Need advise for cheap gaming pc ($700-$800 range)

[MAJORSEANAK47]

Hi,
im looking to buy a very cheap pc that can run arma 2 with low-med graphics and fairly good frames. it needs a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. im a noob at this so i have no clue what to look for. i would prefer to buy amd but whatever works will have to do. it will only be used for gaming and internet. if you need more info just ask.

 

[jmsellars1]

I wouldn't go with AMD at any budget for a gaming system to be honest. A few of their CPU's are viable if overclocking but you can't beat the value of the Pentium G series at this kind of budget.

Intel Pentium G630
4GB G.Skill NS 1333Mhz
ASRock B75M-GL
XFX Core HD 7770 1GB
Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200RPM
Corsair CX-430 430W
Fractal Design Core 1000
Lite On DVD Burner

Windows 7 Home Premium Complete
SAMSUNG S22B150N Black 21.5" Monitor

Total - $758.90 on Newegg

EDIT: I would be pretty surprised if you couldn't get ultra high settings @ 1080P on Arma with that build.

 

[MAJORSEANAK47]

Best answer selected by MAJORSEANAK47.

 

[nekulturny]

Pentium G630 or Phenom II 965? LOL... you've got to be kidding me, you can keep that Pentium.

Don't get me wrong, the G630 is a decent CPU for what it is, but I'd be more an advocate of saving more money to get a proper "gaming system". MMOs typically like to update things frequently, you never know when your "on the edge" of adequate budget system might be obsoleted with a single content update. Or am I confusing Arma II with another game? lol

 

[ScrewySqrl]

far better:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Pareema 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($40.89 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card ($166.49 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill R218-P-BK ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 500W ATX12V Power Supply ($54.02 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($88.73 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Gigabyte GK-KM5200 Wired Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($12.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $745.06
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-04 17:24 EDT-0400)

 

[jmsellars1]

The G630 would be on par with the Phenom in most games for like half the price. yeah it can't be overclocked and won't be as good for other stuff but it is fantastic value.

EDIT: He needs a monitor too, also I would recommend the retail version of Windows. Means he can reinstall whenever he wants.

 

[nekulturny]

The G630 would be on par with the Phenom in most games for like half the price. yeah it can't be overclocked and won't be as good for other stuff but it is fantastic value.

Its a fantastic value, but meh. Like I'm more a fan of saving more money for something better rather than settling on something lesser. Its not that I'm trying to beat up on Intel here, I would be more a fan of going with Screwy's build. Save more money to get something more appropriate. If you have to wait another month to do the build, you're better off in the long run.

 

[jmsellars1]

Maybe go for that i5 build but use the GPU, PSU and HDD I suggested if you want to squeeze a monitor in there. Personally I'd use the case I suggested as well for only $5 more but that's more personal preference.