Help me build a 450$-700$ Gaming PC

[jonathan1107]

Hey guys,

I already have a beast computer for myself, but I'm going to help a friend build his own PC... He doesn't have the same type of budget I had for my PC lol....

we're talkin between 450-700$. He plans on using it for:

- Web surfing
- Editing Documents
- Gaming

Here are the parts I need your help with:

- CPU
- GPU
- HDD
- RAM
- MOBO
- PSU

All the other parts we don't need... Speakers, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other acessories... we got those...

I know where to look for almost everything except for the CPU... I'm used to intel, I don't know much about AMD... Since AMD is cheaper, we should go that way...

Let's say this: Let's say we want to be able to play any recent game title @ 40-50FPS @ at least High settings (maybe not Ultra settings...)

What type of AMD CPU and GPU combination are we looking @ ?
What type of power draw and therefore, what type of PSU?
What type of MOBO will be compatible with that AMD CPU and GPU combo?
What RAM will work with that combo?
What's the cheapest 500gb-1tb HDD we can find?

[Fourstaff]

FX4100/i3 2100 (I personally prefer 2100 since its a tad faster in non-gaming situations. About the same in gaming: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...mark,3136.html)
Cheapest Mobo which is not gimped (Whatever you can find for AMD, H61 is fine for Intel)
Cheapest HDD (they are still expensive )
2x2Gb, but try to make it 2x4GB, whatever timing you can get
Quality 400w Corsair, Antec, Enermax, Thermaltake all good brands
GTX560 (Ti) or 6870, if budget still fits

[jonathan1107]

isn't 400w a bit low for the 6870 and fx4100 power draw?

[MxPhenom 216]

CPU: i5 2500k
Memory: G. SKill sniper 2133mhz 8GB DDR3
Motherboard: Asrock Extreme4 Z77
GPU: MSI HD6870
PSU: Corsair TX650 V2
HDD: Its hard to find a HDD right now because of the price hikes.

[Fourstaff]

Originally Posted by jonathan1107

isn't 400w a bit low for the 6870 and fx4100 power draw?

6870 maxes out at 180w, and that is when you punish it. Will not see much higher than 130w in regular gaming, so that leaves plenty of power for the FX4100 (which maxes out at about 140w), you can even overclock both a bit and still be safe (not that I would).

[techguy31]

CPU: i3-2120
GPU: 77xx series or 78xx
SSD: 120GB SSD (< $120)
PSU: Corsair HX650W
MOBO: H61 (No Overclocking Though)
Memory: Corsair or Kinston 8GB Ram

[jonathan1107]

Nvidia, can u link the items u listed? Especially the Mobo, can't find it... I find 3 diff models with same name... phase 2 phase 4... have no clue what the difference is

[Fourstaff]

Originally Posted by jonathan1107

Nvidia, can u link the items u listed? Especially the Mobo, can't find it... I find 3 diff models with same name... phase 2 phase 4... have no clue what the difference is

ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6...
I think its this one he is referring to

[jonathan1107]

and why are the HDDs more expansive of late ???

[Fourstaff]

Originally Posted by jonathan1107

and why are the HDDs more expansive of late ???

No, HDDs are expensive since last year due to floods in Thailand and the manufacturers are still very keen on maximising their profits
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=165350

[jonathan1107]

how were the prices be4 ? for instance, the 500gb 7200rpm HDD I'm looking @ are around 55 to 70$...

I think I got my 2x 500gb western digital drives for 100$ (which puts em @ 50$ each if I'm right...)

Also, IS THE SSD worth it ??

The build I like the most up to now, is Nvidiaintelftw's....
For that particular build, would an SSD help all that much... I know it speeds up the booting process but aside from that...?

[Fourstaff]

Loading times for games will also improve drastically. If your friend can live with 120GB for now (and possible HDD upgrade in the future) go for it, the difference is pretty major.

[jonathan1107]

btw THX for all your help and advice, I already know a lot about computers, and I built mine... but I'm not just familiar enough with all the AMD CPU market...

Also is there a clear advantage into combining an AMD cpu with an AMD GPU... or does it not?
As of right now MY pc has a combo of i7 CPU with 2x AMD GPUs... was that a mistake? or it doesn't matter...?

I know usually, nvidia goes well with intel, but do Nvidia GPUs fit in AMD mobos and match AMD cpus?

[jonathan1107]

Can someone link me the cheapest 64 and 120 gb SSDs ?

[ShiBDiB]

Ur shorting urself by sticking to amd.. intel holds the crown right now and for the forseeable future.

[jonathan1107]

Yes I understand intel CPUs are better... but what about the GPUs?

Is it terrible to combine a Intel CPU with an AMD GPU? (for instance, i5 2500k and AMD radeon 6870) ? or should the i5 be combined with an NVIDIA card ???

[Fourstaff]

Originally Posted by jonathan1107

btw THX for all your help and advice, I already know a lot about computers, and I built mine... but I'm not just familiar enough with all the AMD CPU market...

Also is there a clear advantage into combining an AMD cpu with an AMD GPU... or does it not?
As of right now MY pc has a combo of i7 CPU with 2x AMD GPUs... was that a mistake? or it doesn't matter...?

I know usually, nvidia goes well with intel, but do Nvidia GPUs fit in AMD mobos and match AMD cpus?

No, there is no clear advantage to go AMD-AMD, or at least not that I know of. Same with all other Nvidia-Intel-AMD combinations. If there is, its probably quite small. What matters more is that Intel's CPU is slightly more consistent than AMD's, and Nvidia posts better min framerates than AMD in general, for the same price bracket.

Originally Posted by jonathan1107

Can someone link me the cheapest 64 and 120 gb SSDs ?

You can take a look at this: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...alue,3184.html

SSDs are a pain to recommend, every few dollars difference will make one option slightly better than the other, especially the low end stuff. Crucial M4, OCZ Agility 3 and Intel 330 are my go-to recommendations right now.

[jonathan1107]

OK 1 Last important question:

NVIDIAintelFtw's BUILD is my favorite right now, I like it a lot... And I believe my friend will go for it... BUT ----- > the bill goes up to 788$ + taxes and shipping... that's tad bit high...

Here is the build he recommended:

CPU: i5 2500k
Memory: G. SKill sniper 2133mhz 8GB DDR3
Motherboard: Asrock Extreme4 Z77
GPU: MSI HD6870
PSU: Corsair TX650 V2

Is there a way to reduce the cost?
Are there CHEAPER options for the 3 following elements:

Memory: G. SKill sniper 2133mhz 8GB DDR3
Motherboard: Asrock Extreme4 Z77
PSU: Corsair TX650 V2

[Fourstaff]

550w is enough

Memory can drop down to 1600Mhz, SB doesn't post significant gains after 1600Mhz (at whatever timings)

You don't really want to cut the motherboard if you are planning to overclock in say 2 years time to squeeze some more usage. Alternatively, if overclock is not really considered ( I would sacrifice this for a slightly better GPU), you can get a H61 board and i5 2400.

[baggpipes]

<<< look at my rig.... its right on with your budget...

[ShiBDiB]

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR...

^^ RAM

Open Box: MSI P67A-G45 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SAT...

^^MOBO (Yes its open box, and yes it works fine.)

[baggpipes]

and agreed that i5 cant use more than 1600mHz... if you go FX build go with 1866 mHz RAM...

[Crap Daddy]

I'd say

i3-2120
H61 mobo
HD 7850
Cheap 2x4GB RAM
400W PSU
500GB HDD

Forget the 6870, if it's gaming we're talking about then get the 7850

[1nf3rn0x]

What resolution of his monitor?..

[Darkleoco]

Originally Posted by jonathan1107

OK 1 Last important question:

NVIDIAintelFtw's BUILD is my favorite right now, I like it a lot... And I believe my friend will go for it... BUT ----- > the bill goes up to 788$ + taxes and shipping... that's tad bit high...

Here is the build he recommended:

CPU: i5 2500k
Memory: G. SKill sniper 2133mhz 8GB DDR3
Motherboard: Asrock Extreme4 Z77
GPU: MSI HD6870
PSU: Corsair TX650 V2

Is there a way to reduce the cost?
Are there CHEAPER options for the 3 following elements:

Memory: G. SKill sniper 2133mhz 8GB DDR3
Motherboard: Asrock Extreme4 Z77
PSU: Corsair TX650 V2

Definitely drop the ram down to 1600 mhz and you don't have to grab an ivy bridge compatible board if he intends to stick with this setup for awhile.