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Need help with gaming rig. CPU/MB/VideoCard for $500

N

Neyd3400

Member
I currently have a socket A Amd dual core, Asus board and 7900gs. Vista business. TF2 runs great, but I plan on picking up Fallout, Starcraft, and Cysis.

l would like to focus on 3 main components CPU/MB and a single Video Card for 500. I've been focusing on a e8400 and I run dual monitors.

I will try to reuse my other components, I will need new DDR2, but I will decide that after I pick MB. I have no interest in SLI. I always say I'm going to overclocking, but I never seem to get around it. I've always been a AMD supporter, but they are not the same company.
 
e7200 - $75
x38 on newegg (open box or recert)- $130
2 hd4850's crossfire - $298

total: $503 + tax

e8400 - $150
cheap p35 on egg - $75
hd 4870 1GB $275 or...
gtx260 core 216 oc edition $275

total: $500 + tax
 
I personally wouldn't mess around with an open box motherboard, but I'm a little paranoid about that kind of thing.

Since you're interested in overclocking I'd go with the E7200. Overclocks with very little effort.
 
Originally posted by: DSF
I personally wouldn't mess around with an open box motherboard, but I'm a little paranoid about that kind of thing.

Since you're interested in overclocking I'd go with the E7200. Overclocks with very little effort.
Click to expand...

He's still entitled to return it for a new one if it's fuct 😉.
 
Originally posted by: Roguestar
Originally posted by: DSF
I personally wouldn't mess around with an open box motherboard, but I'm a little paranoid about that kind of thing.

Since you're interested in overclocking I'd go with the E7200. Overclocks with very little effort.
Click to expand...

He's still entitled to return it for a new one if it's fuct 😉.
Click to expand...

Don't they come without the manufacturer warranty though, since you're not the original buyer?
 
Open box may be missing the I/O shield (metal plate), driver CD, cables. You also don't know whether the previous owner slipped and dragged a screwdriver across the surface or static-zapped it. Not worth wondering if prior abuse is why your mobo isn't stable.

My Gigabyte P43 chipset board has beenl working perfectly since July and it's $87 new at newegg. The drawbacks are no firewire, no RAID, and has less overclockery (though it has 800 FSB support to OC an E8400 to 3.6 GHz).

Hot Deals has a link to Crucial 4 GB DDR2 for $29 AR.

Pair those with an E8400 (retail HSF is fine) and an ATI 4870. That's what I did.
 
Current newegg prices:
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 with Asus p5q-pro combo $269.98 -$20 rebate
MSI N260GTX-T2D896 OC $239.99 - $40 rebate

need to add tax + $15 shipping on the above.

BUT, don't forget to add 4Gb ddr2 + a psu.
On the memory, I'd go for some 1.8v ddr2-800 (OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB is $67.99 -$25.00 rebate, free shipping)
On the psu - take a look at anand's recent article. Go for quality rather than wattage (maybe a corsair for ~$75-100)
 
Thanks for all the input. I check out everyone ideas. I ended up ordering MSI N260GTX-T2D896 OC $239.99 - $40 rebate bluedragon saw. Seems like a good framerate/price relative to the other cards.

I also liked the lower power requirement of the gtx 260 cards. I have 380 watt seasonic PS that I think will do the job.

I have a single 500 GB sata II. I just have to spend the time checking out CPU/MB <300. I have a number of choices, anyone know the difference in P35/P45 chipset. Is it DDR3 support?

 
Don't get DDR3 or a more expensive board with DDR3 support; ignore it until a year or so from now, it's just too expensive to justify the small performance gain.
 
Originally posted by: Neyd3400
Thanks for all the input. I check out everyone ideas. I ended up ordering MSI N260GTX-T2D896 OC $239.99 - $40 rebate bluedragon saw. Seems like a good framerate/price relative to the other cards.

I also liked the lower power requirement of the gtx 260 cards. I have 380 watt seasonic PS that I think will do the job.

I have a single 500 GB sata II. I just have to spend the time checking out CPU/MB <300. I have a number of choices, anyone know the difference in P35/P45 chipset. Is it DDR3 support?
Click to expand...

Stop right there.

Try out this card for a week first and see if you find it satisfactory before perhaps blowing further cash.

You have good parts, good mem quantity, and will be in high FPS heaven even with your 'slow' CPU.

 
Thanks again for all the suggestions. I was able to get together piece together a e8400, asus P5q deluxe and a MSI gtx 260 for a little 490. I picked the board and cpu off of ebay. I saved a 100 from msn cashback. I ordered from big sellers but I am still going to cross my fingers. I also went ahead and ordered 4gigs of OCZ ram, thanks bluedragon.

Thanks Zebo, but I am going to give most of my rig to my brother.
 
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