Building a new gaming machine for my brother.

[mithcol]

Hi guys, so Im back here for my fifth build. I love doing this and have used this forum for all 4 of my previous builds. This one is going to be for my brother and this is what his looking for;


1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
gaming, mainly DOTA2, Skyrim online when it comes out, World of Warcraft.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$500, (I already have a monitor Dell U2313HM, mouse, keyboard, OS) will need a case.

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

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
We can't be expected to scour the internet on your behalf, chasing down deals in your specific country... Again, help us, help YOU.
newegg.com, USA

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy,AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
no preference

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
none

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
not sure


8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
1920 x 1080?

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.
will order the parts mid next week (12-15th of Nov)

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
no


Also I dont need much space, just for those few games. Im really looking to save as much money as possible on this.


thanks again!

 

[mfenn]

A repeat "customer"! Excellent...

$500 is kind of a tough budget, but having all the peripherals really helps.

Pentium G3220 $70
ASRock B85M-HDS $60
Team DDR3 1600 8GB $64
MSI 7850 2GB $140 AR
WD Blue 1TB + Lite-ON DVD Burner combo $83
Corsair CX500 $25 AR AP
Fractal Design Core 1000 $36
Total: $478 AR AP

 

[mithcol]

thanks mfenn, just wanted to clarify one thing, how do rebates work? Ive never done it before. What exactly do I have to send back to them?

Also forgot to mention he doesnt really need a dvd drive but looks like it comes free in that combo.

 

[lehtv]

Here's all the info you need on that: http://help.newegg.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/132

It'll typically take some weeks for you to get the rebate money.

 

[Torn Mind]

Just be sure to keep records of your documents because you might be denied the rebate even if you follow directions to the letter. Pay close attention to the UPC code of the product you are submitting the rebate for. Photos or scans of your UPC codes and rebate forms should be taken. You should glue the UPC codes to the paper so they can't say the codes weren't sent and then you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Clearly video taping yourself putting all properly filled out forms and documentation into the envelope and sealing the envelope would be the best form of evidence to keep.

I've just had a rebate denied because they said I didn't send in the UPC codes even though I clearly double checked to put them in the envelope, hence my suggestion to you, OP, to glue the codes to the paper. Heck, I submitted a different rebate the same day and that got approved with no issues.

 

[mjd]

Yeah, rebates take forever and are unreliable. So, just consider them a bonus. The above posters have covered the process nicely.

Modern rebate submissions also sometimes include a website where you can track the status of your rebate submission - though the details are sparse.

 

[mithcol]

thanks, doubt he will be mailing it in though...

anyway to save money on the 1tb hd? he really doesnt need that much space

 

[Joeydubbs]

Just be sure to keep records of your documents because you might be denied the rebate even if you follow directions to the letter. Pay close attention to the UPC code of the product you are submitting the rebate for. Photos or scans of your UPC codes and rebate forms should be taken. You should glue the UPC codes to the paper so they can't say the codes weren't sent and then you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Clearly video taping yourself putting all properly filled out forms and documentation into the envelope and sealing the envelope would be the best form of evidence to keep.

I've just had a rebate denied because they said I didn't send in the UPC codes even though I clearly double checked to put them in the envelope, hence my suggestion to you, OP, to glue the codes to the paper. Heck, I submitted a different rebate the same day and that got approved with no issues.

Spoken like a man who has been truly burned by the rebate process lol

As others have said, consider it bonus money if it goes through. These rebate companies have huge incentives to deny you and it comes down to your word vs theirs...I never let the presence of a mail in rebate influence my purchase

 

[frozentundra123456]

Spoken like a man who has been truly burned by the rebate process lol

As others have said, consider it bonus money if it goes through. These rebate companies have huge incentives to deny you and it comes down to your word vs theirs...I never let the presence of a mail in rebate influence my purchase

I have never failed to get a rebate eventually, but it certainly can take a long time.

 

[Torn Mind]

Spoken like a man who has been truly burned by the rebate process lol

As others have said, consider it bonus money if it goes through. These rebate companies have huge incentives to deny you and it comes down to your word vs theirs...I never let the presence of a mail in rebate influence my purchase

Burned indeed. Because they say the UPC codes weren't there means I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I can't do the resubmission because I'll get rejected because I don't have the codes anymore. It's a longshot to go through Tigerdirect's Rebate Assurance Policy although I'm going to try. But if I had glued the codes on the paper, tampering would be easily evident.

They(the 4myrebates people) probably tossed the stuff in the trash because Centon gave them "orders" to do so. Never happened before. On that same day I sent out my Centon RAM rebate claim, I sent out a mailing for a rebate for a Patriot RAM rebate. That rebate went through just fine even though I did not irreversibly attach my UPC codes to the paper form. Yet the Centon did not.

 

[mfenn]

thanks, doubt he will be mailing it in though...

anyway to save money on the 1tb hd? he really doesnt need that much space

Without the ODD, a 1TB Seagate drive costs $60 AP. 500GB and 320GB drives cost the same on Newegg right now. So, I guess my answer is "no".