• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

+/- $600 Gaming system advices

kid41212003

kid41212003

Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
3,638 (0.63/day)
Location
California
I'm building a gaming system for a friend. I want to make sure i don't miss anything... If there's any better choices please point me to it! (as long as price doesn't go up).

I'm picking all my components from amazon because i have an account there, so it means free shipping...

PSU - Corsair CMPSU-650TX 650-Watt TX - $89.99

Memory- Corsair 4GB Dual Channel Corsair DDR3 - $93.99

VGA - EVGA GeForce GTX460 768MB 768-P3-1360-TR - $169.99

Case - Cooler Master RC-310-BWN1-GP Elite 310 - $46.49

Mobo - Gigabyte Motherboard GA-880GA-UD3H - $109.99 Switched to cheaper ASUS board $99

CPU - Phenom II X4 965 Black AM3 3.4GHz $159.99 -> If i can find a 955 for cheaper (on Amazon) I will switch to it.

Total: $670.44
 
Last edited:
Bo$$

Bo$$

Lab Extraordinaire
Joined
May 7, 2009
Messages
5,656 (1.04/day)
Location
London, UK
System Specs
System Name Desktop | Server
Processor Intel i7 2700k @ 4.6GHZ | AMD 5350 @ 2500MHZ
Motherboard Asus P7Z77-V Pro | Asus AM1I-A
Cooling Corsair H60v2 | Stock Air
Memory Crucial Ballistix 2x8GB CL8 1600MHZ | Corsair Vengence 2x4GB CL9 1600MHZ
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 1060 6GB | PNY GTX 750Ti
Storage Samsung 840 EVO 250GB + 4TB WD Red | 2x Seagate Barracuda 2TB
Display(s) Samsung S27D390H + Asus VE276Q | Headless
Case Fractal Design R5 | CM Elite 110
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar D1 w/Otone Stilo 5.1 and Creative Fatal1ty headset
Power Supply EVGA Supernova 850 G2| Corsair CX430M
Mouse Razer Imperator 2012
Keyboard Corsair K90
Software Windows 7 SP1 X64 | Ubuntu 16.04LTS
will he need a dvd drive?
 
MustangGT2142

MustangGT2142

Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
98 (0.02/day)
Location
Slovenia
System Specs
Processor Intel Core i5 2500K
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD4
Cooling Xigmatek Gaia SD1283
Memory Corsair Vengeance 16GB 1600Mhz cl9
Video Card(s) Crossfire HD 5850 1GB
Storage Crucial m4 SSD 128GB, WD Black 640GB
Display(s) Samsung SyncMaster T260HD
Case NZXT Gamma
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar D1
Power Supply Corsair HX 650W
Software Win 7 Ultimate 64-bit
and a hard drive...
 
Fourstaff

Fourstaff

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
10,020 (1.91/day)
Location
Home
System Specs
System Name Orange! // ItchyHands
Processor 3570K // 10400F
Motherboard ASRock z77 Extreme4 // TUF Gaming B460M-Plus
Cooling Stock // Stock
Memory 2x4Gb 1600Mhz CL9 Corsair XMS3 // 2x8Gb 3200 Mhz XPG D41
Video Card(s) Sapphire Nitro+ RX 570 // Asus TUF RTX 2070
Storage Samsung 840 250Gb // SX8200 480GB
Display(s) LG 22EA53VQ // Philips 275M QHD
Case NZXT Phantom 410 Black/Orange // Tecware Forge M
Power Supply Corsair CXM500w // CM MWE 600w
Check out the Tom's Hardware builds, they are a pretty solid base to start from.

Drop the CPU to 955 and get a 212+. Works out to be $10 more expensive, but you can just up the multi by one and option to do some more.

If budget is tight, consider dropping board to the mATX one, covering the extra $10.
 
cyriene

cyriene

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
183 (0.03/day)
Location
Miami
System Specs
System Name PrettyH8Machine/GameOn
Processor i7 920 D0 4.2GHz/i7 920 D0 4.0GHz
Motherboard X58A-UD7(v1.0)/X58A-UD3R
Cooling RRT Chrome EK Supreme HF/EK Supreme HF
Memory G.Skill Pii 3x2GB 1600 cas7/G.Skill Pii 3x2GB 1600 cas7
Video Card(s) Gigabyte HD4550/XFX 6950 2GB Crossfire
Storage Corsair F120SSD/Samsung F3 1TBx2 RAID1
Display(s) Dell U3011 & Dell 2407WFP
Case Coolermaster HAF 932/Mountain Mods Duality
Audio Device(s) Onboard/Corsair HS-1 Headphones
Power Supply Corsair HX620W/Corsair TX850W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Benchmark Scores I should run some of these sometime...
Adding gaming grade mouse and keyboard could increase price by another $100+. Also, what about Windows license fee?

I would check into a cpu/mobo deal from Frys if there is one around you. May be able to save some money and apply it to a decent kb, mouse, aftermarket cpu cooler.

And for 50 bucks, I think you may be able to get a better case if you wait a bit for one on sale.

Also, will need some speakers or a headset too...
 
Fourstaff

Fourstaff

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
10,020 (1.91/day)
Location
Home
System Specs
System Name Orange! // ItchyHands
Processor 3570K // 10400F
Motherboard ASRock z77 Extreme4 // TUF Gaming B460M-Plus
Cooling Stock // Stock
Memory 2x4Gb 1600Mhz CL9 Corsair XMS3 // 2x8Gb 3200 Mhz XPG D41
Video Card(s) Sapphire Nitro+ RX 570 // Asus TUF RTX 2070
Storage Samsung 840 250Gb // SX8200 480GB
Display(s) LG 22EA53VQ // Philips 275M QHD
Case NZXT Phantom 410 Black/Orange // Tecware Forge M
Power Supply Corsair CXM500w // CM MWE 600w
cyriene said:
Adding gaming grade mouse and keyboard could increase price by another $100+. Also, what about Windows license fee?

I would check into a cpu/mobo deal from Frys if there is one around you. May be able to save some money and apply it to a decent kb, mouse, aftermarket cpu cooler.

And for 50 bucks, I think you may be able to get a better case if you wait a bit for one on sale.
Click to expand...

Gaming grade mouse? Heh, my friend uses a Logitech basic mouse and he can kick serious butt (widely regarded as one of the best gamer in my previous school). A normal kb works, you don't need a fancy one. Win license fee is cheaper if you are a student.

Speaking for cases, check Peet's sale, he might have better cases out for sale.
 
cyriene

cyriene

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
183 (0.03/day)
Location
Miami
System Specs
System Name PrettyH8Machine/GameOn
Processor i7 920 D0 4.2GHz/i7 920 D0 4.0GHz
Motherboard X58A-UD7(v1.0)/X58A-UD3R
Cooling RRT Chrome EK Supreme HF/EK Supreme HF
Memory G.Skill Pii 3x2GB 1600 cas7/G.Skill Pii 3x2GB 1600 cas7
Video Card(s) Gigabyte HD4550/XFX 6950 2GB Crossfire
Storage Corsair F120SSD/Samsung F3 1TBx2 RAID1
Display(s) Dell U3011 & Dell 2407WFP
Case Coolermaster HAF 932/Mountain Mods Duality
Audio Device(s) Onboard/Corsair HS-1 Headphones
Power Supply Corsair HX620W/Corsair TX850W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Benchmark Scores I should run some of these sometime...
Fourstaff said:
Gaming grade mouse? Heh, my friend uses a Logitech basic mouse and he can kick serious butt (widely regarded as one of the best gamer in my previous school). A normal kb works, you don't need a fancy one. Win license fee is cheaper if you are a student.

Speaking for cases, check Peet's sale, he might have better cases out for sale.
Click to expand...

We all know someone like that. But there's a reason most of us don't use our old Dell kb and mouses anymore...
Sure, you don't have to buy the $130 Logitech kb, I wouldn't either. But if you're going to be using the comp a lot it's a good idea to get some nice and comfortable input devices. Which will raise the price some.

He's already at $670 minus kb, mouse, speakers, windows, hd, dvd player... so even small increases will put him way over budget.

And not all students can get Windows as cheap. Depends on the school. I'm not even a student, but get 2 free Win 7 Ultimate licenses for free for being alumni :) But my other Uni we didn't get any discount
 
Fourstaff

Fourstaff

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
10,020 (1.91/day)
Location
Home
System Specs
System Name Orange! // ItchyHands
Processor 3570K // 10400F
Motherboard ASRock z77 Extreme4 // TUF Gaming B460M-Plus
Cooling Stock // Stock
Memory 2x4Gb 1600Mhz CL9 Corsair XMS3 // 2x8Gb 3200 Mhz XPG D41
Video Card(s) Sapphire Nitro+ RX 570 // Asus TUF RTX 2070
Storage Samsung 840 250Gb // SX8200 480GB
Display(s) LG 22EA53VQ // Philips 275M QHD
Case NZXT Phantom 410 Black/Orange // Tecware Forge M
Power Supply Corsair CXM500w // CM MWE 600w
cyriene said:
We all know someone like that. But there's a reason most of us don't use our old Dell kb and mouses anymore...
Sure, you don't have to buy the $130 Logitech kb, I wouldn't either. But if you're going to be using the comp a lot it's a good idea to get some nice and comfortable input devices. Which will raise the price some.

He's already at $670 minus kb, mouse, speakers, windows, hd, dvd player... so even small increases will put him way over budget.

And not all students can get Windows as cheap. Depends on the school. I'm not even a student, but get 2 free Win 7 Ultimate licenses for free for being alumni :) But my other Uni we didn't get any discount
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have been using a G15 and a Sidewinder X5, but I don't feel my skill level going up. Honestly, I don't mind going back to the "office equipment" gear because the new "office equipment" is good enough for some casual to mid level gaming. Completely unnecessary to get any special leet gear, especially on such a tight budget. Of course I approve him getting it later on when he has got the money, but I wouldn't want to push for "gaming gear" and let his hardware selection suffer.
 
cyriene

cyriene

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
183 (0.03/day)
Location
Miami
System Specs
System Name PrettyH8Machine/GameOn
Processor i7 920 D0 4.2GHz/i7 920 D0 4.0GHz
Motherboard X58A-UD7(v1.0)/X58A-UD3R
Cooling RRT Chrome EK Supreme HF/EK Supreme HF
Memory G.Skill Pii 3x2GB 1600 cas7/G.Skill Pii 3x2GB 1600 cas7
Video Card(s) Gigabyte HD4550/XFX 6950 2GB Crossfire
Storage Corsair F120SSD/Samsung F3 1TBx2 RAID1
Display(s) Dell U3011 & Dell 2407WFP
Case Coolermaster HAF 932/Mountain Mods Duality
Audio Device(s) Onboard/Corsair HS-1 Headphones
Power Supply Corsair HX620W/Corsair TX850W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Benchmark Scores I should run some of these sometime...
I would troll slickdeals.net for a while and scoop up some good deals on other items as they pop up. I've been browsing that site for years and saved a ton of money on quality computer parts.
 
kid41212003

kid41212003

Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
3,638 (0.63/day)
Location
California
Hard drives and any other accessories are not needed. He wants to keep using his current ones.
 
D

Dent1

Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
3,427 (0.67/day)
System Specs
System Name My baby
Processor Athlon II X4 620 @ 3.5GHz, 1.45v, NB @ 2700Mhz, HT @ 2700Mhz - 24hr prime95 stable
Motherboard Asus M4A785TD-V EVO
Cooling Sonic Tower Rev 2 with 120mm Akasa attached, Akasa @ Front, Xilence Red Wing 120mm @ Rear
Memory 8 GB G.Skills 1600Mhz
Video Card(s) ATI ASUS Crossfire 5850
Storage Crucial MX100 SATA 2.5 SSD
Display(s) Lenovo ThinkVision 27" (LEN P27h-10)
Case Antec VSK 2000 Black Tower Case
Audio Device(s) Onkyo TX-SR309 Receiver, 2x Kef Cresta 1, 1x Kef Center 20c
Power Supply OCZ StealthXstream II 600w, 4x12v/18A, 80% efficiency.
Software Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
Last edited:
JrRacinFan

JrRacinFan

Served 5k and counting ...
Joined
Mar 17, 2007
Messages
20,072 (3.22/day)
Location
Youngstown, OH
System Specs
System Name Dual Build Streamer
Processor Ryzen 7900x3d : Ryzen 4600G
Motherboard AsRock B650E Steel Legend : Giga B450i Aorus
Cooling Custom Water 1x420 : Stock
Memory 32GB T-Force Deltas : 16GB Dominator Platinums
Video Card(s) PowerColor 7900 XTX Liquid Devil: iGPU
Storage 20+ TB
Display(s) Sammy 49" 5k Ultrawide
Case Custom White Painted Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2
Audio Device(s) Onboard : Onboard
Power Supply EVGA 1200W P2
Mouse Corsair M65 RGB Elite White
Keyboard Hyperx Origins 65
Software Windows 10
kid41212003

kid41212003

Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
3,638 (0.63/day)
Location
California
NewEgg has offices in CA, so there will be taxes... Amazon isn't.

The price is good but I wish there was no tax...
 
Zen_

Zen_

Joined
Apr 18, 2010
Messages
499 (0.10/day)


That's what I'd build, but surely some of that stuff could be had for less and tax free shopping around.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top