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Budget Gaming System for ~$1000

R

Raybdbomb

Senior member
OK so here's what I was thinking. Please correct if there's something better cheaper, or if I should focus on other areas (with examples please).

Motherboard $69.99:
GIGABYTE GA-945P-S3 LGA 775 Intel 945P ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128015

CPU $139.00:
Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Allendale 2.0GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115014

RAM $189.99-$20MIR=$169.99:
Patriot 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820220230

PSU $69.99:
Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V TUV, UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817103937

Case $139.99-$40MIR=$99.99:
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129021

HDD $69.99:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148144

LCD $189.99-$20MIR=$169.99:
ViewSonic Optiquest Series Q20WB Black 20" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824116075

Graphics card $99.99-$15MIR=$84.99:
EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130062

Speakers $38.99
Logitech X-230 32 watts RMS 2.1 Black Speaker System - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16836121123

Mouse $45.99-$7.50MIR=$38.49
Logitech G5 2-Tone 6 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Laser Mouse - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16826104191

Keyboard $12.99
Microsoft Comfort Curve Black 105 Normal Keys 9 Function Keys USB Wired Ergonomics Keyboard 2000 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16823109149

Total: $1066.90-$102.50MIR=$964.40
 
Ditch the videocard and get a x19800pro or x19800XT.


Do you really need 4 gigs of ram? I mean honestly...

Get rid of the case and get a centurian 5 and throw away the overpriced PSU. You can get a 450 watt FSB psu for 20 bucks less (which is more than enough anyways.)


Total should be under $1,000.



 
Get less RAM; use the money to buy a better card. I'd recommend the X1950XT, or the 7950GT, both of which offer excellent performance for less than $200. There's even
a passively cooled 7950GT.
 
Motherboard $129.99:
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Link

RAM $79.99:
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-5400C4PT - Retail
Link

PSU $129.99-$15.00MIR=$:
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply - Retail
Linkhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817103937

HDD $84.99:
SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD403LJ 400GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Link

Personally i would choose something along those lines. 4gb is a waste, and buying a mobo based on 945 is a bad idea as well.

From here you can grab yourself any conroe/kensfield based CPU depending on price plus GPU that can be as high as a 8800GTX thanks to the PSU. The bonus is that i heard gigabytes p35 boards are PCI-e2 compliant and supports 45nm penryns.

God shopping hardware in USA is SO much better than stinking new zealand.. so cheap and so many options!
 
Originally posted by: Noobtastic
Ditch the videocard and get a x19800pro or x19800XT.


Do you really need 4 gigs of ram? I mean honestly...

Get rid of the case and get a centurian 5 and throw away the overpriced PSU. You can get a 450 watt FSB psu for 20 bucks less (which is more than enough anyways.)


Total should be under $1,000.
Click to expand...

Centurion 5's FTW! One of the nicest looking cases IMO.

I'd say get a better mobo though.

And you don't need a 45 dollar mouse, man! You can get a nice logitech previous generation ones (like my mx510) for $30 or less... Might want to check a store and try some different ones, because it depends on your hand as to what mouse is the best.
 
Thanks for the comments
so changes:
Case $65 shipped:
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119047
Change:
-$75

PSU $65 shipped:
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.2, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104954
Change:
-$5 (is that worth it?)

Ram $80 shipped:
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
Change:
-$110

Graphics card $189.99-$40=$149.99:
XFX PVT71JUHE4 GeForce 7950GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150220
Change:
+$90

New Total:
$966.90-$87.50=$879.40

Is the updated build approved now? 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
Motherboard $129.99:
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Link
Personally i would choose something along those lines. 4gb is a waste, and buying a mobo based on 945 is a bad idea as well.

From here you can grab yourself any conroe/kensfield based CPU depending on price plus GPU that can be as high as a 8800GTX thanks to the PSU. The bonus is that i heard gigabytes p35 boards are PCI-e2 compliant and supports 45nm penryns.
Click to expand...

I think you're ignoring the "budget" in the title.

I can't swap parts out for more expensive stuff without decreasing something else.

I think I'll not buy a mouse, so that'll save me another $46.
 
Originally posted by: Raybdbomb
OK so here's what I was thinking. Please correct if there's something better cheaper, or if I should focus on other areas (with examples please).

Motherboard $69.99:
GIGABYTE GA-945P-S3 LGA 775 Intel 945P ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128015

CPU $139.00:
Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Allendale 2.0GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115014

RAM $189.99-$20MIR=$169.99:
Patriot 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820220230

PSU $69.99:
Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V TUV, UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817103937

Case $139.99-$40MIR=$99.99:
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129021

HDD $69.99:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148144

LCD $189.99-$20MIR=$169.99:
ViewSonic Optiquest Series Q20WB Black 20" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824116075

Graphics card $99.99-$15MIR=$84.99:
EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130062

Speakers $38.99
Logitech X-230 32 watts RMS 2.1 Black Speaker System - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16836121123

Mouse $45.99-$7.50MIR=$38.49
Logitech G5 2-Tone 6 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Laser Mouse - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16826104191

Keyboard $12.99
Microsoft Comfort Curve Black 105 Normal Keys 9 Function Keys USB Wired Ergonomics Keyboard 2000 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16823109149

Total: $1066.90-$102.50MIR=$964.40
Click to expand...

here's what i'd change:

-drop to 2 x 1gb for now (or a single 2gb) and if you're not satisfied after a month of usage, upgrade another 1 or 2gb.
-get a cheaper case since you're budget isn't that high, the centurion is a good case, but i'd llook for something cheaper (than the antec 900) with 2 x 120mm fans.
-get the Corsair HX520 PSU
-get a x1950Pro http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161092 (HIS x1950Pro with ICEQ quiet cooler)

with those changes you'll have a much better gaming PC
 
I'm against ATI (for various reasons... mostly I don't like their drivers), so I'm forced to go with Nvidia at this point.
 
Originally posted by: Raybdbomb
OK so here's what I was thinking. Please correct if there's something better cheaper, or if I should focus on other areas (with examples please).

Motherboard $69.99:
GIGABYTE GA-945P-S3 LGA 775 Intel 945P ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128015

CPU $139.00:
Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Allendale 2.0GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115014

RAM $189.99-$20MIR=$169.99:
Patriot 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820220230

PSU $69.99:
Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V TUV, UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817103937

The Smart power 2.0 Antec PSU`s were the ones Antec has been having all th trouble with....
I would stay away from the Smart power totally....
This is a much better PSU -- IMO --
PSU $65 shipped:
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.2, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104954
Change:
-$5 (is that worth it?)




Case $139.99-$40MIR=$99.99:
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129021

HDD $69.99:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148144

LCD $189.99-$20MIR=$169.99:
ViewSonic Optiquest Series Q20WB Black 20" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824116075

Graphics card $99.99-$15MIR=$84.99:
EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130062

Speakers $38.99
Logitech X-230 32 watts RMS 2.1 Black Speaker System - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16836121123

Mouse $45.99-$7.50MIR=$38.49
Logitech G5 2-Tone 6 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Laser Mouse - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16826104191

Keyboard $12.99
Microsoft Comfort Curve Black 105 Normal Keys 9 Function Keys USB Wired Ergonomics Keyboard 2000 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16823109149

Total: $1066.90-$102.50MIR=$964.40
Click to expand...

 
doesn't matter if this is a budget build: getting a mobo based on the 945 chipset is a waste. and don't get the C2D 4400. get the 4300. a bit cheaper. you can overclock it to make up the difference.

get this:
CPU: Intel C2D E4300 - $117

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $130

RAM: 2GB DDR2 667Mhz for $113

PSU: get the FSP one that JEDIYoda suggested. $65

Case: if you're building a budget rig, why are you buying a case that costs $100? In reality, while having a nice case is pretty to look at, having perform,ance is more
important. Get the $50 CoolerMaster Centurion 5. i have that case and it is wonderful. looks great, durable and costs 50% less

HDD: the one you chose is fine. get a samsung one if you want a quieter harddrive. -$70

LCD: that's fine - $170

Video Card: get XFX 8600GTS for $205

speakers are fine.

forget to add a DVD drive? that's another $30.

a basic mouse and the keyboard you wanted add another $22. if this is a budget rig, don't get an expensive mouse.

all that comes to a total of $1010. yes a bit more expensive, but this will perform much much better then what you picked. also, this is futureproof. the P35 chipset will allow you to upgrade the cpu if you desire to quad core and later on, to the 1333FSB intel cpu's.
 
Originally posted by: Noobtastic
Ditch the videocard and get a x19800pro or x19800XT.
Do you really need 4 gigs of ram? I mean honestly...
Get rid of the case and get a centurian 5 and throw away the overpriced PSU. You can get a 450 watt FSB psu for 20 bucks less (which is more than enough anyways.)
Total should be under $1,000.
Click to expand...


X19800-X19800XT Pro won't be out until 2025 IIRC. Although I like your suggestion of the 450FSB PSU I think a 500FSB PSU would give more OC headroom. 😉

 
Is there any real reason these recommendations suck?

Motherboard $129.99:
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Crucial Ballistix BL2KIT12864AA804 2GB(1GBx2) PC26400 $114.50 - $30 MIR
mwave crucial link

HDD $69.99:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Case $65 shipped:
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

I like the 8600GT suggestion, atleast you get some longevity.

PSU $129.99-$15.00MIR=$:
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply - Retail

Ok i think that is about it... no dvd-rom drive i notice... if you want one i would get the Pioneer DVR-212D or i guess the samsung alternative is decent.

Ok so that is about 670 after MIRs excluding the monitor.

I did this pretty quickly so i may be missing stuff.

If you want some in detail reasoning and parts recommendation i can work directly with you if you PM me. just list some parts in the pm with a budget and usage for the computer... i help a lot of people so i forget who needs what

 
re: 775 bashing.

I won't be overclocking, I won't ever upgrade components (except for maybe ram or graphics card).

Does the 775 mobo still suck?
 
You will want to overclock one day.

Trust me.

You built your computer so you have at least some desire to get more for less money-- this translates directly into overclocking once you feel your computer is running slow.

One day you'll be happy you spent a little more on a good motherboard, because you'll push that processor from 1.8Ghz to 3.0+Ghz and get exited over a 75% performance increase for absolutely $0.

Good gcard I like it. Also good pick on the HDD. Fastest drive out there; a single 250GB platter. 100MBps read speeds on the end of it. Also good move on 2GB of RAM not 4GB. I thought I might need 2GB but then I upgraded from 1 to 1.5 and it solved all my woes, even 1.5 in Vista is fine for me. Might go for 2 in the far future. Can't imagine needing 4.

Good luck.

Oh and I would try to find a slim keyboard, one that has a shorter keydepth press kinda like a laptop...they're quieter and you can type a lot faster (less up down action). One last recommendation, if you can find the same prices on mwave.com and zipzoomfly.com prefer those places over newegg.com. Those guys don't bring anywhere near the business newegg does, but they keep newegg's prices in check. The more you can buy from mwave and zzf the more parts they can buy and the better they can compete with newegg. Their service is just as good (has to be, they're competing with newegg after all), so it's only to your and everyone's benefit to try to spread the wealth among the retailers so they have to keep prices in check.
 
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