Is this a good gaming desktop?

warrencarr

Junior Member
Jan 13, 2014
19
0
0
augmentcomputers.com
I was wondering if this is a good deal for the price and how good it will be at gaming. Thanks for any input!

Athena - $599.00
CPU : FX-4130 (3.8GHz)
Video Card : Radeon HD 7770 1GB
RAM : 6GB 1600 Mhz DDR3
Hard Drive(s) : 500GB 7200 RPM
Power Supply : 450 Watt
Optical Drive : DVD
 

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2006
6,490
1,022
136
Eh...not really. It's not terrible but the CPU is a bit weak, and whats up with 6GB RAM? Go with 1x4GB stick and upgrade later or go with 2x4GB now for 8GB.

Is this in the US? It's pretty easy to build your own and you could do better with $600.
I'll take a quick look around and see what options if any are better if you really want it built for you.

How do you feel about refurbs? $600 can do pretty good with a used system.
 

crashtestdummy

Platinum Member
Feb 18, 2010
2,893
0
0
This is probably a better system for around the same price (note that it doesn't include a windows license--that may pump the price above your system).
 

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2006
6,490
1,022
136
Yeah did some looking and you can get an FX-6300 based system with the newer R7 260x and 8GB RAM around $600 from Ibuypower. Or an Intel i3 based system with similar specs.

I think the FX-6300 is slightly better than the i3, they trade blows in games but the 6300 can be overclocked and has more cores. The i3 system however, comes with a better MOBO (z87x) and can be upgraded to an i5 or i7 later while the FX-6300 system can't upgrade much (nothing as good as the i5 or i7).

One nice thing is they have a sale going that allows an R9 270x upgrade for $40, putting the systems closer to $650, but increasing gaming performance significantly (~50%).

Both systems offer a few rebates that should reduce the prices another $50+, if you can get them that would put the 270x upgraded systems near $600. Either way, Id highly recommend the 270x if it fits in your budget (it's much better than the 7770).

I'll probably do a little more browsing just for fun.
 

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2006
6,490
1,022
136
This is probably a better system for around the same price (note that it doesn't include a windows license--that may pump the price above your system).

Yeah that's not to bad, similar to this system:
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/CyberPower_Z87_i5_Configurator

This one came out to $621 (before rebate?) also no OS but they build it for you.

I configured it with:

Apevia X-trooper case with $50 rebate and max 120mm fans
i3-4130 stock cooler
Gigabyte Z87X-HD3 with $15 rebate
2x4GB DDR3 1866 (free upgrade Adata XPG V2)
ATI R7 260x 1GB (but has the option to go 270x 2GB for +41$ HIGHLY recommended)
Corsair CX430w PSU
2TB 64MB 7200RPM HDD (free upgrade)
standard DVD-R/RW drive

Again $621 with the 1GB 260x and it would be $662 with the 2GB 270x (and $65 rebates)
With those rebates this would be a better system for $600 and it's built for you.

There's a similar AMD system here:
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/AMD_Quad_Core_Configurator

Configured nearly the same way only with an FX-6300 and 970A-DS3P instead it's $602
$60 in rebates instead of $65. Same $41 upgrade option to the 270x as well.
 

lyssword

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2005
5,630
25
91
dunno, z87 seems a little bit of an overkill for a $600 system, and i3 doesnt overclock much either. Seems 6300 based system would be better, or maybe even x4 750k for cheaper option
 

lakedude

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2009
2,778
529
126
Is this a good gaming desktop?
The thread in the link is for "midrange" and describes how to purchase a ~$1000 gaming system...

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2192841

A $600 system is not even going to be midrange so I assume you mean "Is this system good for the money?"

I like Crash's system well enough it isn't worth pricing up my own version.

Did your original system include an OS?

To save money if need be:

Shop around on the r9-270, you can find them a bit cheaper.
Drop down to a $150 HD 7850.
Drop down to a 650 Ti.
Maybe look at an AMD 760K and matching MB.

If you don't need to save money Crash's build looks solid as is.
 

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2006
6,490
1,022
136
dunno, z87 seems a little bit of an overkill for a $600 system, and i3 doesnt overclock much either. Seems 6300 based system would be better, or maybe even x4 750k for cheaper option

For a pre-built the difference in MOBO cost is like $10 (less after rebate). Absolutely worth it for the better features and future upgrade options. Obviously an i3 can't OC but what's wrong with getting an i5 in a year or two? A cheap s**t MOBO won't even last that long while a nice MOBO will work so much better all that time, then take the upgrade and keep on running.

But that's also why I offered an FX-6300 option, in case he absolutely will not be upgrading or something.
 

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2006
6,490
1,022
136
A $600 system is not even going to be midrange so I assume you mean "Is this system good for the money?"

What are you on about? He's asking about a midrange $600 build not a high end $1000 build.
There are 3 good examples here of fine midrange machines for $600. You say you wont price anything but you do anyway...you're just making things confusing.
 

warrencarr

Junior Member
Jan 13, 2014
19
0
0
augmentcomputers.com
Eh...not really. It's not terrible but the CPU is a bit weak, and whats up with 6GB RAM? Go with 1x4GB stick and upgrade later or go with 2x4GB now for 8GB.

Is this in the US? It's pretty easy to build your own and you could do better with $600.
I'll take a quick look around and see what options if any are better if you really want it built for you.

How do you feel about refurbs? $600 can do pretty good with a used system.
Why would you go with 4GB over 6GB? It is built in the US and I would like a pre built system.
 

crashtestdummy

Platinum Member
Feb 18, 2010
2,893
0
0
Why would you go with 4GB over 6GB? It is built in the US and I would like a pre built system.

Thing is, with a pre-built custom system you're paying at least a $100 premium on anything you buy. While that's not a huge deal on the high end, at the low end (where you are), you can get a big boost in performance for that price. For example, going from that 7770 to an R9 270 will almost double your frame rates.

As for the memory, 6GB (2+4GB) is always weird. It should run in flex mode, so you will have 4GB of dual channel memory and 2GB of single channel. Its probably marginally better than having 4GB (2x2GB) memory, but the benefit is smaller than you'd think because the extra RAM is bottlenecked.
 

lakedude

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2009
2,778
529
126
What are you on about? He's asking about a midrange $600 build not a high end $1000 build.
Maybe we should do a poll? Around here a $1000 system is mid range. $600 is at the low end of the gaming system range.

Crashtestdummy is calling $600 the low end as well:

at the low end (where you are)

The OP asked if a $600 system was "good" and I'm sorry to be pedantic but the system he mentioned is not "good", even you yourself call it "midrange" not "good".

There are 3 good examples here of fine midrange machines for $600. You say you wont price anything but you do anyway...you're just making things confusing.

I added ways to save money because it was not clear if Windows is included in the $600 budget. If Windows is included on the computer in the OP the hardware budget is actually closer to only $500. In that case the suggested builds might come in a little high and the OP might need to save a little money. Just trying to help (and be realistic).
 
Last edited:

warrencarr

Junior Member
Jan 13, 2014
19
0
0
augmentcomputers.com
So something more like this be a good buy, in the 550-700? range

Athena - $649.00
CPU : FX-4130 (3.8GHz)
Video Card : Radeon HD 7790 1GB
RAM : 4GB 1600 Mhz DDR3
Hard Drive(s) : 500GB 7200 RPM
Power Supply : 450 Watt
Optical Drive : DVD
 

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2006
6,490
1,022
136
So something more like this be a good buy, in the 550-700? range

Athena - $649.00
CPU : FX-4130 (3.8GHz)
Video Card : Radeon HD 7790 1GB
RAM : 4GB 1600 Mhz DDR3
Hard Drive(s) : 500GB 7200 RPM
Power Supply : 450 Watt
Optical Drive : DVD

Do you have a link to where you are getting these parts/prices? As we have shown, there are better options in that price range.
The CPU is still an issue here, and while the 7790 isn't a bad card it looks like you can do better without spending more. And which brand power supply?

Also, is that a 1x 4GB stick of RAM or 2x 2GB sticks?
I think you should avoid 2GB sticks (which is why I discouraged the 6GB set [4+2]).
If you go with 4GB make sure it's a single stick so you can easily upgrade later to 8GB.
Adding another 1x 4GB stick is super easy, if you have 2GB sticks they will be useless and need to get replaced.

I already posted a link to another vendor with better options/pricing.
I'll reformat it similar to your post, maybe make things easier to compare.
Here's the link again to the AMD configuration I used:
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/AMD_Quad_Core_Configurator

$643 - $60 Rebates = $583 .......................... $649
CPU: FX-6300 ............................................. (FX-4130)
Video Card: R9-270x (newer 7870) .................. (7790)
RAM: 8GB 1866 MHz DDR3 .............................. (4GB 1600 MHz)
Hard Drive(s): 2,000 GB 7200RPM .................... (500 GB 7200RPM)
Power Supply: 430 Watt Corsair quality brand .... (450 Watt unknown quality)
Optical Drive: 24x DVD DL R/RW ....................... (DVD ?)

One detail we don't know, is your system including the operating system? Like Windows 7 or 8? That will add to the cost of the systems. If I add Win 7 64bit to my system it will be $747 before rebates and $687 after.

It's easy to change configurations though, so you could pick a 260x (newer 7790) instead of 270x (newer 7870) and that would reduce the price to ~700-725$ before rebate $640-665 after.

One option I didn't add that may be worthwhile is the liquid cooler over the stock version. It's not necessary unless you overclock, but it should help the PC run cooler and quieter either way and is a good value for the $20 extra it costs (retail would be $40-60).

If you do plan to OC and pick the water cooler, upgrade to the 500 Watt Corsair CX for $8 more. If you don't mind another rebate, there's a 650W Thermaltake Smart unit that should be decent for $21 with a $20 rebate...essentially a free upgrade over the 430 Watt CX. That'd be plenty of power even for future upgrades.

There's also a 16x Blu-Ray burner upgrade on sale for $32, another fair value option.

But again, do you have link to where you're getting your parts/prices? And importantly does it include Windows or another OS?
 

lakedude

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2009
2,778
529
126
All of the systems and alternate suggestions posted by AT regulars CTD and ER are superior to either build posted by the OP.

I prefer the Intel system posted by CTD because it can easily upgraded to an i5 or i7 as ER pointed out and because single threaded performance is going to be better as well. The FX-6300 is certainly better than the FX-4130 and perhaps better than the i3 for applications that make use of MOAR COARS but perhaps not as good as the i3 for single threaded apps.
 

lakedude

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2009
2,778
529
126
It doesn't come with an operating system
That makes the argument for the AT member's suggested builds stronger.

Have you ever built a computer before? I was much more difficult in the past with jumper settings and whatnot. These days it is mostly plug and play (easy).

I'm sure you could get help (here) if you have any issues.

Any of the suggested home-built systems would be significantly better than the Augment.

Look at some benchmarks:

CPUs

4130 (4164 ponts): http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+FX-4130+Quad-Core
6300 (6379 points): http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+FX-6300+Six-Core
i3-4330 (5155 ponts): http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i3-4330+@+3.50GHz&id=2025

Video Cards

7770 (2157 points): http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=Radeon+HD+7770
r9-270 (4220 points): http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=Radeon+R9+270
 
Last edited:

lakedude

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2009
2,778
529
126
Do you live by a Micro Center?

One nitpick on Crash's build, the $110 memory. That is a bit much for a system in this price range IMO.

I like the G Skill low voltage memory for around $85 but going even cheaper might be better.

G Skill low voltage 1600 $85
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9d8gbsr2

or if you feel like you need the 1866 $85
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9d8gbsr2

or for cheaper $73
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...cm_sp=&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687
 

crashtestdummy

Platinum Member
Feb 18, 2010
2,893
0
0
Do you live by a Micro Center?

One nitpick on Crash's build, the $110 memory. That is a bit much for a system in this price range IMO.

I like the G Skill low voltage memory for around $85 but going even cheaper might be better.

G Skill
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9d8gbsr2

or if you feel like you need the 1866
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9d8gbsr2






It was cheaper when I priced it out. They were probably on sale. I had no attachment to that specific model/brand. :)
 

lakedude

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2009
2,778
529
126
It was cheaper when I priced it out. They were probably on sale. I had no attachment to that specific model/brand. :)
I kinda figured since it didn't jump right out at me the first time I looked, that RAM must have changed price for sure.