budget gaming system

[moocow0463]

ok heres the deal, g/f is getting hooked into video games now and the computer she has is a bit outdated, running a nvidia 6800 1g ram, 400 gig seagate HD, with a 478 chipset pent 4 2.59ghz processor, she has been using my rig thats over there<----- and she loves it to death no lag fast loading etc, so my goal is to recreate my budget rig i made to make a fast gaming pc for her, she doesnt need anything fancy but something future proof may be nice, right now shes playing WoW, sims 2, and has ton quite a bit of music.

as far as the rig goes im going to keep the current sound card, and the 400 gig HD everything else needs to pretty much go and may need a new case as she just has a cheap gateway mid tower case
heres what i have been thinking (please help with anything i may have missed/ skipped add comments/suggestions)

processors:
e7200=$120
e8400=$164
e5200=$82

GPU: 8800gt= $129.99
(was thinking an 8500 would work but id rather have the 8800 performance)

mobo:
ep35-ds3l=$84.99 (i dont want to spend too much money here a slight oc may happen on this rig but nothing fancy, i dont think i need 4gigs)
p5Q pro=$78.75
RAM:
g.skill 2x2gig= $40 (you really cant beat this price and its g.skill wish i had this deal when i built my rig)

psu: (i couldnt find a real good psu for a good price but i did find this despite it being sun beam)

fsp 450w
sunbeam 650w= $65

case: ( i need suggestions here, it not only needs to perform but i need looks as well and its a budget so lets keep it cheap)

cooling: (air cooling, depending on the case you pick i need help with fans i never had to do a fan layout or wiring/mounting as my rig already had the fans etc)

heat sink: xigmatek 120mm riffle + mounting bracket~ $43

thermal paste: i have some artic silver ill use

secondly premade cpu's with e8400's
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227060
this one doesnt have the best gpu but a good price

for a bit more
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227113

 

[francis511]

Did you consider the amd 4850 for gpu ?

 

[moocow0463]

the 8800gt is approx $30 cheaper, thanks for the suggestion though keep them coming id like to be under $500 the cheaper the better. but i dont want to sacrifice too much performance p.s i may upgrade the GPU in my system specs to something and trade her the 8800gt, that would save approx $130 but cost me a little more of course im not sure if im going to do that just yet though just an option

 

[francis511]

I`d give the pre-built ones a miss. Unless you can get a better psu , everything else looks O.K.

 

[dna1x]

Are you going to buy this machine for her or is she paying?

 

[JrRacinFan]

May want to switch out your board for possibly this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131329


Now normally I wouldn't link open box items but these are pretty decent not to pass up:

This:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130159R

Or maybe even this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299R

 

[ASRockIQ]

Are you going to buy this machine for her or is she paying?

why does that matter here?

anyways... OP why not go with AMD? it'd be cheaper and AMD just performs as good at a lower price? look in my System Specs. that's a total of $292 and that's with shipping but minus the HDD and GPU. Case, Fans, CPU, Mobo, and RAM are new.

 

[ASRockIQ]

JrRacinFan,

that MSI board i wouldn't trust on Open Box man. the Heatsink on that thing would possibly get damaged during shipping process.

 

[moocow0463]

i was looking for that p5Q pro ill probly use that mobo, yes amd would be cheaper ill look into the amd side of it later but id prefer to stay intel

op updated for mobo

 

[JrRacinFan]

Since you looking at the P5Q as a possibility may as well look into an ATi card alongside with it for crossfire if you decide on that later:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102803

EDIT:
May also want to look into a better OEM for the PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104037

 

[moocow0463]

so ive been doing some thinking, i might buy the P5Q pro for my self, give her my old ds3l, give her my 8800 gt buy an ati card equivalant of the 8800gt like a 4850 or if i get a good deal 4870. (she wont be needing cross fire, shes using a 19.5" screen with max res of 1080)

as for the PSU i know i need to re-look into a PSU but i need some more suggestions ive never even heard of the brand you linked any opinions on the PSU JR is suggesting, as this is a budget build.

also how is the G.skill ram i posted performance wise, i also need Case suggestions ill get pics of the old case not sure air flow will be sufficient to cool an 8400 :S maybe with a few extra fans, if i can re-use the case that will save me a little money as well

 

[JrRacinFan]

If you need reassurance, here's a link to good guide that can help you.
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=39758

Do you think she will be playing Sims 3 when it releases?

EDIT: Be aware Delta is not too too bad, Zalman's OEM is FSP, the newer OCZ are made by PCP&C, and any of the newer CWT/Channelwell products are pretty decent **Ehemm** Corsair. xD

 

[moocow0463]

she may be playing sim3, and if she gets tired of WoW, theres a few new mmo's in developement to change to as well but back on topic heres another route AMD wise i priced it out, save me over $100

Asus m2n mobo (i need opinions im not familiar with amd but the price is sweet) $60.61

processor which is better ideally the same besides 65nm compared to the 90 nm
amd windsor
amd 65nm

gpu: 8800gt of course

total: $245 minus ram heatsink and psu, so approx $360-$400 compared to intel build of $500-600

 

[zithe]

I put this together for my brother. It's a very nice performer. https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=9133692

 

[3870x2]

Did you consider the amd 4850 for gpu ?

or rather the 4830 to match the price of the 8800gt?
For a gaming build, cpu isnt too big of a deal.
Video card should have your highest budget. Might i recommend the 4850, 70, or if someone could sell you a 9800GX2/3870x2.
You dont need 4g ram for a gaming build, you need fast ram. Get 2x1gb@1066mhz.

 

[zithe]

or rather the 4830 to match the price of the 8800gt?
For a gaming build, cpu isnt too big of a deal.
Video card should have your highest budget. Might i recommend the 4850, 70, or if someone could sell you a 9800GX2/3870x2.
You dont need 4g ram for a gaming build, you need fast ram. Get 2x1gb@1066mhz.

Quantity > Speed > Tight timings. He'll hit a wall with the smaller amount and the speed won't prevent it.

 

[spearman914]

That PSU u picked is cheap but I don't think it's a quality one. See most of the feedbacks were 1 ratings...

 

[mdm-adph]

Well, whatever you do, don't skimp on the RAM or video card, these make the most "user interface" difference when gaming. Get at least 4GB and a 8800GT, like you've suggested -- the HD 4830 is also very good and just as fast, and is a bit newer technology wise than the 8800GT, but they're both good cards. I think you can get a 4830 for around $119 on newegg these days.

 

[zithe]

Here's a good power supply. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703018

My brother's using it.

 

[spearman914]

Well, whatever you do, don't skimp on the RAM or video card, these make the most "user interface" difference when gaming. Get at least 4GB and a 8800GT, like you've suggested -- the HD 4830 is also very good and just as fast, and is a bit newer technology wise than the 8800GT, but they're both good cards. I think you can get a 4830 for around $119 on newegg these days.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102803

Here's a good power supply. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703018

My brother's using it.

That's a good PSU but not enough watts.

 

[mdm-adph]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102803

Holy crap - that's even better. Overclocked, that card performs almost equal to a 4850.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Here's an AMD build I posted not too long ago ( Attention; I would only go with this if your not planning on overclocking)


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138134
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103254
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125244

See post below for power supply!

EDIT: Add case and drives and you have a complete setup that should last a while.

EDIT2: Maybe switch out the video card to an ATi 4830 mentioned a few posts above.

 

[cdawall]

Here's a good power supply. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703018

My brother's using it.

swap that for this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703015

 

[JrRacinFan]

swap that for this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703015

Now THAT is a very VERY good psu for the price! Heck think i may get one of those ....

 

[ASRockIQ]

Here's an AMD build I posted not too long ago ( Attention; I would only go with this if your not planning on overclocking)


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138134

eh, that Mobo got bad reviews.

how about this - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157127