$500-800 Setup for Gaming Battlefield 3

[Lamix]

Approximate Purchase Date: Anytime between now and Release of Battlefield 3 early beta access

Budget Range: 500-800

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Being able to play BattleField 3, League of legends and portal 2. A Small hard drive is fine 350gb is what i have now on my laptop and is alright but if theres bigger for cheaper than im all for it.

Parts Not Required: Mouse

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: tigerdirect.ca newegg.ca bestdirect.ca

Country of Origin: Canada

Parts Preferences: Anything

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: You know best

Additional Comments:
I would just like a machine and monitor for around 500-800 that i can play battlefield 3 and it wont be choppy or slow. Meaning i dont have to play it on ultra settings but i would like best performance i can get.

Minimum
Hard Drive Space: 15 GB for disc version or 10 GB for digital version
OS: Windows Vista or Windows 7
Processor: Core 2 Duo @ 2.0GHzRAM2GB
Video Card: DirectX 10 or 11 compatible Nvidia or AMD ATI card


Recommended
Hard Drive Space: 15 GB for disc version or 10 GB for digital version
OS: Windows 7 64-bit
Processor: Quad-core Intel or AMD CPURAM 4GB
Video Card: DirectX 11 Nvidia or AMD ATI card, GeForce GTX 460, Radeon Radeon HD 6850

 

[ncc74656]

i have had many friends asking about this as well. you want to put most of your money in your video and cpu then mb and ram. if im bored later ill jump on newegg and grab some parts.

 

[g-unit1111]

A couple things:

1. You're not gonna afford SLI or Crossfire in a build that inexpensive. What I'd recommend doing is just spending the money on a solid, primary GPU like a GeForce 560 or ATI 6850. Then you can always buy an extra one later on. Spend the difference on getting a better motherboard and CPU that'll last you for several upgrades.

2. Here's the thing with HD space - don't settle for that small of an amount. HDs and even SSDs right now are ridiculously cheap and have gone through numerous manufacturing upgrades, giving you better quality drives as a result. What you could do is get a 64GB Crucial M4 (right now they're hovering around $120 on Newegg) and pair it with a Samsung Spinpoint 1TB which are going for around $60 - as your games and entertainment libraries grow, you can always add more of these when you feel like it.

3. Monitor resolution: Don't settle for anything less than 1080p, even right now 21.5" - 24" monitors are going for less than $150 and you'll still get the full 1080p resolution.

4. CPU: Go with the Intel i5-2500K, it's the best CPU on the market right now.

 

[ncc74656]

i have to agree with the cpu recomendation. the ssd i would stay away from, its just not needed on a budget build. you can buy your self a single 1 or 2 TB drive and go from there. just make sure you have data backed up, when a drive that large failes you loose alot. if you are going to go with anything lower than a 24" monitor then just get a standard comp monitor, if you want more than 24 do not buy expensive comp monitors but rather buy a TV and use it as a monitor. im going to assume you have a monitor right now so i would recommend setting the monitor price separate from the comp. 800 is just enough to get a good gaming system but not with cost of a monitor included. you can go on craigs list and buy 22" screens for 15 bucks as well. i do that when i need an additional monitor. as for resolution of screen, yes; get a 1080 or higher.

you will not be doing any sli or high end cooling like the man said. just focus on solid parts to build from.

 

[Lamix]

Thanks for showing interest guys.
This will be upgraded over time but I just want to start out with a machine that will run Battlfield 3 on medium-high settings.
4gb ram is a good start will be upgraded to 8 at a later date.
Graphic card obviously i will be getting GeForce GTX 460, Radeon Radeon HD 6850 either of those since they are recommending and like you said i can upgrade later on.

I just need help choosing which items would be what im looking for currently and something that i can easily upgrade near future when the demand is there.
My current laptop is Intel i3-m330 2.13ghz, 4gb ram, nvidia 310m 512mb. Bad company 2 on low settings is rough meaning battlefield 3 is a no go on this badboy haha

 

[ncc74656]

i just jumped on newegg, i did not include a case as thats what ever you want with the remander of the cash. there are a few mail in rebates on here too.

500G HD: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073
750W PSU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182067
i5 2500K: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
6870: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150561
8G gskill: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
msi z68: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130614
heatsink: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134
750.00 ish

buy 2 4GB sticks of ram not 4 2GB sticks, easier upgrading and more OC headroom. you can boost the MB to a GD55 for an extra 30 bucks if you have that to spare, i had to downgrade it to keep in budget. the 6870 can be crossfired later if you need more power. just my 2 cents

 

[sgamble]

Monitor - Dell 20" Widescreen - $89
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/popupproductdetail.aspx?sku=320-9331&?

Case - Antec Sonata 3 - $129
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024

CPU - Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

Motherboard - Intel BOXDH67CLB3 LGA1155 $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121508

Powersupply - Antec EarthWatts EA-500D PLUS BRONZE - FREE WITH CASE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035

Hard Drive
1. Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFS 74GB 10000 RPM 16MB - $41
2. Seagate Pipeline HD ST3500312CS 500GB 8MB - $30

Optical - Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner 24X $19
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039

RAM - Kingston HyperX Blu 4GB x 2 = $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104238

VGA - $169 - $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127518

Sound - Onboard


If my math is correct, that's 751 with a 20 rebate coming back to ya.

 

[ncc74656]

intel main boards are not what i would choose for a performance build. they are very very stable but are not meant to be pushed like a high end asus, evga or msi would be, thus i can not recommend the intel MB. the raptor is next to worthless in performance boost but it is cheap so... a smig better than a cheap 7200, loads under a ssd. for the price its hard to argue against it. the i3 (imho) has no place in a desktop. i5 at least should be used in this build.

the 460 is a strong card but the MSI brand i would not recommend for video cards. i have bought them in the past only to find there heat sinks are very very cheap.

everything else seems fine.

 

[Lamix]

All great information and ive been pricing on 3 sites getting good prices. only downside with ncc74656 is $750 without a case and monitor.

the price of the dell monitor is pretty good

 

[sgamble]

The Dell monitors are okay in quaility and life. For the price it's a good buy.

Not sure what bad experience NCC had with the MSI. I've built over 5000 custom systems with all brands of cards and have had less than 1% failure on the MSI. We stopped building with EVGA after we hit a 8% failure rate.

 

[genghiskron]

id say it would be silly not to wait for the impending beta. see what kinda framerates people are getting with various setups. Depending on how cpu intensive the game is, you may be better off with a 955/i3-2100 + nicer gpu than an i5+ lesser gpu.

 

[Lamix]

I think what I'm going to do is buy case/hd/monitor/cd drive i prolly wont be able to get the ram untill i figure out on the mother board etc.

I know on the official battlefield 3forums they had a sticky for custom pcs but were bit expensive

 

[ncc74656]

good idea to wait for some FPS benches but in the end the budget does dictate what you can buy. i still recomend getting the i5, you can always link 2 cards if you need more gpu speed but the cpu is more work to replace and having a strong CPU even with a weak GPU can help alot.

i have built thousands of system as well and have never had failures on MSI cards but very shotty build quality on there heat sinks. if you do want an msi card i would recommend looking at an after market heat sink unless they have changed there build standards in the past year. I love MSI MB's, used them since 2000.

do you have a monitor now you can use or are you in a laptop? not having to include a monitor in your price would help alot with the build. perhaps getting a 2400 i5 if you need to, they still OC fine with a locked multi and are a bit cheaper than the 2500k by around 40-50 bucks

 

[Lamix]

i only have a laptop unfortunately i sold a desktop years go before school but now looking to switch back

 

[ncc74656]

well you could save 60 bucks off the setup i listed by downgrading your PSU to one with out lights and dropping your 2500k for a 2400 i5. 3 weeks ago i got 3 21 and 22 in wide screen monitors for 35 bucks on craigs list. i also got a 42" plasma for 10 bucks, cost me 100 to repair it. dont count craigs list out for stuff such as monitors. or what ever canadas equivalent is of craigs list.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Here's my suggestion:

Rosewill R102: $30
Rosewill Blue 120mm Fan: $8
DVD Burner + 1 TB Drive: $73
AS Rock H61M/U3S3: $70
Corsair CX430 v2: $45
4 GB DDR3-1333: $25

$243


i3-2100 ($125)
HIS HD6850 ($150) + Deus Ex
$518

i5-2400: $190
HIS 6850 + Deus Ex: $150
$583

i5-2400: $190
Zotac GTX 560: $195
$628

i5-2500: $210
iZotac GTX 560ti: $240
$693

 

[Lamix]

I see what you suggested is close to your build. Hows it run games have you tested yet?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

My 6850 gets good/great FPS right now
All Points bulletin: 62FPS
City Of Heroes (Ultra): 57 fps -- 45 during a zombie or rikti event
Civ V: 42 fps
DC heroes: 145 fps
Portal 1: 245 FPS
Dragon Age II: 59 fps

 

[Lamix]

Thats pretty good. Only question is do you not run into problems? Im no expert but the PSw is 450 and the card says needs a minimum of 500. Also im assuming those frames are on ultra/high

 

[ScrewySqrl]

those are on ultra/highmax settings, yes.

the 430W PSU has 28 amps on teh 12v rail, the HD6850 requires only 22 amps (for the whole system). the 560 needs 24, as does the reference model of the 560ti. If you feel the need, you can bump up to the 500W model for $10 more

 

[Lamix]

Hey what do you guys think of this build
http://home.cogeco.ca/~lamix

 

[ScrewySqrl]

looks like a very solid build to me

 

[ncc74656]

whats the hz on that monitor? either im blind or the site does not list it.

i dont care for segates and i would look into getting a X6 over the 4 but thoes are more personal preference things.

i would however recommend looking into the standard version of that video card as opposed to the OC edition if the standard is cheaper. just oc it your self. if its the same price then nvm.

aside from that solid build.

 

[Lamix]

Frequency
Analog : 30~83kHz/56~75Hz
Digital : 30~83kHz/56~75Hz
after rebate its the same
plus that site gives like 3 free games and benchmark software for free so kinda worth it in my eyes
i did however also include the heatsink you listed but i forgot to put it on the site

also chose that processor cause it came with free deus ex but ill look into the other chipset you mentioned

 

[ncc74656]

if its a better deal then go for it. i didnt do any research into what was cheaper or what came with what games/rebates. deus ex human revolution is an EPIC game. ive played it 4 times now and even tho i would say the replay value is rather lacking i just cant get enough of the game style/environment. absolutely love it... looks and sounds great on my system, 7.1 surround with a 46' display it just sucks me in.