Another $500 Gaming Build

[dpodblood]

Hey Guys,

Looking to help a friend out with a $500 gaming machine. Budget is just for hardware. Probably will be playing a wide variety of games, so it doesn't need to be tailored for one specific title.

Here's the sticky questions:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$500

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
Canada (NCIX or Newegg.ca)

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
Nope.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Monitor and peripherals

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Defaults

8. What resolution will you be using?
1080p

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Soon.

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
No.

Here's what I've come up with so far (from NCIX).

Case - Antec Three Hundred $50
$15 Rebate Available
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=29812&vpn=THREE HUNDRED&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1209

Power Supply - Thermaltake 500W TR2 $40
$10 Rebate Available
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=66855&vpn=TR-500&manufacture=Thermaltake&promoid=1209

Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2PV mATX LGA1155 H61 $55
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=67556&vpn=GA-H61M-S2PV&manufacture=Gigabyte&promoid=1209

CPU - Intel Core i3 3225 $130
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=75430&vpn=BX80637I33225&manufacture=Intel&promoid=1209

RAM - Gskill 4GB DDR3-1600 $23.74
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=30384&vpn=F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ&manufacture=G.Skill

Video Card - Gigabyte Radeon HD 7770 1GB $120
$20 Rebate Available
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?...-1GD Rev2.0&manufacture=Gigabyte&promoid=1209

Hard Drive - Western Digital Blue 500GB $60
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?...X&manufacture=Western Digital WD&promoid=1209

DVD - Any ~$20

Total - $498.74

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[RaistlinZ]

Only thing I would suggest is looking for a more powerful video card. I bet you can find a used 6950 2GB for not too much more money than that 7770.

 

[lehtv]

I would recommend against the Thermaltake PSU and the old H61 chipset which lacks USB 3.0 and SATA 6gb/s. The H61 board isn't out-of-the-box compatible with Ivy Bridge anyway unless the BIOS is up-to-date from the factory. Otherwise you're on the right track.

i3-3220 $110 @ ncix
Asrock B75M-GL $60 AR @ canadacomputers
Patriot Gamer 2 2x4GB 1600 1.5V $25 AR @ canadacomputers
EVGA 560 Ti FBP $130 AR @ memoryexpress
Seagate 1TB 7200RPM ST1000524AS $50 (super awesome deal) @ newegg
DVD-RW $19
XFX 550W $50 AR @ ncix
Antec 300 $35 AR @ ncix

= $479 AR + shipping

 

[dpodblood]

Thanks lehtv. To be honest I wasn't sure which chipset to go with for Ivy Bridge budget builds. I knew for SB people were using H77, but I wasn't sure if it was still compatible.

If possible I'd like to avoid buying from more than one outlet as that will most likely increase the shipping costs.

 

[lehtv]

I tried to pick the best deals which would give you the best bang for buck, shipping included. If you don't want to order from more than one place, you can try to find similar components yourself 🙂

 

[dpodblood]

I tried to pick the best deals which would give you the best bang for buck, shipping included. If you don't want to order from more than one place, you can try to find similar components yourself 🙂

Fair enough. Appreciate the advice as always!