$400 max mATX Gaming Build

[p_game]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next two weeks


Budget Range: $400 Before Rebates


System Usage from Most to Least Important: League of Legends, Internet browsing, Music Playing, Homework


Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, operating system


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: tigerdirect.com


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: NVIDIA Graphics Card, Intel i3 Processor, Hard drive with at least 500gb.


Overclocking: No


SLI or Crossfire: No


Monitor Resolution: 1600x900


Additional Comments: I'd like to get the best gaming computer for $400. Any insight is highly appreciated. I would like to use the case below.

HEC 6T10LOH400 6T10 Micro ATX Mini Tower Case - 400W PSU, 2x Ext 5.25" Bays, 2x Ext 3.5" Bays, 1x Int 3.5" Bays, 80mm Fan, 2x Front USB 2.0 Ports, 1x Front eSATA Port

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=725286&CatId=3427

Thanks.

 

[Princetawn]

Thiis the best i could do with your budget and specfic stuff you wanted to use.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=21461907

You could probaly get a better computer without the specific stuff you wanted.

 

[p_game]

Ok. Omitting whatever I specified except for the case, what would be a better build?

 

[Princetawn]

No clue lol.
But im sure someone in here with more knowledge of computer parts can put together a good build for you. And they'll probaly come to this thread soon enough.

 

[Outlander_04]

In this price range you will have a better , faster computer building with an AMD processor

 

[Princetawn]

Here

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=21461907

The quad core will probaly be better then the duel core i3. The motherboard has an excellent build in GPU, and will easily play League of Legends and the highest settings, and probaly run other games well.

 

[Outlander_04]

Here

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=21461907

The quad core will probaly be better then the duel core i3. The motherboard has an excellent build in GPU, and will easily play League of Legends and the highest settings, and probaly run other games well.

That would be a very poorly performing computer

since the processors wont even fit in to the motherboard

 

[aznshinobi]

955 + CX500 V2 $163 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.729966
Wintec AMPX 4GB DDR3 1333 $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279
GIGABYTE GA-78LMT-S2P AM3+ $55 ($10 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128504
Seagate 500GB $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767
XFX 6670 $84 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150542
NZXT Vulcan $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146065
Total: $439 before rebates.

 

[p_game]

Ok. Cool, but one issue with that: I cannot find that mobo on TigerDirect. I am really big on ordering from tigerdirect to dodge sales tax which I would be subject to with newegg.

I'm also thinking of running SSD for my OS and a few apps and games in addition to a regular HD for saving documents & music.
This is the SSD I found reccomended.
Crucial CT064M4SSD2 m4 2.5" Solid State Drive - 64GB, SATA 6Gb/s
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=365474&CatId=5300

I want to keep the build as close to $400 before adding in the SSD. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me make the right purchases.

 

[aznshinobi]

Would you get taxed on Amazon?
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-SB710-Chipset-Motherboard-GA-78LMT-S2P/dp/B0054OWT0G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316036577&sr=8-1

 

[pacioli]

This is the best I could do at tiger direct. All the parts are quality and should not disappoint (except the PSU in that case you wanted). It comes to $448.93 plus $12.65 shipping. There is also a $10 rebate on that video card. You could save a few dollars going other parts - for example, $10 less for 4 gb ram instead of 8 gb, $20 less going for the Phenom II X4 840 instead of the Phenom II X4 955, and $15 less for a 750 GB seagate drive instead of the better quality Samsung 1 TB HDD.

This build is similiar to aznshinobi's recommendation, but I'd like to point out that his build has no power supply... I love the NZXT Vulcan though!

Also notice the CPU comes with DEUS EX: Human Revolution free!

A455-6670 ::ASUS EAH6670/DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6670 Video Card - 1GB, GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.1 (x16), DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, DirectX 11, Single-Slot, Eyefinity, CrossFireX Ready(1.85 lbs)
$99.99
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate

A455-3018 ::ASUS M5A78L-M LX AMD Socket AM3+ Motherboard - Micro ATX, Socket AM3/AM3+, AMD 760G Chipset, 1866MHz DDR3 (O.C.), Radeon HD 3000 Graphics, SATA 3.0 Gb/s, RAID, 8-CH Audio, Gigabit LAN(3.35 lbs)
$59.99

L12-1312 OEM ::Lite-On IHAS124-04 Internal DVD Writer - DVD+R 24X, DVD-R 24X, DVD+RW 8X, DVD-RW 6X, DVD+R DL 8X, SATA (OEM)(1.5 lbs)
Price:$18.99

P56-1001 :: PNY Optima MD8192KD3-1333 Desktop Memory Kit - 8GB (2x4GB), PC3-10666, DDR3 1333MHz(0.2 lbs)
$39.99

TSD-1000S2 ::Samsung HD103SJ Spinpoint F3 Hard Drive - 1TB, 7200RPM, 32MB, SATA-3G(1.37 lbs)
$59.99

H702-0014 ::HEC 6T10LOH400 6T10 Micro ATX Mini Tower Case - 400W PSU, 2x Ext 5.25" Bays, 2x Ext 3.5" Bays, 1x Int 3.5" Bays, 80mm Fan, 2x Front USB 2.0 Ports, 1x Front eSATA Port(12.65 lbs)
$49.99

B69-4507 ::AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Quad Core CPU and AMD DEUS EX: Human Revolution Game Coupon Bundle(1.15 lbs)
$119.99

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Amd Llano A8 build will do what you want, including light gaming at 1440x900 or 1680x1050

 

[ScrewySqrl]

AMD Llano A8 2.9 GHz quad core APU + AS Rock A75M Micro ATX Mobo: $201.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.729347

Seagate Barracuda 1TB + Sony DVD Burner: $72.48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.696136

Corsair Vengance 4 GB DDR3-1600 RAM: $32.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145343

Xigmatek 400W PSU: $34.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815007

Rosewill R102 case: $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111

rosewill 120mm fan: $5.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200048

Total $378.38
Shipping: $18.53

Grand total: $396.91

 

[aznshinobi]

^ Also a solid build. The 6670 is just overall a better card and so is the 955 a better chip which is just why we recommended it. But the build suggested is good.

Screwy you should keep in mind though, those are Newegg prices. Not Tigerdirect.

 

[aznshinobi]

AMD A8-3850 + Free game $140
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=894173&csid=_21
Wintec One 4GB DDR3 1866 $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161467
GIGABYTE GA-A75M-D2H $90
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=717472&CatId=7243
Seagate 500GB $45
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7332879&CatId=2459
Corsair CX430 V2 $50 ($30 MIR)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=422169&CatId=5430
NZXT Gamma $40
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5310941&CatId=1509
Total: After taxes $414.5 (Now I taxed it based on my states 10% tax since only 1 item is from newegg)
Total: Before Taxes $410

1866 is better for Llano is the faster the speed the more it improves the APU's performance. Here's the proof.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4476/amd-a83850-review/4

 

[p_game]

AMD A8-3850 + Free game $140
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=894173&csid=_21
Wintec One 4GB DDR3 1866 $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161467
GIGABYTE GA-A75M-D2H $90
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=717472&CatId=7243
Seagate 500GB $45
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7332879&CatId=2459
Corsair CX430 V2 $50 ($30 MIR)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=422169&CatId=5430
NZXT Gamma $40
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5310941&CatId=1509
Total: After taxes $414.5 (Now I taxed it based on my states 10% tax since only 1 item is from newegg)
Total: Before Taxes $410

1866 is better for Llano is the faster the speed the more it improves the APU's performance. Here's the proof.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4476/amd-a83850-review/4

I'm sold. Thanks aznshinobi, and everyone who contributed. Question: I watched a video about the APU that says if I install a Radeon HD 6450, it will crossfire? Would it be worth it to purchase one now with the original build, or wait to see if I really need it?

 

[aznshinobi]

Alrighty then, Good luck!

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the Llano will crossfire with a 6450, 6570, and 6670

 

[p_game]

Alright. I think I'm gonna wait until I try the graphics out first hand before I rush into buying a second card. After some thought, only change I will be making is getting the Vulcan. I'm a sucker for small, cool looking cases.

 

[aznshinobi]

^+1 Vulcan's great!

As for Crossfire, don't do it until AMD perfects the drivers. As of now if you CF'd a 6550D+6670 you'd get better performance out of the 6670 by itself. The only game that really saw improvement was Metro 2033 and another one I can't remember. But most of the time, the 6670 did better on its own.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

^+1 Vulcan's great!

As for Crossfire, don't do it until AMD perfects the drivers. As of now if you CF'd a 6550D+6670 you'd get better performance out of the 6670 by itself. The only game that really saw improvement was Metro 2033 and another one I can't remember. But most of the time, the 6670 did better on its own.

from what I've read, the 6550+6670 crossfire works best in DX11 games, and worse than standalone in DX9