New $500 gaming pc, both i5/fx4100 build, need advice

tomhrxbfg

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Feb 11, 2012
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Hi all so I am trying to build a new gaming pc for moderate gaming (eg skyrim/ dragon age on high). My budget is $500 w/o OS and monitor, but I would eventually need those so maybe $200 on those, but now I just want to get the core components done first.

Approximate Purchase Date: (during this summer)

Budget Range: ($500)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: (moderate gaming, school work, etc)

Parts Not Required: (keyboard, mouse, speakers)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: (newegg.com, ncix.com, etc I'm fine with any as long as it's cheap and meet my ends)

Country: (USA)

Parts Preferences: None

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: higher than 1024x768

Additional Comments: none, reserved for later.

CPU: AMD FX 4100 Black Edition 3.6GHz Quad-Core $99.99 (microcenter)

Motherboard: M5A78L-M LX PLUS Socket AM3+ 760G mATX AMD Motherboard $0 w/ FX4100 (microcenter)

Case: Diablotek EVO Mid Tower ATX Computer Case $37.99 (microcenter)

PSU: Corsair Builder Series CX V2 430-Watt 80 Plus Certified Power Supply $45 (amazon)

DVD burner: LG 22x DVD±RW Burner $16.99 (microcenter)

Graphics: SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 $135 ($120 after rebate) new egg

Memory: Micro Center 4GB DDR3-1333 (PC3-10666) CL9 Desktop Memory Kit ($19)

Hard Drive:Western Digital WD Caviar Blue 250GB SATA 6GB/S 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive OEM $44 (NCIX)

Minitor: Viewsonic 19" LCD Monitor $69.99 (microcenter)

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit OEM $99.99 (microcenter)

Total after rebate (not including tax): $384 w/o monitor and OS, $554 for whole system...


For i5 build goto post 3


Could anyone suggest which parts I should switch out for the most bang of the buck? Thanks!
 

zolton33

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Microcenter is having a deal that when you buy a processor you get so much off the motherboard. If i were you i'd go with an i3 2100 for the same price gettinga 1155 motherboard you could easily upgrade later on to an i5 2500k or even a newer ivy bridge cpu. The fx chips are not really as good as theyshould be. And in gaming the intel out perform them. But its really up to you.
 

Gamer Dude

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Yup your build looks as good as it gets for a budget build today but in the summer pricing and inventory at Microcenter, NCIX, Newegg, etc will change most likely to your benefit so keep a keen eye out for sales and other combo deals etc. The parts I would change out if I was buying your rig today are.

- PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371029


- Mobo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128521&Tpk=Gigabyte%20970A-D3

Just these to parts save you instantly $55 you can put towards the OS Window7 OEM or an SSD or mouse etc.
 

tomhrxbfg

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Thanks for the reply, so I am now considering an intel i5 2500k build.

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500k $180 (microcenter)

Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V LX LGA 1155 Z68 ATX Intel Motherboard $60 w/ i5 2500k bundle

Case: Diablotek EVO Mid Tower ATX Computer Case $37.99 (microcenter)

PSU: Corsair Builder Series CX V2 430-Watt 80 Plus Certified Power Supply $45 (amazon)

DVD burner: LG 22x DVD±RW Burner $16.99 (microcenter)

Graphics: SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 $135 ($120 after rebate)

Memory: Crucial 8GB Kit (4GBx2), 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 Memory Module $40 (amazon)

Hard Drive:Western Digital WD Caviar Blue 250GB SATA 6GB/S 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive OEM $44 (NCIX)

$544 after rebate (tax not included)...maybe I should leave graphics card till later.
 

tomhrxbfg

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Is the deal online, cause I have never visited my local microcenter...
nvm found on the online ads... thx man
 

Gamer Dude

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Honestly dude if you are springing for an i5 2400 you would be better off to spend a little more now for a i5 2500K or save or beg or borrow the $50 addition it will cost for the 2500K otherwise just stick with the i3 mate IMHO.
 

hardeho

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If you are not planing to do any overclocking, the 2500k is not all that much better than the 2400. If you do plan to overclock, the 2500k is $$ WELL spent over an other i5. The benefits of a quad core i5 over a dual core i3 should really start showing themselves over the next 1-2 years. But for gaming right here right now, and i3 2100 or 2130 does indeed do the job extremely well.
 

Gamer Dude

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Three or four + - years down the road the 2500K can be OCed effectively reducing or completely mitigating the need for an upgrade and saving money over a locked variant of the 2500 i5 chip.
 

tomhrxbfg

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I understand your point, the thing is the combo deal with motherboard only work with i5 2500k or i7 2600k, not i5 2400... So it's basically cheaper to get i5 2500k + motherboard