hitting a brick wall

[onelivinlarge]

i been doing a lot of research and i just hit a brick wall today looking at my budget for my build. and i know clock for clock Intel sb rapes pretty much everything on the market. but with my budget and trying to have my rig built with in 3 weeks after skyrim release im left wondering if i should go for a amd quad or hex core to use. because before i was totally set on buying a i5 2500k but after working over all numbers and doing alot of math i realized i was gonna be 700+ to finish the sb set up and i just cant justify that right now as a college student with no job. with intel being clock for clock faster is there anything in the amd line up that will be as fast as a unoverclocked 2500k? yet cheaper? and this set up is going to be used for nothing but gaming and watching hd movies my budget is 500 or less

monitor(720p) and gpu(geforce 8600) excluded as i am being given both of those. and may have a extra psu from a old dell. also i dont mind used

i would like to have this built or all bought and waiting on shipping the tuesday after thanksgiving

needs to be able to play skyrim on med atleast with out dropping under 40fps preferably

 

[GoStumpy]

Is an Intel i3-2100 workable within your budget?

i3-2100:
$124.99 with free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115078

vs:

i5-2500k:
$214.99 with free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115072

Can a $90 savings help? This way you're still using the LGA1155 socket, and in the future if you want, you can upgrade the CPU to an i5-2500K, or an i7-2600K...

The i3-2100 is more than enough for any game that I know of at the moment, and more than overkill for 1080p movies

 

[Ken g6]

i would like to have this built or all bought and waiting on shipping the tuesday after thanksgiving

So you've got some time. I gather Skyrim is supposed to come out in a couple of weeks. Then we'll have benchmarks, and then we can tell you for sure what you need.

In the meantime, it would help if you could fill out [thread=80121]the usual 9 questions[/thread].

Edit: i5 Dell refurb, anyone?

 

[SithSolo1]

There are no current AMD processors that are both cheaper and faster than the 2500k. However, most games today become GPU limited before the become CPU limited. Any run of the mill AMD quad or hex core should be enough for Skyrim at medium. Your biggest issue is going to be the video card. the 8600 will hold back any quad or hex core you buy.

If you want to go AMD get the following if you can work it in the budget:

Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130608
Proccessor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103995
Video card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102908

The CPU has a possiblity to unlock to a 6 core and that motherboard supports both CPU unlocking and AMDs FX processors so that you may have an upgrade path in the future.

I would recommend a cheaper video card but that one is so close in price to the lower ones that its not worth the downgrade.

If you want to go Intel I would stick with the same video card and one of their dual-core processors for now to keep the price down.

Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157252
Processors - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115078 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078
Video card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102908

I picked out the z68 mobo since it will support Overclocking if you ever get a K processors and it might possibly have better Ivy Bridge support.

Also check out this budget gaming rig thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2199068

Also note that while I linked everything from the Egg they don't always have the best prices so shop around.

 

[Insomniator]

Well is that 8600 going to run the game settings regardless of the CPU? I don't know much about Skyrim but an 8600 hasn't been able to run much at medium settings... ever.

 

[onelivinlarge]

Well is that 8600 going to run the game settings regardless of the CPU? I don't know much about Skyrim but an 8600 hasn't been able to run much at medium settings... ever.

the 8600 will be gone as soon as i have the cash for like a used 5770 or 6770

 

[onelivinlarge]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing. This pc will be used for gaming and movies (as i have a laptop for my school work)

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread 450 or less

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

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. not a fan boy but i do lean to intel (due to laptop being intel)

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are. gpu and monitor (will get new/used gpu if in budget)

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

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds. i would like to over clock eventualy so it is faster for gaming

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with. 720p or higher

9. WHEN do you plan to build it? tuesday after thanksgiving all parts should be ordered or already shipped

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned. throw at me

 

[onelivinlarge]

Is an Intel i3-2100 workable within your budget?

i3-2100:
$124.99 with free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115078

vs:

i5-2500k:
$214.99 with free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115072

Can a $90 savings help? This way you're still using the LGA1155 socket, and in the future if you want, you can upgrade the CPU to an i5-2500K, or an i7-2600K...

The i3-2100 is more than enough for any game that I know of at the moment, and more than overkill for 1080p movies

an i3 is work able

 

[ItsAlive]

Do you have a Microcenter near you? I believe they have a sale where if you buy a 2500k for $180 you get $60 off a motherboard. Which would put the combo around $220 - $230 if you get a $100 z68 motherboard.

 

[SithSolo1]

Do you have a Microcenter near you? I believe they have a sale where if you buy a 2500k for $180 you get $60 off a motherboard. Which would put the combo around $220 - $230 if you get a $100 z68 motherboard.

you are correct the November deal is 60 off any 2500k/2600k combo w/ a z68 or p67 board

Edit - you will also be better of buying a new or used 6850 and a slower processor than buying a fast processor and anything slower then a 6850 if you want to maintain 40fps on medium. A 6770 isn't going to cut it

 

[lehtv]

its 40 off on the 2500k, 80 on the 2600k

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/16efa968#/16efa968/27

@OP so you don't have Windows? What about keyboard, mouse, headphones; need those? $450 is a really tight budget for a whole PC.

 

[onelivinlarge]

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/16efa968#/16efa968/27

@OP so you don't have Windows? What about keyboard, mouse, headphones; need those? $450 is a really tight budget for a whole PC.

i have a custom speaker system i have built, i have a logitec vx revolution mouse and a keyboard and i own headphones several pairs. and i can obtain a copy of windows or ill run linux

 

[onelivinlarge]

Do you have a Microcenter near you? I believe they have a sale where if you buy a 2500k for $180 you get $60 off a motherboard. Which would put the combo around $220 - $230 if you get a $100 z68 motherboard.

no microcenter near me at all closest is chicago

 

[onelivinlarge]

you are correct the November deal is 60 off any 2500k/2600k combo w/ a z68 or p67 board

Edit - you will also be better of buying a new or used 6850 and a slower processor than buying a fast processor and anything slower then a 6850 if you want to maintain 40fps on medium. A 6770 isn't going to cut it

ok a 6850 i will start looking for

 

[Zap]

im left wondering if i should go for a amd quad or hex core to use.

I'm not aware of any game using cores #5 and #6 in the foreseeable future, so save some money and get the quad, and put that saved money into the graphics card.

 

[lehtv]

Here's what I'd recommend

Mobo Biostar H61ML $58
CPU+PSU Pentium G620 + Corsair CX500 V2 $123 ($103 AR)
RAM 8GB Mushkin $38 ($33 AR; from NCIX) [strictly speaking 4GB would be enough but at $33 this is much better GB/$]
GPU GTX 460 Hawk $150 ($120 AR; from NCIX)
HDD Hitachi 500GB $60
ODD Asus DVDRW $18 (from NCIX) or Samsung DVDRW $18 (newegg)
Case CM Elite 430 $45 after promo ($35 after rebate)

Total = $492 or $427 AR

Items from newegg are either free shipping or shipping included. NCIX has free shipping to US on orders >$50.

Other case options you could consider
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=29812&vpn=THREE HUNDRED&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1316
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=55583&vpn=RC-912-KKN1&manufacture=COOLERMASTER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146075

 

[onelivinlarge]

assuming i buy my gpu used/use the 8600 until Christmas and buy hdd used i think i could afford either of these tell me what you think and i think its along the lines of what yall have been suggesting i took what people have been saying and added it to here so here were the 2 thoughts i had

intel rig

amd rig

note i think i found a dvd drive i can use temporaraly

 

[lehtv]

The black XMS3 is rated at 1.5V-1.65V... SB requires 1.5V, and one of the user reviews on newegg said it required 1.6V on his SB system. You should go with the Mushkin RAM from ncix (but u need to order something else from there too to get free shipping); or G.Skill Sniper from newegg.

Would rather go with the i3 than FX4100, consumes less power and performs better. + compatible with Ivy Bridge.

 

[onelivinlarge]

The black XMS3 is rated at 1.5V-1.65V... SB requires 1.5V, and one of the user reviews on newegg said it required 1.6V on his SB system. You should go with the Mushkin RAM from ncix (but u need to order something else from there too to get free shipping); or G.Skill Sniper from newegg.

Would rather go with the i3 than FX4100, consumes less power and performs better. + compatible with Ivy Bridge.

ok so the intel build up with the z68 board and i3 then the sniper ram.

 

[mfenn]

assuming i buy my gpu used/use the 8600 until Christmas and buy hdd used i think i could afford either of these tell me what you think and i think its along the lines of what yall have been suggesting i took what people have been saying and added it to here so here were the 2 thoughts i had

intel rig

amd rig

note i think i found a dvd drive i can use temporaraly

Lehtv's build is better (and more complete) than either of those.

 

[onelivinlarge]

my only problem with that is that the 620 wont play skryim

 

[lehtv]

How do you know? Skyrim isn't out yet.

620 is pretty fast, it's essentially i3-2100 with lower clock and no hyperthreading.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=406

Your GeForce 8600, on the other hand, definitely won't run Skyrim well. If you can afford i3-2100 as well as a GPU upgrade to 6850 or better, by all means

 

[onelivinlarge]

How do you know? Skyrim isn't out yet.

620 is pretty fast, it's essentially i3-2100 with lower clock and no hyperthreading.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=406

Your GeForce 8600, on the other hand, definitely won't run Skyrim well. If you can afford i3-2100 as well as a GPU upgrade to 6850 or better, by all means

ive watched the min requirements from Bethesda for months and min is dual core at 3ghz this is the issue with the 620 but it will see when the money comes down

and i know the 8600 wont even come close

 

[lehtv]

Well, the minimum CPU recommendation is more of a generalised recommendation. G620 is as fast as a 3.4GHz AMD X2, so G620 could still be good enough according to the minimum specs. But you may be right also, we'll know better when the game is released

 

[mfenn]

ive watched the min requirements from Bethesda for months and min is dual core at 3ghz this is the issue with the 620 but it will see when the money comes down

and i know the 8600 wont even come close

"Minimum requirements" from PC game companies are always so general as to be useless. Like lehtv says, a G620 is as faster than a 3.0 GHz Phenom II or Core 2 Duo. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that your GPU (even a 6850) will be much more of an issue than the CPU.