My First Budget Gaming PC Build

[ll champion]

Hey guys, I created a thread not to long ago going on about help on building a computer. Thanks to fredecus, we were able to find a pretty decent budget gaming computer, that's not to hard on the wallet. Here it is, just under $500 (HDD excluded, b/c I had a 7,200 rpm sata 200G laying around).​

The Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153




The Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157280




The Graphics Card: EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625




The Power Supply: Rosewill Stallion Series RD500-2SB 500W ATX12V v2.2 Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182076




The Processor: AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4100WMGUSBX

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996




The RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314




The DVD Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Intel Build​

Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153




Graphics Card: XFX Double D HD-695X-CDFC Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150549




Power Supply: Rosewill Stallion Series RD500-2SB 500W ATX12V v2.2 Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182076




Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072




The Motherboard: BIOSTAR TZ77XE3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138355




RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314




DVD drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204




I want to know, what do you guys think? I spent a good while looking for parts, and these are what me and Fred came up with. Also I know I won't be able to use the SLI feature because the mobo only supports crossfireX, doesn't matter to me because I'm only going to be using one graphics card.

 

[Gravestone]

Its an awesome start for $500, some stuff could have been better looked into but other then that you done very good.

The problem with starting a budget computer is you will always keep trying to upgrade and stuff now. I started at $750 and at around $4000 now hahah.

Good luck and keep saving to make it better =)

 

[fredecus]

Its an awesome start for $500, some stuff could have been better looked into but other then that you done very good.

The problem with starting a budget computer is you will always keep trying to upgrade and stuff now. I started at $750 and at around $4000 now hahah.

Good luck and keep saving to make it better =)

$4000....?

And yeah, could really use second opinions on the Graphics and CPU.

 

[Gravestone]

$4000....?

And yeah, could really use second opinions on the Graphics and CPU.

I started 4 or 5 years ago, that should explain a lot.

Also I was looking to buy a new case, did you find yours was easy to figure out ect? How load are the fans?

 

[fredecus]

I started 4 or 5 years ago, that should explain a lot.

Also I was looking to buy a new case, did you find yours was easy to figure out ect? How load are the fans?

It is really easy to figure out and find parts ect, only hard part is doing the research to figure out what is best and narrowing it down.

 

[Laptop65]

GPU is ok I guess, my friend bought it to play Skyrim but he can't exactly max it. I'm on the 560 at the moment and that destroys anything in it's way. I will be getting one of the 600 models soon however. CPU is alright, but always remember AMD < Intel.

It's a good build for that price.

 

[ll champion]

Its an awesome start for $500, some stuff could have been better looked into but other then that you done very good.

The problem with starting a budget computer is you will always keep trying to upgrade and stuff now. I started at $750 and at around $4000 now hahah.

Good luck and keep saving to make it better =)

Thanks!

$4000....?

And yeah, could really use second opinions on the Graphics and CPU.

Well if you or anyone has any suggestions, I'm open. I'm not buying the build until around June.

GPU is ok I guess, my friend bought it to play Skyrim but he can't exactly max it. I'm on the 560 at the moment and that destroys anything in it's way. I will be getting one of the 600 models soon however. CPU is alright, but always remember AMD < Intel.

It's a good build for that price.

Well the 560 also comes with a higher price tag, and so does intel processors aswell (hence budget build). I don't see myself playing skyrim or CoD, because I have an xbox perfectly capable of that. However I think it's nice to know I can

Like I said if you have a fair suggestion, I'm open for it.

 

[Aimless]

That MB only supports sata dvd/cd drives which is fine, and you should also note the amount of issues people had with it.. I currently own it and can't OC with it at all or constant blue screens, even 5%. The amount of people complaining about similar problems or simply being DOA is a lot.

For a GAMING build at $500 exact.

Case: The case you chose I currently own as well, it's 'nice'.

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182076

DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Mobo: I'll decide after you let me know budget & CPU choice.

CPU: 4100 or 6100 : i5 2500k or i5 2400

GPU: Currently the 6850 is MUCH better and same price range. If you're getting this soon I'd recommend http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125353
It's currently $140 with discount code and far superior to the 550 ti.

If you can spend $90 more (590) I'd recommend going the 2500k and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265R
Could drop it down $20 and get a $100 mobo that's 2.0 pci but I wanted you to make full use of it being a 2.1 card plus the features and everything with the 2500k and that board are great. You mite want to consider spending $30 on a non-stock cpu cooler if you spend that much too so you can OC it.

Otherwise I'd recommend an i5 2400 with a cheap h67 board or one of the FX if needed for the budget but I strongly disagree with FX builds unless it's an extreme budget. For example a $50 motherboard that supports core unlocking and an fx-4100 would be a good combo if you can't spend shit.

 

[fredecus]

Yeah, I think the AMD is quad core but 2 bulldog's stuck together while the i5-2400 is strait quad core? It got decent reviews and was in the right price range.

Good video card choice lol I completely overlooked it, I think hes gonna switch those out.

 

[Aimless]

It's good for what it is, the 2500k will outperform it by a lot though. 4100 or 6100 with a different motherboard is a good build, if he plans on making full use of the CPU though he'd prefer an i7 (botting, graphics, etc), and if he plans on playing a lot of good games or raiding in mmos then he'd prefer the 2500k. But for general use and the budget I'd say the 4100 or 6100 is a good choice. That mobo is good too, if he gets a working one.. I had to RMA it and the second one is the one that can't OC, first was DOA, so I'd go with it or the UEFI version of it for a few dollars more, technically all I changed was the GPU.

 

[fredecus]

It's good for what it is, the 2500k will outperform it by a lot though. 4100 or 6100 with a different motherboard is a good build, if he plans on making full use of the CPU though he'd prefer an i7 (botting, graphics, etc), and if he plans on playing a lot of good games or raiding in mmos then he'd prefer the 2500k. But for general use and the budget I'd say the 4100 or 6100 is a good choice. That mobo is good too, if he gets a working one.. I had to RMA it and the second one is the one that can't OC, first was DOA, so I'd go with it or the UEFI version of it for a few dollars more, technically all I changed was the GPU.

Yeah, it's just that the 2500k is over 100$ more. I am talking to him now letting him know that the long term of the 2500k would be better. What do you think about this mobo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

Looking for something in the 130 range 140 at MAX

 

[ll champion]

I updated the OP, still need a motherboard for the intel build, that both of you computer heads can agree on

 

[Aimless]

Mobo depends on what you can afford.

 

[Jeff]

SLI isn't a big factor.

However some very nice choices.

I might look into getting a new budget gaming PC of my own now, haha.

All I can say is, cases such as the Antec 900 are simply dust collectors.

Are you planning on building this yourself?

 

[ll champion]

Mobo depends on what you can afford.

I'm talking budget here. I'm thinking $140 max would be a good parameter for me.

SLI isn't a big factor.

However some very nice choices.

I might look into getting a new budget gaming PC of my own now, haha.

All I can say is, cases such as the Antec 900 are simply dust collectors.

Are you planning on building this yourself?

Yes I am planning on building this myself Fred said he wrote a guide on how to put a computer together, so I'll use that for reference.

 

[ll champion]

I changed a few parts, I have made completed the Intel build. Now for $200 more, I think the new parts are defiantly worth it. I feel really confident with the build myself, opinions?

 

[ll champion]

Someone should check out the Intel build, I think it's beast compared to the other build.

 

[Laptop65]

Someone should check out the Intel build, I think it's beast compared to the other build.

Change PSU to 650W+

Change GPU to Nvidia 560 ti+

And you have yourself a lovely build.

 

[Aimless]

Change PSU to 650W+

Change GPU to Nvidia 560 ti+

And you have yourself a lovely build.

He could go with a 450W PSU and use the GPU I said. I'd leave this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121590
on auto notify in case they start selling it, great GPU for cheap.

But to switch to what you said is spending $100+ more.

 

[ll champion]

Change PSU to 650W+

Change GPU to Nvidia 560 ti+

And you have yourself a lovely build.

I'll upgrade PSU sometime in the future. As far as I know, Radeon 6950 is a better GPU.

He could go with a 450W PSU and use the GPU I said. I'd leave this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121590
on auto notify in case they start selling it, great GPU for cheap.

But to switch to what you said is spending $100+ more.

You always seem to redirect me to openbox/refurbished products >.> The GPU looks good though, but I'd rather not have any problems down the line.