Best System for $1500

[Underground Shogun]

Hi guys, I'm looking to build a new system for my brother and was wondering what would be the best gaming system for no more than $1500?

Thanks,
underground.shogun

 

[mfenn]

Hi, please answer the following questions from the sticky so that we can better assist you.

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

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

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

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.

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

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

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

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

 

[chef-]

yah really need to know what you'll be doing with it and what exactly you have/need.

 

[HumblePie]

My main rig is about the best system $1500

Edit: my HTPC rig is about $1500 The main is about $2800 according to online retailers I looked up the prices for the items I have.

 

[Underground Shogun]

Hi, please answer the following questions from the sticky so that we can better assist you.

1. Lite Gaming (some MMORPG's) No FPS types.

2. $1350 - $1550

3. USA

4. No "off" brands. Nothing well established.

5. No use of current parts other than a monitor; this will be a ground-up build.

6. ATM, No.

7. No overclocking.

8. I will have to check with my brother on this one. I'm not sure what resolution his monitor currently supports.

9. Within the next month at the latest.

 

[HumblePie]

Do you live near a fry's or microcenter?

 

[mfenn]

1. Lite Gaming (some MMORPG's) No FPS types.

2. $1350 - $1550

3. USA

4. No "off" brands. Nothing well established.

5. No use of current parts other than a monitor; this will be a ground-up build.

6. ATM, No.

7. No overclocking.

8. I will have to check with my brother on this one. I'm not sure what resolution his monitor currently supports.

9. Within the next month at the latest.

OK, from the sounds of it, you don't need to spend anything close to $1500 to do what your brother wants.

ASUS M4A77TD $75
Phenom II X4 955 $160
G.SKILL DDR3 1600 4GB $110
XFX 5770 $160
1TB WDC Black $100 (you can substitute the Samsung F3 1TB here if you find it in stock)
LG DVD Burner $20
Corsair 400CX $50
Antec Three Hundred $62
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit $100
Total: $837

For mouse and KB (if he needs them), go to Best Buy or wherever and try some out in person.

One one thing that you could add that would improve general usage performance would be an Intel X25-M SSD ($225). SSDs are rather pricey, but he does have the budget for it.

 

[busydude]

1. Lite Gaming (some MMORPG's) No FPS types. 2. $1350 - $1550

Your don't have to spend $1500 for light gaming. You could get a $900 dollar AMD system or $1100 dollar i5 system which should suit your needs.

Also, if your brother's current monitor is less than or equal to 1080p a 5770 will be perfect else, get a 5850.

If you live near Fry's or MC then you could get plenty of deals which can save you a lot. For now though here are my recommended specs for AMD build:

CPU: Athlon II X4 635
MOBO: Gigabyte 880G
HDD : Samsung 500GB
RAM: G.Skill 1600 4GB
SSD : Intel X25-M 80GB
GFX: XFX 5770 1GB
CASE: Antec 300
PSU: Seasonic 520W

Add $100 for win 7 home premium.
Total: $1011

 

[Underground Shogun]

I do live relatively close to a Fry's.

 

[MisterDonut]

What mfenn said. . You can get even cheaper with the X4 620, but you have room for the 955 . SSD would be a nice addition, since you should have no problem fitting it in.

 

[Underground Shogun]

Thanks so much for all the replies. I have a pretty good idea now of what my build will look like.

 

[Underground Shogun]

OK, from the sounds of it, you don't need to spend anything close to $1500 to do what your brother wants.

ASUS M4A77TD $75
Phenom II X4 955 $160
G.SKILL DDR3 1600 4GB $110
XFX 5770 $160
1TB WDC Black $100 (you can substitute the Samsung F3 1TB here if you find it in stock)
LG DVD Burner $20
Corsair 400CX $50
Antec Three Hundred $62
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit $100
Total: $837

For mouse and KB (if he needs them), go to Best Buy or wherever and try some out in person.

One one thing that you could add that would improve general usage performance would be an Intel X25-M SSD ($225). SSDs are rather pricey, but he does have the budget for it.

On the ASUS M4A77D, I noticed on the specs on newegg that the memory standard is DDR2 1200/etc. Will the G.SKILL DDR3 1600 work as well on it? Just want to clear this up before I tell my brother to start ordering parts. Thanks.

 

[mfenn]

OK, from the sounds of it, you don't need to spend anything close to $1500 to do what your brother wants.

ASUS M4A77TD $75
Phenom II X4 955 $160
G.SKILL DDR3 1600 4GB $110
XFX 5770 $160
1TB WDC Black $100 (you can substitute the Samsung F3 1TB here if you find it in stock)
LG DVD Burner $20
Corsair 400CX $50
Antec Three Hundred $62
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit $100
Total: $837

For mouse and KB (if he needs them), go to Best Buy or wherever and try some out in person.

One one thing that you could add that would improve general usage performance would be an Intel X25-M SSD ($225). SSDs are rather pricey, but he does have the budget for it.

On the ASUS M4A77D, I noticed on the specs on newegg that the memory standard is DDR2 1200/etc. Will the G.SKILL DDR3 1600 work as well on it? Just want to clear this up before I tell my brother to start ordering parts. Thanks.

Above I listed the ASUS M4A77TD. That's the DDR3 version.

 

[Underground Shogun]

Thanks for the reply. I must have somehow copied the part down wrong. Certainly saved me a headache later on!

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for the reply. I must have somehow copied the part down wrong. Certainly saved me a headache later on!

No prob