$600 for a gaming machine?! Need experts help!

[dnfakrnl]

I recently dumped my machine and wanting to build a new one. With too much of variety parts and hardwares, I'm having a hard time finding the best parts for my budget.

So I would like to ask professionals!

I would like to run following games with maximum settings: (Please look at recommended requirements only!)
APB - http://www.apbrwiki.com/wiki/System_Requirements
Guild Wars2 - http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=684&game=Guild%20Wars%202

Also, I'd like to run many other games at max settings.
Now I would like to know what kind of parts I should buy and where I should buy them!
My budget can possibly go up to $700 but no more than that. I do have dual monitors so I won't need that.

Thank you very much guys and I hope you guys have great days!

 

[manofchalk]

Running those games on med-high should be easy, but others maybe not. Don't expect to play BF3 or Crysis (or similarly powerful games) above medium settings.

CPU: AMD Phenom II x4. $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
Its a bit old, but its a true quad core compared to i3's with its 2 virtual core's. It will serve just fine for gaming.

Motherboard: AsRock 970 Extreme3 AM3+. $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157280
Good budget board. This board will let you upgrade to Bulldozer or Piledriver later.

RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 8GB (2x4GB) 1600Mhz CL9 1.5v. $46
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
Fairly standard RAM

GPU: Sapphire Radeon 6870. $170
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

PSU: Corsair Builder series 500W. $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
Might seem insufficient, but it will supply ample power for the rig. Just dont try adding more cards to it.

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB. $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

Case: Zalman Z9+. $53
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811235027
Good budget case, im surprised they make money off these thing considering how many features there are.

Total: $603

 

[swifty_morgan]

pay attention:

monitor size/resolution.

do you have an opsys ? if so what is it and 32 or 64bit.

are you using your old case ?......... old power supply ?

any other hardware you will be using that you didn't mention ?

 

[lupinesithlord]

Do you have any parts your planning on reusing already...ie case, ram dvd drives. also do you live near a microcenter?

 

[DarkOutlaw]

Look at the $500 rig in my signature.
Instead of the 550 ti get a 6870, increases price to about $550.
Add Windows 7, increases price to about $675.

 

[swifty_morgan]

$646 bucks before shipping and rebates if any. no opsys included. can't wait for you to watch your thread and get back.

case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154094

HD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102987
PS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159128
ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104223
mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157303
cpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115089

 

[zuesters]

HERE i gurrante you maxium performance ultra settings 60fps+

540$ after rebate. 517$ without DVD drive!

CASE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121096
30$ AR

Hard Disk: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769
69$

graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130664
150$ AR

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157280
80$
DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136247
16$ ( use promo for free shiping)
powersupply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
39.99 AR

RAM : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311
44$ ram high quality!

processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996
109.99$

AS i know this configuration could play skyrim with 40-60 FPS i belive your game is nothing to this you will might hit 100! =P

 

[manofchalk]

HERE i gurrante you maxium performance ultra settings 60fps+

540$ after rebate. 517$ without DVD drive!

CASE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121096
30$ AR

Hard Disk: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769
69$

graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130664
150$ AR

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157280
80$
DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136247
16$ ( use promo for free shiping)
powersupply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
39.99 AR

RAM : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311
44$ ram high quality!

processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996
109.99$

AS i know this configuration could play skyrim with 40-60 FPS i belive your game is nothing to this you will might hit 100! =P

Forgive me, sir, if I call bullshit.
That rig is roughly equivalent to my suggestion (suspiciously similar actually), I doubt it could max out games and get 60+FPS. If you could achieve that performance for that price, the top end of the market would have collapsed by now.

 

[DarkOutlaw]

Forgive me, sir, if I call bullshit.
That rig is roughly equivalent to my suggestion, I doubt it could max out games and get 60+FPS. If you could achieve that performance for that price, the top end of the market would have collapsed by now.

Agreed. Your build is good, I just think that the i3 will be better than the AMD you listed. The i3 + motherboard I have listed is also cheaper than the AMD + motherboard you have there.

 

[swifty_morgan]

outlaw.......... your video card sucks and the power supply is under powered. the OP has 2 monitors and and no specified resolutions. need more info if he gets back.

 

[zuesters]

Forgive me, sir, if I call bullshit.
That rig is roughly equivalent to my suggestion (suspiciously similar actually), I doubt it could max out games and get 60+FPS. If you could achieve that performance for that price, the top end of the market would have collapsed by now.

Here sir, no need to BS you agree with the built, but you dont agree with price

If you read well i said AFTER rebate.

And if you still dont belive i got a vid i made that confirms all this just a small vid to help the community.

http://youtu.be/AvUy4q9v4vw

Proff that this will do 60 fps+ on most games heres a vid of BF3 75 FPS my settings, sir.

http://youtu.be/5bEk8xVpn98

 

[manofchalk]

@Darkoutlaw
It relies on rebates though, which are hard to get at best. Always think of a builds budget as before rebates, then its a nice surprise if one comes through.

Besides, my rig gets him double the HDD space and RAM, while offering equivalent performance in games (and overclocking if you add a decent heatsink). The 4 physical cores will help in multi-tasking as well.

@Zuesters
That video doesn't confirm anything, it just shows a list of parts. You'v got a weaker GPU and slower RAM than my build, it wont perform better. And like I said to Outlaw, rebates are hard to get and shouldnt be relied upon.

That other video could be easily faked, whats to say it wasn't recorded on another rig, no FRAPS counter in the corner, no mention of the resolution, nor the actual settings. I'm not personally attacking you, I just know that a rig like this wont offer the performance you claim. If you want to convince people its legitimate, you need more evidence.

You made both video's apparently, despite different Youtube accounts on each video?

 

[swifty_morgan]

i don't want to ruin this thread but 1024x768............ really ?


here's a vid........ just watch the first minute....... but it's good all the way through...

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=linus%20tech%20tips%20resolution%20vs%20video%20card&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEoQtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJBN5MNpYWlY&ei=r4UaUIaHG8600AGSg4BY&usg=AFQjCNHoIYTkU72QbnkzCwcTauSAGiSmBw&cad=rja

 

[zuesters]

@Darkoutlaw
It relies on rebates though, which are hard to get at best. Always think of a builds budget as before rebates, then its a nice surprise if one comes through.

Besides, my rig gets him double the HDD space and RAM, while offering equivalent performance in games (and overclocking if you add a decent heatsink). The 4 physical cores will help in multi-tasking as well.

@Zuesters
That video doesn't confirm anything, it just shows a list of parts. You'v got a weaker GPU and slower RAM than my build, it wont perform better. And like I said to Outlaw, rebates are hard to get and shouldnt be relied upon.

That other video could be easily faked, whats to say it wasn't recorded on another rig, no FRAPS counter in the corner, no mention of the resolution, nor the actual settings. I'm not personally attacking you, I just know that a rig like this wont offer the performance you claim. If you want to convince people its legitimate, you need more evidence.

You made both video's apparently, despite different Youtube accounts on each video?

Reapageisback is my account, other random vid of a guy has the same specs with 75 fps

BTW you forgot that im on the budget your video card is 175 + shiping mine is 150 free shiping after rebate there not a huge diffrence in Graphics yours uses alot of PS USAGE mine doesnt so i belive my choice is perfect for and naturly stable.

 

[manofchalk]

OP said he can stretch to $700, so thats shipping covered. And we cant predict how much shipping will cost because we don't know where he lives, so we don't factor it in.

Who cares about power consumption? Its a gaming rig not a HTPC or a server.
Also check your facts, according to these two reputable review sites.

A GTX560 will draw ~150W under full load (Dual SLI draw divided in half for one cards draw).
http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-560-sli-review/14

And the Sapphire HD6870 I recommended will draw ~120W under full load, take a conservative 50W that can be attributed to the CPU (because its a total system draw), it suddenly is only drawing ~70W.
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/42796-hd-6870-roundup-diamond-powercolor-msi-sapphire-xfx-18.html

These are not entirely accurate since power consumption is never exact, but you get the point don't you? The HD6870 has a lower draw than a 560.
Back up your claims with evidence, and maybe we will start to believe you.

 

[zuesters]

Here i want you to get a look at this.

http://www.hwcompare.com/8890/geforce-gtx-560-ti-vs-radeon-hd-6870/

 

[manofchalk]

This is the card you recommended yes?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130664
EVGA SuperClocked GeForce GTX560.

That hardware compare is between the 560Ti and the HD6870. I will say it right now the 560Ti is better.

Unfortunately that card is $100 more expensive than the 560 you recommended.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130738

Get your facts straight.

P.S. Even in the case of a $100 better card, the power draw on the HD6870 is still lower.

I'm not arguing with you anymore. You display no convincing evidence for your claims, and evidently don't know what you'r doing, since you somehow managed to miss the fact it was a $100 more expensive card. What little credibility you had has been well and truly dismissed. I'm going to bed.

OP, dont listen to this guy.

 

[zuesters]

This is the card you recommended yes?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130664
EVGA SuperClocked GeForce GTX560.

That hardware compare is between the 560Ti and the HD6870. I will say it right now the 560Ti is better.

Unfortunately that card is $100 more expensive than the 560 you recommended.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130738

Get your facts straight.

P.S. Even in the case of a $100 better card, the power draw on the HD6870 is still lower.

Oh, well i belive i own you an appoligie, =p

BUT for the budget i belive i win.

 

[DarkOutlaw]

outlaw.......... your video card sucks and the power supply is under powered. the OP has 2 monitors and and no specified resolutions. need more info if he gets back.

Whoopie I have a 550ti and 2 monitors. The PSU listed is more than enough to run what I have listed. I have also yet to install a game that does not detect my card is capable of ultra settings, and I have yet to see any FPS issues.

Budget Rigs rely a lot on rebates/sales. If you don't want to deal with rebates set your budget higher. I have not had a single problem with the rebates for my PSU, SSD, or GPU.

 

[swifty_morgan]

you obviously missed the video link I posted up above.........

 

[dnfakrnl]

I am back mates!

Let me add more information to the list as requested:

I don't think I'm using anything from my previous computer. Actually I might re-use case. Yeah let's put it case off the list. Also for the resolution, I want 1920x1200. I have Windows 7 professional. Also I would like to run 64 bit windows 7.

Also, I really appreciate all the comments from you guys! It's almost a great help but there are too many lists to look at! Maybe we can settle with 1-2 lists?! Keep it coming guys!

 

[dnfakrnl]

Actually I take it back, case will be included in the budget. Sorry mates!

 

[1depp1]

i got a GTX 670 and it kicks ass, save your money to buy this!

 

[manofchalk]

Sorry about that argument, didn't mean to fill up the thread.

If you try to include a 1920x1200 screen on this budget, the most I could recommend is you buy a Playstation 3 and the monitor. You simply wont be able to fit a $250+ screen in on this budget.
If you'v got the screen already, its running a 1080p resolution, so a decent graphics card will have a noticeable performance difference. At 720p maybe not so much (but who games at 720p?)

Whether the Windows 7 Professional you've got is 64 or 32bit, we dont know. It comes in both versions and we dont know which one you have.

Trying to get denizens of the internet is nigh impossible, as you can see above.
I recommend my build as, in my opinion, its the best performance and value you can get for your dollar, that isn't over budgeted or relying on rebates.

 

[nekulturny]

HERE i gurrante you maxium performance ultra settings 60fps+


AS i know this configuration could play skyrim with 40-60 FPS i belive your game is nothing to this you will might hit 100! =P

http://www.techspot.com/review/467-skyrim-performance/page7.html

Phenom II 965 @ 3.7GHZ (doable on the stock heatsink)= Phenom II 980


Why get the inferior processor if the better one is the same price? FX-4100 $110, Phenom II 965 $110 on Newegg.

Oh, well i belive i own you an appoligie, =p

BUT for the budget i belive i win.

Its not about winning and losing. People post these threads seeking financial advice on an investment. Its not a game, people are spending their hard earned money and want advice on a system that can meet their needs. I do hope you realize that.

----

i got a GTX 670 and it kicks ass, save your money to buy this!

*smack*