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Building a Gaming PC for my friend under $800 | Need Help Thanks!

Forum Systems : New Build Building a Gaming PC for my friend under $800 | Need Help Thanks!

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Lukeeey   01-13-2012 at 08:38:03 AM
- 0 +

Hey,

My friend is getting a new PC for under $800, he wants it to play most of the games on high graphics.

Games he will be playing -

Battlefield 3
League of Legends
CSS
- other high graphical games ect.

Budget is under $800
Could you recommend anything else?
Should he get the PSU separate?

Thanks, much appreciated.

Here are the components

The prices are from
www.centrecom.com.au/

---------------------------------------------

Case – Cooler Master Elite 430 - PSU Included $92.40

CPU – AMD Phenom ll X4 Quad Core 960T Black Edition $138

Motherboard – ASUS M5A97 AMD Mainboard $108

Hard Disk Drive – Seagate Barracuda $74

Memory/RAM – G.Skill DDR3 8GB RAM PC-10666-1333 F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL $47.30

Video Card – ASUS NVIDIA GTX 550ti 1GB $145

Optical Drive – LG DVD Burner (GH24NS70) $25

OS – Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit $109

Total Cost: $738.70
---------------------------------------------

Reply to Lukeeey
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amuffin   01-13-2012 at 10:07:33 AM
- 0 +

i3-2100, asrock z68 extreme 3 gen 3.

------------------------------ Nap time!-amdfangirl
 Reply to amuffin
uther39   01-13-2012 at 11:59:44 AM
- 0 +

Lukeeey, you have not told us what resolutions he will be playing at?

Your build is looking strong only 2 things id do to change it,

1. Buy a Coolermaster Hyper 212+ CPU cooler, as the 960t begs to be OCd to 4ghz, at this speed it easily outperforms the i3-2100

2. Ditch the 550ti, if you cant afford the 560ti, then buy the ATI 6870.

Reply to uther39
simon12   01-13-2012 at 12:10:10 PM
- 0 +

That is a weak GPU for a gaming PC on that budget +1 to 6870 or 560Ti

Reply to simon12
davcon   01-13-2012 at 02:51:19 PM
- 0 +

Lukeeey wrote :

Hey,

My friend is getting a new PC for under $800, he wants it to play most of the games on high graphics.

Games he will be playing -

Battlefield 3
League of Legends
CSS
- other high graphical games ect.

Budget is under $800
Could you recommend anything else?
Should he get the PSU separate?

Thanks, much appreciated.

Here are the components

The prices are from
www.centrecom.com.au/

---------------------------------------------

Case – Cooler Master Elite 430 - PSU Included $92.40

CPU – AMD Phenom ll X4 Quad Core 960T Black Edition $138

Motherboard – ASUS M5A97 AMD Mainboard $108

Hard Disk Drive – Seagate Barracuda $74

Memory/RAM – G.Skill DDR3 8GB RAM PC-10666-1333 F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL $47.30

Video Card – ASUS NVIDIA GTX 550ti 1GB $145

Optical Drive – LG DVD Burner (GH24NS70) $25

OS – Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit $109

Total Cost: $738.70
---------------------------------------------


Fill out a template and post in Systems new build section.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ild-advice

Reply to davcon
Mousemonkey   01-13-2012 at 03:16:48 PM
- 0 +

This topic has been moved from the section CPU & Components to section Systems by Mousemonkey

------------------------------ http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/3995/bl11.gif
 Reply to Mousemonkey
jtt283   01-13-2012 at 03:35:59 PM
- 0 +

Please avoid all Coolermaster products, to avoid supporting a dishonest business:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/art [...] iew/1034/9

/rant

Ok...The PSU included in that case will be cheap junk, not capable of powering a modern gaming PC. That site's prices look high; on a budget, get this Corsair: http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalo [...] ml?sort=2a which will be able to power a HD6870 or GTX560. Either of those GPUs is preferable to the relatively weak GTX550Ti.

Reply to jtt283
jessterman21   01-13-2012 at 03:53:03 PM
- 0 +

Indeed - you will not regret buying a GTX 560Ti or HD 6870/6950. The 550Ti is weak sauce.

Also, the i3-2100/2120 will give you equivalent gaming prowess to a 3.5-3.8GHz Phenom II X4, while drawing much less power, and you don't have to worry about getting an aftermarket cooler or overclocking.

And a cheaper case would be fine. Buy the PSU separate - I recommend an Antec Earthwatts 500, but I'm biased.


Message edited by jessterman21 on 01-13-2012 at 03:53:45 PM
Reply to jessterman21
uther39   01-13-2012 at 03:59:06 PM
- 0 +

Also, the i3-2100/2120 will give you equivalent gaming prowess to a 3.5-3.8GHz Phenom II X4

What?

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to uther39
jessterman21   01-13-2012 at 04:05:09 PM
- 0 +

uther39 wrote :

Also, the i3-2100/2120 will give you equivalent gaming prowess to a 3.5-3.8GHz Phenom II X4

What?


What, what? The Sandy Bridge i3 is a surprisingly good gaming CPU. It's what I'm putting in my next budget build. AND you can upgrade down the road to an Ivy Bridge i7.

http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 077-3.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 59-10.html

I like your quote btw.


Message edited by jessterman21 on 01-13-2012 at 04:12:12 PM
Reply to jessterman21
uther39   01-13-2012 at 04:14:02 PM
- 0 +

Its only equivalent to a 955 at stock not when its OCd to 3.5-3.8, im not saying that the 2100 or 2120 is not a good idea, as it surely is as it enables a clear upgrade path 2500k etc etc, but the AMD at this price point can not be overlooked, anyway you would be better off with a 960t, i have one on a test bench that has 5 cores(1 unlocked) running at 4ghz.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to uther39
jessterman21   01-13-2012 at 04:49:16 PM
- 0 +

uther39 wrote :

Its only equivalent to a 955 at stock not when its OCd to 3.5-3.8, im not saying that the 2100 or 2120 is not a good idea, as it surely is as it enables a clear upgrade path 2500k etc etc, but the AMD at this price point can not be overlooked, anyway you would be better off with a 960t, i have one on a test bench that has 5 cores(1 unlocked) running at 4ghz.


That second chart shows the i3s beating the PII X4 970 - I haven't tested the CPUs personally, but the numerous gaming benchmarks I've looked at match Tom's review.

Both would give equivalent gaming performance, and they're at the same price right now. IMO I would just go with the newer architecture and mobo because it allows for a much better upgrade path.

Agree to disagree.

Luke, both CPUs would be great budget performers.


Message edited by jessterman21 on 01-13-2012 at 05:00:02 PM
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