My Budget Gaming PC Build Plan

[Rob587]

Let me know what you think... or suggest cheaper/better parts. Thanks! (Items grouped together are combo deals)

Prices and combo deals from new egg:

- LIAN LI Lancool PC-K58W Black Computer Case With Side Panel Window... $114.98
- Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB

- GIGABYTE GA-EP43T-UD3L ATX Intel Mobo........................................... $165.98
- GeIL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10660)

- Intel Core2 Duo E7500 Wolfdale 2.93GHz............................................. $182.98
- SAPPHIRE 100293L Radeon HD 5570 1GB 128-bit DDR3

- LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04................. $21.99

- Sunbeam PSU-BKS580-US 580W Power Supply..................................... $18.69

Total ............................................................................................... $505.62 + $30ish shipping

 

[TSE]

That looks like a pretty decent build.

I'm not going to go into specifics, but in general AMD processors with ATI graphics provides better bang for buck than Intel. Intel owns the high end, but on a budget gaming desktop AMD is better bang for buck.

Don't forget the operating system.

 

[Rob587]

That looks like a pretty decent build.

I'm not going to go into specifics, but in general AMD processors with ATI graphics provides better bang for buck than Intel. Intel owns the high end, but on a budget gaming desktop AMD is better bang for buck.

Don't forget the operating system.

Yea, I really considered AMD. I even configured a few setups, but the price difference just wasnt that much comparatively. I also feel like Intel is really pushing ahead of AMD and will continue to have better stuff for the next few years, so even the minimal price difference will be made up for by upgradability.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I would not get that cheap POS PSU unit. You are risking a lot of costly stuff on a cheap 20 buck part.

Cheap PSU have a lot of problems. They may be able to crank out that wattage for a short amount of time but can not stay at max watage very long and the other problem is cheap PSU units can not ramp up power demands very well so when your processor power spike the PSU will not supply the need power quick enough so things lag a little. A CPU at ideal uses a lot less power than one at full load.

That PSU is worthless for any upgrades later on. I would get a good name brand PSU and spend the extra cash on it. I would trust my 6 year old Antec 430W true power before I trusted the peace of crap you choose.

Go name brand on the PSU. Max wattages does not matter much. What really matters are your amp ratings on the rails. Your 12v rails being the most important as now CPU pull power off the 12 vote rail. Most good PSU have dual 12v rails. One for the CPU and one to run everything else.

Your biggest power demands are your cpu and graphic card.

 

[Rob587]

I would not get that cheap POS PSU unit. You are risking a lot of costly stuff on a cheap 20 buck part.

Cheap PSU have a lot of problems. They may be able to crank out that wattage for a short amount of time but can not stay at max watage very long and the other problem is cheap PSU units can not ramp up power demands very well so when your processor power spike the PSU will not supply the need power quick enough so things lag a little. A CPU at ideal uses a lot less power than one at full load.

That PSU is worthless for any upgrades later on. I would get a good name brand PSU and spend the extra cash on it. I would trust my 6 year old Antec 430W true power before I trusted the peace of crap you choose.

Go name brand on the PSU. Max wattages does not matter much. What really matters are your amp ratings on the rails. Your 12v rails being the most important as now CPU pull power off the 12 vote rail. Most good PSU have dual 12v rails. One for the CPU and one to run everything else.

Your biggest power demands are your cpu and graphic card.

Ive thought about that too, but I just cant justify spending $60 more for a box that does the same thing. Its like buying insurance cuz its crappy and will probably break if you dont get a good one. But id rather just take the risk and maybe replace it in the future if it goes bad. Is it wrong to think this way?

 

[nick1516]

Don't forget windows, that's an extra $100 at least.

 

[Rob587]

Don't forget windows, that's an extra $100 at least.

already have it, if ya know what I mean

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Ive thought about that too, but I just cant justify spending $60 more for a box that does the same thing. Its like buying insurance cuz its crappy and will probably break if you dont get a good one. But id rather just take the risk and maybe replace it in the future if it goes bad. Is it wrong to think this way?

You forget about one thing. When a PSU goes bad it often will take out the entire system in one go. You are risking the entire system on that POS.
I would spend the extra money and get a better PSU like this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371023

It less total watts but should cover your needs by far better and is much safer. The one area you really are cutting corners in an area that should never be cut. I just saying go with a name brand PSU. Because you do get what you pay for. Hell the one I link you 2 would be a break even when your first PSU goes bad.

Like I said my 6 year old computer is running on an Antec true power 430W. It is not like your system is going to pull enough power to over run a 430W PSU that I link you 2.

already have it, if ya know what I mean

Come on be legal about it. It people like you who force us honest people to deal with activation.

 

[phas3]

Let me know what you think... or suggest cheaper/better parts. Thanks! (Items grouped together are combo deals)

Prices and combo deals from new egg:

- LIAN LI Lancool PC-K58W Black Computer Case With Side Panel Window... $114.98
- Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB

- GIGABYTE GA-EP43T-UD3L ATX Intel Mobo........................................... $165.98
- GeIL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10660)

- Intel Core2 Duo E7500 Wolfdale 2.93GHz............................................. $182.98
- SAPPHIRE 100293L Radeon HD 5570 1GB 128-bit DDR3

- LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04................. $21.99

- Sunbeam PSU-BKS580-US 580W Power Supply..................................... $18.69

Total ............................................................................................... $505.62 + $30ish shipping

what is you max price range?

 

[sikkinixx]

I agree on the get a better PSU. You are throwing $20 in the toilet with the one you are buying., especially since you are already pirating Windows you might as well put the money elsewhere.

I also despise Lite-On drives but thats just me.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Don't skimp on the PSU man. That thing could take out your other components no problem. I saw a PSU with a faulty rail take out a mobo....

Spend the extra $60 man.....

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I agree on the get a better PSU. You are throwing $20 in the toilet with the one you are buying., especially since you are already pirating Windows you might as well put the money elsewhere.

I also despise Lite-On drives but thats just me.

hey hey you are not the only person who thinks little of lit-on drives. I think they are cheap piece of crap but they do tend to do their job. In my tower my Lite-On DVD drive failed at about 3 years. You get what you pay for.
I cut the corner when I built my computer there because I was also buying NEC burner so it the Lite-On drive was just my 2nd optical that I paid 20 bucks for.

 

[Rob587]

what is you max price range?

Pretty much wear im at now.. why, do you have some suggestions?

I agree on the get a better PSU. You are throwing $20 in the toilet with the one you are buying., especially since you are already pirating Windows you might as well put the money elsewhere.

I also despise Lite-On drives but thats just me.

I never said I was pirating Windows...

And I guess I just need to man up and spend a little more on the PSU. Seems to be the general consensus. I know name brands play a big role in certain areas, I just cant believe that these PSU's are just 100% guaranteed to cause problems unless you get a popular one.

 

[Rob587]

Ok, heres the updated build list:

- LIAN LI Lancool PC-K58W Black Computer Case With Side Panel Window... $114.98
- Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB

- GIGABYTE GA-EP43T-UD3L ATX Intel Mobo........................................... $165.98
- GeIL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10660)

- Intel Core2 Duo E7500 Wolfdale 2.93GHz............................................. $182.98
- SAPPHIRE 100293L Radeon HD 5570 1GB 128-bit DDR3

- Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive......................................... $21.99

- Antec Basiq BP430 430W................................................................... $39.95

Total ............................................................................................... $535.88 + $31.79 shipping

 

[Rob587]

Its really quite a bit more than I wanted to spend... anyone see any places to cut some money that wont hurt my gaming experience too bad and I can easily upgrade in the future?

 

[mobilehaathi]

Slower RAM? If an extra $30 is "really quite a bit more" than you wanted to spend, maybe you should just save up some more before you buy it all.

 

[Chuushajou]

I would honestly recommend going with an AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition, its Bang per buck ratio is amazing! and easily out preforms the C2D seeing as it is quad core.

 

[Rob587]

Slower RAM? If an extra $30 is "really quite a bit more" than you wanted to spend, maybe you should just save up some more before you buy it all.

Obviously $30 isnt a great deal more... but the total $567 is a lot more than I initially started thinking about. It just kept stretching and stretching. So the $30 is just an extension of an extension. But I think it's all good now. I just dont want to spend a cent more.

I would honestly recommend going with an AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition, its Bang per buck ratio is amazing! and easily out preforms the C2D seeing as it is quad core.

lol woahh there... your way off with that one. that like $181 and im spending like $100 on this Intel.

 

[maflynn]

Why not save up some more and then dump the C2D cpu and get an i5/i7.

I priced one out for under a 1,000 bucks. I think that would give you the best bang for your buck.

I'd hate to spend any sort of money on a C2D machine at this point

Just my $.02

 

[Rob587]

Why not save up some more and then dump the C2D cpu and get an i5/i7.

I priced one out for under a 1,000 bucks. I think that would give you the best bang for your buck.

I'd hate to spend any sort of money on a C2D machine at this point

Just my $.02

Cuz right now im gaming with the mbp in my sig... needless to say, it aint really holding up.

Speaking of which, you guys wouldnt happen to know why my ping in games is so high right now would you? Could it be because of my mbp? I thought it was only based on your connection but I did a speed test and it puts my ping at like 61 and my downloading mb's at 11 on average. and im plugged in directly through ethernet... Whats the deal?

P.S. I have my mbp plugged into an external 20" dell

 

[maflynn]

Cuz right now im gaming with the mbp in my sig... needless to say, it aint really holding up.

So what makes you think a C2D desktop will? Sure you'll get a faster GPU but that's just about it.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Speaking of which, you guys wouldnt happen to know why my ping in games is so high right now would you? Could it be because of my mbp?

Your ping is a measure of internet latency only. Perhaps the servers you are connecting to are having problems, or some router along the way is having trouble.

 

[TMRaven]

Do not get ANY gpu if its memory is only DDR3. Get GDDR3 or better yet GDDR5.

 

[Rob587]

So what makes you think a C2D desktop will? Sure you'll get a faster GPU but that's just about it.

Well, ill actually be going from a dual 2.4ghz to a dual 2.9ghz with 3mb of L2 cache. And 2GB of 667mhz DDR2 ram to 4gb 1333mhz DDR3 ram. And my crappy 256mb GPU to 1GB PCI Expresss.

I will also be able to easily overclock. So id say thats a pretty substantial upgrade and your substantially crazy for thinking otherwise.

Your ping is a measure of internet latency only. Perhaps the servers you are connecting to are having problems, or some router along the way is having trouble.

Well everyone else in the games seem to have low pings.. im always like 3rd to the highest. It doesnt make sense. My isp is good, im directly connected to the router through ethernet. Any other ideas?

 

[Rob587]

Do not get ANY gpu if its memory is only DDR3. Get GDDR3 or better yet GDDR5.

Can you elaborate or suggest one that is about the same cost as the one ive selected? Seems to be a lot of theoretical debate between ddr and gddr that I dont really understand.