$300 Budget Upgradeable gaming pc

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amuhammad120

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I'm trying to build a new pc ASAP and I have a budget of $250-$300. I want this PC to eventually game (around 720p resolution and idc if settings aren't too high. Games like skyrim, MW3, Assassins creed, etc.). I was thinking of a Phenom 2 processor (X4) with this motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135272

This motherboard has an igp that could las t me a while until I get enough money to buy a discrete gpu. Of course these are just my thoughts- I would greatly appreciate any help with this build.
 
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r0aringdrag0n

r0aringdrag0n

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I would not recommend you buying a new system with the money you have at the moment. Wait a little longer and get a little more money (around $500-$600). You won't be able to build ANY gaming PC with $300. The reason is because HDD are so overpriced it will cost around 1/3 of the price, the CPU will cost another 1/3 and a decent PSU will cost around 1/6 of the price and the motherboard another 1/6, So you won't be able to get other components vital to a good gaming PC, such as a graphics card and case
 
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Grand_Admiral_K

Grand_Admiral_K

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^ What everyone else has said

What we're trying to say here is that you just don't have enough money to warrant a new build yet. I would wait until you have at least $600. Maybe a bit less if you're willing to wait on a discrete card for a while. So, in the mean time, just try to save up some cash.
 
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r0aringdrag0n

r0aringdrag0n

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You're correct, however, I would recommend either the i3 2100 or the FX 4100, both are close to around $120, and the motherboard costs around $60. Then I wouldn't recommend any gfx under Radeon 6850, so that brings the cost over $300
 
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amuhammad120

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Thanks for all the replies. I have Windows. I also don't care too much about the HDD (~250 gb is completely fine with me, or even lower- I have exernal hard drives). I mentioned the igp motherboard cuz I'm willing to wait a while before getting an actual graphics card. Right now this pc will just be for normal work, like editing documents, surfing the web, youtube, etc.
 
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Swolern

Swolern

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Then get the cheapest z68 motherboard you can find so u will be able to use iGPU from an intel CPU so u will be able to run the system without a graphics card. Then save up later for the GPU.
 
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megamanx00

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But do you have a current PC to work with? I mean even if you can just re-use some DVD drives and a case it would be a big help. Hard drives start off at $74.99 lately and while that may change soon it would be good if you had a hard drive to use in the mean time to put money else where. With all new parts though I would do this with that budget

APEVIA X-Gear ATXB5KLW-BL Blue with PSU $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144043

ASUS M5A78L-M LX PLUS $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131795

LITE-ON DVD Burner $17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145299

Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 $18.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148262

AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana $77.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886

total : $299.94

The PSU in the case is crappy so you have to upgrade it if you want to add a GPU latter on and probably for stability even if you just upgrade the CPU. The motherboard has unlocking so you may be able to turn that x3 into a quad core x4. The case has the same internal layout as my X-Dreamer so you can fit a card as long as a 5870, as long as you don't have anything in the near by hard drive bays of course. The case ventilation is not the best, but it's decent and good for the price. I recommend adding all the fans if you want to OC your CPU and get a power hungry GPU. Also, it's best to remove the little punch out slot covers before you put in your motherboard, otherwise you will have to take everything out latter. You can't game with the IGP on the board, but it's good enough for basic tasks and that board has overclocking capabilities. It will accept 125W AM3 and AM3+ CPUs with the appropriate BIOS update
 
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megamanx00

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Actually that build is rather upgradable. It will take an X6 with a BIOS update and has overclocking options. It will take AM3+ CPUs as well, but it has yet to be seen if Piledriver would be worth it over an X6 (bulldozer isn't). Also like I said the case will accept a long 11.5" GPU, though the PSU should be upgraded first. The ventilation is also good enough for one such card. I say upgrade it in stages though

1) Try to unlock and overclock the CPU

2) upgrade the GPU and PSU. Probably be looking at the 78xx series by then

3) Add all the case fans for better cooling and upgrade from the stock cooler to a good 120mm cooler. That requires removing the crappy case fan on the window though. Push the CPU a bit more and overclock the GPU

4) upgrade the CPU for more performance, faster 8GB RAM, and perhaps the hard drive.

Can't to better with that budget ^_^. Would be nice to get a board that had more RAM slots and supported more memory, but oh well.
 
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FinneousPJ

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Save at least $200 more to get a decent system.

Alternately - as a secondary choice - get something like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A8-3870K 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus F1A75-V PRO ATX FM1 Motherboard ($79.98 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $267.95
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-09 15:04 EDT-0400)

According to a recent article, it will game quite respectably at 720p. It will also allow overclocking for extra fun and performance. Later, when you get $65 more spare cash, you can crossfire the 6670 if you so desire.
 
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Swolern

Swolern

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Alternately - as a secondary choice - get something like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
Click to expand...

+1

CPU: AMD A8-3870K 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus F1A75-V PRO ATX FM1 Motherboard ($79.98 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $267.95
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-09 15:04 EDT-0400)

According to a recent article, it will game quite respectably at 720p. It will also allow overclocking for extra fun and performance. Later, when you get $65 more spare cash, you can crossfire the 6670 if you so desire.
Click to expand...

go for 1920x1080
 
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