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Help with new low cost gaming build: ~$550-600 (Price range raised)

yage

yage

Junior Member
Hello,

After being without a system (and before that, on a build from ~2003 with an Athlon XP 2800+), I've made the decision to start building a more current gaming rig... on a budget! I've been doing a decent amount of research over the last few months in an attempt to catch up with what might fit my criteria and drooling over pieces that are a little out of reach. Anyway, my birthday has just passed and after hearing me wax and wane about how much I want to build a new rig, my lovely girlfriend bought me an Antec 300 Illusion and a 500 GB Samsung Spinpoint F3 HDD and basically told me to get building! I have a few ideas but I would like some criticism and advice on which parts may work a bit better together. I'd like an extremely solid, economical build. Nothing flashy, but something that won't complain when I game for 6 hours straight. Now, the fun stuff.

The required Q&A:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Gaming, gaming, gaming. I'll have 5 speakers with a sub hooked up, but the onboard audio should be fine for that.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

I'd like to spend no more than $450 on the remaining parts, Monitor not included. (Purchasing that on a separate budget.)

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

USA. Newegg primarily. Is Tigerdirect still relevant?

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Basically just AMD. I enjoy ASUS products as well.

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

Antec 300 Illusion case
Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB HDD

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

I have, but I would like a thread to directly post in at this near to purchase time.

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

I do plan on some very casual overclocking. When the time comes I will be making sure that I am doing it correctly every step of the way using the myriad of resources available on this forum.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1900x1200 ideally, though if I cannot afford a monitor able to achieve that I would have to settle for 1900x1080.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Now.

So these are a few parts that I have looked at and researched a little to the point where I am comfortable considering:

PSU ideas:

Corsair CMPSU 550VX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

Seasonic S12II 520
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...20101117134547

CPU:

Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1 GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-872-_-Product

Athlon II X3 440 Rana 3.0 GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-843-_-Product

GPU:

I haven't decided on a particular card, but the HD5770 has caught my eye.

RAM:

Again, I am in the dark as to which would be a decent set of sticks. The G.SKILL offerings seem fairly standard. I am thinking 4 GB should suffice.

MOBO:

The is the bane of my existence when it comes to decision making. I don't want to spend too much and get something that I will not make full use of, but at the same time I don' t want to cut costs and end up with a pile of crap. I saw this MoBo and thought it might be a good deal currently:

ASUS M4A79XTD EVO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131402

Any other parts that I may be overlooking and are necessary should also be suggested.


So, yeah, that about sums up what I have been thinking about. Please help! I will accept any suggestions and take them into consideration. Thank you!
 
Last edited:
RavenSEAL said:
450? for 1080p gaming? To be honest with you...not gonna happen.
Click to expand...
Even without the cost of peripherals, monitor, case, and hard drive? I could go up to 500 if need be. I'm not looking for something that will game at 1080p with stellar performance on max settings, but at least more than the lowest. Could you explain why this budget isn't feasible? I'm almost entirely in the dark when it comes to current technology.
 
yage said:
Even without the cost of peripherals, monitor, case, and hard drive? I could go up to 500 if need be. I'm not looking for something that will game at 1080p with stellar performance on max settings, but at least more than the lowest. Could you explain why this budget isn't feasible? I'm almost entirely in the dark when it comes to current technology.
Click to expand...

You'll be back in the game @ $600, no problemo.
 
Your current selections seem pretty reasonable. By my calculations you are at $XX with the CPU, mobo, and PSU. Throw in some G.Skill for $57, and you've got $180 to spend on a GPU. Grab a GTX 460 for $151 AR Apromo, and you'll be all set. Assuming that you don't need a DVD burner of course.
 
mfenn said:
Your current selections seem pretty reasonable. By my calculations you are at $XX with the CPU, mobo, and PSU. Throw in some G.Skill for $57, and you've got $180 to spend on a GPU. Grab a GTX 460 for $151 AR Apromo, and you'll be all set. Assuming that you don't need a DVD burner of course.
Click to expand...

Agreed!
 
I've been thinking and have decided to spread the purchase out over a couple of paychecks. This gives me a little more room to play with and I'd like to spend a little more on a video card, as gaming will be my primary focus. I have a few concerns, namely: will the items I've picked work together? And will they work well?

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131402

Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231303

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127510

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103872

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151094

My main concern is that the GTX 460 will be limited by the processor. Will the motherboard support an upgrade in the future when AMD releases a new generation of processors? Also, I think I made sure, but will the the PSU be able to power everything properly?

I'd like to be sure before I pull the trigger.

How do those selections look? Anything I should pick up that I am missing? A DVD burner will come later with the monitor purchase.
 
I would never buy a computer in separate parts... testing needs to be done before newegg's RMA is over, otherwise you are dealing with hours of phone calls with indian guys asking you everything from if the computer is plugged in to how do your farts smell. Either wait, or get everything now. Waiting would actually drop the prices on many things also, and allow more nice n' shiny parts to release...
 
Your build looks pretty decent, though I would get the DDR3 that muskie recommended and spend the savings on going to an Athlon II X4 640.

Oh an muskie, $150 on a Q8300? You're mad.
 
The Q8300 is $90 at microcenter. If I was upgrading an LGA775 system, it might be reasonable for that price, but I wouldn't pick it up for a new system though.
 
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