Times have changed and I'm trying to catch up....with a new build.

SonnyDaze

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2004
6,867
3
76
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Intended use will be mild gaming (mainly FPS).

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread.
Let's see what we can do with $500 (without LCD monitor). ;)

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA (let's just say NewEgg :) )

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, etc, etc, you get the picture.
I have used AMD my entire 20 years of computing but have no qualms about moving to Intel if that means an edge in performance. Though I am looking for bang for the buck.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
I'll probably pick up kb/mouse/CRT (to start with) at the flea market and I'll be using an old copy of Windows XP I still have laying around.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
I've read just about every thread titled "new build" on Anandtech. Oh and the Attention System Builders thread too.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
LOL!! Well I will start out stock but knowing my inner demon I will eventually end up OCing the crap out of it before another build/upgrade. I always did it with my AMD rigs.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Next 30 days. I'll probably be buying a piece or two every Friday until the budget runs out....or the wife finds out. :|

Okay so bottom line folks, I was a heavy gamer until about 3 years ago when I sold my old desktop (A64 3800/939 rig). Technology has changed alot in the last few years in my hiatus and I'm looking to slide back into a little gaming rig. My biggest dilemma right now is trying to determine AMD vs Intel for the performance factor and the bang for the buck factor.


So let me know if I'm completely off my rocker or am just plain stupid. :confused: It's been a while since I've done a build but I'm getting the itch to game a little.

Thanks for any and all input you might have!!! :) :beer:
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
For $20 more you could double your storage capacity and get high platter density with the WD WD6400AAKS.

Forget the "G" version MBs. If you're adding a video card, don't waste your time and $$ with MBs sporting onboard video.
The Gigabyte EP45-UD3R is a very nice MB for the $$... Very Nice!

If you're OCing, the E5200 would be a sweet CPU.
You should be able to take it up one FSB step and get 3.33GHz, no problem.

BTW, Stick with quality DDR2-800 (1.8-1.9v) memory.
Corsair XMS, Mushkin or G.Skill
 

DarkRogue

Golden Member
Dec 25, 2007
1,243
3
76
As far as I know, Intel CPUs are currently better than AMD's offerings.
I would recommend getting the E8400/8500, although that E7200 may work as well. I believe my friend got the E7200 though, and is now complaining that it doesn't have virtualization support, which he needs. Pair it up with a nice P43/P45 motherboard and you're good to go. If you want SLI/Corssfire though, we'll need to know as that changes things.

That RAM looks good, although you may want to up that hard drive to the WD 640GB drives, budget permitting.
Can't advise on the case, though. I remember there was some Antec case that came bundled with an Antec EarthWatts PSU which is fairly good, but I can't seem to find it right now. Other good PSU's to go with are Corsair, Seasonic and PCP&C.

Video card you shouldn't skimp on if this is a "gaming" rig. I would try to get at least the 9800GT, if not the HD4850, for a budget gaming rig.
 

SonnyDaze

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2004
6,867
3
76
Okay so I've narrowed it down...to Intel. I think it will be this:

Intel Budget Build

I was looking at the 9800GT but decided on the Radeon 4670 as I've read good reviews and I know I will be at 1280x1024 on a 17" HP vp17 LCD (which btw I picked up locally at a yard sale for $40...YES $40!! And it even came with DVI/VGA cables!!).

So this should get me back into some gaming and get the monkey off my back.....I hope. :D



 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Okay so I've narrowed it down...to Intel. I think it will be this:

Intel Budget Build

I was looking at the 9800GT but decided on the Radeon 4670 as I've read good reviews and I know I will be at 1280x1024 on a 17" HP vp17 LCD (which btw I picked up locally at a yard sale for $40...YES $40!! And it even came with DVI/VGA cables!!).

So this should get me back into some gaming and get the monkey off my back.....I hope. :D

I know it's a little bit more than your $500 budget but I'd spend a little more and get a better quality case/psu. There's an Antec Sonata III w/ 500w EarthWatts PSU which is an awesome PSU or just get a cheap case and a better power supply. If not, everything is perfectly fine. It's not like your system is super power hungry unless you start overclocking like mad which you said you might.
 

bobjohnson666

Junior Member
Dec 14, 2008
1
0
0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...6811129031&Tpk=NSK4480

is probably the best deal for Antec cases, comes with the nice PSU. Also, the E5200 is a strong super cheap processor (versus E7200), which you could get until the others drop. Also, like someone already said, you can get one of the WD Black 640 GB 32 MB cache hard drives for ~$80, which is smoking fast and will help your performance greatly. Lastly, big fan of the intel, and coupling the G31 and E7200 will give you a power friendly (and cool) setup, search Tom's Hardware for a post on this. And lastly, don't forget ole amazon is out there for things and often has free shipping. Thats my two cents.
 

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
6,278
0
0

SonnyDaze

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2004
6,867
3
76
*UPDATE*
Well I probably shot myself in the foot on this one but the bottom kind of fell out of my budget a little...:| I was still trying for a budget build and I think this will get the monkey off my back for a bit.

This is what I got coming:

Rosewill R604-P BK 120mm Fan ATX Mid Tower - Retail $41.99 (Free ship)

Foxconn A7GM-S AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$66.99 (+$8.25 Ship)

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ500SXS 500W ATX12V / EPS12V Active PFC Power Supply - $54.99 (Free ship)

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ Brisbane 2.8GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - $69.00 (Free ship)

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - $39.99 (Free ship)

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive -$54.99 (Free ship)

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F OEM - $24.99 (Free ship)

Total was $361.91 and I ordered on the 15th with the 15% back through Paypal so I'm hoping Newegg comes through on that.

I was able to obtain an HP vp17 17" LCD locally for $40 (major score at a yardsale) and I got a BFG 9600GT OC 512 off Craigslist for $55 (tested it...it works!!)

Add to it an old Dell keyboard and mouse and an old (yes legit) copy of Windows XP and I should be set..... Will I be happy? I hope. Satisfied? I'm sure I will be. For $456.91 I think I managed to do okay (though I do feel a little remorse for not going Intel).

Thanks for all the replies and input!! :)