Search
Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

Cheap i3 build needs help

Last response: in Systems
Share

I dont really have a budget Im just trying to be on good terms with wife so lower is better. I am playing Swtor and SC2 right now(d3 when it drops) and am trying to upgrade from a crapola dell xps 400. I have been reading TomsHW site for the last week trying to brush up from my 2006 computer knowledge.


i3 2100~100$

GA-Z68AP-D3 LGA 1155 Z68 ATX~50$

or

P8Z68-V LX LGA 1155 Z68 ATX~70$

Micro Center 8GB DDR3-1333 PC3-10600 Desktop~35$

550ti *already have*~135$ from trying to upgrade xps400

Case PSU~ Ill most likely buy some 50$ case psu combo or get a CM haf912 and decent psu for under 100$

HDD, DVD, and Monitor already have

Total 320$-390$(+ gtx 560)

Also I am in the window Of 30day return to micro center should I take that 550ti back and get a gtx560,gtx560ti, hd 6870, hd 6950?

I could keep my crap card and spluge for a i5 mabey too I think money will be better spent on card since they wont bottleneck a i3 2100 in the 250$ range.

Thanks so much for any help.

More about : cheap build

Register or log in to remove
Homebuilt system Expert

Don't settle on a cheap PSU provided with a case. Get a quality PSU and a cheap case if necessary.

I say take your 550Ti back and get a 560 Ti, but that's just me.

Thanks phyco,

I know im being super cheap here but couldnt my dell xps 375w psu run a gtx 560, If it is even atx compatible, Ive herd they are rated low. Cooler masters web site says i3 and mobo with 560ti only pulls 308w. I was thinkin of trying this but dunno if i wanna drive back to micro center after it doesnt work lol.
Related ressources
Ask the community
Homebuilt system Expert

slave2blizzard said:
Thanks phyco,

I know im being super cheap here but couldnt my dell xps 375w psu run a gtx 560, If it is even atx compatible, Ive herd they are rated low. Cooler masters web site says i3 and mobo with 560ti only pulls 308w. I was thinkin of trying this but dunno if i wanna drive back to micro center after it doesnt work lol.


It won't work, trust me. Two things make the PSU work with a card like that. Having enough amps (which a cheap dell PSU won't have) and having enough watts. A 375 watt PSU may not actually give you 375 watts. It might only give, say, 300 watts instead. The older the PSU, the worse off it is.

Again, don't go cheap on a PSU. Its not a case of it just not working and trying something else, its a matter of "OMG MY PC JUST BLEW UP! NOOOOOO!!!!" and having to replace everything.

I would say:

i3 2100
GA-Z68AP-D3 LGA 1155 Z68
550ti *already have*~135$ from trying to upgrade xps400
Case
Get a separate PSU though. Those PSU case kits tend to come with a junky PSU. Get a good quality one from Corsair or Seasonic.
HDD, DVD, and Monitor already have
I would also say get a 6870 or 6950
Homebuilt system Expert

phyco126 said:
It won't work, trust me. Two things make the PSU work with a card like that. Having enough amps (which a cheap dell PSU won't have) and having enough watts. A 375 watt PSU may not actually give you 375 watts. It might only give, say, 300 watts instead. The older the PSU, the worse off it is.

Again, don't go cheap on a PSU. Its not a case of it just not working and trying something else, its a matter of "OMG MY PC JUST BLEW UP! NOOOOOO!!!!" and having to replace everything.


I disagree. Delta makes most of Dells psu's, as well as some of Antec's and Corsairs psu's along with hundreds of other brands, and 375w would be plenty for that setup.

Remember a i3-2100 only uses about 30-35w if your not using the graphics core.

You should be looking at a H61/H67 mobo though if you can get it cheaper than Z68.

Ok sooooo you guys are gonna want to shoot me since i asked all of those i3 questions ......

I ended up with the not so cheap build of

i5 2500k-180$

asus p8z68-v lx-60$

cooler master haf 922-100$ cheap cases were worse than i thought but... doable if needed

thermaltake trw2 500w-50$400

micro center brand ddr3-1333 8gigs-35$

120gig ocz ssd-150$

xfx hd 6870 200$

850 and change with taxes.....750 after rebates




Register or log in to remove
 
Ask the community
Read discussions in other Systems categories
!