Battle of the cheap build options.

[mathiasschnell]

Ok so I've been looking for CPU+Mobo+RAM combo to swap out the dying setup I got in my tower right now (details in the member config section). I'm trying to do this with as cheap (yet reliable) components as possible and so far I've narrowed it down to these two CPUs

Intel
CPU - Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072&Tpk=E5200

AMD
CPU - AMD Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition Kuma 2.8GHz - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103678


Both are $69.99 and I know I can get a Mobo and 4GB of RAM for both without going too far over $200 (if at all). Problem is there's such a large host of Mobos and RAM and there's standards to worry about and I just can't seem to sort through it all without getting confused. I could probably do it if I spent some more time looking but I want to make a decision fairly quickly as I've been holding off on this for too long now.

So here's what I'm asking. Could the community please recommend me which of these CPUs to go with and, if possible, also offer up some reliable and inexpensive Mobos and RAM to go with whatever they suggest?


And to answer some FAQs...

PURPOSE?
- Gaming on the cheap
OVERCLOCKING?
- Light, if any
PRICE RANGE?
- Less than $220
EXPERIENCE?
- Built one complete PC so far and overclocked it fairly high (from 2.0GHz to 2.8 GHz, but took it back down). Have also upgraded some parts on it over the years.
POWER SUPPLY?
- This: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=Corsair%20650w
CASE?
- This: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

 

[dirtmountain]

Much faster then the 7850 or E5200

PhenomII x2 550 BE and Asus M4A78 AMD770 combo deal for $163
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.200020

G.Skill DDR2 1066 RAM 5-5-5-15 @ 2.0v $54
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

all with free shipping, $218

 

[smithereen]

A lighter set of equipment for $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.203014

Athlon II 250, M4A78, 4GB OCZ DDR2-800. It's crappy nVidia-branded memory, but it'll work.