£350-400 Budget Gaming PC

[wuj3k]

Approximate Purchase Date: 1st week of march

Budget Range: (e.g.: £350-400) After Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Home Use & Gaming

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS (just need the tower)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: any

Country: UK

Parts Preferences: I would like to use i3 CPU if possible in this price range

Overclocking: Yes, why not

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution:1680x1050

Additional Comments: Im not bothered about anything but performance @ no more than £400

 

[QuietPC]

Update

Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan

Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm ...
Model #:CHALLENGER
Item #:N82E16811147153
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add)
$59.99 -$5.00 Instant $54.99


Update

ASRock Z68M/USB3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

ASRock Z68M/USB3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Model #:Z68M/USB3
Item #:N82E16813157270
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add)
$94.99 -$10.00 Instant $84.99


Update

SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
Model #:100315L
Item #:N82E16814102908
Return Policy:VGA Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Mail in Rebate Card

Note (Add)
$149.99 $149.99


Update

XFX Core Edition PRO550W (P1-550S-XXB9) 550W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

XFX Core Edition PRO550W (P1-550S-XXB9) 550W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified ...
Model #1-550S-XXB9
Item #:N82E16817207013
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Mail in Rebate Card

Note (Add)
$69.99 $69.99


Update

Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I32120

Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I32120
Model #:BX80623I32120
Item #:N82E16819115077
Return Policy:CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add)
$127.99 $127.99


Update

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBXL

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBXL
Model #:F3-10666CL9D-4GBXL
Item #:N82E16820231425
Return Policy:Memory Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add)
$25.99 $25.99


Update

Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Model #:ST500DM002
Item #:N82E16822148767
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add)
$84.99 $84.99


Update

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Model #RW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS
Item #:N82E16827135204
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add)
$20.99 $20.99


Update

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
Model #:GFC-02050
Item #:N82E16832116986
Return Policy:Software Standard Return Policy
In Stock

Note (Add)
$99.99 $99.99
Subtotal: $719.91

 

[metal orient]

We don't get rebates here , i also couldn't fit an i3 into your budget but the pentium is till a great choice (see this article http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,review-32368.html)

My suggestion:

Pentium G840 £55
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CPUs+%2F+Processors/Intel+Pentium+%281155%29/Intel+Pentium+G840+2.80GHz+%28Sandybridge%29+Socket+LGA1155+Processor+-+Retail+?productId=44716

Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D3V £48
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Intel+1155+H61+%28B3%29/Gigabyte+GA-H61MA-D3V+GEN3+Intel+H61+%28REV+B3%29+Socket+1155+DDR3+PCI-Express+Motherboard+?productId=48248

Corsair 4GB 1600 C9 £20
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Memory/DDR3/Dual+Channel+1600MHz/4GB+Corsair+XMS3+%282x2GB%29+DDR3+PC3-12800C9+1600MHz+1.5v+Dual+Channel+Kit+-+CMX4GX3M2B1600C9+?productId=48114

Powercolour HD 6850 £104
https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/PowerColor+AMD+Radeon+HD+6850+1024MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=47805

Seagate 500GB £58
https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/500GB+Seagate+Barracuda+7200.12+3.5%22+SATA+III+Internal+Hard+Drive+%5BST500DM002%5D+?productId=46054

XFX Core 550W £52
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Power+Supplies/650W+or+less/550W+XFX+Core+Edition+80PLUS+Bronze+Power+Supply+%28Seasonic+OEM%29+?productId=45332

Xigmatek Asgard £28
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/MIDI+Tower/Xigmatek+Asgard+Black+Midi+Tower+Chassis+?productId=38515

DVDRW £13
https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Samsung+SH-S222BB%2FBEBE+DVD+Writer+?productId=48004

Total Price (with VAT and P&P) £386.95

 

[wuj3k]

Is this kit worth attention?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/intel-core-i3-asus-board-bundle--4gb-ddr3-memory-and-nvidia-gt520-graphics-532755

 

[mvee18]

Is this kit worth attention?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/intel-core-i3-asus-board-bundle--4gb-ddr3-memory-and-nvidia-gt520-graphics-532755

Seems OK. But, some of the things look proprietary. Like the RAM no name-brand. The MOBO is Micro-ATX, he could get a bigger/better board because he has more space. All in all the deal is good but, some of the parts aren't.

 

[metal orient]

Is this kit worth attention?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/intel-core-i3-asus-board-bundle--4gb-ddr3-memory-and-nvidia-gt520-graphics-532755

Not worth it i'd say, it is certainly tempting as it does include the i3 2100 but that's literally the only decent thing about it.

the GT520 is pretty much a joke (see how many levels behind the 6850 it is)
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-graphics-card-review,review-32374-7.html

It's 13 in case you don't want to count.

AT £220 it doesn't offer better value against the same parts in the build i suggested(apart from the i3 2100) You will see much better performance in games with a better GPU.

 

[wuj3k]

Before I'll start ordering I need to ask you guys one more question. Some one told me that the best option for budget gaming PC will be: Intel C2D E2160, put it on a decent SLI Motherboard and OC to 3-3.4GHz. For the money saved on CPU and Motherboard get two decent GPUs and my PC will rock ...
Now the question: Is 1.8GHz CPU OC'd to ~3GHz going to perform really that good?

Also is it worth spending money on second hand parts when building a PC?

 

[metal orient]

I don't know how good the E2160 is so can't comment, I wouldn't invest in LGA775 though.

 

[QuietPC]

Before I'll start ordering I need to ask you guys one more question. Some one told me that the best option for budget gaming PC will be: Intel C2D E2160, put it on a decent SLI Motherboard and OC to 3-3.4GHz. For the money saved on CPU and Motherboard get two decent GPUs and my PC will rock ...
Now the question: Is 1.8GHz CPU OC'd to ~3GHz going to perform really that good?

Also is it worth spending money on second hand parts when building a PC?

For longevity, performance and support stay with the newer equipment. 775 is dead. 1155 and coming will be the 2011. Dual video cards will do very little for your performance and are generally not worth the cost and problems.

 

[serialkiller]

every one is correct go with them