Budget Gaming PC for around $800

Dartmouth

Distinguished
Dec 13, 2011
9
0
18,510
Purchase Date: Hopefully within the next few days.

Budget Range: $700-$900

System Usage: Gaming would be the primary use. Other than that, just watching movies and surfing around.

Parts Not Required: Monitor, keyboard, speakers. Might have a spare mouse around, but not sure.

Preferred Website: Whichever has the best prices.

Country: USA

Parts Preference: None

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Possibly for the future, but at the moment I don't believe it would be necessary.

Additional Comments: I put up a thread on this site way back in December, but I put off on the purchases, and figured I'd just start a new thread.

I looked and I saw this link in another thread: http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore. I was looking at the $900 build and it seemed okay but I got confused by the video cards since doing searches on them through Newegg (using terms like 560, 6950, twin frozr) pulled up multiple results that all seemed to match the criteria of the build.

Another thing I'd like to ask is where could I look to cut the cost of the build if I needed to. Having to add in an OS is going to bump the price a bit anyways.

Finally, looking at these combos http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...bCategory=343&SortField=0&PageSize=100&Page=1, are any worth considering?
 

Pezcore27

Distinguished
Feb 8, 2012
518
0
19,060
I'll give you a carbon copy of my build. I personally love it and would recommend it very highly.

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - 69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - 69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor - 229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - 154.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128512

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory - 41.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311

SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - 169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

LG DVD Burner 24X - 16.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136236

Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - 84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - 99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

TOTAL = 938.91 - 30.00 MIR = 908.91 (shipping not included)

It more than runs everything I throw at it on maxed settings, overclocked easily even on stock cooling is completely stable, booted right up first try and was completely simple.

Fortunately I live near a microcenter and got my 2500k and MOBO there and saved 100 bucks.

EDIT:

Here's an AMD variant I posted in another thread earlier. Some of the prices changed a little, but honestly I am really intrigued to see what it can do, so I am wanting to build it. As long as we have the funds after we go get our taxes done tomorrow, I will probably order it when we get the refund.

Just for giggles, I'd rock this if I didnt build my i5 recently. Went for a kind of Industrial/Ninja theme. I nicknamed it "The Dark Horse"

CPU = AMD Phenom II x4 980

MOBO = Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3

RAM = Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 8gb DDR3-1600

CPU COOLER = Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO

CASE = Fractal Design Core 3000

PSU = SeaSonic S12II 620w 80+ Bronze Certified

GPU = Sapphire Radeon 6870

HDD = Seagate 500gb HD

OPTICAL = Samsung 22x DVD Burner

TOTAL = 807.91 (as of a few days ago)
 
The @Pezcore27 Intel build verry good. But to be in the budget ill change only this parts :
MOBO : ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271 122$
CASE : Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153 55$
Video card : MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565 200$ after rebates.
 

zolton33

Distinguished
Jan 25, 2012
1,056
0
19,360
1. Intel does not ask you if you overclocked your K series processor. They DO ask if you overclocked the memory! Intel processors are designed to operate the memory at 1066MHZ or 1333MHZ ONLY. The minute you run that memory at anything higher, you void the warranty.
Since this is the official stance from Intel, it would be prudent to let people know up front when you recommend higher clocked memory what the rules are. Most or all memory will default to 1333MHZ initially for this reason.
We all know that memory speeds play a very tiny role in overall performance anyway. Those who feel compelled to complete honesty in any future RMA process would be well advised to refrain from higher memory clocks.


For sosofm
 

vitornob

Distinguished
Jun 15, 2008
988
1
19,060


Totally +1
 

Dartmouth

Distinguished
Dec 13, 2011
9
0
18,510
Alright guys. First of all I want to thank you all for your help. Now looking through all this I am looking at this build:

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K ($230)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

MOBO: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 ($22)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

GPU: Twin Frozr II ($225 with $30 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565

RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB ($42)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311

PSU: Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W ($70)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031

CASE: Cooler Master HAF 912
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500 GB ($85, $75 with promo code)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

DVD Burner: LG DVD Burner :sarcastic: ($19)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136236

OS: Windows 7 64-bit ($100)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Now with shipping, rebates, & the promo code, this totals out to about $910. This means it's still a bit too much for the budget I am trying to set for myself. I will note however I haven't browsed much for combo deals, and I should check out other sites to compare prices. These I both plan to do later tonight and tomorrow.

Now, unfortunately, I do not live near a Microcenter so I can't get $100 off of the CPU. However there is this: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-2500-Socket-LGA1155-Processor/dp/B004EBUXI0/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_2, which is $20 from the Newegg price. I just wanted to be sure this is the same exact thing and the only reasons for it being cheaper are good ones.

The other way I'm looking to cut down on the price is through the hard drive. I don't really need a 500GB hard drive. I'd be happy with the 160-250GB drives. Maybe something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148823. A nice $25 off right there.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

p.s. The G.Skill memory should be a-okay with the Intel warranty correct?

p.p.s. How does the 2500K here compare to other AMD processors similarly priced when it comes to gaming?

 

somekidxd

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2012
163
0
18,710
Gskill memory is fine and 2500k is the best processor for gaming and there was a benchmark done by Toms Hardware, but i cant find it. I mean, there is like a 10% between the 2400 and the 2500k, so you might want to get that. AMD only beats intel at this price at 3D stuff. But your build is awesome.