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Budget gaming pc $350, may go a little higher

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Hey guys,

I live in Canada and I'm looking to build a budget gaming PC. I want to play mostly fps games, ( Far cry 3, Crysis, BF3) with a little bit of Skyrim.

Here's what I picked out: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/CFlK For the OS I'll get a copy of mint and buy windows later.

Want opinions, I might upgrade later. Am I missing anything, or is anything incompatible?

I don't know a lot about computers.


Approximate Purchase Date: this month ( I can wait, the closer the better)


Budget Range: $375 After Shipping Before rebates


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, youtube, school work


Are you buying a monitor: no


Parts to Upgrade: buying entire new pc, already have an optical drive


Do you need to buy OS: No



Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.ca, futureshop, bestbuy, - pretty much any site thats canadian, unless the price+shipping is less on other sites


Location: Brampton, Ontario, Canada


Parts Preferences: by brand or type doesn't matter


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe


Your Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024


Additional Comments: Far cry 3, skyrim, crysis 1, 2, and 3, minecraft, etc.


And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: my computer is a dinosaur.

More about : budget gaming 350 higher

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Gaming Expert

The tr2 power supply is a doorstop

Use only 80+ bronze or better power supplies . Older models like the tr2 lack smoothing circuitry that stabilizes voltages. They may work but they could also make your computer unstable and they do burn more electricity

corsair cx 430?
Gaming Expert

icanhasalot said:
Really? I thought that power supply was 80+ bronze.



That information is incorrect .I presume pcpartpicker has it listed incorrectly

It is an older model
and it definitely is NOT 80+ anything
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
See the small red voltage switch ? A sure sign its not what you want in your computer

And here
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=3...
in the specifications

72% efficiency
and non active PFC

So definitely a door stop
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Outlander_04 said:
That information is incorrect .I presume pcpartpicker has it listed incorrectly

It is an older model
and it definitely is NOT 80+ anything
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
See the small red voltage switch ? A sure sign its not what you want in your computer

And here
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=3...
in the specifications

72% efficiency
and non active PFC

So definitely a door stop




http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-s... This?

Outlander_04 said:
The seasonic is a decent quality unit , and it should be powerful enough for your build but the smaller fan will be noisier than somethign like

Rosewill Green Series RG430-S12 430W $50
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681...

which should run cool and quiet in your build and also give you some head room for expansion .





Ok, this is it so far: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/CGxj


Any changes I should make?

icanhasalot said:
I'll deal with it for a while, I'll upgrade later, maybe an amd 7770 hd?


You'll deal without a GPU for a while? I really don't think you'll be able to play any of those titles without a decent GPU. Though yes, the AMD 7770 HD would suit you fine for those titles.

taplamp said:
You'll deal without a GPU for a while? I really don't think you'll be able to play any of those titles without a decent GPU. Though yes, the AMD 7770 HD would suit you fine for those titles.




Really? I think its fine, if not maybe i'll turn down the resolution, what do you reccomend?
Gaming Expert

icanhasalot said:
Another question, if you had another $50, what would you buy?

Is it worth it to buy a more expensive case that has usb 3.0?

Is there anything I could get thats better quality and cheaper?




I havent ever plugged a USB3 device into the front ports on my case . I dont own any ...but maybe one day !

For around the $50 mark there are decent budget cases with front usb 3
Antec ONE gamer
CM Elite 431


You should be able to game reasonably well without a graphics card in that computer . You wont have games on highest detail settings but you will be able to play them

icanhasalot said:
Really? I think its fine, if not maybe i'll turn down the resolution, what do you reccomend?


According to notebookcheck.net the benchmarks on the integrated Radeon HD 7660G are passable for the titles that you mentioned, however, you'll need to play all of them on low settings in order to enjoy them at all.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-7660G.69830....

This is fine since you plan to be upgrading later anyway. That said, the Radeon HD 7770 will suit you just fine when you purchase it.

taplamp said:
According to notebookcheck.net the benchmarks on the integrated Radeon HD 7660G are passable for the titles that you mentioned, however, you'll need to play all of them on low settings in order to enjoy them at all.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-7660G.69830....

This is fine since you plan to be upgrading later anyway. That said, the Radeon HD 7770 will suit you just fine when you purchase it.


Okay, thanks. I think I may get higher frame rates though, since the desktop version of the a-10 has a higher clock speed... Right?

Outlander_04 said:
I havent ever plugged a USB3 device into the front ports on my case . I dont own any ...but maybe one day !

For around the $50 mark there are decent budget cases with front usb 3
Antec ONE gamer
CM Elite 431


You should be able to game reasonably well without a graphics card in that computer . You wont have games on highest detail settings but you will be able to play them


Thanks.

Best solution

icanhasalot said:
Another question, if you had another $50, what would you buy?

Is it worth it to buy a more expensive case that has usb 3.0?

Is there anything I could get thats better quality and cheaper?



There's not much of a need for USB 3.0 right now I believe. I don't have any devices that support it, so why need a front port with it?

That being said, I'd suggest this case since we're talking better quality and cheaper;

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681...

This Cooler Master case is vastly superior to the Thermaltake brand in my opinion. This model is pretty much the best Cooler Master case you can get for this price, and it's only a bit more. What's the difference?

The Cooler Master has more room for expansion with more internal drive bays, this allows for more hard drives and other accessories should you ever want to upgrade. You really gotta consider the long run when you choose a computer case. The case will be with you for a long time.

The Cooler Master HAF (High Air Flow) series of cases allows for superior ventilation compared to most cases of a higher price range. This model allows a maximum of up to 6 fans where as the Thermaltake you're currently eyeing can support only 4. One in the front, one in the back, 2 on top. Also, the Cooler Master comes with 2 fans already included, whereas the Thermaltake only comes with 1.

Other features of the Cooler Master include tons of room on the interior, great cable management, water cooling ports, 2 removable dust filters (The Thermaltake has one), a removable HDD cage to make more room for yourself and well, it's kind of a better brand in my opinion.

I highly recommend spending a bit more on a higher quality case. The case matters in the long run, because it'll last longer than most of the other components. Also, compare those reviews.

icanhasalot said:
Okay, thanks. I think I may get higher frame rates though, since the desktop version of the a-10 has a higher clock speed... Right?


Slightly higher yes, but still low to recommended settings. According to Futuremark, Skyrim would run best out of the games you mentioned, but still at mediocre settings.

http://community.futuremark.com/hardware/gpu/AMD+Radeon...

You'll be fine at first, but get that GPU as soon as you can.... Or hold out for a nice deal. Promo's are happenin' all the time!

icanhasalot said:
So i checked out outlanders case suggestions and taplamps suggestions and here are the two cases im looking at: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681...

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681...

Is it worth the extra $10 to get the cooler master elite?


Let's look at some economics here, for 10 extra dollars on the Elite you get:

A smaller interior.
Only 1 fan included with the case.
1 USB 3.0 port up front.
A nice little side window.
No water cooling ports. (But nobody's saying you need water cooling, unless you're planning to run some fast hardware someday)

The HAF 912 has a better value in my opinion. But keep this in mind, get the case that you like better. I know looks aren't the most important thing, but they will be once you've purchased the case and you have to look at it everyday. Get the one you think looks COOL, but also the one that performs better.

Also, if you're adamant about a side window; http://www.cmstore-usa.com/haf-912-transparent-acrylic-...

Yes, they're currently out of stock but that doesn't mean you can't find it elsewhere and it's cheap! They'll restock soon anyways.

taplamp said:
Let's look at some economics here, for 10 extra dollars on the Elite you get:

A smaller interior.
Only 1 fan included with the case.
1 USB 3.0 port up front.
A nice little side window.
No water cooling ports. (But nobody's saying you need water cooling, unless you're planning to run some fast hardware someday)

The HAF 912 has a better value in my opinion. But keep this in mind, get the case that you like better. I know looks aren't the most important thing, but they will be once you've purchased the case and you have to look at it everyday. Get the one you think looks COOL, but also the one that performs better.

Also, if you're adamant about a side window; http://www.cmstore-usa.com/haf-912-transparent-acrylic-...

Yes, they're currently out of stock but that doesn't mean you can't find it elsewhere and it's cheap! They'll restock soon anyways.


Thanks, will probably get the HAF. http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/CHQC

That's the computer, went a little over budget but thats okay.
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