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Gaming build for $500

B

Borty

n00b
Joined
Sep 25, 2005
Messages
21
1) Use? Gaming - Not crysis maxed, but new games looking pleasing to the eye.
2) Budget? Trying to keep it at 500 all inclusive but there is some room for change
3) live? Michigan, US (an area with few B&M)
4) What parts? CPU, GPU, MB, RAM, PSU, Case, DVD-RW
5) parts will you be reusing? HDD
6) Will you be overclocking? Probably leave it stock to begin with. This could change.
7) monitor? 17" LCD (1280x1024) I would like to upgrade this sometime in the future.
8) When? Next couple weeks
9) motherboard? RAID maybe...
10) OS key/license? Got it

So far:

Case
$63.65 - Antec Three Hundred
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=207906549

PSU
$68.49 - Bfg Tech 550W EPS12V
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=207955009

CPU/MB
$239.98
GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387
AMD Phenom II X4 920 2.8GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103472

RAM
$54.99 - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

GPU
$129.99 ($99.99 AR) - ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121272

DVD-RW
24.99 - SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

Total: $573.68 ($543.68 AR)

All prices include shipping.

I wouldn't mind trimming a few dollars off this list. I guess I plan on using stock cooling for now. Did I miss anything?

Help and input greatly appreciated.
 
I agree with lowteckh and Danny. Looks like you have a pretty good $500+ build there.
 
Borty said:
I decided to switch out the CPU with this one

$59.99
AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core black edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103300

This way I can save about $70 bringing the total down to $490.68. I figured the dual core would work out just as well since it's a gaming build.
Click to expand...

I'd stay with the Phenom. For $70 more, you're getting a noticeably faster and newer processor (45nm vs 65nm). Maybe others will provide their insight.
 
Well it depends what it's uses are. Paired with a 4850, the GPU is the bottleneck not the CPU.

If you're going to just be upping to a 1680*1050, the X2 overclocked and 4850 will do fine. If your intentions are to switch to a high-resolution monitor 1920*1080 and up in the near future, stick with the Phenom. Going down the 1920 and above route will require a heftier graphics card if you want all the eye candy turned up.
 
lowteckh said:
Well it depends what it's uses are. Paired with a 4850, the GPU is the bottleneck not the CPU.

If you're going to just be upping to a 1680*1050, the X2 overclocked and 4850 will do fine. If your intentions are to switch to a high-resolution monitor 1920*1080 and up in the near future, stick with the Phenom. Going down the 1920 and above route will require a heftier graphics card if you want all the eye candy turned up.
Click to expand...
you're exactly opposite wrong. higher rez = more GPU/less CPU. lower rez = more CPU/less GPU (but also requires less of both)

if he goes 1680x1050 and above his GPU will definitely be the bottleneck and anything less than that won't matter cause he'll have more than playable FPS.

the dual-core is fine. that mobo lets you upgrade to anything you want later.
 
You should read before posting cuz... you just echoed and agreed with what I said.

Unless you're nitpicking to hell and referring to the first statement, where GPU is still going to bottleneck over the choice between a P2 or X2.
 
After searching I found a couple more rebates and a friend is going to give me a DVD-RW. I just pushed the confirm button. It came out to just over $400 after rebates. I haven't spent that much money on a single purchase in years and it sure wasn't easy. I appreciate the comments and the advice.
 
Quad core in a budget gaming rig is a joke. Get a faster dual core that will cost less.
 
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