Budget Gaming Build

S

siluro

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
336
I have a friend who has never built a computer before and wants a budget gaming setup for about ~$600
She’s into some gaming such as Dragon age, and also has to share the computer with a few others...
Anyways I quickly threw some parts together and looking to see if anyone thinks some things should be changed or not...


1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? Gaming, Web browsing, Photoshop (in that order)
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included? $600, no.
3) Where do you live? SC
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? Just the computer, no kb/mouse, screen...
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? None
6) Will you be overclocking? No
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have? 22” (1080p)
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC? As soon as possible.
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? Crossfire likely...
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit? Should be getting W7 with a student discount (not part of budget).

Optical: SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223C - OEM - $20 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192

Case: COOLER MASTER Elite RC-310-SWN1-GP Black SECC / ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $40 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119204

HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $55 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail -$95 after MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128378

Graphics: POWERCOLOR AX5770 512MD5-H Radeon HD 5770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail - $130 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131328

PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC ... - Retail - $40 after MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016

Ram: Patriot Viper II Sector 5 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory w/ 3DMark Vantage Model PVV34G1600LLKB - Retail - $100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220432

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 630 Propus 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor Model ADX630WFGIBOX - Retail -$100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103704

Total: $595

Anyways, I’m looking for any criticism, and also, would it be worthwhile to upgrade the CPU to an AMD x4 925****? I noticed I think it would cost an extra $30, but it might be worthwhile.
Thanks
 
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You need a better CPU than that. The Propus is a waste of money for gaming, especially since you are not going to overclock it. Also, I would not recommend CrossFire on the cheap - it's adding costs you could otherwise toss. You'll get enough performance at 1080p on a single 5770. NEVER CrossFire on such a tight budget - you're better-off just getting a single GPU and upgrading that GPU down the road.

Use this combo ($205 - $10 MIR) Phenom II x4 2.8, Gigabyte 770. It's roughly the same cost as your other configuration after rebate, but this will blow that Athlon x4 away (even at the same clock speed). The difference maker is the massive 6MB L3 cache the Phenom has, which allows it to make more efficient use of all processing resources.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.335019

We still need to do something about your powersupply - many people on this board tell me the OCZ powersupplies suck.
 
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Ok, when I mentioned the 920 above, I meant the 925, you think that it's worthwhile upgrading to that....

Also I wouldn't crossfire the GPUs right now, just the buyer would like to have the ability to use crossfire in the future...

Lastly for the PSU, I was talking with someone else about that and he agreed that the OCZ PSUs suck, any suggestions on what else to get? The BFG GS-550 caught my eye for $40 after MIR.
 
Let's see:

If price is flexible, certainly grab a Phenom II x4 - but don't buy anything less than the same core speed. There's a performance boost going Phenom II, but you will negate a lot of it if you buy a slower processor.

You don't want the AM2+ socket that the 920 uses - it has been replaced by the 925, which uses AM3.

You're not going to get a quality powersupply that can handle 2 GPUs in the $40-50 range - it's simply not possible. Manufacturers charge premiums for PSUs with multiple PCIe power connectors, so you're going to spend $70 just for the quality 500w+ PSU, and an additional $10-15 for one with 2 PCIe power connectors.

This is the PSU we could use if your system were single-GPU ($40 after MIR)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...08&cm_re=corsair_power-_-17-139-008-_-Product

This is the lowest-rated PSU I'd recommend for CrossFire of two 5770s ($85 after MIR) with all the connectors you'll need stock:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...04&cm_re=corsair_power-_-17-139-004-_-Product

Now, let's talk about games you can play to reduce your costs: if you are SURE the card you buy ships with a molex to PCIe power adapter (or buy one yourself), then you can forgo dual PCIe connectors on your powersupply. But the minimum wattage I'd recommend is this 450w for $55 after MIR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...03&cm_re=corsair_power-_-17-139-003-_-Product

If you want to use the molex adapter, be sure you install it on a cable with no other devices attached. It will be pushed to the limit by the video card alone.

ALSO NOTE: the molex cable is NOT RATED for the maximum 75w the card can draw from a 6-pin PCIe power cable. Use this hack at your own risk.
 
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$235 - AMD Phenom II X4 945 CPU + GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX Motherboard
$100 - Patriot Viper II Sector 5 2 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM
$160 - XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$55 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$22 - Samsung Black 22X SH-S223C DVD Burner
$105 - Antec 200 Case + Antec NEO Eco 620C 620W PSU Combo
----
Total: $587 plus tax and shipping.

Cheaper than your currently planned build but with following improvements:
- Significantly faster CPU
- Faster Video Card with lifetime warranty
- Significantly better quality PSU capable of HD 5770 Crossfire

If your friend needs more storage and a significantly faster hard drive for only $2 over the budget:
$70 - Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
 
Danny Bui said:
$235 - AMD Phenom II X4 945 CPU + GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX Motherboard
$100 - Patriot Viper II Sector 5 2 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM
$160 - XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$55 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$22 - Samsung Black 22X SH-S223C DVD Burner
$105 - Antec 200 Case + Antec NEO Eco 620C 620W PSU Combo
----
Total: $587 plus tax and shipping.
Click to expand...

Check your math :)

235 + 100 + 160 + 55 + 22 + 105 = $677.

If he had that much to spend, I already would have set him up :D

But I like the build, and I think it's worth the extra money. Anything less would be a waste, for a system that will be run at stock speeds.
 
You should still be good with this. Plus, you may be able to unlock the cores on the X2 550

CASE/PSU - Antec Two Hundred + Antec Earthwatts EA430 both for $84.98 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.335350

MOBO - GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 for $84.99 ($10 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

CPU - AMD Phenom II X2 550BE 3.1GHZ for $95.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

RAM - A-DATA 4GB DDR3 1333 for $94.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211410

VIDEO CARD - XFX Radeon HD 5770 for $159.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447

HDD - Seagate Barracuda 500GB for $54.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

OPTICAL - Seagate Black 22X Sata DVD Burner for $19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192

Subtotal: $595.92
Shipping: $4.73
Total: $600.65
 
Another triple combo for $600 with shipping

CASE/PSU - Antec Two Hundred + Antec Earthwatts EA430 both for $84.98 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.335350

MOBO/RAM - ASUS M4A77TD AM3 770 + Patriot 4GB DDR3 1333 both for $163.98 ($10 MIR) w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.334442

CPU/VIDEO CARD - AMD Phenom II X4 925 + HIS Radeon HD 5770 both for $274.98 ($10 MIR) w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.324025

HDD - Seagate Barracuda 500GB for $54.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

OPTICAL - Seagate Black 22X Sata DVD Burner for $19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192

Subtotal: $598.92
Shipping: $1.99
Total: $600.91
 
HardwareGuru said:
You should still be good with this. Plus, you may be able to unlock the cores on the X2 550

CASE/PSU - Antec Two Hundred + Antec Earthwatts EA430 both for $84.98 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.335350

MOBO - GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 for $84.99 ($10 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

CPU - AMD Phenom II X2 550BE 3.1GHZ for $95.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

RAM - A-DATA 4GB DDR3 1333 for $94.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211410

VIDEO CARD - XFX Radeon HD 5770 for $159.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447

HDD - Seagate Barracuda 500GB for $54.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

OPTICAL - Seagate Black 22X Sata DVD Burner for $19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192

Subtotal: $595.92
Shipping: $4.73
Total: $600.65
Click to expand...

Dude, next time read the thread before you post blindly. I already posted that motherboard combined with the Phenom II 925 for $195 after MIR.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.335019

It was shot down because the OP needs CrossFire. So it's 790X/GX or nothing!

Also, the OP needs a powersuppy capable of CrossFire (multiple PCIe connectors), which Danny's build offers. We can get around that, but we come back to the fact: 430w is cutting it close for a Phenom II x4 + CrossFire 5770 setup, even if you have enough free molex cables to use PCIe power adapters.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: CrossFire is keeping this build from being under $600. If the OP wants proper CrossFire support, he needs to pony-up the difference in Danny's build.


ALSO, I'll throw-in a combo that will bring down the price of Danny's build:

$238 XFX 5770 + OCZ 2x2GB 1066 DDR3
$235 - AMD Phenom II X4 945 CPU + GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX Motherboard
$55 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$22 - Samsung Black 22X SH-S223C DVD Burner
$105 - Antec 200 Case + Antec NEO Eco 620C 620W PSU Combo

This makes Danny's build total $22 cheaper, at $655 shipped!

The ram is a bit slow, but you won't notice if you're not overclocking. You gotta cut corners somewhere to bring the cost down.
 
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