Budget mobo+gfx+proc+ram for under 500

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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
I offer 2 suggestions:
i5 2500K + Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 http://www.microcenter.com/search/se...=200121+484964
Microcenter combo: $240
8gb 2x4gb ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820161364
$42
Nvidia 560 ti http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133377
$195

total: $477

or

Intel i5 2400 + MSI H61M-P23 http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0359807
Microcenter combo: $170
8gb 2x4gb ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820161364
$42
AMD 6870 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131378
$140 (Coupon code POW1X5)
Total: 352

Nice combo at MC! $20 motherboard? I'll take it! :awe:

That frees up enough room in the budget to easily get the GTX 560 Ti or 6950 2GB, so I say go for it.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
Agree, type of game matters. CIV 5 at 30-40fps is perfectly fine :p

I've been reading some RAGE threads and it's funny that all of these people that are used to 30-40fps on max settings in games are suddenly getting constant buttery-silky-smooth 60fps. They seem to be realising how much more smooth, stable fps counts than increased image quality in FPS games, in terms of an enjoyable experience.
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
Well, in the case of Rage, you've gotta have that 60 FPS to distract you from the ridiculous texture pop-in. :awe: But seriously, I completely get where you're coming from. I remember how I much "better" I got at Crysis when I stopping being stubborn and lowered the details. 50+ FPS is far more enjoyable than 25.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
BTW the texture pop-in issue was apparently fixed by the recent update. I just started playing it today, it runs flawlessly :) I'm liking it so far but I've heard the ending is a letdown
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
BTW the texture pop-in issue was apparently fixed by the recent update. I just started playing it today, it runs flawlessly :) I'm liking it so far but I've heard the ending is a letdown

Yeah, I wasn't being completely serious about that part. I heard that they had optimized the texture cache for the limited VRAM and and camera rotation speed available on consoles. The patch I think just bumps that cache up to something more reasonable for GPUs with 1GB of VRAM.