budget gaming machine

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Zenobia

Member
Aug 11, 2003
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I'm putting together a budget gaming computer and have these basic items so far, all from Newegg:

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $45
Item#:N82E16820231122
ASRock A780GXE $95
Item#:N82E16813157139
AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma $83
Item#:N82E16819103300
EVGA 512-P3-N978-AR GeForce 9800 GT
Item#:N82E16814130379 $145

Thinking really CHEAP (but still upgradable), is there anything really wrong with this?
Thanks!

 
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polarbear6

Golden Member
Jul 14, 2008
1,161
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cmmon atleast throw in a e7200 (Cant think anything lower than that)
what ever it might be amd athlon can get u no where

and i personally feel 4850 ati would be better(sentence open for reconsideration)
than a 9800gt

this should be renamed as the cheapest pc (gaming i dont know)
 
BTRY B 529th FA BN

BTRY B 529th FA BN

Lifer
Nov 26, 2005
15,194
403
126
Apparetnly the AM3 chip will fit into a AM2+ board so that would make the board the focus of your choice if you go the AMD route, but currently the AM3 chips make no difference in performance but atleast you have the option of a newer chip. The 775 socket is EOL but there are many great choices for that socket. Its up to you, good luck!
 
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polarbear6

Golden Member
Jul 14, 2008
1,161
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there are 2 things here eithr you can get performance at the very moment you buy everything(the 775 route) or you get performance after you re first upgrade(the am3 way)
 
skillyho

skillyho

Golden Member
Nov 6, 2005
1,337
0
76
The Kuma 7750 is actually a decent CPU....if you don't plan on overclocking and you have a set budget, there is nothing wrong with what you have.

If you could spend another $50 or so, get a cheaper s775 motherboard & e5200 instead along with a HD 4850 as mentioned.
 
AstroManLuca

AstroManLuca

Lifer
Jun 24, 2004
15,628
5
81
If I were on a tight budget and I wanted to buy a computer for gaming right now, I'd go LGA 775 with an E5200 or E7400 (only if you can afford the latter; the E5200 is still a great CPU). You can always upgrade to a high end quad-core if and when you need more performance.

AM2+/AM3 could have a significant future, but that's dependent on AMD not deciding to come out with yet ANOTHER new socket and boards purchased now continuing to support future CPUs (a lot of older 775 boards don't support any new Core 2 Duos, just like how my AM2 board doesn't support any worthwhile AM2+ CPUs). I'm not sure how much you can count on those things happening.

And besides, that's only if you decide it's worth getting a board that can take a CPU upgrade in the future. Best you can get with 775 is a high-end C2Q. Best you'll be able to get with AM2+ would be... what, maybe a Phenom III? If AMD decides to be nice? Otherwise you'll be limited to a high end Phenom II which might be a bit better than C2Q in the long run but not by a huge margin.
 
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polarbear6

Golden Member
Jul 14, 2008
1,161
1
0
am3 or 775 either of the ways is risky but i see more light in the 775 path as till now phenom 2(as i heard) dint manage to beat the q9650 (as i heard now please post negitive comments but they should'nt insult me please)

if you could wait till the cost of ddr3 modules come down it will be very good
you could like then may be grab a core i7(remember people core 2 duo started costly but now is kinda cheap)

i would suggest wait if possible till the end of this summer
if still the prices are like this go on with the original plan you had in you re mind :p
 
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nyker96

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2005
5,630
2
81
Here's my picks:
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $45
Radeon HD 4830 512MB $80AR
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 $85AR
Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz $73

about same as yours. But if you OC that E5200 to over 3.2Ghz. You'll have a killer gaming machine 4 cheap. Will be slightly faster than your suggested rig.
 
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polarbear6

Golden Member
Jul 14, 2008
1,161
1
0
Originally posted by: nyker96
Here's my picks:
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $45
Radeon HD 4830 512MB $80AR
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 $85AR
Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz $73

about same as yours. But if you OC that E5200 to over 3.2Ghz. You'll have a killer gaming machine 4 cheap. Will be slightly faster than your suggested rig.
Click to expand...

try not to stope below a 4830
and in case u still need to go cheap try a p35 based board
dont go for any gxx series board (as they have a graphic processing chip on the nb whch can potentially become a heat generator)

but remember lga 775 is at EOL
 
cusideabelincoln

cusideabelincoln

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2008
3,275
46
91
The AMD Athlon 7750 is a better gaming chip than the E5200: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuch...howdoc.aspx?i=3512&p=8
Average performance advantage in the four gaming benchmarks is about 9%. And it's no slouch of an overclocker either, since it comes with an unlocked multiplier.

And why are you spending $145 on a 9800GT? For that price, pick up an HD4850 or 9800GTX+ or step up to an HD4870. Better yet, you can get an HD4830 for almost half that price.

But other than the overpriced video card, what you picked out is fine. Socket 775 and AM2+ basically have the same amount of longevity (from a performance standpoint) since you're starting out with the budget sector. In the future you can look forward to dropping a Phenom II into that motherboard.
 
yh125d

yh125d

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2006
6,886
0
76
Originally posted by: ganesh1
Originally posted by: nyker96
Here's my picks:
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $45
Radeon HD 4830 512MB $80AR
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 $85AR
Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz $73

about same as yours. But if you OC that E5200 to over 3.2Ghz. You'll have a killer gaming machine 4 cheap. Will be slightly faster than your suggested rig.
Click to expand...

try not to stope below a 4830
and in case u still need to go cheap try a p35 based board
dont go for any gxx series board (as they have a graphic processing chip on the nb whch can potentially become a heat generator)

but remember lga 775 is at EOL
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with Gxx boards. The IGP can be disabled completely, so no heat there. They probably won't overclock quite as well, but usually decent enough. You can pretty much guarantee they're good for at least 375. Hell the manufacturer rates them at 1333FSB all the time.


As far as EOL is concerned, it's probably a non issue for this build. The cpus he's looking at are the e5200/7400 range, which still leaves him plenty of room up to the Q9550/9650 in the future. By the time he decided to upgrade the 5200/7400 he builds it with and goes with a fast quad, then gets tired of the fast quad, he'll be building a new computer anyhow.
 
Denithor

Denithor

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
6,298
23
81
Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
The AMD Athlon 7750 is a better gaming chip than the E5200: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuch...howdoc.aspx?i=3512&p=8
Average performance advantage in the four gaming benchmarks is about 9%. And it's no slouch of an overclocker either, since it comes with an unlocked multiplier.
Click to expand...

X2 7750 & E5200 trade shots at stock speeds.
Meaning that, clock-for-clock, the X2 is slower.

X2 7750 overclocked to 3.3GHz
E5200 overclocked to 3.8GHz
You do the math.

X2 7750 is a power hog

But other than the overpriced video card, what you picked out is fine. Socket 775 and AM2+ basically have the same amount of longevity (from a performance standpoint) since you're starting out with the budget sector. In the future you can look forward to dropping a Phenom II into that motherboard.
Click to expand...

Right. S775 can be upgraded to a 3GHz C2Q and AM2+ can be upgraded to a 3GHz PhII. So far on both counts. Intel's not likely to do away with their Q9650 production anytime soon but also aren't likely to trot out any faster-clocked S775 chips either (why - when they have i7 for the top end) while AMD will likely crank out some 3.2-3.6GHz chips (but they may or may not work on AM2+ boards). And since AMD's chips don't beat Intel's clock-for-clock I know which path I would choose.
 
T

Tempered81

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2007
6,374
1
81
I'd rather take the s775 option with the chance to upgrade to Q9650 in the future. I'd take a q9650 over a phII 940


 
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TidusZ

Golden Member
Nov 13, 2007
1,765
2
81
Probably wont be overclocking too much at all with an el cheapo Asrock motherboard. At least go for a gigabyte EP43 DS3L or UD3L, or if you find $20 in your couch splurge for P45 UD3R / UD3P.
 
rarebear

rarebear

Senior member
Dec 11, 2000
450
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71
cusideabelincoln

cusideabelincoln

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2008
3,275
46
91
Originally posted by: Denithor
Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
The AMD Athlon 7750 is a better gaming chip than the E5200: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuch...howdoc.aspx?i=3512&p=8
Average performance advantage in the four gaming benchmarks is about 9%. And it's no slouch of an overclocker either, since it comes with an unlocked multiplier.
Click to expand...

X2 7750 & E5200 trade shots at stock speeds.
Meaning that, clock-for-clock, the X2 is slower.

X2 7750 overclocked to 3.3GHz
E5200 overclocked to 3.8GHz
You do the math.

X2 7750 is a power hog

But other than the overpriced video card, what you picked out is fine. Socket 775 and AM2+ basically have the same amount of longevity (from a performance standpoint) since you're starting out with the budget sector. In the future you can look forward to dropping a Phenom II into that motherboard.
Click to expand...

Right. S775 can be upgraded to a 3GHz C2Q and AM2+ can be upgraded to a 3GHz PhII. So far on both counts. Intel's not likely to do away with their Q9650 production anytime soon but also aren't likely to trot out any faster-clocked S775 chips either (why - when they have i7 for the top end) while AMD will likely crank out some 3.2-3.6GHz chips (but they may or may not work on AM2+ boards). And since AMD's chips don't beat Intel's clock-for-clock I know which path I would choose.
Click to expand...

Overclocking doesn't guarantee the same results each time. And where are numbers? In the Xbit article the 7750 is still on average about 5% faster in those four games. "You do the math" [face_LAUGH]

And did you just... wait what. Like I said, and I am right, from a performance standpoint both socket AM2 and 775 offer the same longevity. Intel isn't likely to top their Q9650, and AMD will release higher clocked chips which should close the gap to the Q9650's performance and will work in AM2+ boards. So... yeh I don't know what you're trying to prove here.

Clock for clock is meaningless considering the OP hasn't made any indication as to if and how much overclocking he plans to do.
 
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Zenobia

Member
Aug 11, 2003
51
0
0
Ok, now I feel really dumb. I forgot to mention I?m allergic to intel. Sorry, consensus here reads intel, but I?ve been doing AMD for decades... almost. Intel is probably the better choice for the $$ but if I get one I?d know I?d brake out in worts. And I?m sorry about HD Radeon, etc, too, but I?ve had an Nvidia EVGA 7600 card for years that plays Crysis amazing well at fairly high settings. And the Asrock board my be el cheapo but it looks to the future. Phenom FX when and if? But thanks, you've really given me lots to consider!

(Ganesh1, it was an honor to read your comments. No negetivo here.)

Yeah, Diablo3, arf arf!
 
C

conlan

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
3,395
0
76
Well, what ever works for you i guess.

I've owned Intel, AMD, 3DFX, nVidia, ATI etc. etc. over the years, whatever at the time that gives the best bang for the buck is what we get.

Good luck in your quest.

 
K

kmmatney

Diamond Member
Jun 19, 2000
4,363
1
81
Originally posted by: conlan
Motherboard

CPU

RAM

VideoCard

Easy upgrade path, highly overclockable.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

I couldn't have come up with anything better myself. The E5200 is an awesome chip at stock, and runs mighty cool. The AMD chip is not bad, though. I'd also highly recommend the HD4830 - it overclocks to HD4850 speeds with no effort and is a very good price - much better bang for the buck than the 9800GT.

Basically the best bang for the buck you can get right now is the E5200 + HD4830 combo. Serious horsepower for a small amount of money.
 
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