Help with a sub $800 gaming machine

I

InnocentNoobie

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Messages
231
1) This is mostly a gaming machine
2) Under $800, tax and shipping included. Please go as far under $800 as possible
3) live in NYC
4) Edit: Forgot to mention. Don't need peripherals such as mice/keyboard.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
6) No overclocking
7) Monitor: Fine with a 19'' ... maybe a 22'' if you can convince me somehow that it's worth it
8) Buying in near future...
9) Don't need any special mobo features
10) Need MS Windows

Enjoying TF2 a lot but the laptop I play on overheats like hell when playing for 20+ minutes. Would like a machine where I can get really high frames in TF2 and also be able to play new games at reasonable frames when they come out.
 
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Are you college student? or know a college student who's helpful?
 
Ok, try to get that college student to help you get Windows 7 for $30:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1452528

Here's a few builds:
$194 - AMD Phenom II X3 720 CPU + Gigabyte GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX Motherboard
$92 - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$125 - GIGABYTE GV-R485OC-1GH Radeon HD 4850 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$55 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$26 - LG GH22NS50 DVD Burner
$45 - Antec Earthwatts 430W PSU
$50 - Cooler Master Elite 331 RC-331-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$120 - ViewSonic X Series VX1940w 19" LCD Monitor
$30 - Windows 7 Home Premium
---
Total: $737 plus shipping


$194 - AMD Phenom II X3 720 CPU + Gigabyte GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX Motherboard
$92 - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$157 - XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$55 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$26 - LG GH22NS50 DVD Burner
$80 - Antec Earthwatts 650W PSU
$50 - Cooler Master Elite 331 RC-331-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$120 - ViewSonic X Series VX1940w 19" LCD Monitor
$30 - Windows 7 Home Premium
---
Total: $804 plus shipping
 
(sorry to interupt the thread) that is an upgrade disk though for windows 7. would you be able to get the full version for a comp that has no OS on it yet?
 
I'd listen to Danny Bui, but I love these threads, so I'll give it a shot.

59.99 COOLER MASTER RC-690 Mid Tower Case
64.99 Antec BP550 Plus 550W Modular PSU
158.99 Athlon II X4 620 + ASUS M4A785M AM3 Motherboard
179.99 XFX Radeon HD 5770
104.99 G.SKILL Trident 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3-1600
49.99 500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200 RPM
29.99 Sony Optiarc 24X DVD Drive
119.99 ASUS VW198T 19" LCD Monitor

SUB 768.92
SHIP 22.32
TOTAL 790.36
 
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Thanks, lt_shiro. I switched it to an Antec. I normally don't recommend OCZ, but I thought it was the only modular supply that would fit under budget, and it reviewed well at PC Perspective. After building my computer, I will never recommend a non-modular PSU again. Absolute cabling nightmare. I'm sure it's a very personal thing, tho.

Edit: To OP, lt_shiro is a great resource, bytheway.
 
TheQuestian said:
Thanks, lt_shiro. I switched it to an Antec. I normally don't recommend OCZ, but I thought it was the only modular supply that would fit under budget, and it reviewed well at PC Perspective. After building my computer, I will never recommend a non-modular PSU again. Absolute cabling nightmare. I'm sure it's a very personal thing, tho.
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Understandable. Only thing is that you're gonna have to spend that extra bit of cash for modular cables and quality. The BP550 you linked to, while Delta made, hasn't been shown to be fully capable of its rated power.
 
Danny Bui said:
Understandable. Only thing is that you're gonna have to spend that extra bit of cash for modular cables and quality. The BP550 you linked to, while Delta made, hasn't been shown to be fully capable of its rated power.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Danny. I did suspect that (being a less-than-elite unit) it might not reliably put out 550W. But with such a low-power card and processor, it seemed like the system wouldn't ask for much more than 350 - 400W or so at full load. At any rate, I do agree that it is an added investment to go modular; it's one that will gladly make from now on, tho.
 
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