$500 Budget Gaming Build | Need suggestions!

[kassuba39]

Hello! I am planning on building a gaming computer fit to run games like Skyrim, Borderlands 2, Battlefield 3, Call of Duty 4, and Fallout on High Settings.

I already own a copy of Windows XP Pro 32 (Great OS but limits me to 4 GB RAM), 21" Monitor, and a Keyboard & Mouse.

Extra Info:

Approximate Purchase Date: This Week

Budget Range: $500 including Shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg but if something is a lot cheaper somewhere else, I'm all for it.

Location: Mid-Michigan, United States

Parts Preferences: N/A

Overclocking: If necessary

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Your Monitor Resolution: 1600x1200

Additional Comments: I just want the best I can possibly get for my price range.

Why Are You Upgrading: I'm sick of console gaming and desperately need a new PC.

 

[djangoringo]

CPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8c8
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8c8/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8c8/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Pentium G860 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI Z68A-G43 (G3) ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($31.64 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On IHAS324-98 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $468.57


Or amd build :


PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8fh
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8fh/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8fh/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 960GM/U3S3 FX Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($61.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($31.64 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On IHAS324-98 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $500.55
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[Deemo13]

On high settings, that's alot to ask from $500.

 

[kassuba39]

CPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8c8
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8c8/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8c8/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Pentium G860 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI Z68A-G43 (G3) ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($31.64 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On IHAS324-98 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $468.57

Is there any bottlenecking? On the Intel build? Is that the best card for $200?

 

[djangoringo]

Yes, its the best card, no bottleneck expect in battlefield 3 mp 64 players.

There is also an AMD build but more expensive :

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8fh
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8fh/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8fh/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 960GM/U3S3 FX Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($61.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($31.64 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On IHAS324-98 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $500.55
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[kassuba39]

On high settings, that's alot to ask from $500.

Thanks for your help!

 

[kassuba39]

Yes, its the best card, no bottleneck expect in battlefield 3 mp 64 players.

There is also an AMD build but more expensive :

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8fh
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8fh/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r8fh/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 960GM/U3S3 FX Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($61.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($31.64 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On IHAS324-98 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $500.55
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Which one would perform better? For the price?

 

[djangoringo]

The intel is cheaper and performs about the same, the intel is a dual core and the amd cpu a quadcore, in some games the amd cpu takes slight advantage like games as planetside 2 or battlefield 3 mp.
The amd overall will perform slightly and can be overclocked, but has a higher power consumption.
Also worth mentioning is the future upgrades like changing the cpu, in the intel mobo you can latter on switch for an i5 or i7 ivybridge.
The amd board allows in the future the upgrade for piledriver cpus but in terms of upgradability the intel has the upper hand.

 

[songorocosongo]

I vote for the AMD build

 

[jtenorj]

Doesn't bf3 require dx10 for a minimum code path, so dx9.0c in win xp won't work?

 

[kassuba39]

The intel is cheaper and performs about the same, the intel is a dual core and the amd cpu a quadcore, in some games the amd cpu takes slight advantage like games as planetside 2 or battlefield 3 mp.
The amd overall will perform slightly and can be overclocked, but has a higher power consumption.
Also worth mentioning is the future upgrades like changing the cpu, in the intel mobo you can latter on switch for an i5 or i7 ivybridge.
The amd board allows in the future the upgrade for piledriver cpus but in terms of upgradability the intel has the upper hand.

Okay, I took your build and changed a few things for price reasons. I've always liked Intel so I think I'm leaning towards the Intel Chipset. I intend to buy it all on Newegg. Do you think I'll have any problems running on XP Pro 32?

This is what I have, tell me what you think:

CPU:
Intel Pentium G850 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116397

GPU:
EVGA SSC 02G-P4-3653-KR GeForce GTX 650 Ti 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130841

MOBO:
MSI Z68A-G43 (G3) LGA 1155 Intel Z68 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130621

HDD:
Western Digital WD Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

PSU:
Antec VP-450 450W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371045

BURNER:
Sony Optiarc 24X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118067

RAM:
Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148542

CASE:
COOLER MASTER Elite 430
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227

Thanks!

 

[kassuba39]

Doesn't bf3 require dx10 for a minimum code path, so dx9.0c in win xp won't work?

I guess you're right! I'll have to upgrade to Win 7 in the future then! Thanks for bringing that up!

 

[djangoringo]

Why don't use the NCIX US and amazon(they're reputable sites vendors) ? you'll save some money and it allows you to buy the 660 gtx instead of the 650 ti.
Or at least change the gpu for a 7850 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150642

 

[kassuba39]

Why don't use the NCIX US and amazon(they're reputable sites vendors) ? you'll save some money and it allows you to buy the 660 gtx instead of the 650 ti.
Or at least change the gpu for a 7850 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150642

I just researched those websites, they're fine now. Your build is perfect, thanks!

 

[Ghouldude]

I can confirm that BF3 won't run in XP. My buddy bought BF3 for the PC originally but he has an older XP build and could'nt play it due to the issue mentioned above, so yeah, not gonna work.

 

[jdwii]

Please don't get the 650 get the 7850 easily better.

 

[jdwii]

Please look at this

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_650_Power_Edition/27.html