$500-$600 gaming budget build

[Aznsky]

Hello,

I'm looking for some recommendations on parts for a budget gaming build. I've never built a pc in my life, but I should be able to figure out or get help on how to assemble the parts. If my requests are not ideal for the price, please forgive me

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within the next month to two months

BUDGET RANGE: $500-$600 max for comp only, but i'll need wireless keyboard / mouse too

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (Diablo2-SC2-CS) / Watching movies @ 1080P (would like hdmi output) / maybe light photo editing if I learn how / playing music

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: OS (already have Windows 7 64-bit)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg, local microcenter, tigerdirect

PARTS PREFERENCES: Would like to use Intel CPU (I5 or I7)

OVERCLOCKING: No / Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: huh?

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Will be connecting to my 47" LCD for movie watching but may also use on 24" LCD if I decide to buy one

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Definitely would like a quiet PC, energy efficient, and doesn't get very hot, good platform for easy future upgrades.

Thanks a ton!

Rob

 

[cmcghee358]

Hello,

I'm looking for some recommendations on parts for a budget gaming build. I've never built a pc in my life, but I should be able to figure out or get help on how to assemble the parts. If my requests are not ideal for the price, please forgive me

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within the next month to two months

BUDGET RANGE: $500-$600 max for comp only, but i'll need wireless keyboard / mouse too

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (Diablo2-SC2-CS) / Watching movies @ 1080P (would like hdmi output) / maybe light photo editing if I learn how / playing music

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: OS (already have Windows 7 64-bit)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg, local microcenter, tigerdirect

PARTS PREFERENCES: Would like to use Intel CPU (I5 or I7)

OVERCLOCKING: No / Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: huh?

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Will be connecting to my 47" LCD for movie watching but may also use on 24" LCD if I decide to buy one

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Definitely would like a quiet PC, energy efficient, and doesn't get very hot, good platform for easy future upgrades.

Thanks a ton!

Rob

You will take a performance hit trying to go the Intel route for that price. You are probably better off going the AMD route, good performance/cost ratio.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I agree that you don't have the budget for an Intel i5 or i7 build. An AMD system would give you a much better gaming experience. Here's a very nice AMD build at $600:

AMD Athlon II X3 440 Rana 3.0GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103843

XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150462

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.365636 $232.98 (CPU + GPU combo)

GIGABYTE GA-770T-USB3 AM3 AMD 770 USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128431&Tpk=gigabyte%20770t $79.99

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303&cm_re=g.skill_ddr3_1600_cas_7_4gb-_-20-231-303-_-Product $114.99

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.359996 $114.98 (Case + PSU combo)

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&Tpk=samsung%20f3%20500 $54.99

Total - $597.93

 

[cmcghee358]

For what it's worth I completely endorse shortstuff's build

 

[Aznsky]

Hmmm....Thanks for the reply guys. I'm not too familar with AMD vs Intel, I just chose Intel cuz of the bigger name. I think my friend put together a i5 system for around $600, but maybe he's not getting the best performance?

And shortstuff I'm not questioning your choices, but how did you come about choosing these particular parts? Is there a way to find out how well they work together?

Also how long would this system last before I'd have to upgrade something (which would be the first I'd need to upgrade?)

Thanks! Still a lot for me to learn.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I've been putting systems together for quite a while. It becomes second nature after a while. I know all those components are of the highest quality and will work excellent together because I've personally used the components. I build systems for customers and have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn't work.

There's no way your friend made a "gaming" i5 system for $600. The graphics card is the most important part in a gaming system. You would have to get a cheap graphics card if you tried to build an i5 system at $600. The AMD build above will work great at your budget. The first thing you would need to upgrade would be the graphics card. An ATI 5850 would work much better, but it won't fit in your budget.

 

[Aznsky]

Hmm.....ok, read a lot of other threads on this forum, starting to get a hang of things.

Would it be possible to get a quad core cpu to fit my budget? I read in one of the stickies that it may be a better platform for upgrading in the future? Or is that more motherboard specific?

Also would when I upgrade the gpu, I would just need to upgrade one right, and not have to combine two gpu's or anything?

And where can I see if the psu/mobo will handle the upgraded gpu?

Oh and the gpu says it's specifically designed for Intel mobo, but it will work with the AMD setup?

Thanks and sorry for the noob questions!

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Well, my build is only $2 less than your stated upper budget limit of $600 to there aren't a lot up upgrades possible without going over budget. A triple-core CPU works just as well as a quad core CPU in most games. The upgrade path is determined by the motherboard.

I used a motherboard that only has one PCI-E slot to keep the build under budget. You don't have the option of adding another GPU, you would have to replace it.

The 430W PSU wouldn't be enough for the upgraded graphics card. Again, I picked that case + PSU combo to stay under budget. You would want at least a 500W PSU for the 5850.

You said the GPU stated it was meant for an Intel mobo, but that doesn't make any sense. I'm guessing your talking about the RAM. The RAM only says it's meant for Intel systems because it doesn't require more that the 1.65v voltage limit of Intel chips. The RAM will work just fine on an AMD system.

 

[dirtmountain]

I also endorse shortstuff_mt's build. It's a excellent performing system at the budget limit.