Need help making a basic build for $300

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Nafixd

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Dec 30, 2012
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10,510
I am in need of help to choose parts for a basic build. I won't be gaming a lot and if I do, it will be simple web browsers or WoW. Games I will be playing will be Fiesta Online, Perfect World, WoW, emulated games (ps2, ps1). I don't need WoW to be perfect either, as long as I get a playable version. This computer will be used to do worded processing, browsing, watching videos (anime), and a little bit of gaming (the ones I mentioned). My budget is $300 (US). I plan on upgrading this to an ivy bridge in a year or so (i5). Other parts I will upgrade is probably RAM, HDD to SSD, and maybe the graphics card since I don't do heavy gaming at all.

I have a monitor of 1440 x 900 and 1600 x 900 ( first one is VGA and second one is DVI ). I will only use one monitor. I also have a copy of windows 7.
I was only able to choose a CPU chip so far. I'm aiming to build around a Pentium G620.

I'm not sure if I should get a micro atx or an atx motherboard. I need a sata 3 port to use a sata 3 SSD in the future. I won't be using 2 graphic cards either any time in the future.

I'm not sure about the graphics card at all. I just need one that fits my budget and allows me to do very little gaming.

For HDD, I didn't choose one yet. I will probably try to find a 250 GB HDD since I barely use more than 100 GB right now. Also, it will save me a bit of money for other parts.

Case I'm unsure of since I actually don't know which case I need.

RAM will probably be 4 gb (2 x 2 gb).

PSU I have no clue on either.

I don't think I need a cooler.
 
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For your uses and budget, I think I would suggest an AMD APU because I don't think you are going to be able to fit a graphics card into the budget.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/v1l2
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/v1l2/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/v1l2/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75M-DGS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($60.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($39.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $319.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-30 15:30 EST-0500)


 
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I am trying to stay toward intel for upgrade reasons actually. I don't need a strong gfx, just one for light gaming which is optional. Let's take WoW out of my needs, would it fit my budget? When I say light gaming, I mean games usually on low settings and they are usually the free mmorpg ones.

I forgot about cd drive, so now any builds?
 
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You want this then :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G860 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($67.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 6670 1GB Video Card ($50.60 @ NCIX US)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($30.95 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $335.49
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
 
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If you are OK starting with the onboard graphics from Intel, then I think you can build a good base for upgrading. I'd just do something like that last build, but even just omit the 6670 since it breaks the budget by 10% and is a pretty weak card anyway. That will leave a little room for picking a case you like. I would definitely go with the G860 mentioned above as it's about 20% faster for less than 10 bucks more.

Also, while ANtec is a great brand, going with a dual 18A rail PSU really limits options for graphics cards in the future. I'd find a single rail PSU, which should be possible for about the same money.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/v2tU
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/v2tU/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/v2tU/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Pentium G860 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($67.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Cooler Master GX 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $313.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-30 17:24 EST-0500)


 
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+1 to Django's build (twelve's AMD build is good, too, but since you don't want AMD...). the only alternative I offer is if the cost must absolutely stay under $300

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G630 2.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($63.66 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H61M-DGS Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 6670 1GB Video Card ($50.60 @ NCIX US)
Case: Apex SK-393-C ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Smart 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $300.20 (Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Good luck!

*edit replaced the G645 with a G630 - I don't know why pcpartpicker would include an in-store-only processor from microcenter. Build isn't strictly under $300 anymore, but it's close.
 
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Cases actually don't matter for me as long as it has minimum air circulation and can fit my motherboard. I currently have an old dell computer (2007) and the case has barely any circulation but my computer runs fine.

I'm not a fan of intel hd graphics for some reason. The big reason would be because it shares memory. With 4 gb it will probably bring it down to 2 gb if I make it use it's maximum memory which I probably won't.

I did a bit of browsing about the radeon 6670 and found that it is a decent graphics card especially for my need. It is able to max out two of the games I mentioned and still get around 30 fps ( and even more for one of them). I saw videos of it with people playing WoW with max settings and they received a decent amount of fps. I forgot to include team fortress which it is able to run smoothly too depending on settings. I can't really find videos of intel hd 2000 with any games except WoW and team fortress 2 without maxed settings.

I like this build a lot, but I want to know if I can cheap out on anything to bring the price a little closer to 300. For the mobo, can I get a different one that is able to still run maybe 1 or 2 Sata 3 ports? I don't really need all the expansion slots since the most I will upgrade is a graphics card. I don't think I use anything else that requires a pcie or a pci slot.

This is off topic, but how does the motherboard chipset affect performance or an average user in general?
 
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Get the asrock h77 pro 4, the on i put in the list, it has 4 SATA III ports, 4 SATA II ports, the best onboard audio that comes in z77 boards, also it supports any ivybridge cpu, it has 4 dimm slots, really good features for 69.99$, you should not skimp on that.
 
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I know i shouldn't but if money becomes a problem for me I will need an alternative to that. And I'm probably going to make my part orders in a week or 2 so the sale might disappear.
 
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How about this guys? I'm not sure if it will work with each other but the specs on the mobo are good enough for my needs, which is a slot for the video card, 2 sata 3 ports, and lga1155. I don't think I have anything else that requires another pci slot, since I wont be using the current ones anyways, just the pci express. I switched the RAM since I needed one that works with the mobo and it had good ratings. For the PSU I chose a 350 watt since I don't need any more than 250. And if I do upgrade, I'll change the PSU if needed. I'm just curious, do I need a micro atx PSU? And will the case be able to get a micro atx board mounted on?


PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vbUi
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vbUi/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vbUi/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Pentium G630 2.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($63.66 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D3V Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($62.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($21.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 6670 1GB Video Card ($50.60 @ NCIX US)
Case: Apex SK-393-C ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq 350W ATX12V Power Supply ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $323.19
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 
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