Starter gaming machine for $400

[copperdeed]

I'm looking to build a starter gaming computer for under $400--a machine I can upgrade over time. I play mostly MMORPGs like TERA and Planetside 2.

Any advice about CPU/Motherboard/Video Card would be much appreciated.

Here's what I have on NewEgg:

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157291

Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130534

I'd like to get all three components for under $250 so I can still afford the rest of what I need. I'm willing to go somewhat cheap to start, but want good options for upgrading in the next few months.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

 

[o1die]

Your choices aren't bad if that's all the money you have to work with. It really depends on what games you want to run and the frame rate you hope to achieve. I would list your favorite games for more advice. I'm not a gamer.

 

[copperdeed]

I'm Playing TERA and Planetside 2 on a (pathetic) lenovo Thinkpad. I'm getting less than 20 FPS. I'd like to get above that (close to 50FPS) and have a noticeable improvement in quality and performance.

 

[o1die]

Then focus on the video card; some of the high end ones list minimum power supply requirements, but many run with a 500w unit; I recommend one of these brands: corsair, antec, seasonic, ocz, xfx, and enermax.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

I'm going to suggest a slightly better setup:


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: Kingston HyperX T1 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital RE2 750GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 6670 1GB Video Card ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($34.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Green 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $402.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

actual quad core, faster than the 4100 you had, with stronger graphics than a 9800 at far less power. $402

 

[Derza10]

Then focus on the video card; some of the high end ones list minimum power supply requirements, but many run with a 500w unit; I recommend one of these brands: corsair, antec, seasonic, ocz, xfx, and enermax.

The games he listed need a good CPU to keep decent FPS, well at least I know Tera does. You are going to need to make a well balanced machine not one that focuses on just CPU or GPU.

 

[Derza10]

I would suggest just waiting those "few months" and building a better computer at that time. If you are able to play on the laptop you have now, in the long run i think you will better off waiting till you can spend closer to $700 on the computer.

 

[Pingypoker]

I'm going to suggest a slightly better setup:


/ [url= breakdown by merchant[/url] / [url=[/url]

CPU: [url= A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: [url= FM2A75M-DGS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard[/url] ($60.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: [url= HyperX T1 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: [url= Digital RE2 750GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: [url= Radeon HD 6670 1GB Video Card[/url] ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: [url= FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case[/url] ($34.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: [url= Green 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply[/url] ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: [url= iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer[/url] ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $402.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

actual quad core, faster than the 4100 you had, with stronger graphics than a 9800 at far less power. $402

Yeah, get that. The video card crossfired with the APU should give a lot better performance than what you chose out.

 

[Derza10]

Yeah, get that. The video card crossfired with the APU should give a lot better performance than what you chose out.

From the benchmarks i have seen the 6670 crossfired with the APU showed very little to no improvement in most games that they tested vs. just a 6670.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

most of those tests are dependent on how crossfire optimized they are

 

[butremor]

Hi, you might want to check out intel build like this

Asrock H61M-HVS
Intel Pentium DualCore G630 (2.70GHz, 3MB Cache, LGA1155)
Corsair XMS3, 4GB, DDR3, 1333MHz, CL9, Kit of 2
Radeon HD6670 or Radeon HD7750
Quite a decent build that falls into your budget. You can use Radeon HD6670, it's good performance for the price, but buy it if you want to save a buck, i'd go with Radeon HD7750 which should be more than enough. Also, add a few $ and go for Pentium G850 cpu, that will be better choice over G630, if you can afford it.

 

[Pingypoker]

$345, should be able to run modern games on higher settings.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=28787988