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Mid Range Gaming PC

I

InspecterJones

Weaksauce
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
76
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Lots and lots of gaming, and photoshop and etc

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
I have a budget of $1000 from the sale of my old comp, but would rather not spend it all, so lets say $600.

The $600 budget is for CPU, GPU, Mobo, Ram and PSU

The rest I can scavenge for now.

3) Where do you live?
nyc, ny

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
CPU, RAM, Mobo, Gfx, PSU, Case, HD, cpu cooler. (pretty much everything)

While I need all that stuff I mainly help with the CPU, GFX, and PSU

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.

I'll be reusing a dvd drive and maybe HD, but leaning toward buying everything new.

6) Will you be overclocking?
yes

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
27" Dell 1920 x 1200

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Soon as I get the cash which should be tonight.

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
I'm only planning to get one gfx card right now but would love to have the option to dual later on. Mainly I want reliability and a board that can overclock well.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
Win 7 Ultimate 64bit



Alrighty, so I asked for help a couple of months ago and things didn't work out quite the way I planned but I'm back! I've taken all the past advice to heart and so here we go, this is what I have so far.

Let me know what you guys think.


CPU+GFX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.458851

Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128435

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

Ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

Total so far is $647.40 with shipping, but thats without the case, I wouldn't mind shaving that down a bit though. I guess I could go with a cheaper card (I like the custom heatsink they have on it) and get the 945 instead, but I like the idea of it being unlocked and it's also somewhat faster. I might just downgrade to a single card mobo to save money but am not sure. I'd like to hear what you guys would do.
 
Last edited:
Hmm... let's say you can't make it to Microcenter. This build should kick ass for $600. Well.. $618 actually

AMD Athlon II X3 440 3.0ghz + Sony Optiarc Sata DVD Burner for $88.98 (10% off promo on optical drive)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.466709

G. Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600 + NZXT BETA EVO Classic for $121.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.469301

Antec NEO ECO 620C for $69.99 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031

MSI 870-G45 AM3 AMD 870 for $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130290

GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-768I GeForce GTX 460 for $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125334

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB for $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Total: $610.92
Shipping: $7.82
Grand Total: $618.74

By the way, if you have $1,000 budget, why only $600 on the pc build? If you up your budget more, you can build a pretty solid pc.
 
Last edited:
HardwareGuru said:
Hmm... let's say you can't make it to Microcenter. This build should kick ass for $600. Well.. $618 actually

AMD Athlon II X3 440 3.0ghz + Sony Optiarc Sata DVD Burner for $88.98 (10% off promo on optical drive)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.466709

G. Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600 + NZXT BETA EVO Classic for $121.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.469301

Antec NEO ECO 620C for $69.99 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031

MSI 870-G45 AM3 AMD 870 for $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130290

GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-768I GeForce GTX 460 for $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125334

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB for $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Total: $610.92
Shipping: $7.82
Grand Total: $618.74

By the way, if you have $1,000 budget, why only $600 on the pc build? If you up your budget more, you can build a pretty solid pc.
Click to expand...

The $600 budget is for all the important things, case and hd and dvd drive arent really a part of that, guess I should edit the top, It's less of a budget of $1000 and more of an influx of that money that could also be used for other stuff. There's always more money if you just work a little more, the price point is what I'm comfortable spending on a new desktop, I just dont see the value in spending more.

I'd really appreciate it if you revised your suggestion with $600 being just for the important parts. If I really can't spend the money on a case and a new HD I have some old comps I can disassemble. That's why I didn't wanna include it in the budget. Also, who doesnt have like 8 spare dvd drives somewhere lol.
 
If that's the case, check this out.

XFX 650W + AMD Phenom II X4 955 3.2ghz both for $224.98 ($20 MIR on PSU)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.454693

GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 for $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128435

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 for $91.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100283VX-2L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB for $154.99 ($15 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102898

Total: $611.95
Shipping: $5.81
Grand Total: $617.76 w/shipping and before $35 in MIR

With this setup, you can run Crossfire down the road.
 
HardwareGuru said:
If that's the case, check this out.

XFX 650W + AMD Phenom II X4 955 3.2ghz both for $224.98 ($20 MIR on PSU)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.454693

GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 for $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128435

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 for $91.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100283VX-2L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB for $154.99 ($15 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102898

Total: $611.95
Shipping: $5.81
Grand Total: $617.76 w/shipping and before $35 in MIR

With this setup, you can run Crossfire down the road.
Click to expand...

That looks pretty good, although the PSU is only bronze certified, is that fine? I dont entirely know what that means, its just about steadiness of the current or something?
 
InspecterJones said:
That looks pretty good, although the PSU is only bronze certified, is that fine? I dont entirely know what that means, its just about steadiness of the current or something?
Click to expand...

Actually, "80 Plus Bronze" certified is more strict that just plain "80 Plus" certified. While plain "80 Plus" merely requires the PSU to be at least 80% efficient at 20%, 50% and 100% load, "80 Plus Bronze" requires a minimum of 82% efficiency at 20% and 100% load and at least 85% efficiency at 50% load. In other words, all other things being equal, an "80 Plus Bronze" certified PSU will draw slightly less power from the AC wall outlet than a plain "80 Plus" certified PSU.
 
One last thing, assuming I can make it to micro center, the only thing that seems to be cheaper is the CPU by $15, which is already part of the combo getting me $35 off...

am I missing something?
 
InspecterJones said:
How much more would it cost me to step up to a i5 750?
Click to expand...

It depends: Can you make it to a Microcenter? The Core i5 760 is only $180 right now from MC.

$180 - Core i5 760 from MC
$128 - MSI P55A-G55 Intel P55 ATX Motherboard
$170 - XFX P1-650X-CAG9 650W PSU + G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL Ripjaws Series 2 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM
$155 - HD 5770 1GB
--
Total: $633 plus tax and shipping.

So roughly $17 more than HG's build if you can get to a Microcenter.
 
Danny Bui said:
It depends: Can you make it to a Microcenter? The Core i5 760 is only $180 right now from MC.

$180 - Core i5 760 from MC
$128 - MSI P55A-G55 Intel P55 ATX Motherboard
$170 - XFX P1-650X-CAG9 650W PSU + G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL Ripjaws Series 2 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM
$155 - HD 5770 1GB
--
Total: $633 plus tax and shipping.

So roughly $17 more than HG's build if you can get to a Microcenter.
Click to expand...

Wow, that really isn't much more at all, is that a good motherboard? I haven't looked into intel ones at all :confused:
 
Danny Bui said:
It depends: Can you make it to a Microcenter? The Core i5 760 is only $180 right now from MC.

$180 - Core i5 760 from MC
$128 - MSI P55A-G55 Intel P55 ATX Motherboard
$170 - XFX P1-650X-CAG9 650W PSU + G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL Ripjaws Series 2 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM
$155 - HD 5770 1GB
--
Total: $633 plus tax and shipping.

So roughly $17 more than HG's build if you can get to a Microcenter.
Click to expand...

My local microcenter has an i5-750 for $160, is the 760 worth $20 more?
 
Danny Bui said:
The answer is no. Wasn't aware the I5 750 was $160. That would be the better choice.
Click to expand...

If you select the ny, yonkers store it shows up.

Well, I guess this is the way I'm going now, not really a choice when the x4 955 and i5-750 are same price :p
 
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