Budget Gaming PC ($400ish)

[thatdude8]

Hello I was wondering if this was a good deal for a budget gaming pc.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.789237

I know the psu is probably bad like all cheap cases that come with psu's but I figure for the price I can just throw another one in there. The primary reason for choosing this build was for the g850. After reading a few articles on here about it performing well against amd budget cpus plus having an upgrade path I figure why not go for it and pair it with 6770 (or something a little better) just to get my foot in the door then later upgrade to an i5-2500k some time after ivy bridge drops.

I never had a gaming pc so I don't too much about what i'm doing, but I have been doing a little research so I know the psu is most likely bad, but for the price I can get another one and that I can't expect it to play something like bf3 well, but it looks like it can handle valve games and a few titles that use Unreal Engine 3 just fine.

I know it would be most likely better to save up for a better build, but it seems like every time I have the money for it something happens which needs it to go elsewhere (laptop repair) so I really just want to get my foot in the door and bank on the upgrade path.

 

[bloc97]

That looks like a pretty decent low-level Gaming PC if you pair it with a HD 6770 or a HD 6850.

The only concern is the CPU. It may get deprecated soon since it is only Dual-Core.
Even if Dual-Cores perform very well against quad or hex cores CPU in Gaming, it may bottleneck future (more powerful) Graphic Cards.

A HD 6770 can play BF3 @1080p with medium-high settings. (No AA)
A HD 6850 or a HD 7770 can play BF3 @1080p with high settings.

4 GB of RAM is pretty much OK for two more years to come.

Also, 300$ for all those things is a pretty good deal. If you stick in a Mid-Range Graphic Card (120$-200$), you should be able to play any new games for 2-3 years to come.

Hope it helps!

 

[thatdude8]

That looks like a pretty decent low-level Gaming PC if you pair it with a HD 6770 or a HD 6850.

The only concern is the CPU. It may get deprecated soon since it is only Dual-Core.
Even if Dual-Cores perform very well against quad or hex cores CPU in Gaming, it may bottleneck future (more powerful) Graphic Cards.

A HD 6770 can play BF3 @1080p with medium-high settings. (No AA)
A HD 6850 or a HD 7770 can play BF3 @1080p with high settings.

4 GB of RAM is pretty much OK for two more years to come.

Also, 300$ for all those things is a pretty good deal. If you stick in a Mid-Range Graphic Card (120$-200$), you should be able to play any new games for 2-3 years to come.

Hope it helps!

You have helped a great deal. thank you!

 

[jmsellars1]

I wouldn't go with that bundle personally because you will want to add a graphics card and I wouldn't trust that PSU with a graphics card.

If you can stretch to $435 then this would be a good build:

Intel Pentium G620
4GB Mushkin Enhanced Essentials
ASRock H61M-VS
ASUS HD 6770 1GB
Seagate Barracuda 500GB
Rosewill FBM-01 Dual Fans MicroATX Mini Tower
Antec EA-380 380W
LG DVD Burner

Total - $434.92 on Newegg

That gives you a much better PSU and what I imagine to be a better case.

 

[tsnor]

reviews on the case were pretty bad. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811148047

You'd still need an OS.

As an alternative consider something refurbed like this for around $400 Pavilion Elite h8-1110t Intel Core i5-2320 3GHz 6GB 1TB http://www.ubid.com/HP_Pavilion_Elite_h8-1110t_Intel_Core_i5-2320_3GHz_6GB_1TB/a603303686.html

Add in the $100 HD6770 from the build above and you have a pretty nice system.

Aside: I have not links to ubid site other than buying from them. You MUST make sure you only buy " Mfr Recertified" from them with the manufacturers waranty, or you'll get used slop.

 

[jmsellars1]

reviews on the case were pretty bad. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811148047

You'd still need an OS.

As an alternative consider something refurbed like this for around $400 Pavilion Elite h8-1110t Intel Core i5-2320 3GHz 6GB 1TB http://www.ubid.com/HP_Pavilion_Elite_h8-1110t_Intel_Core_i5-2320_3GHz_6GB_1TB/a603303686.html

Add in the $100 HD6770 from the build above and you have a pretty nice system.

Aside: I have not links to ubid site other than buying from them. You MUST make sure you only buy " Mfr Recertified" from them with the manufacturers waranty, or you'll get used slop.

Again though, cheap PSU's can be OK for home/office systems which aren't going to run any heavy programs or have power hungry GPU's to run but for a gaming machine he will want a decent PSU.

 

[tsnor]

Again though, cheap PSU's can be OK for home/office systems which aren't going to run any heavy programs or have power hungry GPU's to run but for a gaming machine he will want a decent PSU.

of 64 reviews...

1. Power supply lasted 2 weeks,
2. A $10. noisy power supply is just that...caveat emptor.
3. Cons: The 5 volt section died within a week.
4. It was received with a DEAD power supply.
5. PSU DOA!!!!!!!
6. After some troubleshooting, I found that the powersupply was bad.
7. ...and the power suppy was DOA
8. Cons: DOA
9. And the power supply is noisy.
10. Noisy power supply.
11. power supply was way too noisy
12. Didn't use the included power supply.
13. 330 watt psu about burned on prime95 test
14. was under the assumption that 480W should be ok to power it up. System did not boot at all,

Cheap PSU are OK, like an antec $40 unit. Bad $15 PSUs in $30 cases/PSU combos are a really bad investment even for an office system. UL listing? why would someone want that.

 

[jmsellars1]

Yeah my point was that he should get a better PSU, personally I would only ever use quality PSU's in every system. I'm just saying that sometimes cheap ones can work in low end machines that only ever pull 50W.

 

[thatdude8]

I already have an OS I can use. I figured the PSU in that case was bad and was planning on replacing it but after reading all of the reviews it seems the the itself is shabby too, so I'll look for a new case and PSU

Maybe this one from tigerdirect? http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6321546&sku=R12-40884 Raygo R12-40884 MG12 Series Mid Tower ATX Case. Price: $29.97usd

Here is the power supply i'm looking at: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply -$44.99usd http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034

Also what is everyone's opinion on recertified video cards? There is a gtx 550ti for $104usd available but im not sure if I since I've never dealt with used pc parts. I'm thinking of sticking with the 6770 for $5 more just cause it is new.

 

[jmsellars1]

The 380W version of that PSU would be fine with the HD 6770. Personally I'd prefer to keep the warranty for the sake of a few dollars, the HD 6770 looks like a better deal to me.

 

[thatdude8]

I chose to stay with the 6770. I have one more question regarding future upgrades. Thought about it more and I don't really see myself overclocking so when I upgrade should I still go with the i5 2500K or just a 2500?

 

[jmsellars1]

The i5-2400 would be best I think, fair bit cheaper than the 2500 and theres only 100Mhz between them.

 

[tsnor]

+1 to both i5-2400 and 6770. That CPU is strong enough to still be good when you replace the HD6770 in a few years. Can't go wrong.

That said, be nice if you could squeeze another $50 into your video card. It'd buy you another year of gaming. I have two 6770's(5770's) in different kids PCs, they are great. But with a HD6850 going for $135 I think I'd go up a notch.

http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-6850-Video-100315L/dp/B0047ZGIUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332119486&sr=8-1

 

[donlev]

If you want a real power gamer with z68 mobo (gen.3), i5 2500k,8gb 1600 ram,a stylish $140 case, and a 630 watt sli ready power supply and it all comes with a Asus 550 ti dc top gpu for just a little over your budget .... see this.
He will take the 550 ti out of the deal for $100 off of the price.

I know the guy and went to comp. science class with him, he had a shop but recently closed the doors and is liquidating a couple of things. He is new to ebay but has 18 transactions with 100% feedback. This computer was just built in late jan ,early feb, and has been tested stable by running prime 95 for a twenty four hour period, with no hickups. He also includes an option for a Asus 560 ti for an additional cost. I would get it for the $500 without a gpu and add one of my choice.

It runs BF3 on ultimate settings with the 550 ti on 20" widescreen1600x900 with very playable frame rates

You cant beat this deal!!!!!!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220977340941?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649