Cheapest Capable Gaming PC???

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MrHawk

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Oct 7, 2012
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As a console gamer at heart Ive grown tired of missing out on awesome exclusive pc games such as Amnesia and diablo 3 or games that are alot better on pc such as Minecraft and skyrim. So Ive decide I would like to build myself a pc that can play these modern games on average settings for as little money as possible. Again I would like to point out Im not to obsessed over graphics. Smooth medium is alright with me!

Approximate Purchase Date: this week

Budget Range: as high as 650 but if i can get what i want for cheaper than so be it.

System Usage from Most to Least Important:Gaming, Internet, Movies

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: whatevers recommended

Location: MO,USA

Parts Preferences: Dont really care

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: MAybe

Your Monitor Resolution: 1440x900,

Thanks for the help! :)
 
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excella1221

excella1221

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Aug 23, 2012
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Here you go. This should be more than enough for your resolution, and should still be decent even @ 1920x1080

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Green 530W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($91.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $778.46
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
 
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ScrewySqrl

ScrewySqrl

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Aug 2, 2010
11,199
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for a 1440x900 monitor, we can go WAAAAAY cheaper:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75M-DGS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($60.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Agility 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($79.48 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 6670 1GB Video Card ($74.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Zalman Z9 ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $519.38
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

money can be trimmed further by dropping the ssd, but this build will do anything you throw at it on high/ultra settings at 1440x900
 
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T

twelve25

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Oct 8, 2012
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6670 sucks big time at 1400x900. I was stuck at 1400x900 with a 6770 which is a whole tier above 6770 that.
I think 7770 or 650 Ti is the bare minimum to have enjoyable performance for gaming at that resolution. 7850 is only a little more and will be future-proof for a while.

I like the rest of your build, but I'd probably go with a 500W PSU and an i3-3220 with a budget board. Spending a little more now means not kicking yourself in 12 months when needs change. You could do it for about $600.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lM1m
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lM1m/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lM1m/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ECS B75H2-M3(1.0) Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($50.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 431 Plus (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 520W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($46.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($91.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $615.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
 
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C

CustomPc

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Oct 27, 2012
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CPU Intel Core i3-2100 3.1GHz Dual-Core Processor

Motherboard ASRock B75M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard

Memory Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory

Video Card MSI GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card

Case Rosewill REDBONE ATX Mid Tower Case

Power Supply Antec Basiq 500W ATX12V Power Supply

And you can run BF3 On high in this rig ;)

PS:this rig only costs 535$ :D
 
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twelve25

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Oct 8, 2012
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Got a link to the benchmarks? The ones I saw were not very impressive.



Besides, even if it matched a 6770, that's still pretty weak for new games even at 1440. Why spend $500 to squeak by when you can spend $600 to play all games smooth on high settings?
 
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mrdowntownkiller

mrdowntownkiller

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Sep 14, 2012
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choose what suits for you ;)

Case: Rosewill Blackbone Black Steel. ($39.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023

Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75M-DGS FM2 AMD A75. ($54.99)
♦http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157331

CPU : AMD A6-5400K Trinity 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo). ($74.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113282

GPU: ASUS Radeon HD 7750 1GB. ($97.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121633

RAM: G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB). ($38.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200 RPM. ($54.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148855

PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W. ($34.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] k=cx%20430

Optical Drive: SAMSUNG DVD Burner 24X DVD+R. ($17.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151256


ToTal = $415

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower. ($44.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP LGA 1155. ($79.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157302

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155. ($129.99)
♦ http: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116775

GPU: XFX HD 7850 1GB GDDR5 256 bit. ($159.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150617

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 . ($41.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144

HDD: Western Digital RE3 WD7502ABYS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache. ($59.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236257&name=Internal-Hard-Drives

PSU: XFX Core Edition PRO 550W 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified. ($59.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013

Optical Drive: SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X. ($16.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151244

TOTAL : $594

----------------------------------------------------------------


Case: COUGAR Challenger Black Steel Case . ($85.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811553008

Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP LGA 1155. ($79.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157302

CPU : Intel Core i5-3450 Ivy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.5GHz Turbo). ($194.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6&Tpk=3450

GPU: XFX Double D Radeon HD 7870 GHz 2GB 256-bit GDDR5.($209.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150605

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 . ($41.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820233144

HDD: Western Digital RE3 WD7502ABYS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache. ($59.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ard-Drives

PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series 500w 80 PLUS BRONZE. ($49.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Optical Drive: SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X. ($16.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151244

SSD : OCZ Vertex Plus 60GB. ($49.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227811

TOTAL = $798
 
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M

MrHawk

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Oct 7, 2012
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well I couldnt possibly choose because I dont really know what each of these offer. Like I said im a console gamer who just wants a cheap and capable rig, I dont have a enough knowledge of this stuff to know whats best for me.
 
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J

jackspeed

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Jun 29, 2011
650
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So you do not want to spend 800 thats fine. What do you want to spend?

windows 7.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

GPU 7770 130 (This is another place you could spend more money the above 7850 and 7870 would be good choices if you decide you have more money)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127664

HDD 500GB 60 (not much room to go down here not much point to go up either)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136771

cpu i3 130 (120 if purchased b4 11/1 You could get a much nicer cpu if you wanted an i5 is 200 but that is fluff could go down to about 80 but it would hurt performance)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116775

PSU 500W 60 (this is not a good place to cheap out)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256061

mobo 80 (lots of room to improve but unnecessary)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130653&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Motherboards+-+Intel-_-MSI-_-13130653

Ram 8GB 40 (you could go to 30 but it the extra 10 is worth it)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

Case antec 300 40 (You need to decide what case you like)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Optical 18 (thanks mrdowntownkiller)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151256

My total is $660 after OS, B4 shipping, and rebates. This is what I think you should get minimally.For an extra 80 you could get an i5, 3450, and another 50 would get the 7850. mrdowntownkiller prices do include rebates.

My price if you include rebates are $40 in rebates, 10 in promo codes and about 15 in shipping bringing the final price to $635 with windows 7.
 
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mrdowntownkiller

mrdowntownkiller

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Sep 14, 2012
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well lets talk about the performance of these builds at modern games like bf3
- build no. 1 can go to low and medium at 1080p.
- build no. 2 will be perfect at high at 1080p. (and playable at ultra)
- build no. 3 will run very smoothly with nice fps at ultra at most of games.

------------------------------------------------------
about parts i prefer to pick one the 2 last builds as intel cpu's are over amd all the way. just ask any question if you are confused
 
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M

MrHawk

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Oct 7, 2012
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well i guess im not as comfortable with 800 as i thought. I think 650 sounds the best, including the OS. (unless this price point is incredibly unrealistic) I guess im just having trouble deciding whats the best build when ive received so many. also id like a 1TB hard drive over a 500gb, if that even matters to these builds anyway.
 
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excella1221

excella1221

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Aug 23, 2012
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mrdowntownkiller's builds are nice, but you forgot to account for OS on all of them.

MrHawk, this is probably the best I can do for you. It's basically $550 left for the build itself since ~$100 would be spent for the OS.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970DE3/U3S3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($69.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card ($129.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Green 530W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($91.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $670.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

The 6870 is still more powerful than the 7770, and it's at pretty much the same price as well.
 
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