Tinkering with the $650 Gaming Build

[xmatt007x]

Note: I am currently running an old Gateway which is well past is prime (if it ever had one). I am looking to play some newer games IE (Starcraft 2, Diablo 3, and others that may come on the horizon)

My computer knowledge as far as processor power etc is from a time long gone by... 386/486/Pentium I just haven't paid very close attention to what is inside for quite a while.

From what I can tell the Tom's Hardware Gaming build skimps on the processor in favor of a strong graphics card.. If that is a good approach and can keep the build relatively low cost I am all for it, however if there is a glaring upgrade for a small amount of $ I would love to know... (For example it looks like I could do 8 gig of ram for an extra $10 or so)

---------------------------------------------
Approximate Purchase Date: 0-1 Month
Budget Range: $550-$700
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming / Output to TV (Slingbox)
Parts Not Required: Keyboard / mouse / speakers/ monitor
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Any
Country: USA
Parts Preferences: None
Overclocking: Probably not
SLI or Crossfire: ? If easy to do and makes sense
Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050 (I have a monitor several years old)
Additional Comments: I am looking for something relatively easy to assemble.. I have never built a PC before so the less fooling with things like thermal paste the better!

============

CPU Intel Core i3-2120 $128
CPU Cooler Intel Boxed Heatsink/Fan $0
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D3V $70
RAM Team Elite 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) DDR3-1333 $20
Graphics XFX HD-695X-ZNFC Radeon HD 6950 1 GB $240
Hard Drive Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500 GB SATA 6Gb/s $85
Case Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower $30
Power Rosewill Green Series RG630-S12 630 W $60
Optical Sony DVD+/-R x16 Drive - Already own this

 

[gary1]

That CPU is good enough for gaming. I would recommend 8gb RAM like your said, and instead of 6950, a 7850. You can probably get a better case, and a CPU cooler if you wish.

 

[azeem40]

Since you're getting an mATX MOBO with only one PCIe 2.0 slot, you should downgrade the PSU to 550W for one 6950/7850.

 

[xmatt007x]

I definitely appreciate tips that cut cost too! Thanks...

Do you think this build will be viable for a little while or is this a machine that will be obsolete in no time?

I am also reading on here about the new line of Intel chips.. Is it worth holding out on building this for a month or so to get new gear or no?

 

[azeem40]

2-3 yrs, then it will probably be out of date.

 

[andystanley]

I definitely appreciate tips that cut cost too! Thanks...

Do you think this build will be viable for a little while or is this a machine that will be obsolete in no time?

I am also reading on here about the new line of Intel chips.. Is it worth holding out on building this for a month or so to get new gear or no?

IMO not really. They only provide small preformance increase and the new 4000 integrated graphics(for certain models only). Integrated graphics don't mean squat if your getting a nice video card.

 

[andystanley]

Here's a very good build for $705(before rebates). sorry came a little over budget

i3 2120 3.3Ghz dual core/$125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115077

Biostar z77 lga 1155 Motherboard/$100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813138352

Muskin 8gb ram/$45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820226191

Rosewill challenger black case/$50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811147153

Antec 550w psu/$65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

seagate 500gb hdd/$80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

radeon hd 7850 video card/$240
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161406

 

[xmatt007x]

Thanks for the input andy.. What are the noteworthy differences if you don't mind?

I am seeing a different type of RAM and a different motherboard? What effect does the motherboard end up having?]

The video card I know is a solid upgrade for the cash

 

[andystanley]

Thanks for the input andy.. What are the noteworthy differences if you don't mind?

I am seeing a different type of RAM and a different motherboard? What effect does the motherboard end up having?]

The video card I know is a solid upgrade for the cash

First off the mobo is a z77. Faster chipset. Next this mobo supports up to 4 sticks of ram. If your pc starts to get a little slow,you can simply pop in 8gb more. I see this mobo as a better investment in the long term for sure. Not a huge difference but if you plan to have this pc for a while this mobo is the way to go.

Seccond..the memory is 1600Mhz so faster than the traditional 1333Mhz. and you definately want 8gb over 4gb!

 

[Guest]

Get this one instead. Same price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157306

 

[Guest]

Also get this ram instead. @Andy, your links don't work but i think the ram you chose was 1.65v which is usable but not recommended for SB and should apply with IB too.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231544

 

[InvalidError]

Seccond..the memory is 1600Mhz so faster than the traditional 1333Mhz. and you definately want 8gb over 4gb!

With DDR3 prices low as they are now, I would personally shoot for 2x8GB to leave the door open for 32GB later.

I have a good old C2D-E8200 and because I tend to leave so many programs open at the same time, swapping is usually a bigger bottleneck to me than CPU so I have always favored ridiculous amounts of RAM (for the time) over raw processing power. The main reason I am considering a platform upgrade as well right now and came back to hardware sites/forums is because 16GB DDR2 costs about 3X as much as 16GB DDR3 so the price difference covers the CPU upgrade - personally looking at i5-3470 or maybe even 3470S which would still be more than twice as fast as my E8200 that I am still generally happy with except for swapping.

Of course, that's only my $0.02.

 

[Guest]

With DDR3 prices low as they are now, I would personally shoot for 2x8GB to leave the door open for 32GB later.

I have a good old C2D-E8200 and because I tend to leave so many programs open at the same time, swapping is usually a bigger bottleneck to me than CPU so I have always favored ridiculous amounts of RAM (for the time) over raw processing power. The main reason I am considering a platform upgrade as well right now and came back to hardware sites/forums is because 16GB DDR2 costs about 3X as much as 16GB DDR3 so the price difference covers the CPU upgrade - personally looking at i5-3470 or maybe even 3470S which would still be more than twice as fast as my E8200 that I am still generally happy with except for swapping.

Of course, that's only my $0.02.

2x8Gb doesn't fit in his budget. He could still go 1x8gb instead and get a nother 8gb stick later.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231488

 

[xmatt007x]

Also get this ram instead. @Andy, your links don't work but i think the ram you chose was 1.65v which is usable but not recommended for SB and should apply with IB too.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231544

You lost me a little bit at "usable but not recommended for SB and should apply with IB too." Could you please explain.

 

[Guest]

You lost me a little bit at "usable but not recommended for SB and should apply with IB too." Could you please explain.

Sorry . Intel states memory voltage should be 1.5v +/-5% meaning 1.58v. But people have used 1.65v without problems so far.

 

[xmatt007x]

Ok, now I am going to ask a real real basic question as I have never actually built a computer from scratch... I know I will need to put the processor in the motherboard, but will I need to apply the heat sinks manually myself with paste?

Thanks again for all the help

Also, I still have a feeling than an i3 processor feels really outdated with i5 and i7s out there,, is that wrong?

 

[Guest]

Ok, now I am going to ask a real real basic question as I have never actually built a computer from scratch... I know I will need to put the processor in the motherboard, but will I need to apply the heat sinks manually myself with paste?

Thanks again for all the help

Also, I still have a feeling than an i3 processor feels really outdated with i5 and i7s out there,, is that wrong?

There's thermal paste already applied on the Intel heatsink. You just have to put the heat sink on.

Performance wise, (assuming Diablo3 will be similar to Starcraft2) you shouldn't see a huge difference between i3 and i5/i7. It's not outdated. Its just a lower version.

By chance do you have a microcenter store nearby? You can get cpus really cheap there.

 

[xmatt007x]

I have one new question regarding these builds...

I will need to buy a new OS when I get these parts.. Does it matter if I get Windows XP to save some $? From what I can tell I just need to make sure I get a 64bit OS right?

 

[InvalidError]

I will need to buy a new OS when I get these parts.. Does it matter if I get Windows XP to save some $? From what I can tell I just need to make sure I get a 64bit OS right?

XP-64 has poor driver support, very few consumer devices manufacturers have bothered writing drivers for it and it probably lacks driver support for most modern devices since XP support has been end-of-life for a while already.

 

[xmatt007x]

Is there a measurable difference between Vista and 7?

 

[sanirudh]

Is there a measurable difference between Vista and 7?

Go for Win7. Any money you save by going to Vista is not worth it. I have used both, so I know what I am talking about. Getting drivers for Win7 is pretty easy these days, even for 64-bit.

As far as RAM goes, don't be surprised if you need to run 1600 MHz RAM at 1333 MHz. You won't notice any reduction in speed. I have done this with core i5-2400 and crucial ballistix sport 2x4 GB. This RAM caused BSOD in my system until I reduced the frequency. No harm in going for 1333 MHz RAM.

16 GB RAM (2x8 GB) is more than double the cost of 2x4 GB RAM, go for the latter. Go for 2 sticks to take advantage of dual-channel memory.

 

[xmatt007x]

So I am about ready to make a purchase before I leave for a week and thanks to everyone here I have it narrowed to a couple of choices in these last areas.. Thank you everyone again for being so helpful... However this build goes, will it be able to max / close to max out SC2/Diablo3, etc?

As for the choices below, I don't need to completely nickle and dime it, but I would like to keep within my general budget. Thanks again!

======================================================

Motherboard - Biostar z77 lga 1155 (andy's link) vs ASRock Z77 Pro4-M LGA 1155 (bear's link)

G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 ($45) vs Team Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333 ($30)

Antec 550w psu/$65 vs Rosewill Green Series RG630-S12 630 W $60

Rosewill challenger black case vs Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower

Video Card ****
radeon hd 7850 vs Radeon HD 6950 - I also copied a post below from another person, I was wondering what the community take was here...


" I vote neither, and wait for the 600 series mid line card. you can get a 480 for 209 right now that is just as fast as both of those cards "

===========================

Set items - Seems to be common consensus

i3 2120 3.3Ghz dual core
seagate 500gb hdd

 

[Guest]

Asrock mobo
G.skill Ram
Antec PSU
Rather than either of those cases, I recommend the Antec 300.
7850

 

[InvalidError]

Rather than either of those cases, I recommend the Antec 300.

I own an Antec 300 myself and agree that it is a nice case for the most part.

While I do not like some of the cosmetic (curved protrusions added to the front) and structural changes on the 302 (more non-filtered dust inlets, which further erodes the effectiveness of front intake fan filters), I would still recommend the 302 over the 300 simply due to USB3 support on front ports, tool-less drive bays, back-side motherboard access, much improved cable management, extra 120mm fan included, etc., lots more good than bad.

 

[Guest]

I own an Antec 300 myself and agree that it is a nice case for the most part.

While I do not like some of the cosmetic (curved protrusions added to the front) and structural changes on the 302 (more non-filtered dust inlets, which further erodes the effectiveness of front intake fan filters), I would still recommend the 302 over the 300 simply due to USB3 support on front ports, tool-less drive bays, back-side motherboard access, much improved cable management, extra 120mm fan included, etc., lots more good than bad.

Oh. I didn't know a newer version came out. Than I would recommend the 302 too.