Budget Gaming/Entertainment PC

[TheRaptMuse]

Approximate Purchase Date: beginning of next month

Budget Range: 400 - 800

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, movies (both blu-ray and dvd), music production, internet

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country: US

Parts Preferences: none

Overclocking: no

SLI or Crossfire: not sure what these are exactly but I don't think so

Monitor Resolution: as high as possible

Additional Comments: planning to use this computer for pretty much all entertainment purposes, so I want to hook it up to an HDTV via HDMI, as well as to some 5.1 speakers (still need to buy both a tv and speakers, but I'm not worried about these for the purposes of this thread). I'd like to be able to run modern games on as high settings as possible given the budget range.

 

[TheRaptMuse]

Let me add that if it goes over 800 by a bit, that's OK. Could probably swing around 900, since the main thing I'm comparing to at this point is this, which appears to have everything I need:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229288

 

[Phym]

Name some games you want to play on high settings, cus you can save a lot if its an entertainment rig

 

[TheRaptMuse]

Not exactly sure, but here's a sampling of some that I might want to play:

Arma 2 (3 when it comes out), BF3, CodMw3, Far Cry 2 (3 when it comes out), The Witcher 2, Dark Souls, Stalker series

Gaming is key for this build since if I just wanted entertainment I would just buy a blu ray player and call it a day, since I already have a laptop (the one I'm using now) that's acceptable for general usage.

 

[Phym]

Get a ati 7850 gpu and your all good

 

[TheRaptMuse]

Does it even make sense for me to try to build one myself, or should I just buy the pre-built one I linked above?

The card you suggested is around 250 on its own, I'd have to spend another 180 just to get windows, probably around 200-250 on a cpu - already at 650 or 700-ish and still missing a ton of parts. Whereas with the prebuild one for 920 + 25 shipping I'd be all set other than TV and speakers.

 

[azeem40]

Windows is $100; you can get an i3-2120, which is around $125. It is certainly do-able at $800

 

[TheRaptMuse]

OK, so far this is what I've got:

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
$100

CPU: i3-2120: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115077
$125

Graphics: SAPPHIRERadeon HD 7850: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102984
$250

Blu-Ray Drive:ASUS Blu-Ray Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247
$53

So far up to around $530. I still need: case, ram, HD, motherboard, and possibly a sound card.

 

[TheRaptMuse]

How is this for a motherboard? Could I do better?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131837

I would also like to find one with built in WiFi but I was only able to find one on newegg, and it cost around 200.

 

[Outlander_04]

consider the silverstone GD 05 case .

Its an HTPC case that takes a standard m-ATX motherboard and has good enough cooling to run a radeon 7850

Combine the i3 2120 with an H77 m-ATX motherboard and a 500 watt 80+ bronze or better rated psu

 

[TheRaptMuse]

I really don't see how this is going to come out better than just buying prebuilt. Adding in the mobo I just posted, and the case you suggested, I'm at $760, still without a psu, RAM, or HD.

 

[TheRaptMuse]

Also looking at this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883155328

$978 on amazon

 

[TheRaptMuse]

alright found this motherboard instead, shaves off about $50 bucks from the cost:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157301

So new summary (also decided I would want an i5 rather than i3 processor):

$220 CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
$250 Graphics: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102984
$53 Blu-Ray: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247
$90 Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157301
$90 Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163166&Tpk=silverstone%20GD%2005
$50 PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152040

So up to $750, just need RAM and HD now. Plus Windows. so really $850. So this will add up to at least $1000, which is somewhat out of my budget range. Dropping back to an i3 cuts $75, but I'm realizing that I can really only swing closer to 800, maybe 850 max, so it doesn't really make it affordable yet.

 

[spankmon]

Maybe I misunderstand, but I think that in addition to the Blu-Ray drive you also need to purchase separate software to make it work... another $100. Please tell me I'm wrong.

 

[TheRaptMuse]

That is indeed true, but ... well, let's just say I'm gonna ignore that issue.

Here is my current list (slightly different than the one just posted) on partpicker:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/aIAl

Comes out to $916. Anything I can do to bring that down?

 

[bctande1]

alright found this motherboard instead, shaves off about $50 bucks from the cost:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157301

So new summary (also decided I would want an i5 rather than i3 processor):

$220 CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
$250 Graphics: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102984
$53 Blu-Ray: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247
$90 Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157301
$90 Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163166&Tpk=silverstone%20GD%2005
$50 PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152040

So up to $750, just need RAM and HD now. Plus Windows. so really $850. So this will add up to at least $1000, which is somewhat out of my budget range. Dropping back to an i3 cuts $75, but I'm realizing that I can really only swing closer to 800, maybe 850 max, so it doesn't really make it affordable yet.

That's a pretty good system. Unless you are looking to play games like BF3 in 1080p, you can cut back on the GPU and maybe purchase a GTX 560ti for around 190-200$. I actually just got a 7850 myself and I love it but if you aren't playing top of the line games then you can cut back around 50$.

AND - you can opt for a cheaper AMD processor like the cheaper FX 8 core processor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103961

They may not be as good as the 2500k in pure performance but for gaming - neither processor will outshine the other by a sizeable amount -- but then you should also find a MOBO compatable with the AM3+ socket. But on non-gaming CPU intensive tasks, you will see a speed boost with the 2500k.

 

[TheRaptMuse]

Ok, I think I will go with your suggestion and use the FX 8. So here is the revised version:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/aICM

Down to $874 now. Cheaper would still be better but it's getting there.

I am indeed looking to play games like BF3 in 1080p.

 

[bctande1]

What you can do is switch from Micro ATX to ATX and get a cheaper case - You have more expandability options for your computer with a bigger ATX setup and you can get a 40$ or so cheaper case and retain the same price point.

 

[TheRaptMuse]

If you go to the partpicker link in my last post (the one that ends up costing 874), I have switched to an ATX mobo and case, and I chose a case that includes a power supply.

 

[bctande1]

Yeah, looks like that other CASE you actually mis-listed the price, no problems.

But to be honest man, that setup is definitely worth the money. With that GPU/CPU combo you won't need to upgrade for the next few years, and trust me, you don't want to buy low-grade supplies.

 

[TheRaptMuse]

I may just save up and get something in that range then, if it's worth it. I don't really see anywhere in that build that I can cut the cost further without greatly sacrificing performance.

It's damn annoying that I have to spend money on Windows, when I already have it though (came pre-installed on my laptop). I would just run Linux and Wine, but a few of the apps I use regularly aren't compatible.

 

[bctande1]

You're right. The only real way you could cut costs is to somehow find a X4 965 Black Edition AMD processor (like 90$) -- they're is still no big changes in Game performance but actual speed of the computer will be sacrficed.

But yeah, I didn't want to say this before but if you are that desperate then opt for pirating windows but I, as a PC advisor cannot say that without bypassing my principles to give my best, most honest advice. But I see your predicament, and the option is always available if you willing.

 

[spankmon]

You might use the Windows 8 preview for a while. It will be good for a few more months. By then you'll have your dream PC plus a fat wallet, and could afford a Windows disk plus more goodies for the computer.... or a new tattoo for your girlfriend.

EDIT: ooops, I forgot that Windows 8 doesn't support dvd playback. Please disregard this post.

 

[TheRaptMuse]

wait, really? no dvd playback in windows 8? that's crazy.

edit: after looking into it, it just isn't included in wmp anymore (which is still ridiculous). but you can still just use VLC to do it. so the win 8 prerelease is looking like a nice option, since it would bring my cost down to 774, at least for now.

also, i need to look into what ram i have in my laptop, and see if i could just move it over to the new computer rather than buying new ram.

 

[TheRaptMuse]

After playing around on pcpartpicker a bit more, I think this is my final version:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/aKgo

Anything I should change on that, or does that look good? Planning to go with Windows 8 preview for OS temporarily.