$400 gaming build

[sam jay]

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/ShoppingCart.aspx?Submit=view

before rebates- $449.60 (including shipping)

after rebates- $409.60 (including shipping)


anything I should do to make this build better?

 

[sadams04]

Your shopping cart link is no good... "Your shopping cart is empty." Anyway... the build below is for reference.


Processor: AMD Athlon II X3 455 Rana 3.3GHz - $80

Motherboard: ASUS M5A97 AM3+ - $100

Graphics Card: XFX HD 6850 - $130 after MIR

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 1.5v CL9 - $33

Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB - $60

Case: Antec TWO HUNDRED - $30 after MIR

Power Supply: CORSAIR Builder Series 430w - $35 after MIR

Optical: SAMSUNG DVD Burner 22X - $20

$488

 

[aznshinobi]

^+1

 

[008Rohit]

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.

Also, on a budget build, spending more on the CPU than the GPU is a better bet IMO. With an weak processor you can't play a damn multithreaded game good even if you own a GTX 590.

 

[sam jay]

thanks for the advice everyone.

New build:

Processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103911&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=125advf91q3eq

Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=3ty0tgnmfsxy

Graphics card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121391

ram- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279

hard drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=15c5ncszqbu5z

case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129074&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1vro3uoazhusl

psu- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=106i9lgn6pdg6

optical- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1hc973pycp2fd

Grand Total (with rebates/shipping):

$492.17

If you can change this build to make it better, please do so. Max budget is $500.

One more quick question- will this build handle 1920x1200 okay? Planning to get the u2412m. The reason I have a tight budget is so I can get a decent monitor.

 

[zooted]

thanks for the advice everyone.

New build:

Processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103911&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=125advf91q3eq

Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=3ty0tgnmfsxy

Graphics card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121391

ram- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279

hard drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=15c5ncszqbu5z

case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129074&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1vro3uoazhusl

psu- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=106i9lgn6pdg6

optical- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1hc973pycp2fd

Grand Total (with rebates/shipping):

$492.17

That's a pretty solid build.

 

[sam jay]

That's a pretty solid build.

Thanks. Is a 430 watt power supply enough? Or should I get a 500 watt one?

 

[zooted]

The gtx 460 requires 2 6 pin pci-e connectors. That is a solid psu, but you have to use a molex to pci-e adapter. I would probably go with a 6850 as the perform the same but use less power and only require one pci-e connector.

 

[Outlander_04]

another vote for the 6850

 

[sam jay]

Okay. I'll probably go for the 6850. What brand is the best?

 

[008Rohit]

XFX or Sapphire.

 

[sam jay]

XFX or Sapphire.

My bad. I meant what type of the 6850 is best. Is it the asus directcu, xfx black edition, sapphire standard 6850, etc.

 

[008Rohit]

I have no idea in that!

 

[sam jay]

EDIT: bad links

I have a question- is the 6850 DirectCU worth the extra money?

 

[sadams04]

If you plan to overclock the HD 6850 it may be worth the additional $10. If not overclocking then no... the Direct Copper heatsync won't get you anything.

 

[aznshinobi]

^+1

 

[ScrewySqrl]

at $500, Though, you might be better with an i3-2100

 

[Outlander_04]

at $500, Though, you might be better with an i3-2100

He wouldnt


The Toms system builder marathon proved once and for all that at $500 a phenom was a better choice , but I would be highly amused to see an i3 build for gaming that you can put together for $400 that could compete

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the i3 is generally a match for the 955.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=88


i3-2100: $125
AS Rock H61M/U3S3: $75
4GB DDR3-1333: $25
Seagate 500 GB drive: $40
PNY GTX 460: $150
Samsung DVD Burner: $17
Xigmatek 400W 80+ Bronze: $35
Rosewill R102 Case: $30
120mm fan: $6 (optional)
$497 or $503 with the extra fan

 

[sam jay]

Here's my revised one:

CPU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103911

ram- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279

psu- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

GPU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150512

motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

hard drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129074

optical- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233

Total- $482.92

Or should I go with ScrewySqrl's build?

Thanks to all helping me.

 

[008Rohit]

Get my i3 2100 build except the GPU. Get a more powerful one like HD 6850 as you're spending almost $500 anyways. I kept that build within your $400 budget. Add a Corsair CX430 if you like.

But I'd definately not go with a X3 Rana. If you want to go with AMD check my Phenom II X4 build and add a more powerful GPU to it.

 

[sam jay]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150512

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138308

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129074

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233

Total- about $502

 

[zooted]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150512

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138308

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129074

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233

Total- about $502

Looks good to me.

 

[Outlander_04]

the i3 is generally a match for the 955.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=88

not when its on a dead end mb ,with no overclocking , no chance of adding more ram

Any advantage the i3 has , even in gaming , evaporates the instant you raise the Phenoms clock to 3.6 Ghz , and of course that means the i3 gets beaten everywhere else by an even larger margin

 

[sam jay]

not when its on a dead end mb ,with no overclocking , no chance of adding more ram

Any advantage the i3 has , even in gaming , evaporates the instant you raise the Phenoms clock to 3.6 Ghz , and of course that means the i3 gets beaten everywhere else by an even larger margin

Okay I'm confused now! Which CPU should I get?? I'll mostly be playing action and fps games. Don't know if to go amd or intel!