$500 gaming build

[toyeboy]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: soon
BUDGET RANGE: $500 or less

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Games, internet, music pictures.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, speakers, mouse, monitor

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com,

PARTS PREFERENCES: amd or intel

OVERCLOCKING: no

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: okay i found an article on maximum PC.com they built a pc that plays Crysis at 40fps for $500 but that was like a month ago so the prices have dropped so it could be cheaper...I changed the graphics card to a 4770 from a 4870 b/c it's cheaper and was able to add Vista

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/build_a_500_pc_play_crysis_40fps?page=0,0

here's the specs:


CPU: Intel Pentium E5200 2.5GHz Wolfdale -Price: $71
Motherboard: MSI P43 Neo3-F LGA 775-Price: $90
Memory: Crucial 2GB DDR2 SDRAM 800-Price: $23
GPU: ATI 4770 $100
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-S223F 22X DVDR-Price: $25
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200AAJS 320GB-Price: $50
Case and Power Supply: Rosewill TU-155 II 500 Black-$50
Vista 64bit OEM- $99

$508 total + shipping and tax

so what should I change to stay under this price...I've considered the Windows RC 7 but don't like the fact it expires b/c that would be a headache next year.
i'd also consider an AMD build it doesn't matter to me.

 

[Outlander_04]

AMD Phenom II X3 720 $139
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128379

Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220293

GPU: ATI 4770 $100
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-S223F 22X DVDR-Price: $25
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200AAJS 320GB-Price: $50

And so long as you dont buy vista that leaves $94 for a decent case and psu so.....

NZXT Alpha Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Open Window $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146041

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ500SXS 500W ATX12V / EPS12V Active PFC Power Supply $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012

The mb is m-atx but quality and you probably dont have 5 extra cards you'd like to add anyway .
The rc of 7 is fine and if you use it you get a much better set of hardware .[ DONT get it from anyone besides microsofts downoad site ]
And the 4770 is up in price but you will get a 4850 for that price and the performance is the same

 

[toyeboy]

thanks that gives me another option! have you found any benchmark tests with the x3 720? would the GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD motherboard be upgradable to the newer am3 sockets?

 

[Outlander_04]

The 720 be is an am3 cpu , and like all other am3's it runs in an am2+ mb with ddr2 RAM as well .

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3512&p=9
[ read the whole article ]

Gaming benchmarks depend a lot on the gfx card and how the test is set up but here you can see that the 720 be is about on par with an e8400 and far ahead of an e5200

PS Heres a review of the case
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/3297-nzxt-alpha-mid-tower-case-review.html

not perfect but good value . If I had another $20 I'd replace it with the antec 300 though

 

[toyeboy]

wow yeah i'll forget the e5200, that's pretty weak compared to the competition b/c I don't plan on overclocking and I think 3 or 4 cores is smart right now. The Phenom II X3 720 looks like a good choice b/c of the extra core while being on par with the e8400 and MUCH cheaper.