$500 Budget WoW on ultra?

[Absynthe2k5]

Greetings,

Buddy of mine is out on disability from a nasty spinal surgery, the general gave him about 500 bucks to get a new pc so he and his kid can play wow together. His old pc goes to the kid but he wants the best he can get for his money. Every build I come up with ends up around 700 bucks.

Do not need monitor,keyboard,mouse
Need everything including OS.

Can a machine be built that will run WoW on max settings with 50+ fps for $500 bucks? (mind you the OS is needed also)

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/5ywv

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/5yvu

First build is the best i can come up with for intel. I don't know alot about the i3 if it's viable or not? The second was my attempt at AMD which is sad the intel system is pretty much cheaper.

Any advice or thoughts as I really want to get him into something soon.

 

[z_4]

Here's a build not exactly within the budget, but for under $600 .If you could get the OS for discount or so it would be great . Have a look at the build
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/5yFD

Another build but cheaper CPU:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/5yGm

if you can afford $35 more. Go for i3 212- or i3-2100. The offer better performance and features for that price point.

 

[macten]

I wouldn't think it would take much to run WoW on ultra, my laptops a year old and runs mid settings just fine. Being limited to 500 bucks, if he can't shell out a few more himself, I'd pick the OS and go from there getting the best the rest of the 400 bucks can get.

 

[aznshinobi]

Hard to do on a small budget like this, but possible.

Windows 7 64-bit $70
http://www.softwaresupplygroup.com/microsoft-windows-7-home-premium-64-bit-oem-branded.html
i3 2120 + Lite-On Drive $122 (Price after promo code, don't forget: EMCNGND32 ends monday)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.846595
Asrock H61M-VS $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241&Tpk=h61%20vs
Team 8gb DDr3 1333 $39
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313086
Corsair CX430 V2 $45 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026&Tpk=cx430
NZXT Source 210 $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146076
Seagate 500GB $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767
HIS 5770 $90 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121474
Total: $541

It's $41 more than his budget before rebates but well worth it. I would not guarantee WoW @ 50+ FPS on anything below a 5770. IF you were wondering the performance difference between the 6770 and 5770 there is none, the 6770 is re-branded. The 5770 was supposed to last until the 7770 which it has.

 

[Guest]

Remember, WoW (as most Blizzard games) is heavily biased against AMD graphics cards. The OP should stick with a Intel i3 2100 and (if possible, I won't do his homework for him) GTX 550 TI or better graphics card. The bias against AMD is very clearly shown here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-directx-11-performance,2793.html

This is a few years out of date, but still relevant. I last had a 1055T, 12 gigs of DDR3 1600 and a 5850 Black Edition and was still only getting 55 FPS on a 1080P display. Now I have a Intel CPU but the same card. The FPS went up a bit (I have the i3 2100) but having a 550 TI would run Ultra any day at over 60 FPS, even in crowded areas like SW. (At the moment I run at HIGH settings on a 1440x900 monitor, so your mileage may vary.)

 

[aznshinobi]

^ Disagree, as Bias as WoW is the 550 Ti costs more and performs worse to even the the 6770/5770 but still costing more. I don't know that a card that's worse will perform better even with bias.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-directx-11-performance,2793-3.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-directx-11-performance,2793-5.html
The 550 ti will probably perform in between the GTS 450 and GTX 460 in the bench shown above.
If you were to get the 550 Ti, might as well get the 6790 as it performs quite a bit better than the 550 Ti for practically the same price. Even with the bias I can guarantee you the 6790 will do better.

 

[lycros]

Case - Rosewill Blackbone - $34.99 (39.99 - 5.00 with coupon code EMCNGND26)

Motherboard - ASRock H61M-VS - $49.99

CPU - Intel G620 - $69.99

GPU + Memory Combo - ASUS HD6770 + Patriot 8GB DDR3 1600 - $136.98

PSU + HDD Combo - Cooler Master Elite 460W + WD Blue 500GB - $109.98

DVD Drive - LG DVD Burner - $15.99

OS - Windows 7 - $79.99 (99.99 - 20.00 with coupon code EMCYTZT1292)

Shipping - $2.90

Freebies - Dirt3, 8GB Micro SDHC

Total - $500.81

Rebates - $40

If you can use the other computer's dvd drive to install windows either by swapping the drive over or using it in assisting with a USB install you can save $16

 

[azeem40]

^, except the PSU. CM isn't good. Try Antec, XFX, or Corsair.

 

[lycros]

While it might not be the best PSU it isn't junk. You compromise a little in quality to save some money. Comparing the 12v rails of the cooler master to the corsair 430w ($45) it has 1 less amp 27 to 28. The PSUs also have the same connections:

1 x Main connector (20+4Pin)
1 x 12V(4+4Pin)
3 x Peripheral
4 x SATA
1 x Floppy
1 x PCI-e

So while not ideal, it is a good PSU for a budget build.

 

[aznshinobi]

Disagree, don't generalize CM as bad. The Silent Pro and newer series are good. The Older PSUs are, yes, crap. But the CM has improved.

Get this CX430 http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-430-Watt-Certified-Compatible-Platforms/dp/B004W2T2TM%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquid1240995-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB004W2T2TM

Rest looks good.

 

[Absynthe2k5]

Wow folks thanks much for the help amazing responses. Tackled alot of my main worries. One more question though. Were he to hook up to a 37 inch tv with 720p hd would that effect the overall needs much? If so what would you folks rec. for a video card to run that size screen?

 

[aznshinobi]

The build I suggested would be plenty fine for you even @ 720P

 

[azeem40]

Disagree, don't generalize CM as bad. The Silent Pro and newer series are good. The Older PSUs are, yes, crap. But the CM has improved.

Get this CX430 http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-430-Watt-Certified-Compatible-Platforms/dp/B004W2T2TM%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquid1240995-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB004W2T2TM

Rest looks good.

Still can't deny that Seasonic, Corsair, and XFX are more reliable.

 

[aznshinobi]

I didn't deny anything, I didn't say they're not. I don't think they're always the only options to have. Seasonics, depending on the model, and Corsairs TX/HX/AX are all expensive @ a price that's not worth it when competitors offer just as reliable and good units for less. IE the TX750 being @ $110 or more while the OCZ ZS 750 which is just as good is ~$10 or more less. Or how the HX 650 costs $20 more than the OCZ ZT 750w, which is also modular as well providing more power, and just as reliable as most reviews have pointed out.

 

[azeem40]

I know. I never said you denied it. :b

 

[Absynthe2k5]

Best answer selected by absynthe2k5.

 

[Absynthe2k5]

Again thanks guys, really helped me alot to get him set up on a very tight budget. It would seem he got the OS as a present for someone so he now has another 70 bucks to play with off that build. Some of the bundles are no longer valid so it will most likely soak that up but overall extremely great help and glad I asked!

 

[aznshinobi]

No problem1 Good luck!