Help Me Build A $500 Gaming PC!

JustinDee

March 28, 2012 5:24:40 AM

So I have been playing games on laptops for the better part of 4 years, and I am fed up with it. Low settings pulling 40 FPS is more than playable, but I need my games to look pwetty now

. So I've scavenged enough money to start a budget gaming pc build for $500. I've done some research on parts and have come up with the build listed below the template (which shows the games I wish to be playing)

Approximate Purchase Date: First few weeks in April

Budget Range: $500

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Games such as WoW in 10m scenarios, Cod, Minecraft etc (not the most taxing games), movies, internet browsing.

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: MICROCENTER, Newegg

Country: U.S of A

Parts Preferences: I would prefer an Intel CPU with an Nvidia GPU considering the fact that most games prefer an Nvidia card for some odd reason.

Overclocking: Not at all

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050

Additional Comments: Has to play the games stated above at Max settings with a good solid FPS.

____________________________________________________________________________________

So the build so far I have come up with is:

CPU: Intel Core i3 2100 LGA 1155 3.1GHz Boxed Processor $100
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

Mobo: ASRock H61/US3S LGA 1155 Mobo $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

GPU: Evga GTX 460 Superclocked 1GB GDDR5 $135 w/ rebate http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 (CMPSU-430CXV2) 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply $25 w/ rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Case: COOLER MASTER Elite 430 RC-430-KWN1 Black Steel / Plastic Computer Case $40 w/rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM: Kingston HyperX blu 4GB DDR3-1333 $25
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

HDD: HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.D HDS721050DLE630 (0F13178) 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

DVD: SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner $16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

How would this run games like WoW and Skyrim? Any improvements to be made? Newish to building so any tips and criticism is greatly appreciated

More about : build 500 gaming

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jmsellars1

March 28, 2012 9:23:19 AM

That would run those games nicely but the PSU doesn't have enough connectors for the graphics card. The 500W version of that PSU has 2 x PCI-e connectors.

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jerreddredd

March 28, 2012 12:42:28 PM

get an i3 2120 instead, it's 200 mhz clock increase for only $3.

The GTX 460 comes with a 2 molex to PCIe 6pin adapters. The CX 430 PSU shouldn't have any problem handling it

Good build. I likes

EDIT: Never Mind the i3 210 comment, I saw the MicroCenter price for the i3 2100... You can't beat it for $99, go for it

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Pezcore27

March 28, 2012 1:00:11 PM

The build looks good, but I would make 2 changes.

1. Grab this RAM kit from microcenter for another $5.
Kingston HyperX blu 8GB DDR3-1333 (PC3-10600) CL9 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit - $30

2. Hitachi is known for a higher fail rate on Hard Drives. I would grab this Seagate or Samsung instead.
Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - $86
Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ/ST500DM005 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - $85

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Memnarchon

March 28, 2012 1:30:09 PM

Hello.

This is a nice system you posted but...

CPU: For $99 is the best bang for buck I have ever seen...

Mobo: MSI H67A-G43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel H67 $89.99 / $69.99 after mail-in rebate card
This one will have 4 memory slots (2 more than the other), H67 chipset and will cost you the same after MIR.

PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W $59.99 / $39.99 after mail-in rebate card
You need a psu with at least 2x 6(+2) pin connectors. And for $39 bucks this is great.

Case: NZXT GAMMA Classic Series GAMA-001BK Black Steel $39.99
Just an alternative from the coolermaster 430, although it has better airflow, better space management and (in my opinion) better looks and all this for the same price.

RAM: Kingston is one of the best memory manufacturer so its great choice for $24.

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB $84.99
Just an alternative here too, offering great performance but its Western Digital instead of Hitachi.

DVD: No point on changing it its great.

GPU: EVGA 01G-P3-1370-KR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 $149.99 / $134.99 after mail-in rebate card
This one is the good GTX460 with the 336 cuda cores and the 256bit memory interface. The one that you posted is a SE or V2. Go with this I posted since its the same price and this is more powerful (its also clocked at 720mhz (675mhz ref)

Total: $548,94 without rebates
Total after MIR: $493,94

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