Low Cost Gaming System

[Ihey8neocons]

I want to build a gaming system for my son under $600?

Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[Jovec]

Originally posted by: Ihey8neocons
I want to build a gaming system for my son under $600?

Any advice?

Thanks!

Start by stating what you will reusing, or what components you need to buy. Keyboard, mouse, speakers, monitor, Windows - will take $300-$400 off that budget if you need to buy them all.

 

[Lonyo]

Phenom II X4 with 780/785 mobo, 2GB RAM, some ~400~500w PSU, HD4850, HDD of your choice, case of your choice.
That's assuming you exclude OS, monitor, and don't plan to overclock.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Look in the FS section.

 

[100Core]

OS included? monitor included?

the only thing I can suggest without knowing is a 4870 1gb card for $125 bucks
These will handle any game out there, most even at max settings

 

[Ihey8neocons]

What's the best bang for your buck for CPU/mobo with overclocking?

 

[RussianSensation]

Intel System:
CPU + Mobo: ECS P55 + Core i5 750 - $285 (after $20 MIR)
DVD Burner: SAMSUNG 22X SATA DVD Burner $24 (after $15 MIR) (free shipping)
Ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBRL $80 (Free shipping)
Videocard: XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB $125 (after $20 MIR) (free shipping)
Hard Drive: SEAGATE Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB SATA II 7200 RPM 16MB $47 (after $15 MIR) (free shipping)
Case + PSU: Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W $110 (free shipping)
$27 off w/ promo code EMCLXNS37, ends 9/27 = net $110 - 27 = $83

OR

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel $60
Get free shipping with promo code SPETFS, ends 9/30
+ CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W Active Power Supply $30 (after $20 MIR) (free shipping), ends 9/27

Total: $644-649 ($50 over but you get the Core i5) <--- this setup is faster than any Core 2 Quad Ever made.

Substitute Intel CPU+Mobo with:
Phenom II X4 955 + Asus M4A758-M AM3 motherboard - $251

Total: $610

If you want even more emphasis on graphics, you can get 5850 for $260 once they are back in stock, and go either dual core S775 route with cheaper DDR2 ram or Quad Core AMD $99 Propus cpu + mobo combo.

Benchmarks: Core i5 750 vs. 955 vs. Athlon II X4 620

If you have a Microcenter near you then you can get the Core i5 for $160.

 

[drizek]

The X3 720 is a better gaming CPU and a better overclocker than the 620 and is only slightly more expensive. Overclocked and when matched with a 5850 it will be really impressive.

DDR2 on an AM2+ motherboard with ACC will also save you a good chunk of money and you might also be able to unlock the fourth core on the 720.

This setup should cost $200 for CPU/mobo. $60 for ram, so you are saving $100 over the Core i5 system, which you can put towards the 5850 video card. You will still go over budget but it will be a very fast system. You are basically paying around 10% more than your budget, but you will get a system that is more than 10% faster than anything you can build for under $600.

 

[Yukmouth]

AMD Phenom II X3 720 System for around $500
VVVVVV

 

[nyker96]

you can do the following:

AMD Athlon X4 620, HD 4850 or HD 4870, 500GB HD, 4GB RAM, Sonata3 case

should be under budget and decent gaming system.

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

Originally posted by: nyker96
you can do the following:
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R = $160 AR+AC (EMCLXNS22)
OCZ Obsidian 6GB (3 x 2GB) = $95 AR
Antec Sonata III 500 w/ 500W PSU = $83 AC (EEMCLXNS37)
XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB $125 (after $20 MIR) (free shipping)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB = $80 AC (EMCLXNS46)
Any DVD Burner = $30
Scythe MUGEN-2 cooler = $37

Total = $610 + some extra to cover shipping.

This setup is about $650 AR AC get ya an i7 system that can OC to about 4Ghz, pretty solid gamer system. Slightly over your budget but should be quite fast.

essentially = i7@4ghz//6GB ram//500W PSU//HD 4870//1TB HD//DVD burner

You didn't include the CPU so add $200-$280.

 

[nyker96]

Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem

Originally posted by: nyker96
you can do the following:
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R = $160 AR+AC (EMCLXNS22)
OCZ Obsidian 6GB (3 x 2GB) = $95 AR
Antec Sonata III 500 w/ 500W PSU = $83 AC (EEMCLXNS37)
XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB $125 (after $20 MIR) (free shipping)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB = $80 AC (EMCLXNS46)
Any DVD Burner = $30
Scythe MUGEN-2 cooler = $37

Total = $610 + some extra to cover shipping.

This setup is about $650 AR AC get ya an i7 system that can OC to about 4Ghz, pretty solid gamer system. Slightly over your budget but should be quite fast.

essentially = i7@4ghz//6GB ram//500W PSU//HD 4870//1TB HD//DVD burner

You didn't include the CPU so add $200-$280.

yes I just realized that :[ so it's gonna coast about $850 to build this one. Considering he is just building it for $600 I think a cheaper AMD system is better suited.

 

[nonameo]

edit: nevermind

 

[Rezist]

Phenom 2 X2 with a 785G mobo, 4850, Corsair CX400W, Antec 300, 4GB of DDR2, etc...

Try for the unlock, if it fails it's still a good value.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: nyker96
you can do the following:

AMD Athlon X4 620, HD 4850 or HD 4870, 500GB HD, 4GB RAM, Sonata3 case

should be under budget and decent gaming system.

The Athlons aren't good for gaming because they lack L3 cache. I would get a Phenom2 x3 720 instead.

 

[drizek]

The Phenom II X2 should work as well, and there are some nice combo deals here

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...d=0&PageSize=10&page=1

You can get it with a Gigabyte 785G board for $161. If you use this along with the system RussianSensation posted above, you might be able to come in right around $600 with the 5850. The CPU is a black edition as well, so you should get some decent overclocks on it.

 

[eternalone]

AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Best bang for the buck.

 

[firewolfsm]

Settle for nothing less than an i5, it's within your budget and will serve you well. With a 4870 that should be easily doable.

 

[Shmee]

good advice ^

you could also get a Q9550 and a gigabyte UD3P if you want to try a 4GHz plus OC. Would need a good cooler.

 

[Malak]

I built this recently, and including OS it was $545. My video card is $40 so total price is under your budget. Prices might have changed though, and I would suggest a better video card. I honestly don't think you can build a respectable gaming rig for less than $600, as this is far from bleeding edge. This is however a very good system with overclocking potential and will last a long time. I didn't get a new video card because I was waiting for the ATI 5xxx series to come out, which they finally did.

4GB GSkill RAM

320GB WD HD

AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition

Raidmax Sirius case(You can downgrade this and save some money)

Gigabyte motherboard

Raidmax modular power supply

 

[heyheybooboo]

My Cut 'n Paste Deal of the Day:

Phenom 720BE / Gigabyte 770T AM3: $170'ish

Enzotech Copper MOSFET Cooler: $15

Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333: $73

XFX Radeon HD 4770: $110

Rosewill RP550V2-S-SL 550w EPS: $55

Rosewill Mid Tower Computer Case: $50


That's $485 --- if you can't figure out the rest you shouldn't be building a computer :laugh:

 

[MikeShunt]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Phenom II X4 with 780/785 mobo, 2GB RAM ... That's assuming you exclude OS, monitor, and don't plan to overclock.

good call, my bro built a similar system and managed to overclock it slightly, but he wasnt really trying TBH.

I was quite impressesd with it.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: firewolfsm
Settle for nothing less than an i5, it's within your budget and will serve you well. With a 4870 that should be easily doable.

I disagree. For a gaming system on a budget, the money spent on a better video card will increase performance much more than money spent on a cpu. In real world situations (i.e. not 800x600 low detail benches) there is no distinguishable difference in most games between a Phenom2 and a Core i7, much less an i5.

 

[CurseTheSky]

One word of advice: DO NOT CHEAP OUT ON THE POWER SUPPLY.

Raidmax and Rosewill PSUs are a mixed bunch. Will they work? Sure. Will they be reliable? Maybe. Will they blow up and take several of your other components with them? Possibly.

Pay $60+ for a quality 350w (or better) PSU. It's the ONLY thing that connects your computer to the wall. Companies like Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, PC Power & Cooling, BFG, and XFX (at least their top-model unit) have been known to be good. Many other companies like OCZ, Thermaltake, Xigmatek, Silverstone, etc. have some quality units and some that are barely acceptable (be sure to read reviews before buying one, such as on JonnyGuru.com). Companies like Apevia (Aspire), Powmax, Coolmax, etc. (generally anything in the $1-25 range, or anything that is significantly higher wattage than similarly priced PSUs from other companies - $50 for a 750w unit, for example) are complete junk and should always be avoided.

 

[alm4rr]

so what did you do?