My LOW budget gaming build.

EDIT -

So i've decided to say eff my original budget ($550) and bump it up to like $800. The more I look at stuff the more I want to spend... Sorry I keep changing my mind so much, you have all been very helpful.

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/313/pc3c.jpg

How does that look?

this for mobo:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131406

it might be a little bit more expensive, but you'll be happy you did

This instead of the dual core, only $30 more.

This instead of the dual core, only $30 more.

C_Rule

good call

I would get this GPU due to price to performance and free games

PNY GTX 460 1gb OC + Mafia 2 + Just cause 2 Free Shipping 189.99(169.99 MIR)

OP, keep everything as is except for the CPU. I recommend an Athlon II X4 640. It's only $10 more than your dual-core.

au contraire(yes i speak french :D) i would get the 920, the athlons do nothave an L3 Cache

Yeah the more I think about it the more it makes sense to just go with a quad core. How about this one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103675

Yeah the more I think about it the more it makes sense to just go with a quad core. How about this one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103675

Cellthemaster

Between $550 - 600.

Between $550 - 600.

Cellthemaster

Thanks man. I appreciate it.

Thanks man. I appreciate it.

Cellthemaster

Well I think you're gonna like this config. I hooked you up with a crossfire motherboard a 650 watt power supply and the second fastest AMD quad core CPU.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146058 - Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145299 - RAM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.578348 - Power Supply/ Video Card combo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.580614 - CPU/Motherboard combo

that should come out to $600, if thats still too expensive just keep the motherboard and drop the CPU to the Phenom II X4 945 if you need too

Good luck :D

Lets see what I can do.

• MSI HAWK gtx 460 1gb OC & Rosewill 700 watt PSU + Just cause 2 + mafia 2 258.99(228.99MIR)
• AMD Phenom IIx4 965/ASUS Mobo + Stalker Call of Prypat $248.99(233.99MIR)
• adata 2x2 DDR3 1600 Ram 44.99
• NZXT Case $49.99

602 dollars outside MIR

Well I think you're gonna like this config. I hooked you up with a crossfire motherboard a 650 watt power supply and the second fastest AMD quad core CPU.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146058 - Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145299 - RAM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.578348 - Power Supply/ Video Card combo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.580614 - CPU/Motherboard combo

that should come out to $600, if thats still too expensive just keep the motherboard and drop the CPU to the Phenom II X4 945 if you need too

Good luck :D

UltimateGamer95

Now that's a nice build :P

if you have already waited 5 years then I suggest you wait another 2 months for the new AMD chips to be announced!!!!!

Well I think you're gonna like this config. I hooked you up with a crossfire motherboard a 650 watt power supply and the second fastest AMD quad core CPU.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146058 - Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145299 - RAM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.578348 - Power Supply/ Video Card combo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.580614 - CPU/Motherboard combo

that should come out to $600, if thats still too expensive just keep the motherboard and drop the CPU to the Phenom II X4 945 if you need too

Good luck :D

UltimateGamer95

Lets see what I can do.

• MSI HAWK gtx 460 1gb OC & Rosewill 700 watt PSU + Just cause 2 + mafia 2 258.99(228.99MIR)
• AMD Phenom IIx4 965/ASUS Mobo + Stalker Call of Prypat $248.99(233.99MIR)
• adata 2x2 DDR3 1600 Ram 44.99
• NZXT Case $49.99

602 dollars outside MIR

jedikevin2

Definitely like this... 3 Games + a GPU that can easily match a 6870 and at its speed now is faster then a 6850. This looks amazing.

yah but a 6850 crossfired utterly destroys a 460 in SLI and overclocked, use less energy and only 1 6 pin connector each

yah but a 6850 crossfired utterly destroys a 460 in SLI and overclocked, use less energy and only 1 6 pin connector each

blaznwiipspman1

Power constraints kinda mute regardless which setup he goes based on the scenario I presented and what ultimate presented.

I dont know, support for crossire/SLI has come a long way since the early days. But yah overall a single card is better than dual cards. Both the 6850 and the 460 1gig are in similar performance range, the 1gig being faster when overclocked. The 6850 is more efficient power usage wise, and is better in dual card configs. Can't go wrong with either one.

[QUOTE="UltimateGamer95"]

Well I think you're gonna like this config. I hooked you up with a crossfire motherboard a 650 watt power supply and the second fastest AMD quad core CPU.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146058 - Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145299 - RAM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.578348 - Power Supply/ Video Card combo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.580614 - CPU/Motherboard combo

that should come out to $600, if thats still too expensive just keep the motherboard and drop the CPU to the Phenom II X4 945 if you need too

Good luck :D

Tezcatlipoca666

Now that's a nice build :P

I love all of the help and suggestions I have gotten so far, everyone here is always so helpful. I'm thinking about doing a complete 360 though and putting some more money in my build and going with an Intel Sandy Bridge setup. I just keep wanting to spend more $ to get more even though I shouldn't lol.

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8964/sdsk.jpg

Worth the extra $60 or would an AMD X6 be better for the added $?

I love all of the help and suggestions I have gotten so far. I'm thinking about putting some more money in my build though and going with an Intel Sandy Bridge setup. I just keep wanting to spend more $ to get more even though I shouldn't lol.

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8964/sdsk.jpg

Worth the extra $60 or would an AMD X6 be better for the added $?

Cellthemaster

How about an AMD PII X4 955 or 965 and a better GPU. Combining a GTX 460 SE with a 2500k seems like a waste to me.

When it comes to gaming GPU > CPU. I haven't really encountered any games that I can't play with my dual-core so... yeah.

I love all of the help and suggestions I have gotten so far, everyone here is always so helpful. I'm thinking about doing a complete 360 though and putting some more money in my build and going with an Intel Sandy Bridge setup. I just keep wanting to spend more $ to get more even though I shouldn't lol.

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8964/sdsk.jpg

Worth the extra $60 or would an AMD X6 be better for the added $?

Cellthemaster

[QUOTE="Cellthemaster"]

I love all of the help and suggestions I have gotten so far, everyone here is always so helpful. I'm thinking about doing a complete 360 though and putting some more money in my build and going with an Intel Sandy Bridge setup. I just keep wanting to spend more $ to get more even though I shouldn't lol.

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8964/sdsk.jpg

Worth the extra $60 or would an AMD X6 be better for the added $?

UltimateGamer95

Which would perform better :)

[QUOTE="UltimateGamer95"]

[QUOTE="Cellthemaster"]

I love all of the help and suggestions I have gotten so far, everyone here is always so helpful. I'm thinking about doing a complete 360 though and putting some more money in my build and going with an Intel Sandy Bridge setup. I just keep wanting to spend more $ to get more even though I shouldn't lol.

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8964/sdsk.jpg

Worth the extra $60 or would an AMD X6 be better for the added $?

Tezcatlipoca666

Which would perform better :)

How much of an improvement is the 6870 over the 6850? Is it worth the $40 price difference? Sorry about all of the questions, just trying to figure out my best options here.

How much of an improvement is the 6870 over the 6850? Is it worth the $40 price difference? Sorry about all of the questions, just trying to figure out my best options here.

Cellthemaster

I'll let you be the judge of that: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-6870-radeon-hd-6850-barts,2776-9.html

Take a look at the game benchmarks :)

ok alot of the ppl here are AMD fanboys, even though the 955 is a good cpu the sandy bridge is definitely the best choice, it runs circles around the 955. I linked you an option where you can get a sandy bridge setup for about $600 without the os and monitor. Sure an amazing video card is great BUT if you get a great cpu like a sandy bridge and a weaker graphics card you will most times match up with the 955 and the stronger graphics card. Also the fact is with any graphics card over $100 you will get high enough frames at high settings anyways. The downside to going with a 955 and a strong video card is that video cards are outdated VERY quickly, take a look at the 480 and the 580, its only been a few months in between. Now I hear the 600 series of graphics cards are being released. So why even bother going high end with video cards? Also the 955 is nearing its end as well, so what exactly is the point in going with the 955??

Sure an amazing video card is great BUT if you get a great cpu like a sandy bridge and a weaker graphics card you will most times match up with the 955 and the stronger graphics card.

Also the fact is with any graphics card over $100 you will get high enough frames at high settings anyways.

blaznwiipspman1

lol

^ Is there anything more to say?

ok alot of the ppl here are AMD fanboys, even though the 955 is a good cpu the sandy bridge is definitely the best choice, it runs circles around the 955. I linked you an option where you can get a sandy bridge setup for about $600 without the os and monitor. Sure an amazing video card is great BUT if you get a great cpu like a sandy bridge and a weaker graphics card you will most times match up with the 955 and the stronger graphics card. Also the fact is with any graphics card over $100 you will get high enough frames at high settings anyways. The downside to going with a 955 and a strong video card is that video cards are outdated VERY quickly, take a look at the 480 and the 580, its only been a few months in between. Now I hear the 600 series of graphics cards are being released. So why even bother going high end with video cards? Also the 955 is nearing its end as well, so what exactly is the point in going with the 955??

blaznwiipspman1

600 dollar price range... You gonna be extremely hard to get a sandy bridge into that price range while still getting good quality out the rest of your hardware. If we were talking 800 dollars then I would definitely agree on the sandy bridge but at $540-600... you extremely pushing it unless you cut cost with intel mobo or a lower end andy bridge cpu. Maybe in 3-4 months once MOBO prices drop on them would it seem like a good idea for this price bracket.

Also, you might wanna reframe from just throwing out "fanboy" stereotypes.. People are here to help. If you wanna help the TC, throw out a 600 dollar rig layout so he can decide on a good idea.

[QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]

Sure an amazing video card is great BUT if you get a great cpu like a sandy bridge and a weaker graphics card you will most times match up with the 955 and the stronger graphics card.

Also the fact is with any graphics card over $100 you will get high enough frames at high settings anyways.

Tezcatlipoca666

lol

Is there anything more to say?

A phenom II is close to being outdated. I would get a much better cpu like the sandy bridge i5 2500k and a weaker gpu. Video cards become dated every year whereas ur cpu should last you at least 3-4. Here is my suggestion.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121096Case for $40

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162058Geforce 460 768mb for $145 with $40 mail in rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072core i5 2500k cpu for $225

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.5783494gb ddr3 1600 ram and 650 watt psu for $90

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.589114motherboard and 1 TB hard drive for $128

OS im assuming you have one

total comes to $629 before taxes and $50 in rebates. This comp will last you 5 years easy.

This is the build i suggested yesterday. I didn't gimp on the cpu, video card, ram or the psu. The motherboard is excellent but doesn't support crossfire/SLI, which doesn't really matter as most people don't go that route either way. If you want to add the cost of an OS and monitor add about $250 for a total of $850

[QUOTE="Tezcatlipoca666"]

[QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]

Sure an amazing video card is great BUT if you get a great cpu like a sandy bridge and a weaker graphics card you will most times match up with the 955 and the stronger graphics card.

Also the fact is with any graphics card over $100 you will get high enough frames at high settings anyways.

UltimateGamer95

lol

Is there anything more to say?

Indeed. Besides, I can't think of a single game which isn't playable at max settings on a PII X4 955 (except maybe GTA IV which is a failed port).

You have to make too many compromizes to fit a 2500k into a low budget build.

Ah the good ol problem of the combination of CPU and GPU with limited budget.

Sandy bridge wont be a bottleneck for the next generation of cards but AMD and intel core 2 quad would prooly be so it really depends on when the TC will upgrade his graphics card and if he is willing to sacrifice the eye candy right now for better performance in the future? If there will be no upgrades done to the PC for a long time then I would just stick with an AMD CPU and get the best possible graphics card I can.

I would personally take an i5 + GTX 460 768MB over phenom II and 6950 but that's because I dont plan to keep a GPU for too long. But the GTX 460/6850 really is the minimum, the performance drop by going to a 5770 or GTS 250 is just too big.

But with all that said there is no way I would settle for a cheap brand PSU, $40 casing is fine but not a cheap PSU.

AMD phenom II is enough for todays games but so is the GTX 460, upgrading an outdated CPU can be a much bigger menace than a GPU.

[QUOTE="UltimateGamer95"][QUOTE="Tezcatlipoca666"]

lol

Is there anything more to say?

Tezcatlipoca666

Indeed. Besides, I can't think of a single game which isn't playable at max settings on a PII X4 955 (except maybe GTA IV which is a failed port).

You have to make too many compromizes to fit a 2500k into a low budget build.

What compromizes did I make? A 955 struggles to maintain 30 fps even when u overclock it like crazy in RTS games like starcraft 2. The sandy bridge plus geforce 460 I linked will match a 955 and a much stronger card like the 570 or come close to it.

[QUOTE="Tezcatlipoca666"]

[QUOTE="UltimateGamer95"] I'd still go with the AMD/ATI config even though yeah the sandy bridge CPUs are faster but they're more expensive plus its better to get a more powerful GPU.blaznwiipspman1

Indeed. Besides, I can't think of a single game which isn't playable at max settings on a PII X4 955 (except maybe GTA IV which is a failed port).

You have to make too many compromizes to fit a 2500k into a low budget build.

What compromizes did I make? A 955 struggles to maintain 30 fps even when u overclock it like crazy in RTS games like starcraft 2. The sandy bridge plus geforce 460 I linked will match a 955 and a much stronger card like the 570 or come close to it.

That PSU I wouldnt even consider. Since you are touting the brighter future of the build you gotta have a PSU that would easily allow upgrades in the future, this is the minimum I would recommend. If the TC can push it to $700 then all will be fine, we can improve on the casing as well but in $600 it's just not possible.

[QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]

[QUOTE="Tezcatlipoca666"]

Indeed. Besides, I can't think of a single game which isn't playable at max settings on a PII X4 955 (except maybe GTA IV which is a failed port).

You have to make too many compromizes to fit a 2500k into a low budget build.

Gambler_3

What compromizes did I make? A 955 struggles to maintain 30 fps even when u overclock it like crazy in RTS games like starcraft 2. The sandy bridge plus geforce 460 I linked will match a 955 and a much stronger card like the 570 or come close to it.

That PSU I wouldnt even consider. Since you are touting the brighter future of the build you gotta have a PSU that would easily allow upgrades in the future, this is the minimum I would recommend. If the TC can push it to $700 then all will be fine, we can improve on the casing as well but in $600 it's just not possible.

A cheaper psu like this onehttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030will be ok, and unless the op is planning to crossfire, it will be enough for any video card out there.

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

[QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]

What compromizes did I make? A 955 struggles to maintain 30 fps even when u overclock it like crazy in RTS games like starcraft 2. The sandy bridge plus geforce 460 I linked will match a 955 and a much stronger card like the 570 or come close to it.

blaznwiipspman1

That PSU I wouldnt even consider. Since you are touting the brighter future of the build you gotta have a PSU that would easily allow upgrades in the future, this is the minimum I would recommend. If the TC can push it to $700 then all will be fine, we can improve on the casing as well but in $600 it's just not possible.

A cheaper psu like this onehttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030will be ok, and unless the op is planning to crossfire, it will be enough for any video card out there.

[QUOTE="Tezcatlipoca666"]

[QUOTE="UltimateGamer95"] I'd still go with the AMD/ATI config even though yeah the sandy bridge CPUs are faster but they're more expensive plus its better to get a more powerful GPU.blaznwiipspman1

Indeed. Besides, I can't think of a single game which isn't playable at max settings on a PII X4 955 (except maybe GTA IV which is a failed port).

You have to make too many compromizes to fit a 2500k into a low budget build.

What compromizes did I make? A 955 struggles to maintain 30 fps even when u overclock it like crazy in RTS games like starcraft 2. The sandy bridge plus geforce 460 I linked will match a 955 and a much stronger card like the 570 or come close to it.

oh please a 955 isnt nearly that weak :x

[QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]

[QUOTE="Tezcatlipoca666"]

Indeed. Besides, I can't think of a single game which isn't playable at max settings on a PII X4 955 (except maybe GTA IV which is a failed port).

You have to make too many compromizes to fit a 2500k into a low budget build.

UltimateGamer95

What compromizes did I make? A 955 struggles to maintain 30 fps even when u overclock it like crazy in RTS games like starcraft 2. The sandy bridge plus geforce 460 I linked will match a 955 and a much stronger card like the 570 or come close to it.

oh please a 955 isnt nearly that weak :x

Yah Im speaking from personal experience. Even when you overclock a 955 to its max....about 3.6 GHZ on the stock hsf on 4v4 matches during intense battles, the frames for starcraft 2 will often drop to about 25-26. With my i5 750 the frames dip to the 30's but never below.

[QUOTE="UltimateGamer95"]

[QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]

What compromizes did I make? A 955 struggles to maintain 30 fps even when u overclock it like crazy in RTS games like starcraft 2. The sandy bridge plus geforce 460 I linked will match a 955 and a much stronger card like the 570 or come close to it.

blaznwiipspman1

oh please a 955 isnt nearly that weak :x

Yah Im speaking from personal experience. Even when you overclock a 955 to its max....about 3.6 GHZ on the stock hsf on 4v4 matches during intense battles, the frames for starcraft 2 will often drop to about 25-26. With my i5 750 the frames dip to the 30's but never below.

[QUOTE="UltimateGamer95"]

[QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]

What compromizes did I make? A 955 struggles to maintain 30 fps even when u overclock it like crazy in RTS games like starcraft 2. The sandy bridge plus geforce 460 I linked will match a 955 and a much stronger card like the 570 or come close to it.

blaznwiipspman1

oh please a 955 isnt nearly that weak :x

Yah Im speaking from personal experience. Even when you overclock a 955 to its max....about 3.6 GHZ on the stock hsf on 4v4 matches during intense battles, the frames for starcraft 2 will often drop to about 25-26. With my i5 750 the frames dip to the 30's but never below.

well try it. You will see hardcore slow downs during heavy fights in 4v4. Also did you set the cpu settings to ultra?

as for me i hardly get any hiccup in Starcraft 2 at all max 1680x1050 how ever at 1920x1200 i sometime get below 30fps and it take a little longer to load a map my guess is that my cpu would need to be Quad core or Overclocked as benchmark did show overclock make all the difference specially with an AMD CPU For RTS Game such as Dawn of war II / Company of heroes / World in Conflict / Supreme commander 2

if you're cpu is stock value expect it to lag in RTS getting it +600Mhz to +1000Mhz Make all the Difference it usually Rise the Minimum frame rate to something from 10 to 22 and im talking of 1680x1050 & 1920x1200 gaming in most of game if you're minimum is a little big higher then 35 you rarely lag

unless under heavy action like a user map setting Of Starcraft 2 known as Special force Chaos Inferno Version if you can handle more then 15fps in that map after 10 minute you got So much gpu power :P

If Bulldozer Perform as the analysis show show it might being stronger then intel socket 2011 For Sandy-Bridge & Ivy-Bridge cause they said 50% then Core i7 950 and they where likely speaking of Stock clock :D and also didn't they said the First Series of Bulldozer will run on Am2+/Am3 motherboard ?

Bulldozer will run on AM3+.. They thought about having it run on the older socket but decided against it to finally move on to better performance socket.. Am3+ though will be fully backward compatible.

yep can't wait for bulldozer. Hopefully AMD doesn't abbandon the low end cpu market. Im talking about excellent value cpus for $100-$150