First Time Build - Budget Gaming Computer $400

[navluap]

Budget Gaming Computer

Games: Dota 2, LoL, and Sc2
Price range: $400 or less

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2500 BX80637i33220 - $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116775

Mobo: BIOSTAR H61MGC LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138332

Case: Rosewill R218-P-BK-450W MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case, come with 1x 120mm Fan, 450W Power Supply - $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147082

GFX Card: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card (11192-22-20G) - $64.99
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814102988

HD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD2500AAKX 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136771

Optical Drive: ASUS Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E818A7T/BLK/B/GEN - OEM - $18.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135224

RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M1A1600C9 - $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=20-145-328

Not needed: Monitor, keyboard, mouse, and OS

Total: $398.98

Feedback would be appreciated, thanks for taking the time to read this. Need any more info feel free to ask.

 

[kensingtron]

Often you need to flash the Bios to get an ivy bridge to work on an h61 mobo and you'll need a sadybridge chip to do it. For a $400 build get a pentium g620 and an hd 7770 it is a more balanced build, superior fps, and no possable bios issues.

 

[nsouter853]

I've said this on a lot of budget build threads and I'll say it again.

This is something you will likely be using for years. Think of how many hours you will spend on it. Why not be a little patient and save up for longer, gather more money, and build a computer with quality components? I waited a year before making my build so I could afford the best.

 

[spat55]

I agree with n souter853, get decent parts, or otherwise you will regret it. I have a radeon 7850 and wished I had of got more power.

 

[jackspeed]

In a way I agree with nsouter but waiting a year is a little beyond what most people want to do. I would try to save another 100-200. Also for Dota and Lol they don't require much and sc2 is more cpu based then other games so I can agree with the cpu choice.
this is a better board but it has a slightly higher price tag.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157303
Also my suggestion for a HD is
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152244

 

[spat55]

In a way I agree with nsouter but waiting a year is a little beyond what most people want to do. I would try to save another 100-200. Also for Dota and Lol they don't require much and sc2 is more cpu based then other games so I can agree with the cpu choice.
this is a better board but it has a slightly higher price tag.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157303
Also my suggestion for a HD is
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152244

I wouldn't get a Asrock, I only like Asus or Gigabyte really, MSI are good too but Asrock hmmm....

 

[navluap]

I've said this on a lot of budget build threads and I'll say it again.

This is something you will likely be using for years. Think of how many hours you will spend on it. Why not be a little patient and save up for longer, gather more money, and build a computer with quality components? I waited a year before making my build so I could afford the best.

First off, thanks for the feedback. To elaborate on my situation, I'm upgrading from a Dell Vostro 200 (2002), my standards are quite low. Secondly, if I were to wait for Black Friday/Cyber Monday would I be able to get these quality components for near my price range?

In a way I agree with nsouter but waiting a year is a little beyond what most people want to do. I would try to save another 100-200. Also for Dota and Lol they don't require much and sc2 is more cpu based then other games so I can agree with the cpu choice.
this is a better board but it has a slightly higher price tag.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157303
Also my suggestion for a HD is
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152244

Thanks for the info! I do like this HD more and I will look into the mobo more

Often you need to flash the Bios to get an ivy bridge to work on an h61 mobo and you'll need a sadybridge chip to do it. For a $400 build get a pentium g620 and an hd 7770 it is a more balanced build, superior fps, and no possable bios issues.

Couldn't I flash the bios with a usb stick? Otherwise couldn't I use a Sandy Bridge cpu?

 

[kensingtron]

First off, thanks for the feedback. To elaborate on my situation, I'm upgrading from a Dell Vostro 200 (2002), my standards are quite low. Secondly, if I were to wait for Black Friday/Cyber Monday would I be able to get these quality components for near my price range?


Thanks for the info! I do like this HD more and I will look into the mobo more


Couldn't I flash the bios with a usb stick? Otherwise couldn't I use a Sandy Bridge cpu?

Yes you need a sandy bridge to flash it.

 

[jackspeed]

First off, thanks for the feedback. To elaborate on my situation, I'm upgrading from a Dell Vostro 200 (2002), my standards are quite low. Secondly, if I were to wait for Black Friday/Cyber Monday would I be able to get these quality components for near my price range?

There were some good deals on other parts last weekend. You might save some on those days on the parts. They would suggest a better GPU and possibly cpu if you were to have some more cash. The reason we were suggesting you wait is that then you might have $100-200 more hopefully. also the cpu wont go down much in price.

 

[navluap]

First off, thanks for the feedback. To elaborate on my situation, I'm upgrading from a Dell Vostro 200 (2002), my standards are quite low. Secondly, if I were to wait for Black Friday/Cyber Monday would I be able to get these quality components for near my price range?

There were some good deals on other parts last weekend. You might save some on those days on the parts. They would suggest a better GPU and possibly cpu if you were to have some more cash. The reason we were suggesting you wait is that then you might have $100-200 more hopefully. also the cpu wont go down much in price.

Well the reason for my CPU and GFX card's quality not being the best is because I do not require them. I don't photoshop or do anything graphic intensive or CPU intensive. I play a few low demanding games and surf the web a bit and that's all. Also where would be the best place to find deals on quality computer parts?

 

[ctomster]

Well the reason for my CPU and GFX card's quality not being the best is because I do not require them. I don't photoshop or do anything graphic intensive or CPU intensive. I play a few low demanding games and surf the web a bit and that's all. Also where would be the best place to find deals on quality computer parts?

http://www.newegg.com/
http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.tigerdirect.com/sectors/category/computer-parts.asp

Good luck!

 

[cody4721]

Rest specs seem good , but one major thing youre doing wrong is the PSu.

Get a cooler master HAF 912 and a Corsair CX430 Watts PSu.

Many new builder tend to cheap out on the psu. Thats where they go wrong.

NEVER EVER CHEAP out on the psu. If they go down , they take out the more expensive parts with it.(Happened to me).

As they say : buy cheap buy twice.

Dont cheap out on the psu and get some more dough on it.

 

[navluap]

Rest specs seem good , but one major thing youre doing wrong is the PSu.

Get a cooler master HAF 912 and a Corsair CX430 Watts PSu.

Many new builder tend to cheap out on the psu. Thats where they go wrong.

NEVER EVER CHEAP out on the psu. If they go down , they take out the more expensive parts with it.(Happened to me).

As they say : buy cheap buy twice.

Dont cheap out on the psu and get some more dough on it.

Would it be okay to get a lower end case though?

 

[cody4721]

Cooler master HAF 912 is not low end , just the right case at the right price ,you wouldnt wanna go any down further , might cause some overheating and airflow issues in the case.

 

[cody4721]

This system will perform equally well , even better :

CPU : AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

Hard Drive : Western Digital Caviar Blue 250 GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136771&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=2l8rwbbobji

Motherboard :GIGABYTE GA-78LMT-S2P AM3+ AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128504

Just the right mother board for you , try to get it for $49 after rebate.

Case : COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=Haf%20912

Cant get any better than this case.

PSU (MOST IMP) : CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 (CMPSU-430CXV2) 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026&Tpk=cx430

Can get it for $24.5 after rebate.

Optical Drive : SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151244

RAM : CORSAIR XMS 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M1A1333C9

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233132

GPU : SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card (11192-22-20G)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102988

$49.99 After Rebate.

Grand total (including Rebates) $401.21

Well in you budget , you can save a bit more and get a 6770.

 

[navluap]

Best answer selected by navluap.