$500-600 Budget

[Scubasjl]

Approximate Purchase Date: Vid/Monitor Now, Rest of system 2-4weeks

Budget Range: Starting $320/$570 End Budget


System Usage from Most to Least Important: EvE Onlline, Adobe Products, Firefox. Future games SWTOR and Skyrim.


Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers, Win 7 64bit, PSU - Thermaltake TR2-430W, HD, Case


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com


Country of Origin: US


Parts Preferences: Asus, Gigabyte, Corsair, G Skill


Overclocking: No


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe


Monitor Resolution: Currently 1280x1024, Future 1920 x 1080

Current Rig: AMD Athlon 64 3200+, Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9, 1.7gb, Nvidia 6200 TurboCache, 2x 15" crt's 1280x1024.

Looking At:

Intel Core i3-2100 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

Not sure what Video Card to go with Nvidia 550ti or the 560. But would also like a new monitor.

 

[danraies]

(Edit: I missed the fact that you already had a PSU)

*****Here's what I came up with:

Processor:
i3-2100 - $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-P61-USB3-B3 - $70 (this one has USB 3.0)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128483
or
ASRock H61DE/S3 - $68 (this one has four memory slots)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157254

RAM:
G.Skill Ripjaw X Series 8GB - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

HDD:
Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB - $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

[strike]PSU:
Corsair Builder Series CX430 - $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026[/strike]

Optical:
Whatever $20 optical drive you like

Case:
Xigmatex Asguard II - $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815004

*****So far that's about $360 leaving $210 for video card and monitor (assuming a $570 budget). You might have to go a little over budget to get both, but here's some other ideas to fill out the rest of the budget:

Monitors:
eMachines E210HVB Black 21.5" - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824114009

HANNspree By Hanns-G HF225DPB Black 21.5" - $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824262011

GPU:
EVGA GTX 550ti - $138
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625

Gigabyte Radeon HD 6850 - $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125353

*****Here are some options to save some money:
G.Skill Ripjaw Series 4GB (2x2GB) - $32
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200RPM - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

Gigabyte Black Mid Tower Case - $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811233061

 

[danraies]

One more thing. A thread just opened about the HD6670 vs. GTX550ti which are about in your price range. Something you might want to follow.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/326004-33-hd6670-gtx550

 

[Scubasjl]

Thank you for the recommendations. I will keep my eye out on that thread. I know I didnt mention that I did not need a HD and Case but updated my original post now. The 550 ti is looking good especially if I want a monitor. The motherboards I could get but I do like that the Z68 chipset features if I ever get a SSD, SLI, or want to OC.

 

[danraies]

Yeah, if you don't need a case or hard drive I would use that extra money on a z68 board. The one you chose is good.

 

[Scubasjl]

Purchased my card and monitor today, saved a bit. Got a refurbished card. hate waiting for mail in rebates and didn't need the free game anyways. The monitor was hoping to catch an open box this weekend but all the good deals I was to slow. 2 weeks gonna go for the i3 2100 and hoping ivy will stay the same socket.

Video Card - EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130717

Monitor - ASUS VS Series VS238H-P Black 23" -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236175

Total - $259.46