~$550 First build - Help

[jacobxtyler]

Hi im new here, but ive been using this site a lot to answer some of the questions i've had that other people have asked on the forum. I've been saving up and finally have close to enough to start buying parts for my first ever build.

I want to use this primarily for gaming, but i want to get it as cheap as possible.
I've been putting together carts of what i might buy and i think this is the most promising so far.

Here is what im thinking about getting:

-MSI microATX h61 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7325821&sku=M452-6208
-2nd gen i5 2500 3.3ghz http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7073162&sku=I69-2500
-crucial 8gb 1333 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6753738&sku=C19-6149
-320gb western digital http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=160426&sku=TSD-320AAKX
-500 watt coolmaster http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4465483&sku=C283-1220
-geforce gtx 550 ti fpb http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=41125&sku=E145-0550

Total comes out to about 560 after rebates
Im a little worried the power supply wont be enough, or the hdd is not enough.

thoughts? ideas?

 

[Outlander_04]

Not that power supply .Its not efficient and it wont make stable enough current for a modern processor . Only use a 80+ bronze rated PSU .

Gaming performance will be determined by your graphics card . Unless you have a fairly low resolution monitor the 550 ti will probably disappoint you

 

[jacobxtyler]

Ok ill look for a different PSU, i was just searching for the cheapest one.
As for the GPU, any suggestions? I have a 1080p monitor but im ok with playing in windowed mode at a little bit of a lower resolution. I want to be able to play BF3 and Skyrim on pretty decent settings (high if possible) and still get decent fps.

My problem is right now i have an 1st gen 2.66ghz i7 macbook pro, 8gb of ram and a geforce 330m. I want to build a rig marginally better for gaming, otherwise it would be a waste of money :/

 

[jacobxtyler]

How about these guys?
-coolmax 600 watt http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4435074&sku=T13-1114
-Dioblotek 600 watt http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4435074&sku=T13-1114

 

[jacobxtyler]

Alright, ive been looking through some other posts about GPU's and it seems that a 560 or 460 will work well with BF3, but whats the difference other than ones 'generation' older?

heres what im looking at:
-gtx 560 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=555323
-gtx 460 FPB http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1742651
-gtx 460 SC http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1742920

I dont really understand the difference between the two 460's either.

 

[Outlander_04]

Not the coolmax or diaboltek psu either . The small red switch on the back means they are not electronically adjusting voltages . Neither will be 80% efficient despite the advertising
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1752845&CatId=5431

Automatically adjusts output voltage , and is a quality brand .


Of those graphics cards the GTX 560

or a Radeon 6870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

 

[jacobxtyler]

Not the coolmax or diaboltek psu either . The small red switch on the back means they are not electronically adjusting voltages . Neither will be 80% efficient despite the advertising
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1752845&CatId=5431

Automatically adjusts output voltage , and is a quality brand .


Of those graphics cards the GTX 560

or a Radeon 6870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

The first link you sent isnt working for me, opens to a blank page. Ill look around for one without the switch, its looking like im going to be paying closer to 600, so i might have to wait a couple more weeks

I think im set on the 560, i just looked up some benchmarks and its right where i would want it to be.

Thanks