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Mid-Range Gaming PC - Suggestions/Recommendations

D

Dirt McGirt

n00b
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
60
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc

Home PC so mostly productivity/browsing (i have lots of tabs open and usually have iTunes and microsoft office open at the same time, don't know if that matters.) but I want to at least run games at a respectable price/performance rate .

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?

My budget is $500-650 but i'm flexible as long as its within the realm of mid-level.

3) Where do you live?

Florida, USA

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.

Decided to group this question together.

I will need CPU, PSU, RAM, HDD, MOBO. Indifferent about CPU Fan other than stock since I won't be OC'ing

I jumped on this deal...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...a-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687

So it's safe to say that i'll be revolving this build around that card.

Have 2 Mid-towers, one is bleh and the other is meh. I could settle for a smaller form factor if possible and as long as i won't be sacrificing much as far as parts, performance, and what not. Either way, not a HUGE deal.

Have a 5 year old optical drive that should suffice until I see a BD burner or player on sale.

Gots me a Key/Mouse

6) Will you be overclocking?

Nope. I've built several machines in the past geared towards OC'ing with the intention of learning to OC, but never got around to it. So, no.

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?

1080p 46" TV

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?

ASAP

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video? etc.

Whatever my money could get me that preps me for future parts (not future proofing more likeif the shift is going towards this tech then it would be nice to be able to upgrade and maintain a somewhat respectible rig. But more importantly, if its compatible with my parts. But I guess USB 3.0 and SATA/eSATA. Don't really use the extra features like crossfire and SLI since I won't be using 2 cards anytime in the near future.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?

I got windows 7 64.

--------------------------------------------

Now with that out of the way... I sort of took pieces and bits from other forums/posts asking for similar builds around this price point and came up with.......

CPU: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JEVGMO?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=at055-20

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...a-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...a-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687

(comes out to $125 with promo code and Rebate.)

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...a-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...=OTC-C173T-_-Hard+Drives-_-SAMSUNG-_-22152185

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...a-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687

Space would not be an issue, i'm pretty good at managing it so anything equal to or greater than 500gb would be good.

MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...a-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687

One of the reasons why I'm open to the idea of microATX.

----------------------------------------

So, there you have it. Feel free to suggest any alternatives/upgrades that fall within my budget. Except for, of course the GPU.
 
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None of your links work.

Also do you have pics of your cases or know the model numbers?
 
Second hard drive link doesn't work.

I would aim for a single 4GB stick of RAM as it would open more options for RAM upgrades later on.

Once you factor in shipping, that AsRock mobo comes out to $68. I'd spend the extra $8 for this Biostar mobo instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138308

A lot more features for only $8 more. Totally worth it IMO.
 
Danny Bui said:
Second hard drive link doesn't work.

I would aim for a single 4GB stick of RAM as it would open more options for RAM upgrades later on.

Once you factor in shipping, that AsRock mobo comes out to $68. I'd spend the extra $8 for this Biostar mobo instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138308

A lot more features for only $8 more. Totally worth it IMO.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your prompt response.

Fixed the link on the 2nd HDD

Yeah the board does better with the increase of $8.

Would you suggest the 500gb 7200 HDD or the 1tb?

Also, I used Tomshardware's guide as a frame of reference for these parts and was impressed by the numbers it was outputting based on the benchmarks.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/diy-gaming-pc,2970.html
 
The 1TB since its performance is little better than that 500GB drive.
 
Get that RAM.

I do have some concern about the video card; despite its price-per-performance "advantage," it isn't the best choice for playing many of today's graphically-intensive games at a 1920x1080 resolution. Which games are you considering playing on this machine?
 
tiraides said:
Get that RAM.

I do have some concern about the video card; despite its price-per-performance "advantage," it isn't the best choice for playing many of today's graphically-intensive games at a 1920x1080 resolution. Which games are you considering playing on this machine?
Click to expand...

Anything modern, I don't really play the latest and greatest games till they drop in price on steam with the exception of Diablo 3 when ever it comes out and Battlefield 3, but I guess anything from 2009 to 2011 so Bad Company 2, Crysis 2.

I read about the fan noise problems but saw some benchmarks compared to the 460 and was impressed at least for the price. What did you have in mind that comes relatively close to the price i got the card for? I haven't really gotten past the $500 price point (including rebates/promo codes), so I'm open to suggestions.
 
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I would gone with the HD 6870 1GB or GTX 560 at the very least for 1920x1080
 
Danny Bui said:
I would gone with the HD 6870 1GB or GTX 560 at the very least for 1920x1080
Click to expand...

I'm at the process of canceling the order i placed earlier and going for
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150521

I looked and compared it to the GTX560 and while its sometimes better, i couldn't find one that was at the same price as the 6870.

With the change in GPU's would the rest of the build be suited for the change?

I saw that you suggested a MSI H67MA-E35 Intel H67 ATX Motherboard in another similar thread a while back with the same card.

But I've read that this...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...a-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687

would be more future proof

I'm also strongly considering the i5 2400 as you suggested in..

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1037495221&postcount=2
 
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Dirt McGirt said:
I'm at the process of canceling the order i placed earlier and going for
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150521

I looked and compared it to the GTX560 and while its sometimes better, i couldn't find one that was at the same price as the 6870.
Click to expand...
Really?:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125383
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130660
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130664
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130661

Dirt McGirt said:
With the change in GPU's would the rest of the build be suited for the change?
Click to expand...
Yes.
Dirt McGirt said:
But I've read that this...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...a-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687

would be more future proof
Click to expand...
Where did you read that AsRock mobo will be more future proof? In what ways?
Dirt McGirt said:
I'm also strongly considering the i5 2400 as you suggested in..

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1037495221&postcount=2
Click to expand...
If you can fit it into your budget, then I recommend the i5 2400.
 
Thanks for your input Danny.

I'm planning to sell the Shogun 2 for $15 and the 6870 has a rebate of $30 so that brings it down to $142 (it also brings dirt 3) as opposed to $180 AR 560 that adds 5-8 frames on some games.

Well, it was a guide that was linked to me in the Tomshardware forums, I believe its a forum users guide. He doesn't go into detail, he just mentioned it.

http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore#module146695821
 
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