$500 Everyday/Gaming PC

[Zwnd]

Approximate Purchase Date: Next 2 weeks.


Budget Range: $500 Before Rebates


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Surfing the internet, watching movies, gaming.

Parts Not Required:Keyboard, Monitor, Speakers, OS


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.ca

Country of Origin: Canada


Parts Preferences:

Cooler Master 912
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

Hitachi Deskstar 1.5TB 7200 RPM 6.0GB/s
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145520

Biostar 870
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138303

Gigabyte Gaming Mouse
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826146009

G.Skill Ripjaws 8GB DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311

AMD Phenom II x4 955
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

Cooler Master 120mm Case Fan x 4
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103052

Rosewill Anti- Static Wrist Strap
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899261005

Power Supply ?
I am looking for a good solid and reliable PSU.

Video Card ?
The best possible performance for my budget is what I am looking for.

I am looking for a video card + power supply for about $100 to stay in my budget.


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: No


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments: I just want a computer that will last me a long time and will be reliable. I also want to able to do some gaming once in a while even if it is on low settings. BTW if it matters I'm making two of these systems, one for myself and another for my cousin.

 

[Zwnd]

Also I am not sure if I should spend a little extra and get a AM3+ motherboard. Would it be a better motherboard in the long run?

 

[Proximon]

Ah yes the "screwy newegg.ca link bug".

Ah well I'll post some ideas.

First up I think at a $500 budget you are spending too much on the processor.

Start with a board that will support the next gen of AMD processors:
Asus AM3+ 970
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

Then add the less expensive dual core Regor
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103873

Drop your RAM down to 4GB for now.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231394

Looking at the power range that will support almost any single card, the first I find that I can recommend is actually a VERY nice Seasonic-built Antec, the 520W Neo Eco
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030

From there I might go with a 6770 if possible:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121468

 

[Zwnd]

Will downgrading my cpu and ram mean I have to uprgrade faster later because i would like to spend a little more now and not have to upgrade as soon. Thank you for the PSU and motherboard suggestion they have both been added to my cart. Also could you help me find a cheaper graphics card I don't need anything to expensive.

 

[Outlander_04]

Hitachi hard drive you can live without .
A samsung F3 1 gig

Unless you are using a 64 bit program for image or video work you just dont need more than 4 gig of ram . Make it 1600MHz
Those changes up the budget for graphics a little , so

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6770 1GB $120 [ and a $20 rebate ]
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102941

Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified $60
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030

 

[Proximon]

RAM is not going to be a big issue for a while. If you are a heavy multitasker perhaps, but most games on their own will not exceed 4GB.

CPU is dependent on games played. Some few will do much better with a stronger quad... but then those same games often run better on a stronger Intel hyper-threaded dual core than the AMD quad.

The CPU guide really sums it up:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-llano-processor,2989-2.html
Don points to the X3 Rana...
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886
Which would be a nice compromise if the extra $15 fits.

On the GPU how about a 5670 then?
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102930
That will let you play most games with some lowered detail.

 

[Zwnd]

Why is hitachi not a good brand for hard drives?
The hitachi drive is less expensive than the samsung and has better features.

 

[Outlander_04]

The hitachi is noisier and slower

 

[Zwnd]

Would this be a better choice for RAM and then if I even need it I can buy another stick?

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231313

 

[Zwnd]

Also Outlander can you please give me a newegg.ca link for the hard drive you would suggest.
Thank you.

 

[Outlander_04]

I didnt check the newegg.ca site for the hard drive, sorry
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
and its more expensive , not less
This seagate is a good alternative to the samsung
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

But your original Hitachi is starting to look like good value even though it wont perform quite as well


For ram you are best with 2 sticks because that gives you dual channel and will run faster than a single 4 gig stick
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231443
would be a good choice for its speed and low voltage

You have 4 RAM slots so you can still add another dual channel kit later if you wish

 

[aznshinobi]

AMD 955 $114
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10360AC6599&vpn=HDZ955FBGMBOX&manufacture=AMD
Gigabyte 970A-D3 $100
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD4167&vpn=GA-970A-D3&manufacture=GIGABYTE
Corsair 430w V2 $40
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950AC1394&vpn=CMPSU-430CXV2&manufacture=Others
Seagate 500GB $37
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14120DR4977&vpn=ST3500413AS&manufacture=SEAGATE
G.Skill 4GB DDR3 1600 $30
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15380BD5460&vpn=F3-12800CL9D-4GBXL&manufacture=G.SKILL
HAF 912 $51
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11130AC0700&vpn=RC-912-KKN1&manufacture=COOLERMASTER
Sapphire 6790 $135
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14080BD8127&vpn=11194-00-20G&manufacture=SAPPHIRE
Total: $507

Plus you don't have to pay for shipping, ends up being much much cheaper than newegg. Trust me.

 

[need4speeds]

It worked out to: Grand Total:*$490.93

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701
$39.99 Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371045
$29.99 Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146740
$28.99 Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154098
$34.99 APEX Vortex 3620 SGCC / ABS ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.699792
$116.98 AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor bundled with:1x BIOSTAR A770E3 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125385
$239.99 GIGABYTE GV-R695OC-1GD Radeon HD 6950 1GB Core 870MHz
It's the tri-fan card, three fans should make for a cool, quiet running card.

-The tri-core is 95 watts and should run a bit cooler, and they usually overclock well.

 

[aznshinobi]

By recommending that PSU to run the 6950 you must be joking right?
Just added up the shipping costs for yours need4speed.
6950 shipping - $12
HDD Shipping - $7
RAM Shipping - $10
Case shipping - $20
Rana shipping - $5
MB shipping - $11
Total: $65 in shipping charges. Total is about 556

 

[need4speeds]

450 Watts of Continuous Power The Antec VP450 delivers 450 Watts of reliable and continuous power, with dual +12V @18A output rails to ensure greater system stability.

The antec is rated 450watts Continuous. That is not the same as 450watts peak.

-36amps is enough to run a single 6950, true it's cutting it a bit close, and that is why i stuck with a 95 watt cpu.

-I suppose with the shipping its more, maybe the other site is cheaper if the shipping is less.

-A 6870 might be better,

-I was just thinking it could work out with something a bit better than the hd-6770 because i think soon 800 shaders won't be enough to play new games.

Oh well maybe that system doesn't work out after all.

-It would be better to build a $600 system instead, $500 makes too many compromises so you end up wasting cash in the end.

-A phenomIIx4/6950 system with a 600 watt would be better.

 

[aznshinobi]

http://realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page673.htm

According to the chart it's at least 360w. Now with that said, it's not 80+ certified at all. So at least 360w. We have at least a 200w TDP onload with the 6950 and the 95w of the Rana. That's about 300w almost. So... I guess it'll work out. But not too sure about the quality. FSP did make it though and they're an OK brand.

I do agree the 6870 would be more reassuring. The 6790 is not the 6770. It's close to the 6850 practically a stock 460 768mb/1GB version. The 6790 is a solid card.

 

[need4speeds]

With the new cpus around the corner that are coming out, and new gpu's will follow,
The slower cpu's and gpu's will soon be falling behind and become obsolete.

-So you will end up upgrading again in only a couple of years, by then your old parts used will be almost worthless. Like no-one will want a used 6770 in 2 years or a outdated tri-core. But a phenomIIx4 and hd-6870 or 6950 will still be not bad still.

-The system will be no good in 2 years, for a extra $100 you can extend that by a couple of years.

The $500 build doesn't work out, $400 to $450 does and so does $600 to $650.

A other option is buying a used gaming system since often gamers upgrade to new stuff and sell their old stuff fairly cheap. $300 to $500 could buy you something like a used core2quad/260sli computer, or with a pair of 4870's and a decent gaming case, I think in this price range used is worth looking into.

 

[Zwnd]

Now do I choose Proximon's Asus Motherboard or Aznshinobi's Gigabyte?
Also in my cart now I have a 5670 what would be a better choice for about $50 more?

 

[aznshinobi]

^ How are you only getting the 5670? For $50 more you can get get the 6790 as I listed prior...

 

[Proximon]

Originally I had listed a 6770 and he did not want to spend so much.

 

[Zwnd]

That's true I'm not sure if I should go big on the GPU because Im not going to be gaming that much.