~500$ Gaming/Streaming Build

[IceTee]

OK GUYS! Final build time. Review the build RIGHT after this paragraph. You may look below it to see my specs so far.

Processor-
i5 2400 - 150$
http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0354590
MOBO-
BIOSTAR H61MGC LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - 50$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813138332
Graphics Card-
HIS H677FN1GD Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 - 105$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161387
RAM-
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 - 20$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145278
PSU-
Corsair 430w - 35$
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=6 [...] omoid=1282
HDD+DVD Combo-
HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s
WITH 24x DVD burner- 99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145299
Case-
Coolermaster Elite 370- 32$
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=55447

FINAL PRICE- 491$ Not including rebates/taxes/shipping

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Approximate Purchase Date: Around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so basically, NOW

Budget Range: 500-550$

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Streaming, Editing, Screen Capture, Other

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Monitor, Mouse, Speaker, OS, MAYBE hard drive (Waiting for price to drop)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, NCIX, Microcenter, anything else.

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Up to you guys

Overclocking: If you guys recommend, otherwise probably not.

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080, though I have a lesser resolution monitor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi guys! First thread here. I'm trying to take advantage of the incoming price dropping holidays. I have two builds here, one that I made up, the other from another person

My build:


Motherboard

BIOSTAR H61MGC LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - 50$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813138332

Processors

i5 2400 - 150$
http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0354590

OR

i5 2320 - 175$
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=6 [...] omoid=1282

Graphics Card

HIS H677FN1GD Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 - 105$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161387

RAM

No idea yet, but I want a 4gb RAM. Not sure which one to get.

PSU

Corsair 430w - 35$
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=6 [...] omoid=1282

DVD
Samsung 22x OEM- 17$
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=6 [...] omoid=1282

Case

Coolermaster Elite 370- 32$
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=55447

FINAL (Without Rebates): 419-444$

I don't have an HDD yet, so add about 100$ to that price :\

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

And this is the other build
CPU+Mobo: $140 AMD Phenom IIX4 970+Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2P AM3+

RAM: $32 CORSAIR XMS3 8GB

HDD: $95 Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s. I'm trying hard not to recommend 320GB drives at $100 uch:

GPU: $160 SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6870

PSU: $65 SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W

Case: $32 COOLER MASTER Elite 370 - In your link.

TOTAL: $524 after rebates+Shipping.


So which one is better? I'm working on a limited time frame.

Thanks!

 

[philosofool]

The first one, except put the HD 6870 in it, since it would still be in your budget.

My view on the HDD : faster is nice, but your old HDD will probably do the trick until prices come down. My suggestion would be to stick with the HDD you have until you have the money for a SSD. Then get the SSD and use the old HDD for your user files.

 

[mfenn]

The first one, except put the HD 6870 in it, since it would still be in your budget.

My view on the HDD : faster is nice, but your old HDD will probably do the trick until prices come down. My suggestion would be to stick with the HDD you have until you have the money for a SSD. Then get the SSD and use the old HDD for your user files.

Agree with this. You should also get 8GB of RAM since it's only $30.

 

[IceTee]

The first one, except put the HD 6870 in it, since it would still be in your budget.

My view on the HDD : faster is nice, but your old HDD will probably do the trick until prices come down. My suggestion would be to stick with the HDD you have until you have the money for a SSD. Then get the SSD and use the old HDD for your user files.

Well actually I have a laptop right now (Hence why I want a desktop), so I don't have an HDD. I'm in sort of a predicament because if I add the 6870 I'll run outside of the budget.

Also, will the 430w power this? Thanks for the help, I'm sorta confused.

 

[Ken g6]

If you must drop $50, I'd drop the i5 2400 to a $100 i3 2100 at Micro Center. Get the 2120 if it's like $5 more, but last I heard it was $25 more @MC.

430W should work well, if you stay away from nVIDIA's current generation cards.

 

[lehtv]

430W is enough for up to a 6850, but 6870 needs two PCIe connectors

 

[Skott]

Think about future GPU upgrades when selecting a PSU. Once you go above the 6850 you will most likely need two power connectors for the GPU cards and the power to run it. Might want to keep that in mind if you think you'll add a bigger/better GPU down the road for this rig.

 

[IceTee]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

I was recommended a quad core for streaming/gaming/editing stuff like that, so why should I switch to i3?

Also, what power supply should I get then? Can you guys list me a build that works?

 

[Ken g6]

I was recommended a quad core for streaming/gaming/editing stuff like that, so why should I switch to i3?

Because you don't have enough $$$. And because an i3 with a 6870 is generally better than an i5 with a 6770.

You say "streaming" - does that mean streaming from Netflix, or streaming games to somewhere else?

As for PSU, I still think you'll be OK with the 430W. Especially with an i3, which uses less power than a quad-core. Your selected 6870 comes with molex connectors, so that's no problem. Things only get dicey if you get enough money for upgrades.

 

[IceTee]

Because you don't have enough $$$. And because an i3 with a 6870 is generally better than an i5 with a 6770.

You say "streaming" - does that mean streaming from Netflix, or streaming games to somewhere else?

As for PSU, I still think you'll be OK with the 430W. Especially with an i3, which uses less power than a quad-core. Your selected 6870 comes with molex connectors, so that's no problem. Things only get dicey if you get enough money for upgrades.

Well by streaming, I mean streaming my games. Like, as I play live, my screen is streamed. Well I was advised to get a quad core for best results, so that's why I wanted those processors. Can an i3 handle such processes? Thanks.

 

[Skott]

Well, a i5 quad will do it better, yes, but its also a much more powerful cpu. The i3 should do the job though. I don't think thats going to be a problem per se. One thing to consider is getting a mobo that's also upgradeable to a IB later down the road. There are a number of H61, H67, P67, and Z68 mobos that will allow you to do this and many are at reasonable price for budget minded folks. H61, and H67 mobos do not allow for overclocking though and the P67 and Z68 do. So you need to first decide if you want a mobo that allows for OCing or not now or down the road.

Edit: Also don't fret over the overclocking issue. Some people want to do it and some don't. There is no right or wrong answer. Its what you want and need that matters. You can have a perfectly great rig that doesn't overclock just like you can have a great rig that does overclock. Your choice.

 

[IceTee]

Well, a i5 quad will do it better, yes, but its also a much more powerful cpu. The i3 should do the job though. I don't think thats going to be a problem per se. One thing to consider is getting a mobo that's also upgradeable to a IB later down the road. There are a number of H61, H67, P67, and Z68 mobos that will allow you to do this and many are at reasonable price for budget minded folks. H61, and H67 mobos do not allow for overclocking though and the P67 and Z68 do. So you need to first decide if you want a mobo that allows for OCing or not now or down the road.

Edit: Also don't fret over the overclocking issue. Some people want to do it and some don't. There is no right or wrong answer. Its what you want and need that matters. You can have a perfectly great rig that doesn't overclock just like you can have a great rig that does overclock. Your choice.

Thanks, I've decided to go with an i5 quad, just because it does the job better, and an H61. I don't feel like OC'ing, and possibilities for Ivy Bridge upgrades are nice. I'll be posting my final build soon.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks, I've decided to go with an i5 quad, just because it does the job better, and an H61. I don't feel like OC'ing, and possibilities for Ivy Bridge upgrades are nice. I'll be posting my final build soon.

I'm confused. Doesn't the initial build that you posted in the OP have an H61 (OP has not been edited)?

When I add up all the parts in machine #1 in the OP, plus 6870, plus the RAM that I linked (you want 8GB for FRAPSing), plus a $90 500GB HDD, I get $564. If you cannot spend the extra $14 over the top of your budget, I would suggest getting this HDD + DVD Burner combo for $100 (HDD is slower than the one I linked above).

EDIT: Forgot the link to the combo

 

[IceTee]

I'm confused. Doesn't the initial build that you posted in the OP have an H61 (OP has not been edited)?

When I add up all the parts in machine #1 in the OP, plus 6870, plus the RAM that I linked (you want 8GB for FRAPSing), plus a $90 500GB HDD, I get $564. If you cannot spend the extra $14 over the top of your budget, I would suggest getting this HDD + DVD Burner combo for $100 (HDD is slower than the one I linked above).

I think you misunderstood me, I will be gettin gan H61 (it's in the build).

Thanks for the link :O
Helps me a lot. I may not consider the 8gb RAM or the 6870, like I said, I'll edit my post later.