Building a gaming rig for friend

[Geiser34]

I am building a budget gaming computer for my friend.
He would like to have an i7 processor if possible and upwards of 8GB of RAM.

Here is what I have found. I just want to make sure the build will work and want to know if there are any better prices out there.

Thanks in advance

1. Power supply: Coolmax ZP-750B ZP $59.99 w/ $20 rebate http://bit.ly/M7ZPJJ
2. Case: Cooler Master RC-600-KKN1-GP $32.25 http://amzn.to/L4dhlR
3. Motherboard: EVGA 131-GT-E767-RX $94.99 http://bit.ly/Ow1H34
4. CPU:Intel Core i7 940 2.93GHz $199.99 http://amzn.to/LADDbS
5. Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 12GB (6 x 2GB) DDR3 $89.99 http://bit.ly/LAF4Ht
6. Primary hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200 500GB $60 http://amzn.to/M81bEo
7. Video card: EVGA GeForce GTX 550 $109.99 w/ $15 rebate http://bit.ly/LAHllN

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.

Gaming (Specifically Left 4 Dead 2, Resident Evil 5, Wii Emulation), Photoshop, Word Processing, Social Networking.

2. What YOUR budget is.

$500-$700

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

USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.

Intel, Nvidia, EVGA

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

*CD/DVD drives
*WiFi Adapter
*Keyboard
*Mouse
*Monitor
*Microphone
*Speakers

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

This system will not be over-clocked.

8. What resolution will you be using?

1280 X 1080.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Next week

 

[Ken g6]

Um, no. Just no.

Let's start with some basic questions. Which is more important, Photoshop speed or gaming? Is this Photoshop CS6? These questions will help decide whether to emphasize CPU speed or GPU speed.

As to your parts...

1. PSU: Bad brand, don't need that much power. Depends on advertised specials, but here's a 600W Corsair for $40 AR AP. Still not the best, but cheap and better than Coolmax.

(I don't advise on cases.)

3. LGA 1366 is two generations old! Aim for B75 (e.g. Biostar, $70) if not overclocking, or the even cheaper H61 if you have to.

4. CPU: That's the trick:
- For mainly gaming, i3-2120, $123
- For mainly Photoshop, Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2, $234. (Not technically supported in consumer boards, but I hear it works great!)
- And there are a few products in between too.

5. You now need RAM sticks in pairs, not triples. If you have the money...2x8GB Corsair for the same price! (Or save $2 at Newegg on similar RAM.)

6. OK. 'Twould be nice if you could swing an SSD in there, though.

7. Video card. Why nVidia? Photoshop CS5 doesn't use CUDA, and CS6 can use AMD OpenCL at least as well. The 550's not a great gaming card, but selection of a replacement will depend on whether you insist on nVidia and how much money is left after CPU selection. Edit: Based on the OP, let's set this MSI 460 for $120AR, as a baseline. You can get EVGA, but it'll either run way slower or cost more for no significant benefit IMHO.

 

[mfenn]

OK, so "gaming on a budget" and "i7" go together about as well as oil and water. Since the thread title is "Building a gaming rig for a friend," I'm going to assume that gaming performance is the number one priority.

i5 3550 $210
ASRock B75M $65
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $40
7850 $210 ARhttp://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023&user=u00000687
7K1000.D 1TB $68
M12II 520W $60
Rosewill Blackbone $40
Total: $693 AR

The case isn't going to win any awards, but you're getting a very potent gaming system for $680. The only thing that really distinguishes performance-wise from a $1000 machine is the lack of an SSD.

EDIT: Some changes to HDD and PSU thanks to lehtv.

 

[Zap]

1. Power supply: Coolmax ZP-750B ZP $59.99 w/ $20 rebate http://bit.ly/M7ZPJJ
2. Case: Cooler Master RC-600-KKN1-GP $32.25 http://amzn.to/L4dhlR
3. Motherboard: EVGA 131-GT-E767-RX $94.99 http://bit.ly/Ow1H34
4. CPU:Intel Core i7 940 2.93GHz $199.99 http://amzn.to/LADDbS
5. Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 12GB (6 x 2GB) DDR3 $89.99 http://bit.ly/LAF4Ht
6. Primary hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200 500GB $60 http://amzn.to/M81bEo
7. Video card: EVGA GeForce GTX 550 $109.99 w/ $15 rebate http://bit.ly/LAHllN

1. No on Coolmax brand. Get a decent 500W PSU like the Corsair CX500.

3. No on a refurbished motherboard that was made in 2009. Go socket 1155.

4. No on several generations old stuff. Go socket 1155.

5. Get an 8GB dual channel DDR3 kit for around $40-50.

7. Well, I guess L4D2 isn't that stressful of a game.

I am building a budget gaming computer for my friend.
He would like to have an i7 processor if possible and upwards of 8GB of RAM.

...

2. What YOUR budget is.

$500-$700

Sure, can get a Core i7 and scads of RAM in that budget, but so many tradeoffs that the machine will be seriously gimped for gaming.

Um, no. Just no.

That was my exact first thought after reading the budget and the proposed list.

i5 3550 $210
ASRock B75M $65
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $40
7850 $210 AR
WD Blue 500GB $65
CX500 $50 AR
Rosewill Blackbone $40
Total: $680 AR

:thumbsup:

 

[lehtv]

OK, so "gaming on a budget" and "i7" go together about as well as oil and water. Since the thread title is "Building a gaming rig for a friend," I'm going to assume that gaming performance is the number one priority.

i5 3550 $210
ASRock B75M $65
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $40
7850 $210 AR
WD Blue 500GB $65
CX500 $50 AR
Rosewill Blackbone $40
Total: $680 AR

:thumbsup:

I would change the HDD to Hitachi 7K1000.D 1TB $68 (NCIX) and PSU to Seasonic M12II 520W $60

 

[Denithor]

Let's combine a few things here for maximum value.

CPU: Intel E3 1230(V2) for $234
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819117286

Motherboard: Asrock B75M for $72.50 shipped (CPU chart shows compatible with E3 above)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157313

Memory: Mushkin 2x4GB DDR3-1600 CAS9 for $46
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226217

GPU: XFX 7850 2GB for $235AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150608

HDD: Seagate 1.5TB for $80 after coupon code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148337

PSU: Corsair CX600 for $40 after coupon code & rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139028

These parts total $707.50AR. Throw in a cheap case and you're done for about $750. With MUCH more HDD space, better GPU, stronger CPU than mostly listed above.

 

[lehtv]

I'd say the HDD I posted is better value (faster, newer, less expensive, plenty of space)

 

[mfenn]

These parts total $707.50AR. Throw in a cheap case and you're done for about $750. With MUCH more HDD space, better GPU, stronger CPU than mostly listed above.

It's a nice build to be sure but you blew the budget by $50 after rebates.

 

[mfenn]

:thumbsup:

I would change the HDD to Hitachi 7K1000.D 1TB $68 (NCIX) and PSU to Seasonic M12II 520W $60

Nice additions, edited my post.

 

[Zap]

Nice additions, edited my post.

You blew it! You could have ninja'd the post and said nothing.