What is the best possible gaming PC build for $700?

[awesomer417]

Hey i was just wondering what the best gaming PC setup would be for $700? I have been making my own computer on newegg, but i thiught maybe the community cdpould help me with this. I do not need sli or crossfired graphics cards, unless its goid to have for my budget. I will be oc'ing my CPU and posibly the GPU, unless it is not possible (core i3 2100 persay). I have windows 7 home premium 64- bit in my cart on snaggstuff for $67.99, but it is the branded version. The max I can stretch the budget to is $815, but only if 100% necessary (thats including the 68 dollar OS in the price, so really $747). I will be running it on a VGA flat screen "HD" monitor. Effective cooling is needed because the computer will be in a relatively hot area under the desk in my room. It doesnt matter to me if it has a HDD and a SSD or just HDD, but at least 1TB of storage as I will be recording gameplay for Youtube

Thanks in advance!

-awesomer417

 

[stingstang]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118067
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128521
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150597
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103962

 

[stingstang]

And the cpu cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233082

 

[ddan49]

Hmmmm... could you use the format in the sticky on top of this forum? It would help us help you.

If you are going to be both recording and playing, make sure you get AT LEAST 8 gigabytes of RAM. When are you going to buy? I'm going to assume that you are buying after April 29th, because that would be ideal. Do you need keyboard/mouse?

CPU: i5-2400 IB equivalent (don't know what it's called) $190
GPU: GTX 560 Ti $220
RAM: 8GB DDR3-1600 1.5v CAS9 RAM (G.Skill is popular... about $40)
Motherboard: Just about any IB chipset is fine... about $90
Case: HAF 912 $50
HDD: Seagate 1TB 7200rpm $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697
PSU: Antec 550W $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

Total: $760 + OS = $828
Can you try? I think a motherboard will be slightly less, so it'll get you under your price limit... I don't really know much about non-Z77 or Z68 motherboards. Make sure the motherboard you get is IB compatible, and H77 and Z77 cost more on average. You could get a decent motherboard for $50, as well, making the final price $778

 

[ddan49]

My build is better because it's Intel based. I'm just sayin'... Intel honestly trumps AMD. I'm not a fanboy, but almost any person here will tell you that Intel is better. You can take his case, though. His motherboard won't work for an Intel build.

EDIT: Oh, and the GPU I suggested is really top-notch... even if you go with his build, try to squeeze the GTX 560 Ti in.

 

[stingstang]

you forgot the cpu cooler and the dvd drive. Jus sayin'

 

[awesomer417]

Sting stang's build was my original thoughts, but i have wanted an intel based gaming system. I am 13 years old btw and i am working in accordance with my parents to make a budget. My original pkan was to buy on or around my birthday on April 17, since you needed the info. I have to sell some old electronics to muster the cash to buy the rig, so i could very well be buying the PC around april 29th

I have a monitor, keyboard (ps/2 port i think), and a usb 2.0 wireless mouse, so those can be omitted from the price. I would enjoy having an intel based system, but if you can find an AMD system that is sufficient for gaming, please tell me I am fine going with the 560 gtx ti if it will fit my budget

 

[awesomer417]

See i don't see a difference in specs between the gtx 560 ti and the radeon 6850 or 7770, because they are both 1gb 256-bit GDDR5 graphics memory, but the 7770 and 6850 are waaaay cheaper. How come?

 

[ddan49]

^The GTX 560 Ti is better than the 6850 AND the 7770 because of numerous other things. When you look at a graphics card, the clock speed, memory clock speed, and memory aren't all that matter. If you want, you can go to the graphics section of the forums and ask them... they know more about it in specifics than I do. I do know that if you look up some benchmarks, the GTX 560 Ti beats out both (especially the 6850) by a wide margin.

I "forgot" the CPU cooler and the dvd drive because 1) my build isn't for overclocking, so stock is fine and 2) not many people use dvd drives except for Windows installation, and you can do that off of a flash drive (or a usb dvd drive, which is what I have).

By the way, stingstang, I like your quote under your picture

awesomer417, you may want to check that whatever motherboard you use has a ps/2 port on it. I'm assuming you have speakers, as well. I'm 14, and my birthday is May 3, and I'm also buying a build... but I'm probably going to wait a little more to make sure the markets stabilize (but I'm thinking about the 7850 and NVidia's competitor, yet to be released). An AMD system is usually used for builds about $500 or less, because it's a cheap card, but if possible, it's always better to go with Intel (unless you're way down below the i3-2120). Even if the AMD has higher clock speeds (which it sometimes does), that's not all that matters for gaming. Just check tomshardware's "best Gaming CPUs for the money, April 2012" article to find one in your price range. There isn't really a table for motherboards, but the one stingstang mentioned is good for AMD, and the one I mentioned is fine for Intel (although I can help you find a cheaper one if necessary). I'm assuming stingstang is going for overclocking, and I'm not... it would cost about $80 more, or $908 (although the performance would be quite a bit better). Again, clock speeds aren't everything when you're comparing CPUs.

Good luck!

 

[azeem40]

you forgot the cpu cooler and the dvd drive. Jus sayin'

That doesn't deviate from the fact that Intel is a better bang for buck option than AMD AND a better overall option to boot.

 

[ddan49]

Yay! azeem agrees! XD

I just want to say that going with a 6870 and Intel is probably better than going with a GTX 560 Ti and AMD. I don't have anything against AMD personally (I'm getting one of their GPUs), but... boy, their CPUs have gone down the drain. They're generally used for extremely low-budget builds (my school computers are AMD. God help the person that tries to run two browser windows at the same time... and RAM isn't the problem. They though that 4GB of RAM would cover up the processor... but I'm getting off-track).

 

[Black-Bird]

Hey i was just wondering what the best gaming PC setup would be for $700? I have been making my own computer on newegg, but i thiught maybe the community cdpould help me with this. I do not need sli or crossfired graphics cards, unless its goid to have for my budget. I will be oc'ing my CPU and posibly the GPU, unless it is not possible (core i3 2100 persay). I have windows 7 home premium 64- bit in my cart on snaggstuff for $67.99, but it is the branded version. The max I can stretch the budget to is $815, but only if 100% necessary (thats including the 68 dollar OS in the price, so really $747). I will be running it on a VGA flat screen "HD" monitor. Effective cooling is needed because the computer will be in a relatively hot area under the desk in my room. It doesnt matter to me if it has a HDD and a SSD or just HDD, but at least 1TB of storage as I will be recording gameplay for Youtube

Thanks in advance!

-awesomer417

I love AMD just for the best bang for the buck and that they also have their Mb that can use pretty much any AMD CPU

Case: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227

MB: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138341

GPU: XFX lifetime warranty http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150521

CPU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106009

RAM: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226191

HDD: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236183

Heat-Sink: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

DVD/Burner: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Case Fan: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200049

Total With Taxes: $831.92

 

[ddan49]

If you don't believe us about Intel, just look at some benchmarks. Again, gigahertz isn't everything... also, look at tomshardware's article, as well: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-3.html

At $130, the better performing Intel is $10 cheaper than the AMD suggested

 

[Black-Bird]

I know gigahertz isn't everything, it's the benchmarking test that's out there will tell us what is good etc but i guess i like the flexibility of AMD broads of taking any CPU from AMD. I don't know i am all about freedom i guess, as long as the CPU will do all my high end games great, just need really the GPU to do the game for the most part. When i need to upgrade my CPU my MB can take any CPU. I know Intel have the best CPU but I hate that there are 2-3 different MB for i5 or i7 etc. I just hate also upgrade the MB as well of the CPU, when AMD i just have to do the CPU, less cheaper.

 

[azeem40]

You may like it, but this is not a matter of what you like. It is a matter of what will provide the OP with better performance. Intel beats AMD at EVERY price point.

 

[ddan49]

^Hahaha... pushy, pushy
But yeah... I mean, Intel processors aren't really all over the place... LGA 1155 is pretty common now, and if you upgrade your CPU when 1155 is outdated, you'll want a new motherboard anyway to take advantage of the new CPU.