<$500 Gaming PC

[rohizz]

Hey guys, thanks for reading this. But I want to know your thoughts about a $400-500 gaming PC....

is it possible?

Case + PSU = $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.387486

i3 = $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-222-_-Product

Mobo = $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157190

RAM 2GB = $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220453

Radeon HD 5770 = $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-330-_-Product

Hard Drive = $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-181-_-Product

Total = ~$545 + $20 shipping

wireless, all peripherals, and cables I already have

1) What kind of performance would I get on Crysis at 1600x900? Mid to High settings at native?

2) What are other sites that can potentially get me cheaper prices on certain pieces?

3) Will having 2gb give me drastic performance downgrades?

4) What kind of overclocking will that board give me on the i3?

EDIT:

5) What other processors for cheaper can give me i3-like performance? Intel or AMD...


looking at TigerDirect...I could potentially just use this?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...3&amp;Sku=B69-1180

and then buy a 5770?

Sorry for the random questions, just curious. Thanks for your time.

 

[mfenn]

I would go with an x3 435 and use the savings to get 4GB of memory. I consider 2GB to be too little for anything but the most absolutely budget machine. You can check out this page for some idea as to how the 5770 will handle Crysis. I would expect it to do fairly well at Medium.

The TD combo doesn't really seem to be that good of a deal.

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

Your PSU+Case combo shows up as $65 AR.

 

[llee]

Awesome, you're not buying an OS. I guess we know what that means.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Awesome, you're not buying an OS. I guess we know what that means.

That he already has one? :rolleyes;

 

[mfenn]

Awesome, you're not buying an OS. I guess we know what that means.

 

[rohizz]

Haha! I just wanted information about the PC itself...I have an extra copy of Win 7 Pro I got from Microsoft's student promotion for cheap...

but yeah, the x3 has been shown to unlock the fourth core on a good amount of motherboards with ACC.

If I get a lucky chip, how much would that boost me?

And If I go AM3 right now, what (potentially) are my upgrade roads down the line? Is AM3 going to stick for a little while (for a year) or is a new socket on the horizon?

thanks for your guys' help so far!

 

[mfenn]

Haha! I just wanted information about the PC itself...I have an extra copy of Win 7 Pro I got from Microsoft's student promotion for cheap...

but yeah, the x3 has been shown to unlock the fourth core on a good amount of motherboards with ACC.

If I get a lucky chip, how much would that boost me?

And If I go AM3 right now, what (potentially) are my upgrade roads down the line? Is AM3 going to stick for a little while (for a year) or is a new socket on the horizon?

thanks for your guys' help so far!

You might be able to get the chip to unlock, but don't put your hopes in dreams on it. Consider it a "free gift" it it works. It would be a decent boost in some games that use quad-cores (DA: Origins, GTA IV) and not noticeable in others.

Regarding AM3, you guaranteed to be able to upgrade to a hexa-core (since those are out now) and you should be able to upgrade to Bulldozer when it comes out.

 

[rohizz]

Hexa-core and Bulldozer...those are a solid upgrades. Great.

last question, for the parts above, what kind of PSU would work the best. I don't really care too much about power draw and energy costs, but I do not want to pay for what I don't need. And I dont think i'll ever really do CF/SLI at all, would rather sell and upgrade.

other than that, sounds like a good plan! i appreciate everyone's help!

 

[mfenn]

Hexa-core and Bulldozer...those are a solid upgrades. Great.

last question, for the parts above, what kind of PSU would work the best. I don't really care too much about power draw and energy costs, but I do not want to pay for what I don't need. And I dont think i'll ever really do CF/SLI at all, would rather sell and upgrade.

other than that, sounds like a good plan! i appreciate everyone's help!

The Earthwatts in your combo will be fine. CPUs will stay around 125W TDP for the foreseeable future and as long as you stay with midrange cards, I can't see you going over 150W TDP on a GPU.

Oh yeah, and this may be a stupid question, but better to ask it now than later. You realize that you will need to get an AM3 mobo with that x3 435, right?

 

[rohizz]

I decided to go with ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX - $60.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...6&amp;Tpk=M3A770DE

Would that be good enough?

But, yeah I'm definitely aware, I just forgot to edit the first post. Thanks for your answer. Appreciate it.

 

[mfenn]

I decided to go with ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX - $60.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...6&amp;Tpk=M3A770DE

Would that be good enough?

But, yeah I'm definitely aware, I just forgot to edit the first post. Thanks for your answer. Appreciate it.

Yep, that looks fine. Better safe than sorry I say.