Extreme budget build for friend

[newtekie1]

I know it seems like a alot of reading, but I bolded the important parts for those that don't want to read through the whole thing.

My friend is a PC gamer, and he had an ok gaming machine, but it was crap by today's standards.(Pentium D 3.2GHz, 7800GT, 2GB RAM, Dell). It wasn't great, but it allowed him to play PC games, and he was even playing the latest PC games on, granted his LCD only did 1024x768, which probably aided in keeping games playable on his rig.

Anyway, his parents bought him this PC when he got his own place. However, his sister is going off to college now, and they want the PC back so she can have one at college. Playing the "we didn't give it to you, we were just letting you use it until you got your own" card...blah blah...sometimes parents suck...

Anyway, he came to me with a mission, build the best gaming computer I could for under $420 shipped. I know, an odd number, but that is exactly how much he has left in his savings after buying a new TV(which he will be using as a monitor now too).

This is what I came up with: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11008666

He doesn't need a keyboard, mouse, DVD Drive, or OS. He upgraded the keyboard, mouse, and DVD-Burner on the Dell himself, so he is keeping those parts, and just giving back the originals that came with the computer. I'm giving him a copy of Vista.

Mainly, I'm concerned about the processor and motherboard. I know they are good, but I wonder if I can get better going AMD. What would be an equivalant on the AMD side cost, including a decent Crossfire motherboard like the P5Q-Pro.

Also, he will be overclocking the machine, or actually I will be overclocking it for him. So that needs to be considered. I'm hoping to push the E5200 to 3.0GHz on the stock cooler, is that possible?

Here is the TV he will be using as a monitor: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5623471

It is only 720p, so that means he will be gaming at 1366x768 maximum, so the HD4830 should handle that with no problem.

Finally, he plans to upgrade this rig once he gets his tax return(figure ~$200-300 in upgrades),what should I recommend as an upgrade? I was thinking a second HD4830 for when he moves to a higher resolution monitor, or maybe a quad-core. And upgrade in CPU cooling is definitely going to happen either way.

Thanks, and sorry for the wall of text.

 

[spearman914]

Get a better PSU, rosewill = no good.

 

[BrooksyX]

Looks like a pretty solid rig. The only thing I would suggest is maybe a different brand of PSU an maybe a little more juice. After he gets his tax returns I would suggest he pick up a second 4830 for some crossfire action.

 

[DarkEgo]

New Psu and RAM and you will be good
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227199
With those you will probably good. The PSU is a little low, but its corsair so it is high quality.

 

[newtekie1]

Ok, power supply switched out with the 600w OCZ StealthXStream. It puts the build $5 over budget, but it has a $20 MIR, which brings it back under budget. He'll go for that I'm sure. The OCZ should be a better PSU, right?

 

[Pete1burn]

Yes. Much better.

 

[spearman914]

Ok, power supply switched out with the 600w OCZ StealthXStream. It puts the build $5 over budget, but it has a $20 MIR, which brings it back under budget. He'll go for that I'm sure. The OCZ should be a better PSU, right?

Yea, better. The only Rosewill products u should buy are there cases.

 

[BrooksyX]

Yep should be great. OCZ power supplies are the same as PC Power & Cooling, just rebranded.

 

[newtekie1]

Adding that power supply gave me a little more wiggle room after the rebate, and I just saw that I have a $10 rebate on the HD4830 too. This gave me enough wiggle room to switch the RAM with the 4GB set that DarkEgo suggested.

Yea, better. The only Rosewill products u should buy are there cases.

Yeah, I was going to take a chance with this one, but luckily you guys talked me out of it, cause the OCZ worked out even better. I'll just have to cover the difference out of my pocket until the rebates come in, but I don't mind the $30. And if they don't come in, he said he'll pay me out of his refund.

 

[BrooksyX]

This is gonna be an awesome budget build! Like I said earlier, pick up a second 4830 down the road and he should have no problem playing any game for a long time to come.

 

[newtekie1]

What about going with and AMD build?

I saw the ASRock 780g motherboard for $80, and the X2 7750. That brings the price to right about the same as the Intel build. How does the 7750 overclock though, and is the motherboard any good? Are there any good overclocking boards in the same price range?

 

[ShadowFold]

Go 7750. My 7750 and HD 4830 are maxing every game I have except Crysis but my old GTX 280 couldn't even do that with a quad core..
Mine does 3.1ghz on stock voltage and a good 780G board, right here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131325
I had one in my HTPC before we got a 790GX and it OC'd our 9500 to 2.7ghz pretty easy.

 

[newtekie1]

Go 7750. My 7750 and HD 4830 are maxing every game I have except Crysis but my old GTX 280 couldn't even do that with a quad core..
Mine does 3.1ghz on stock voltage and a good 780G board, right here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131325
I had one in my HTPC before we got a 790GX and it OC'd our 9500 to 2.7ghz pretty easy.

That board puts the build too far over budget, and kills the ability to crossfire. I don't want to do that.

 

[BrooksyX]

Id stick with current build you have. It will be very solid and you can always upgrade to a better 775 cpu down the road.

 

[Necrofire]

If he's planning to OC, go intel, since it has more headroom, they can go up past 3.5Ghz easily.
If he's not, then go 7750. They can go to 3GHz with no more voltage, but they can't go much higher than 3.1 stable.

 

[CJCerny]

I would trade down to a less expensive mobo (G31 based) and a smaller power supply. 400 watts is actually plenty to run what we are talking about here. That should give you enough wiggle room to leap to a 4850 video card.

 

[BrooksyX]

I would trade down to a less expensive mobo (G31 based) and a smaller power supply. 400 watts is actually plenty to run what we are talking about here. That should give you enough wiggle room to leap to a 4850 video card.

Bad advice. A G31 is not going to overclock at all. I would not recommend running a 4850 on a cheap 400w psu. A 4850 isn't all that better than a 4830. Down the road he can buy a second 4830 and it will perform very well in crossfire.

 

[newtekie1]

Yeah, a G31 isn't really an option. No overclocking potential, and no crossfire pontential. I don't really think the HD4850 offers enough to warrant the price over the HD4830, especially at the resolution he games at.

I'm finding it hard to even suggest he get another HD4830 with his tax refund, as I don't think it will help him all that much. I think I'll suggest he wait until the end of the HD4000 series, when the HD4830's really are cheap. Then he can pick a second one up for crossfire, and be good for a few years with gaming. I think I might just suggest better CPU cooling, and a monitor. He should be able to afford a decent CPU cooler and a monitor that does 1680x1050 at least.

Thanks for all your helps guys.

 

[LittleLizard]

i would go for an amd 5000+ and the asrock 780gxe. is a solid board according to the reviews, is dirt cheap and supports phenom 2

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Tell him to get his butt in gear and get his taxes done! Don't do one of those "instant rebate" places, they just take a bite out of your rebate, giving you less to spend, albeit, sooner. THEN go back and look at what can be purchased. Money is always lost with upgrades, so in the long run, the 2 week wait to get his refund (direct deposit) will pay off. Wouldn't a nice 4870 or 260 be better than crossfired 4830's? How about this: an E8x00 processor, 640GB WD SE16 HDD, 4870/260, and a better monitor?

 

[newtekie1]

Tell him to get his butt in gear and get his taxes done! Don't do one of those "instant rebate" places, they just take a bite out of your rebate, giving you less to spend, albeit, sooner. THEN go back and look at what can be purchased. Money is always lost with upgrades, so in the long run, the 2 week wait to get his refund (direct deposit) will pay off. Wouldn't a nice 4870 or 260 be better than crossfired 4830's? How about this: an E8x00 processor, 640GB WD SE16 HDD, 4870/260, and a better monitor?

I agree, I would rather him wait for the refund and just buy then, but he needs the computer now, his parents already took his old one, and he can't live without a computer. He's been using his PSP to check his email and stuff since wednesday, and he hates it.

He also already sent his taxes to a one of his accountant friends. The friend is doing them for free, but it is one of those "when he gets around to it" deals. He'll get it done by the deadline, but it isn't a priority, his paying customers come first.

 

[newtekie1]

Well, I ordered the computer for him last night. I'll probably slap my Q6600's stock cooler on the E5300 just to give it a little bit more overclocking headroom off the bat, and he'll be in the market for an aftermarket cooler and monitor once his refund comes.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[Nitro-Max]

havent read it all sry got pizza in the oven

If hes planning to upgrade go with a decent motherboard that allows for upgrades and good overclocking thats all i can say atm.

pizza mmm

 

[newtekie1]

havent read it all sry got pizza in the oven

If hes planning to upgrade go with a decent motherboard that allows for upgrades and good overclocking thats all i can say atm.

pizza mmm

The motherboard's a P5Q-Pro, so it should allow him to at least upgrade to a quad and crossfire later on down the road.

 

[Nitro-Max]

This might help you decide

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/page-257075_13_0.html