New gaming PC build (first timer) - $600

[Jordangee]

Approximate Purchase Date: Next week or two

Budget Range: $600 (with OS)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing the internet, media streaming

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.ca NCIX.ca Bestbuy.ca

Country: Canada

Parts Preferences: by brand or type (e.g.: Don't mind at all

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Don't really know...

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Need something to play the latest games at high-ish settings with decent fps. I'd also like parts that are upgrade-able so that as I have more money I can buy better parts. If there are parts that would make a big difference for a little more money let me know. Thanks so much!

Case (or something like this): http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

RAM: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231394&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3067296&SID=

CPU (?): http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

 

[ilikemacandpc]

Rosewill Blackbone Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Model #:Blackbone
Item #:N82E16811147023
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$49.99 -$10.00 Instant $39.99

BIOSTAR TA75M FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Model #:TA75M
Item #:N82E16813138333
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$89.99   $89.99

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card (100326LP)
Model #:100326LP
Item #:N82E16814102958
Return Policy:VGA Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Mail in Rebate Card
$89.99   $89.99


Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply
Model #:VP-450
Item #:N82E16817371045
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Mail in Rebate
$48.99 -$19.00 Instant $29.99


AMD A8-3850 Llano 2.9GHz Socket FM1 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6550D AD3850WNGXBOX
Model #:AD3850WNGXBOX
Item #:N82E16819103942
Return Policy:CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
In Stock
$109.99   $109.99


Team Elite 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model TED34096M1333C9DC
Model #:TED34096M1333C9DC
Item #:N82E16820313102
Return Policy:Memory Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$21.49   $21.49

HGST HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Model #:0F10381
Item #:N82E16822145299
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$79.99 -$10.00 Instant $69.99

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD Burner, Bulk Package Black SATA Model AD-7280S-0B - OEM
Model #:AD-7280S-0B
Item #:N82E16827118067
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$17.99   $17.99

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
Model #:GFC-02050
Item #:N82E16832116986
Return Policy:Software Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$119.99 -$10.00 Instant $109.99
Subtotal: $579.41
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[Jordangee]

Looks unreal. Could I get a better graphics card in this build for an extra $30 or so? What would you recommend?

 

[horaciopz]

Hi there!

Well if you plan to build for gaming at 1080p its kinda hard to get around $600 in hardware, mostly because $100 goes to the Windows copy.

So it left us for $500 only.

You gotta do some sacrifice, And i guess that one will be the processor and RAM.

Here we go:

This is just the same as the i3-2100 but without HT. But HT does not give any performances boots, actually its recomended to disable it.

Processor
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116397&Tpk=intel%20g850
$93

Mobo
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130616
$80

Memory RAM
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231190
$25

HDD
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073
$80

PSU
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182202
$45

CASE
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153 <-- Good choice
$55

Windows copy
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
$110

GPU
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102993
$150

Total: $638

Well, with that GPU you can play kinda good 1080p, but you surely need more power for high-ultra level, a H6870 would do the job, but again the Windows copy takes a big part of your build. I linked that mobo because it gives a good change for expansion, crossfirex and stronger processors as more ram if you want to add.

My best recomendation is getting that and with time you go upgrading, that processor will be hard to beat in performance/price ratio, only an I5-I7 would be a worthy upgrade.

EDIT: Added links for better understanding.

CPU -> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-6.html

GPUs -> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-6.html

The diference between HD7770 vs HD6850 is almost nothing, and uses less power, produces less heat and is newer tech.

But theres always an option for all likes

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121419

The mayor diference is that the HD6850 has the double of bus 256bit vs 128bit HD7770. That helps in really high resolutions, also performs better in Directx 9 games.

 

[motorneuron]

I don't have time to do a full build right now, but definitely do not follow the build posted by ilikemacandpc. That build has two serious problems (at least): it has a Llano for a CPU, and it has a 6670. Those are not good choices.

At a budget like yours, I'd look at either an AMD build based on a Phenom II x4 or a core i3-2100 (not a Pentium--you shouldn't have to skimp that much). For graphics, you should really try to get a 6850 or 560 (not Ti), but if you can't swing those, a 6770 or 550 Ti. The 6670 is dramatically worse and won't handle current games.

 

[Jordangee]

horaciopz - Which next level processor would you recommend? Anything I could swing for an extra $20/30 to get a true i3? I just don't really understand what is/isn't compatible

motorneuron - Thanks for the advice. I think I'm liking the look of the second build.

 

[horaciopz]

Jordangee I edited my post, check it out.

You can always get the I3 2100 but the diference is nothing between a pentium G850 vs the I3-2100, just clock speeds, if you are able to spend a little more for the i3-2100 or the 2120 go for it, the higher speed clock will do wonders and the HT will do good for multi tab web browsing.

A really upgrade for you in that situation is I5-2400 or I5-3450, which are real quad cores processors and would handle any high end card, and as you are not going to OC this processors are the really top for budget oriented gamers.

 

[motorneuron]

On the second build, you could consider for $150 post-rebate the 6870. It's a faster card (http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/536?vs=540). It consumes more power, but that isn't such a big deal. Either of these works:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150561
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150521

 

[Jordangee]

Jordangee I edited my post, check it out.

You can always get the I3 2100 but the diference is nothing between a pentium G850 vs the I3-2100, just clock speeds, if you are able to spend a little more for the i3-2100 or the 2120 go for it, the higher speed clock will do wonders and the HT will do good for multi tab web browsing.

A really upgrade for you in that situation is I5-2400 or I5-3450, which are real quad cores processors and would handle any high end card, and as you are not going to OC this processors are the really top for budget oriented gamers.

Sounds good. Thanks again for all of this. A few more questions:
- Would this GPU have the same performance as the other? Same model but it's not sapphire and it's a lot cheaper due to discounts:
http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=68499&vpn=GV-R777OC-1GD&manufacture=Gigabyte&promoid=1019

- Is there a similar case that would work on ncix.ca?
- Will USB 3.0 work fine?

Thanks so so much!

 

[motorneuron]

No reason not to get that Gigabyte card. At that price, I'd probably prefer it to a 6850 or 6870 anyway. (Note that it does have some weird/bad feedback on newegg.com, but I don't know what to make of such a small sample: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125415&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo )

 

[Jordangee]

So you'd go with this:
http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=56240&promoid=1019

Would that be fully compatible?

 

[motorneuron]

You have no compatibility problems with the video cards; don't worry.

But no, I don't think I would go for a 6850 for $20 more than the 7770. If they were the same price, then yes, the 6850, but for $20 less, the 7770 makes sense, especially given that you have a pretty tight budget and the $20 might go somewhere else that matters (like a core i3 instead of a pentium).

 

[horaciopz]

Well I guess you are set to go, the build I made looks still pretty solid, but how much can you go? Because if you can get it to 700 you surely should get an HD 6870. Because the difference between the Pentium processor and the I3 2100 is about 5FPS in some games, so i guess that for a 1st timer build that is aimed for upgradability you should get the best GPU you are able to afford and then get as next upgrade a good processor and something like an SSD or kind of.


Just because in most games the GPU is most important than processors and the pentium processor comes with a Sandy Bridge architecture which has proven to be really really fast.