New Computer

[Eblis]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Mostly gaming, limited media.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Roughly $500
3) Where do you live?
Boston suburbs, so there is a Micro Center close by.
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, Motherboard, RAM, Video Card, Hard Drive, Power supply, Case
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
None, old computer was a old laptop that is on the brink of dieing.
6) Will you be overclocking?
No plans to
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
19" is the plan
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? etc.
To be honest I'm not sure what most of those are, this will be my first foray into computer hardware.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
64bit Windows 7


At the moment I am planning on getting the computer described in this article:
http://www.hardware-revolution.com/500-gaming-computer-2/

However I found out that there is a Micro Center close to where I live so was wondering if there was a comparable build using MC parts. I attempted to find the parts listed on the site at MC but could not find matches to most of them.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tiraides]

There should be some AMD processor and AM2/AM3 motherboard bundle deals available at Micro Center, but check your local sales ad to see what's available. IIRC, the 500GB Samsung F3 HDD is available in-store for around $45 and the 1TB model is available for $65.

Those three things (plus, possibly, the case) are what you should get at Micro Center. For everything else, search among NewEgg, Tiger Direct, or Amazon for the following:

2x2GB G.Skill DDR3 1333 or DDR3 1600 dual channel kit
A good 500 to 650 watt power supply from Antec, Seasonic, Corsair, XFX, Silverstone, or Enermax (Two good examples: Antec NEO ECO 520C or Seasonic S12II 520 Bronze
(Preferably) XFX Radeon HD 5770 (1GB model)
An ATX mid-tower case (if you can't a good/cheap one at MC, like the Cooler Master Elite 310)

 

[Dangman]

Just a quick prelim build:
$90 - Athlon II X4 630 + 785GM-P45 AM3 mATX or A780L AM3 760G mATX motherboard combo deal
$82 - G.Skill F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT 2 x 2GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$160 - ASUS CuCore Series EAH5770 CuCore/2DI/1GD5 Radeon HD 5770 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$50 - Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$50 - Antec NEO ECO 400C 400W PSU
$50 - Cooler Master Elite 335 RC-335-KKN1-GP ATX Case
----
Total: $482 plus tax and shipping

But yeah, follow tiraides' advice as well.

 

[Eblis]

Thanks for the help folks!