Building a $650 gaming computer?

[Popinski]

In addition to another post, I thought about building a computer instead of ordering one used. I looked at last month's issue of "Maximum PC magazine" and they had an article about making a PC at $647. Here's the specs:

AMD Athlon2 X4 620
Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-52
Patriot 4GB DDR2/800
Sapphire Radeon HD5770
Seagate 500GB Barracuda 7200.12
Samsung SH-5223C optical drive
Coolermaster RS-460 power supply
Windows 7 Premium OEM

Now, the cost reduction part of this:

1. I already have a DVD and CD-RW drive on my old computer
2. I'll just use Windows XP from my old computer
3. I'll use the ATX computer case from my old computer

I know this will save me tons of money.

Can anyone give me some suggestions on parts recommendations? I want this computer under $650.

 

[SLCraig]

I don't see anything wrong with what you list. The video card is most important these days. Most any modern CPU can push enough FPS.

The 5770 is a good choice.

 

[xxch4osxx]

I dont know about that power supply, seems kind of low on the output. You want to have more power than required, not "just enough" Not having enough of a power supply can make a system unstable and do weird things. I would go for a 550 watt power supply if you can afford it.

 

[hate2work]

This site helped a lot when my son built a computer a few years ago, he seems to keep it updated regularly.

http://www.mysuperpc.com/

 

[d00df00d]

Windows XP 32-bit or 64-bit? If it's 32-bit, it won't be able to use (nor will it need) all 4 GBs of RAM, so I would drop down to 2 GB.

Either way, I would do a dual hard drive configuration if possible: one small 10,000 RPM drive for the operating system and your most important applications, and a bigger 7200 RPM drive for your page file, temp files/caches, and data. That should speed things up a bit.

 

[dorkiedoode]

1. gaming = high end graphics! use that chart and choose accordingly.
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html
2. I highly recommend another psu. corsair 650tx are nice or the 550tx.
3. 32 only recognize 3.5gb so I suggest 64-bit or get 2gb.
4. Samsung F3 should be the fastest hard drive out. alternative is WD blacks.

 

[Audi Junkie]

XP won't be able to use MemBoost.

 

[OVERKILL]

Core i5 750: $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

ASUS P7P55 LX Motherboard: $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131604

2GB OCZ Memory kit: $53.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227340

ASUS ATI Radeon 5770: $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121363

Corsair 550W Power Supply: $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

Western Digital 500GB Hard Drive: $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136358

$678.94


And if $20.00 breaks the deal, get the 5750 instead:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121356

 

[dorkiedoode]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Core i5 750: $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

ASUS P7P55D-E Motherboard: $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131620

2GB OCZ Memory kit: $53.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227340

ASUS ATI Radeon 5770: $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121363

Corsair 550W Power Supply: $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

$643.95

I suggested the i5 too but i took out my recommendation because it was over 650 after tax when i built everything ahha. i notice no hard drive!

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: dorkiedoode
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Core i5 750: $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

ASUS P7P55D-E Motherboard: $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131620

2GB OCZ Memory kit: $53.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227340

ASUS ATI Radeon 5770: $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121363

Corsair 550W Power Supply: $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

$643.95

I suggested the i5 too but i took out my recommendation because it was over 650 after tax when i built everything ahha. i notice no hard drive!


Fixed, LOL

 

[FusilliJerry82]

That set-up is pretty good.

If you built your last computer, you're ok but if you're counting on using an XP license from a bought computer, it won't work.

 

[Popinski]

Thank you all of you for your replies. I checked out and bookmarked all of the links provided in this thread.


Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Core i5 750: $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

ASUS P7P55 LX Motherboard: $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131604

2GB OCZ Memory kit: $53.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227340

ASUS ATI Radeon 5770: $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121363

Corsair 550W Power Supply: $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

Western Digital 500GB Hard Drive: $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136358

$678.94


And if $20.00 breaks the deal, get the 5750 instead:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121356


Overkill, I took note of your computer build. What about this one, too?

Rose Will ATX Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147073

Western Digital 500 gig: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136358

AMD Athlon II X4 635 Propus 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103702

4 gigs of ram @ 1600 MHZ: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409

Corsair 550w: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

MSI NF750-G55 AM3 NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130235

Radeon HD 5770: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102858

WINDOWS VISTA UPGRADE: FREE


TOTAL PRICE: $658

Originally Posted By: FusilliJerry82
That set-up is pretty good.

If you built your last computer, you're ok but if you're counting on using an XP license from a bought computer, it won't work.


I have a Dell computer that is out of order. I can't use its XP licensing on the computer I'm about to build?

 

[dorkiedoode]

Since you mentioned gaming i don't suggest you get the WD green unless its for storage ONLY. and since the difference between your built and overkill are only a few bucks i would go with the i5 route. the i5 should have more raw POWAAAR than the amd.

 

[FusilliJerry82]

Seriously, stick with Intel. And what he said about the green drives.

 

[xxch4osxx]

I have run AMD for years for gaming and never had any problems with not having enough "raw power" lol

 

[FusilliJerry82]

Good for you but they're simply not as fast as Intels for the same money.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: FusilliJerry82
Good for you but they're simply not as fast as Intels for the same money.

Taking into account the whole system including motherboard and power supply, as well as the quality of all those components, this hasn't been my experience.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: FusilliJerry82
That set-up is pretty good.

If you built your last computer, you're ok but if you're counting on using an XP license from a bought computer, it won't work.


It will with the right CD

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: FusilliJerry82
Good for you but they're simply not as fast as Intels for the same money.

Taking into account the whole system including motherboard and power supply, as well as the quality of all those components, this hasn't been my experience.


Have you built anything core-series era? This is where things got interesting. The Core i5 750 is a phenomenal "bang-for-buck" CPU. Coupled with an Intel-chipset based motherboard, you end up with a rock-solid combination, who's reliability can't be touched by AMD. The Intel chipset is the key.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: dorkiedoode
Since you mentioned gaming i don't suggest you get the WD green unless its for storage ONLY. and since the difference between your built and overkill are only a few bucks i would go with the i5 route. the i5 should have more raw POWAAAR than the amd.


I've actually had very good luck with the Intellipower drives in terms of real-world performance. I imagine the 64MB of cache on some of the newer ones helps.