Need help with a $500 gaming build

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Turtlewrench

Junior Member
Mar 4, 2008
14
0
0
I went to buy that combo of the 940 with MB but it is over. That being said I want to build a gaming rig that is on a budget, $500. Problem is I have to use part of that budget for a new OS. I have vista 32 but I need moar RAM! I really just use my comp for surfing and gaming. I will be using parts of my current rig for the new build. This is what I have:

BFG 8800 GTS 512
X-Fi Xtream gamer
Hitachi deskstar HD 500 Gb
LG DVD Burner RW ATA
Acer AL2223W monitor

What I need. Here is a list of parts I feel would work good. I need something I can over clock for gaming. I don't need the newest I need the best performance for gaming. So here is a list from neweggg. As I said I wanted a combo deal I found here in another thread but when I went to buy it today it was gone. So just to repeat I want this for gaming. I dont care about having all the new tech I just want the best gaming experiance possilbe I my low $500 budget. They game I play is WWII online(the best WWII game out there. You can do every thing Fly planes. drive tanks, man Anti tank guns, AAA, Navy boats, inf, you name it). I have a 2.5 4800 right now and need to upgrade to a 3.0 I can OC. Also I am not sure about this MB I picked, I want as much room as possible to keep it cool. In fact I dont need any thing with onboard video or sound. I just want some thing that OC well.

1 AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor Model HDZ550WFGIBOX
$102.99

1 BIOSTAR TA790GX XE AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
$89.99

1 COOLER MASTER Hyper N 520 RR-920-N520-GP 92mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
$44.99

1 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee 0
109.99

1 Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Antec
$69.95

1 Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
$50

tot 454.00

Thank you for your time and effort
__________________
 
Denithor

Denithor

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
6,300
23
81
^ Exactly what I was going to suggest. If you already have the 32-bit version they will send you a 64-bit copy for just the shipping cost.

Or you could also consider downloading Win 7 RC and use that for a year for free then buy a copy at that point.

Two other things I'd suggest either way.

Ditch the Crucial Ballistix in favor of some better quality G.Skill memory (there's a 4GB DDR2-1066 kit for $48 with free shipping at newegg). The Ballistix has a very bad reputation for high failure rates - something to do with using 2.2V no doubt.

Second, is that one of the motherboards known to unlock the extra cores in PhII X2/X3 chips? If not do a little research and hunt one down. Shouldn't cost much more and may give you a heck of a good value - many people have been able to unlock one or even two additional fully functional cores and see a big gain in performance.
 
apoppin

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=28&threadid=2311476

Here is my plan - but with a higher end gaming card - i finished it last night

the Gigabyte MoBo i picked *does* unlock the 4 cores of 550 x2; but mine was a dud
- it is $109.99 with free shipping at NewEgg and there are some $20 off $100 promos floating around [and there was 10% off mobos a few days ago]

and i would NOT use a 8800GTS for *any* gaming - it is dead slow for DX10 games
- do yourself a favor and get a faster video card as soon as you can afford it

Cooler Master's Gladiator 600 is a freaking *awesome* case for $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119206

Cooler Master n520 is a very decent budget CPU cooler; it pairs well with the Gladiator 600 as there is an opening in the mobo tray so you do not have to take out your mobo just to change the cooler or the CPU. An upgrade is hyper n212 [which is killer also] - if it happens to be on sale

rose.gif


it is a good time to build an AMD PC
 
J

jnmfox

Member
Jan 26, 2005
83
0
0
How about this:

AMD Phenom II X3
$139.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103649

Gigabyte MB (the one recommend by apoppin)
$109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...7&ref=dynamitedata.com

Xigmatek S1283
$39.61
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835233003

Antec Three Hundred and 4GB (2 X 2GB) G.SKILL RAM
$89.94 (Combo price)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.204212

Run Win 7 RC (or what Obsy suggested) and order the upgrade for $50 or $100
http://promotions.newegg.com/M...fPreSale%2f362x130.jpg


Total $378.54 w/o shipping and Windows.
 
S

soccerballtux

Lifer
Dec 30, 2004
12,554
2
76
I'd get that 940 + the Biostar unless you're worried about not having an AM3 chip. Luckily I picked up an X3 when it was $120 and mine unlocked with the Gigabyte mobo.

Quad core is definitely better for gaming.
 
J

jnmfox

Member
Jan 26, 2005
83
0
0
Originally posted by: Turtlewrench
Yes I am going for the gigsbyte board listed above but I want to ask whats better for gaming the 940BE Deneb or the 550BE? Like I said I dont need the newest I just need the best for gaming and OCing for gaming. But the 940 comes with a biostar board for $210.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.209473

Thanks for all the input
Click to expand...

Didn't know that combo deal was back...I'd go with that. They both run around 3 Ghz so game performance will be about the same but I doubt you will regret getting a quad core.
 
crazylegs

crazylegs

Senior member
Sep 30, 2005
779
0
71
Originally posted by: jnmfox
How about this:

AMD Phenom II X3
$139.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103649

Gigabyte MB (the one recommend by apoppin)
$109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...7&ref=dynamitedata.com

Xigmatek S1283
$39.61
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835233003

Antec Three Hundred and 4GB (2 X 2GB) G.SKILL RAM
$89.94 (Combo price)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.204212

Run Win 7 RC (or what Obsy suggested) and order the upgrade for $50 or $100
http://promotions.newegg.com/M...fPreSale%2f362x130.jpg


Total $378.54 w/o shipping and Windows.
Click to expand...


That would be my pick. Phenom II x3, nice CPU and chance of 4th core, if not u still have 3 :)

Nice MB.

Good case. RAM como is a bonus.

Decent high performance / good value HSF.

Choice of OS makes sense to me. Either free upgrade to x64 or use Win7 RC for a year.
 
T

Turtlewrench

Junior Member
Mar 4, 2008
14
0
0
Originally posted by: Obsy
Originally posted by: TurtlewrenchI have vista 32 but I need moar RAM!
Click to expand...

You already have Vista 32-bit?

http://www.microsoft.com/windo...rdermedia/default.mspx

Enter your product key - and save yourself a hundred bucks. You'll only have to pay for the shipping.
Click to expand...

I havew an OEM of 32 but it wont let me get the disk, any ideas? I dont have a yeoolow sticker is the MS/OEM sticker with the product key
 
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