Building a Gaming Computer (for a maximum of $600) [for a beginner]

[ashim8813]

Hi, I wanted to make a custom built computer as I heard it's firstly greater value for money and gives the user (me) much more control. I am new to this, I have only read a thread of two on other people doing the same, and my knowledge of parts is not exactly exhaustive (though I do know what the processor, motherboard, RAM, etc. is, I am not aware of any particular models that are good).

Purpose of the computer: Gaming (I intend to be at least able to run StarCraft II on its highest settings, League of Legends should be a breeze on its highest settings, and overall, I shouldn't have any difficulty having to run new, intensive games (BF3, AC, Dota 2, etc.) on their highest, or maybe just a notch below their highest.

I would prefer 8GB of RAM and an intel processor, although I would not mind any AMD suggestions.

My only other real constraint really is that the budget is $600, I really cannot go above that :\

Thanks in advance!

P.S. I may take a day to respond to suggestions, so please bear with me

Oh, and it would be a massive bonus if the build accommodated for upgrades in the future, should I choose to do it

 

[ScrewySqrl]

some slight tweaks to the motherboard (the ASRock H77M), and a 500 GB drive for the same price as the 250 you had, I fit in a GTX 560

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital RE2 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.78 @ Compuvest)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 560 1GB Video Card ($154.09 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair 500W ATX12V Power Supply ($53.74 @ Amazon)
Total: $596.57
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-08 23:02 EDT-0400)

 

[ashim8813]

some slight tweaks to the motherboard (the ASRock H77M), and a 500 GB drive for the same price as the 250 you had, I fit in a GTX 560

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital RE2 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.78 @ Compuvest)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 560 1GB Video Card ($154.09 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair 500W ATX12V Power Supply ($53.74 @ Amazon)
Total: $596.57
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-08 23:02 EDT-0400)

Will I be able to change the graphic card to a GTX660Ti (after it's been released for a while and becomes cheaper) half a year down the line w/o an issue?

And, what's the difference between MicroATX and ATX? Is one superior to the other?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the GPU is always swappable, they use the same interface.

Micro ATX is smaller with fewer expansion ports...but how many of them will you use? Back in the early 1990s, you might have a video card, a sound card, a modem, and a network card, and maybe others. Now you will have the video card and MAYBE a wireless network card

 

[ashim8813]

the GPU is always swappable, they use the same interface.

Micro ATX is smaller with fewer expansion ports...but how many of them will you use? Back in the early 1990s, you might have a video card, a sound card, a modem, and a network card, and maybe others. Now you will have the video card and MAYBE a wireless network card

Ah ok I get what you mean, so basically MicroATX is the more economic/efficient of the two since it has less unecessary ports and stuff.... yeah makes sense. So then wouldn't I need to get a MicroATX case? Or does it really not matter?

I'll get back to you guys once I have an exact figure on the price of the aforementioned build (the one suggested by ScrewySqrl) and I'll probably take a call then. Should take a day or two

 

[ScrewySqrl]

most cases will take both Micro ATX and ATX boards, some are MicroATX only, and are often smaller

 

[Man eating catfish]

Hi, this build doesn't include an operating system, keyboard, mouse or monitor. But for your budget range, its actually a very capable gaming system.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/dOe5

Just asking, but would this build be compatible with a Geforce GT 440 graphics card instead of the Radeon HD 6950?

 

[nekulturny]

Yes it would, however the GT 440 is substantially less powerful than 6950. The system would not game very well at all with a 440. I wouldn't touch anything less than a 550 TI or a 7770 (the 7770 being the better of the two), and I'll be honest with you, I want my 550 TI gone, its not meeting my standards any longer.

 

[ashim8813]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/81737-35-buying-gaming-computer-pounds

New thread, it turns out I might have a higher chance of getting a laptop... srry for the sudden change guys :\

 

[ashim8813]

Best answer selected by ashim8813.