<$700 Gaming System with future upgrading options

f3ral

Distinguished
Nov 18, 2011
9
0
18,510
Approximate Purchase Date: Cyber Monday ( November 28, 2011)

Budget Range: Up to $700, after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, HD Video Watching

Parts Not Required: Monitor, Mouse, Speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Not picky.

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: I've used Intel and nVidia, but I have no problem using AMD/ATi if better/cheaper

Overclocking: Possibly

SLI or Crossfire: In the future, maybe. Not now.

Monitor Resolution: 1600x1200 or higher


From reading around I've learned that I don't need more than four cores, AMD and Intel both work, and if I go Intel, I might as well do H67 at this price point. What I know nothing on is whether AMD or Intel would be more beneficial at this pricemark, as well as how beneficial overclocking would be. I don't know what to expect as far as graphics cards though, and which brand would be better, either. I also have no idea if liquid cooling would be a good idea, or even possible at this price.

I'd like my computer to be quiet, maybe in a pretty case, with options to expand later. In a year, I can afford getting a second graphics card, increasing RAM, and getting a better CPU, if I need any of those three. I just want to be able to play most games on at least High for the next year-- Skyrim just came out, and I'm crying inside because my current PC can only run it on Low, and Low just doesn't do it justice. I think that's enough information...what do you guys advise, to this novice?
 

cutebeans

Distinguished
Since you said you have a current PC. Can you reuse the parts there? Case and HDD?

AMD Phenom II x 4 + ATI 6870 $278
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.748619

Asrock Extreme4 AM3+ Motherboard $110 (supports crossfire.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157262

Win7 Home Premium OEM 64bit $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

OCZ Modstream 700w $60 after rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018

G.skill Ripjaws X 4gb $23
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231313

Seagate 250gb Hard drive $90 << It's so expensive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148699

NZXT Elite $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146075

$700 w/o shipping but after rebates.

Can upgrade to newer AMD cpus (piledriver). Can CF with mobo and great 700w psu.

If you have any parts that can be reused then I can make it better like OS, HDD, Case.
 

f3ral

Distinguished
Nov 18, 2011
9
0
18,510
Thank you! Infortunately, I can't reuse any parts. the PC I'm using now is a gaming laptop from two years ago, and the hard drive is failing, so I can't even rip that. :(

Out of curiosity, why are we picking AMD/ATi over Intel and/or nVidia? (Besides the fact that's a bundle :p)
 

cutebeans

Distinguished
You can't afford it :( Since you need everythinjg and want upgradability like SLI.

OS takes $100 off your budget.
HDD takes $90 off your budget.

In the end, you only have $510 for the build.=(

EDIT: Don't worry though, that build will have no problem running Skyrim at High. Not gonna max it though.
 

f3ral

Distinguished
Nov 18, 2011
9
0
18,510
So I think I actually know someone who just has OEM copies he doesn't need, so I might get to ignore the cost of that!
Now comes a stupid question: I have an external hard drive I'm not using...I can't in any way rig that to be my main drive, can I?
 

ch3rok33jo3

Distinguished
Nov 14, 2011
74
0
18,640
For gaming, i3/i5 rule. Intel's upgrade path is also superior to AMD piledriver.

If you can find the money in the budget, pair your i3 with a 2GB 6950 card ($250 or so) flash the card's BIOS to make it a 6970, and you will be able to play or do virtually anything.

 

ch3rok33jo3

Distinguished
Nov 14, 2011
74
0
18,640
$700 shipped to my door:

NZXT Gamma case ($35.99)
Powercolor Radeon HD 6950 2GB ($254.99) (cheaper on black friday)
RAIDMAX Hybrid 730W PSU ($59.99)
Crucial Ballistix Sport 2x2GB DDR3 1600 ($21.99)
MSi P67A-G43 Motherboard (16x, 8x crossfire and P67 chipset for IVY BRIDGE intel future upgrade) $115
Intel Core i3-2100 3.1GHz ($124.99) (could opt i5 on black friday)
Arctic Cooling ACALP11 cooler ($16.99)
DVD+-RW ($18.99)
500GB drive the dude above found ($50)

This system, shipped to my door for $700, could run Battlefield 3 on high settings.

Good luck beating it!

=)

*source newegg.com*
*the site above where dude found 500GB drive for $50!*
 

cutebeans

Distinguished


That case won't make any problems. Not sure on the price cuts on those dates though.
 

cutebeans

Distinguished


Skyrim is more CPU intensive than GPU. With his res a 6870 would be able to max it out. That would be a good build but a RAIDMAX power supply... Brrr. Good luck with that crap.
 

ch3rok33jo3

Distinguished
Nov 14, 2011
74
0
18,640


My AMD X4 is beaten by that i3, yet I can play Skyrim on full settings with my GTX 460, also beaten by the 6950 I selected.

So yeah Skyrim would LOVE an i3. It prefers dual cores with higher clockrates, and you can take that i3 to the moon with the motherboard I selected and the cooler I selected.

I've been doing this for awhile lol

also I edited the motherboard since you posted to MSi with crossfire support after re-reading his post
 

ch3rok33jo3

Distinguished
Nov 14, 2011
74
0
18,640
Also I've been using several of those particular RAIDMAX 730W psu's, their lower-end stuff is crap but that model isn't bad at all.

Typically I would agree though, this is a super budget build
 

cutebeans

Distinguished
The new build I made had an i5-2500k + ATI 6870. :) $700 afterrebates! It's pretty good. Better than your i3-2100. Consider it beat. lol.

EDIT: Yeah, that particular raidmax is pretty good. Great job on the find. :)
 

ch3rok33jo3

Distinguished
Nov 14, 2011
74
0
18,640


That's great, but the card you picked out is really weak. You can flash a 6950 2GB up to 6970, overclock it, and have yourself a budget GTX 580-contender.

http://www.hwcompare.com/6328/radeon-hd-6870-vs-radeon-hd-6970/

I mean seriously. What are you gonna do with a 6870 in a year? You think you can get decent HD out of that?

However that i5 is great, if both could be worked in, it would be the system I just ordered.

=) LOL
 

cutebeans

Distinguished
Yeah, but since his resolution is only 1600 x 1200. It would last him at the least 2 years. It would be another matter if he went 1920 x 1080p though but it's still going to play all the current games at high.
 

ch3rok33jo3

Distinguished
Nov 14, 2011
74
0
18,640


Think back two years ago. What video card did you have. Are you still using it?

Maybe if it was a 8800GTX or something. But not a little mid-range card like the 68XX series - I'd be surprised if 1600 x 1200 is do-able with any 6xxx cards in two years - short of crossfire two 6970/6990 - which would be like SLi 8800GTX today - able to barely do true HD.

I mean two years ago I didn't even have my GTS 250 yet - and that can't do squat these days!
 

ch3rok33jo3

Distinguished
Nov 14, 2011
74
0
18,640


Nice what are the latest games for you? Obviously you don't mean BF3, though Skyrim would be alright with a powerful enough CPU, it could handle things cut back a bit
 

calguyhunk

Distinguished
Jul 6, 2010
1,456
0
19,460
BF3/MW3 at that resolution is a breeze with a 9800GT. Dunno if you'll get 40 fps at high though :(
 

ch3rok33jo3

Distinguished
Nov 14, 2011
74
0
18,640



Yes ujaansona is right - and I picked out P67 board for overclocking and Ivy-Bridge compatibility =)