Already have GPU/maybe PSU, can I finish gaming rig for <$500?

[lawlz]

Hey all, I have an EVGA GTX680 SC and a Corsair CX500 that I used for E-GPU laptop build. Although that was a fun experiment, there were many hardware limitations that just bogged down the experience, such as the fact that the bandwidth was limited to x1 vs. the x16 I could be getting on a full motherboard. Despite this fact, I was still scoring around 8000 for graphics in 3DMark11 so i'm quite excited at the performance gains I can get at full x16.

In any case, I'd like to finish the rest of the build if at all possible, but i have a very limited budget, $<500. Will my CX500 be enough juice to power the entire rig?

I use the computer mainly for gaming on a single monitor (30" 2560x1600).

CPU: ___?
RAM: ___?
HDD: I'll only need a 64GB boot drive as I have 2 4TB externals for storage
MOBO: ___?
Case: ____?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Termie]

You're playing on a 2560x1600 monitor and have a GTX680, along with 2 4TB drives. That's $1900 worth of hardware. Are you sure you can't put more than $500 into the rest of your system?

Anything you do will for under $500 will be pushing the limits of reason, but yes, you can do it.

Case: NZXT Source 210 - $35: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER
CPU: i5-3570K - $210: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i5-...ref=pd_sim_e_1
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK - $104AR/Code: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131837
RAM: ADATA 2x4GB DDR3-1600 - $53: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211457
SSD : SanDisk Ultra Plus 128GB - $99: http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-...s_1292116011_8

Total: $501

 

[Essence_of_War]

You're playing on a 2560x1600 monitor and have a GTX680, along with 2 4TB drives. That's $1900 worth of hardware. Are you sure you can't put more than $500 into the rest of your system?

I was perplexed by that also...😕

 

[mfenn]

You're playing on a 2560x1600 monitor and have a GTX680, along with 2 4TB drives. That's $1900 worth of hardware. Are you sure you can't put more than $500 into the rest of your system?

Anything you do will for under $500 will be pushing the limits of reason, but yes, you can do it.

Case: NZXT Source 210 - $35: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER
CPU: i5-3570K - $210: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i5-...ref=pd_sim_e_1
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK - $104AR/Code: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131837
RAM: ADATA 2x4GB DDR3-1600 - $53: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211457
SSD : SanDisk Ultra Plus 128GB - $99: http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-...s_1292116011_8

Total: $501

This is actually not too shabby at all! i5-3570K/Z77 mobo/8GB RAM/128GB SSD/case for $500? That's awesome IMHO.

 

[lawlz]

I ended up getting:

Case: Corsair 400R
Mobo: Asrock Z77 Pro4
CPU: Intel 3570K
Hard Drive: OCZ Agility II 60GB
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X 8GB (1 DIMM)

All the above for $464 after coupons!

Do you guys think my CX500 will be able to power all the above plus my GTX680?

 

[Termie]

Your PSU will be fine.

If you got an Agility 2, I'm sure it was refurbished. That may come back to haunt you. Of course, my Agility 2, purchased new, has been rock-solid, but I consider myself lucky.

 

[Sleepingforest]

That SSD is a bit outdated, but otherwise, not bad. A 500W PSU should be enough, but don't go looking for record overclocks.

 

[lawlz]

Your PSU will be fine.

If you got an Agility 2, I'm sure it was refurbished. That may come back to haunt you. Of course, my Agility 2, purchased new, has been rock-solid, but I consider myself lucky.

Yeah it was refurbed...I've owned a variety of SSDs in the past (C300, M4, 830, 840, Intel 3/5 series)...and never really noticed any HUGE real world differences between any of them so I figured as a boot drive, any SSD would fit the bill.

Also, I currently have a 240GB Intel 520 in my laptop, so I think I'll be swapping out the two so my desktop gets the most juice.

Overall, I think I finished the setup with very decent specs for a good price!

Thanks for the help everyone!

NOTE: Just picked up a BNIB Hyper 212 EVO from a friend for $10, SWEET! Although I don't plan on OCing at all, I'm hoping the 212 will cut down some of the noise compared to the stock HSF.