Decent Budget Build?

dhorn

Senior member
Jul 11, 2008
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So my friend wants a budget gaming PC, and when I say budget, I mean like...sub $400 without the monitor. This is what I am putting together for him and the prices. Let me know your thoughts:

CASE/PSU: Rosewill Case & PSU $90
PROC: AMD X2 7750 $45 (Bought on Anandtech)
MOBO: Foxconn A7VMX-K $63
VC: Sapphire Radeon HD 4830 $75
HDD: Hitachi 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 2 $47
MEM: None Selected Yet
DVD: Pioneer DVD Burner $23

Total (so far): 343 (plus memory, so maybe add 30-40 bucks)



Prices are after shipping, and I think it's decent on the allotted budget. One concern is the Video card....he is unable to afford the 4830 for a little while, so we are getting him a mATX board with integrated. The one listed above has a HD 3100, whereas others had nvidia 6100/6150 or HD2100. I'm not sure what the spec difference is on them, but if you guys had any thoughts. (We haven't ordered the mobo yet)

Thanks

Dan
 

somethingsketchy

Golden Member
Nov 25, 2008
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What kind of games does he play? Integrated graphics is decent (a big "if" depending on your definition) if you downgrade the "eye candy" settings such as Anti-Aliasing. As a temporary solution I would suggest something like an 8400GS or an ATI equivalent. While yes that graphics card is a little old for the generation we are in, I used that card for a better part of a year playing COD4, Dead Space and even EVE-online (back when I was playing). I think you can find that card on Newegg for very cheap (less than $50). That will get you by until your friend has the cash to spring for the 4830 or 4850.

I am not sure about the 9000 Nvidia series as I went directly from an 8400GS to an 8800GTS (very short amount of time) to an GTX 260 (current).
 

dhorn

Senior member
Jul 11, 2008
213
0
71
Well the PSU is a combo deal, so it's kind of a balance between cost and quality. He doesn't need anything too powerful, but for the price it isn't bad. Should get him by. He doesn't want to spend any money on the VC yet, so the integrated is going to have to work. He is stepping up from an integrated intel in his laptop. Mostly World of Warcraft until he buys the 4830. Then bumping it up to crysis and whatnot.
 

dhorn

Senior member
Jul 11, 2008
213
0
71
He picked out the case and PSU, i think shipping was a concern of his. Both of these have free shipping, whereas you look at spending upwards of 20-25 bucks shipping other psu and cases. I didn't research it too extensively.