask better and the i3 will game better.

 

[madchemist83]

$400 really will not let you play BF3 on minimal settings without hiccups.
On top of that u need pretty much every part. I would wait a little till black friday sale and u might get something for cheap ...
definitely go with AMD .. see if you have microcenter close by as it can save u money

this combo http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.699097
this case with PSu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811822004
some ram for 30$ HDD - 40$
this monitor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254037
and this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133389
will put u right on 400 plus u get tax and shipping so that's extra
I hope that helped

 

[008Rohit]

Hey wait!
Do you need a new monitor too?

 

[madchemist83]

^ hehe didn't see that coming

 

[zooted]

If you dont mind rebates $387.38. But upping the budget would really help a lot. With this build you get a 6850.

 

[madchemist83]

looking good .. ok back to work

 

[madchemist83]

the only problem is .. he needs a monitor too

 

[TT10]

ok all thanks for the help, and ya i kinda thought that monitor would be the death of me, BUT I have a friend who is selling me his old one for $20 so now I no longer need a monitor

 

[008Rohit]

Good. Do tell us after you get the parts.

 

[TT10]

so out of the builds listed which does everyone think is best? I don't really multi task a ton, heres what I have been using

Processor AMD Athlon II Dual-Core M300 2 GHz
Installed Memory 4 GB (DDR2 SDRAM)
Hard Drive 320 GB Serial ATA, 5400 RPM
Display 15.6 in.
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Weight 5.8 lb.
Processor
Processor Manufacturer AMD
Processor Type AMD Athlon II Dual-Core M300
Processor Speed 2 GHz
Memory
Installed RAM 4 GB
RAM Technology DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Drive
Hard Drive Capacity 320 GB
Hard Drive Rotation Speed 5,400 RPM
Storage Controller Type Serial ATA
CD / DVD
CD / DVD Type DVD±RW Dual Layer/CD-RW
Optical Drive Write Speed 4x (DVD+R DL) • 4x (DVD-R DL)
Optical Drive ReWrite Speed 16x (CD-RW) • 24x (CD-RW) • 8x (DVD+RW) • 8x (DVD-RW) • 6x (DVD-RW) • 5x (DVD-RAM)

Video
Graphic Processor ATI RADEON HD 4200
Operating System
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Technical Features
Expansion Ports 4 x USB 2.0, RJ-45 (NIC)
Special Features
Integrated Video Camera
Networking
Networking Type
Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card • Integrated Wireless LAN

EDIT: This will mostly be gaming and such since I'm going to try to fix my laptop. Also will this be a huge upgrade to what I'm currently gaming on or slight?

 

[008Rohit]

Both the builds that I've listed are solid for gaming and any real world app.
You can choose the Phenom build if multitasking and using multithreaded apps is your prime target or get the i3 build if gaming or web browsing is your thing!

I've literally worked really hard to create those two builds and keep the price under $400 while using My Nokia 5230. My own PC's motherboard has gone to Intel. (RMA)

 

[TT10]

Both the builds that I've listed are solid for gaming and any real world app.
You can choose the Phenom build if multitasking and using multithreaded apps is your prime target or get the i3 build if gaming or web browsing is your thing!

I've literally worked really hard to create those two builds and keep the price under $400 while using My Nokia 5230. My own PC's motherboard has gone to Intel. (RMA)

ya thanks a ton, I'm leaning more towards to i3 i think, also will this be a big upgrade from my 2 year old laptop? Also for the case will pretty much any ATX Mid Tower work?

 

[madchemist83]

It will be good upgrade yes.
Sure any case.

 

[andy22096]

Hey there, this thread is fitting considering I just bought a build with similar price range, so I'll give you my build + my .02 on the whole situation

First off, Phenom II x3 + 6670 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.717173

4GB 1600 RAM (Theres a $5 off coupon on this)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148419

400w 80+ Bronze Power Supply (Also $5 off code on this)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815007

Xigmatek ATX Mid tower $30

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815004

AM3 Motherboard $55

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131669

500GB Hard drive + CD/DVD $54 (Also try this code, it might work EMCKBHE35)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.696137

Finally we got a Coolermaster 212 Plus $28

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

This comes out to around $380 I believe.

Also you should know that the AMD X3 will most likely unlock to a quad core, plus the aftermarket cooler will allow u to overclock it quite nicely. And the 6670 isn't the strongest card but it will do the job!

 

[madchemist83]

^ +1

 

[TT10]

cpu + ram combo 115$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.695726
mobo 50$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138313
antec 300 illusion 60$ -15$ of instant rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066
corsair cx430 v2 40$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026
dvd burner + 500 gb 7200 rpm hdd 53.5$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.696167
gtx460 1gb 150$, 120$ after mail in rebates
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133326

for pure gaming this will be plenty enough, you can step down to a gts450
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134119

cost is about 420 with first card and 385 with second
what do you think of this build?

 

[008Rohit]

^^

What CPU plus RAM combo? Newegg blocks me from viewing that. (maybe because I'm using mobile)

 

[madchemist83]

intel g850 and Adata 4gb (2x2gb) ddr3 1333

 

[008Rohit]

G850 won't be enough for future games. Only 2 threads.

 

[TT10]

so what about the rest? can i just replace the G850 with something else or do you still recommend the other? just wondering because the guy said his build was more efficient

 

[andy22096]

I hate to bring attention to myself like this, but I was just wondering if you seriously considered my build at all? I bought the build myself, and I can vouch for it, it's quite fast for gaming and multitasking for different programs.

The motherboard I included also has a quick unlocking tool which basically will give u a quad core 95% of the time. Plus with the fan you can overclock that to well over 3.0 ghz.

The only issue is the video card being slightly less powerful than you would like, but your budget is very tight. I'm not saying go for the build right away, and if you really prefer intel go with intel, but I'm just asking that you take a look at it, because you seemed to ignore it.

 

[008Rohit]

You're spending too much on a case and a GPU.
I'd not get a GTX 560 in a $400 budget because the G850 is a bottleneck for that card.

You can go with my Intel build and buy a more.powerful graphics card if you wish. The Corsair CX430 is also a nice PSU.