Minor Gaming & Video Editing Build for ~$350 - Need Help

[linuxhero27]

I have been debating on building a new PC for about a year. I want it to do some minor gaming (Tiger Woods PGA Tour, TES4 Oblivion, etc) and for video editing when I convert my VHS's to DVDs.

My budget is about 350, and the rig I have come up with that will give a good bang for the buck is as follows (looked at Newegg, but I will try any vendor):

MOBO: BioStar A870U3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138318

RAM: GSkill RipJaws 8gb (2 x 4GB) DDR3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311

PSU: Antec EA-500D 500W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035&Tpk=Antec%20EA-500D

GPU: PNY GeForce GT240

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133391

CPU: AMD Athlon X3 3.1 Ghz AM3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103872

(I have a case, heatsink and copy of Windows 7)

I also don't know if building a PC is worth it for this work though. I have an HP laptop (2.2Ghz Pentium Dual-Core, 4GB DDR2, Shared Graphics), but I think it would be more beneficial and a better investment to go with a new PC.

Should I deal with the laptop or go with the new?

Thanks for the advice!!!

 

[kaweee]

How about something like this

CPU:Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

Motherboard:ASRock H61M/U3S3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157236

RAM:G.SKILL Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231424

PSU:XIGMATEK NRP-PC Series ACXTNRP-PC402 400W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815007

GPU:HIS H667FS1G Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161386

Total:$353.91 + $1.99 Shipping - $10 rebate

Should provide better overall performance and better gaming performance as well

 

[008Rohit]

@ above

+1. Thats an excellent build!

Just I'd change that PSU with a Corsair CX430. Costs $24.99 after rebates on newegg.

@ OP

Dont you need a HDD?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

how about a build that actually has a HDD?

AMD Llano A8 2.9 GHz APU + Corsair 4 GB DDR3-1600: $164.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.724393

Seagate Barracuda 500 GB Drive + Sony 24x DVD: $53.48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.696137

AS Rock A75M-HVS Motherboard: $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157261

Xigmatek 400W Power Supply: $34.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815007

Rosewill R-102 Micro ATX case: $24.99 w/ Promo code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111

$348.39

Shipping is only $6.77

 

[008Rohit]

Processor : AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition Heka 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W - $75
MoBo : ASRock 760GM-GS3 AM3 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $48
Graphics Card : Galaxy 50SGH8HX3QMZ GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) GC Version 1GB 128-bit DDR5 - $79.99 (after mail in
rebates)
Hard Disk : Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATAIII - $40
DVD R/W : LG - $20
RAM : Kingston Value 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333 - $24
PSU : Corsair CX430 - $25 (after mail in rebates)
Case : Cheapo - $20

Total : $342 after rebates

You could save some $10 by finding combo's at newegg. I can't as I'm on Mobile.

 

[linuxhero27]

Thanks for all the help guys. As I said below the parts list, I have a case, hard drive (NOT heatsink), and copy of Windows 7). So, I can actually take some parts off and it would probably be way below budget.

@ScrewySqrl What is so special about the new Llano's?

 

[008Rohit]

Nothing.

Their integrated GPUs aren't as powerful as discrete ones.

 

[gametstr]

Nothing.

Their integrated GPUs aren't as powerful as discrete ones.

They actually are. They perform equally to entry level discrete GPUs if not better.(HD 6450 and GT 520)

But if u consider the CPU part of the equation then its a different story.

 

[008Rohit]

Now who wants to game at 1024x768 at low settings with a low end GPU?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

actually, Llano A8 with its built in 6550d will play most games at high settings (maybe not Ultra) at 1680x1050, at 30-45 fps.

 

[008Rohit]

Ohh seriously?

I saw something else in the benchmarks...

It pulls 35 FPS at low quality at 1680x1050. Not that good!

 

[ScrewySqrl]

indeed DDR3-1600 is the best choice, generally a big boost over 1333, while 1600 to 1866 is less of a boost.

 

[008Rohit]

H61 supports DDR3 1600?

If not, can I overclock my existing 1333 to 1600?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

H61 doesn't, but you can improve your timings, some boards (AS Rock, Gigabyte, Asus) can manually 'overclock' to 1600

 

[008Rohit]

Okay, thanks. I'm stuck with the intel board.