Gaming PC - $500 budget

[MatrixEVO]

Need a PC that is the best possible build from Newegg that cost's about $500.

Just the core stuff, no keyboard, no mouse, no operating system, no speakers, no monitor.

It needs a DVD/RW burner, but no floppy drive (those are outdated I never use them). It also needs front mounted USB ports, at least two, and maybe a card reader but that's not necessary.

I want this build to be highly functional, but with a minimalistic style throughout, nothing too flashy and unnecessary.

PREFERENCES: Intel CPU multiple cores, motherboard should be good with overclocking, two hard drives because I use RAID

THANKS GUYS FOR YOUR HELP!!! LET'S SEE WHO CAN COME UP WITH THE BEST!!!




Also here's a list of importance of parts:

1. CPU
2. GPU
3. RAM
4. Motherboard
5. PSU
6. HDD(s) (SATA2, I think that's the latest SATA version or most widely used?)
7. Case
8. DVD/RW Drive (must be SATA!!)

 

[bomberboysk]

Would you be open to the AMD tri-core phenoms? Price for Price the tri cores are more powerful than the intel offerins at that pricepoint, and the socket AM2+/AM3 will be somewhat futureproof(775 will more than likely not see any more "new" processor releases). Also, what size hard drive are you looking at? Two 500gb drives? And for raid, do you use a raid card or are you planning on using a motherboard with integrated raid.

 

[MatrixEVO]

Thanks for replying. I am open to AMD, it's just that I once had a Intel Q6600 quad core and it was overclocked very high and I loved it. Two 500gb drives would be nice, yes sounds good. And for RAID I have always used the motherboard which has been easy to do and saves money.

 

[bomberboysk]

Thanks for replying. I am open to AMD, it's just that I once had a Intel Q6600 quad core and it was overclocked very high and I loved it. Two 500gb drives would be nice, yes sounds good. And for RAID I have always used the motherboard which has been easy to do and saves money.

Alrighty then, lets see what we can do:

HDD, 2x Western Digital Caviar SE16: ($59.99 Each $119.98 Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

Motherboard,Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3: ($69.99 $59.99 after Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376

CPU,AMD Phenom II X3 710: ($119.99 Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103648

Case,Rosewill "Wind Ryder": ($44.99 Free Shipping)(Shipping on cases is $20+, so free shipping is a major plus)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147114

Memory,4GB(2x2gb) Super Talent 800mhz DDR3: ($44.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609421

Power Supply, OCZ StealthXStream 500W: ($59.99 $39.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012

ODD, LG DVD+/- RW with Lightscribe: ($25.99 Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136153

GPU, MSI HD4670: ($72.99 $52.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127415

Total before rebates-------------------$557.92
Total after rebates--------------------$507.92

 

[mx344]

^nice build, i really don't think you an get much better than that for under 500$, that was a good build bomberboysk.

 

[daisymtc]

Alrighty then, lets see what we can do:

HDD, 2x Western Digital Caviar SE16$59.99 Each $119.98 Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

Motherboard,Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3$69.99 $59.99 after Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376

CPU,AMD Phenom II X3 710: ($119.99 Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103648

Case,Rosewill "Wind Ryder": ($44.99 Free Shipping)(Shipping on cases is $20+, so free shipping is a major plus)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147114

Memory,4GB(2x2gb) Super Talent 800mhz DDR3: ($44.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609421

Power Supply, OCZ StealthXStream 500W$59.99 $39.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012

ODD, LG DVD+/- RW with Lightscribe: ($25.99 Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136153

GPU, MSI HD4670$72.99 $52.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127415

Total before rebates-------------------$557.92
Total after rebates--------------------$507.92

+1
However, for HDD, it may worth to spend extra $20 to go for 32MB Cache

If you looking at overclock, AMD Phenom II x3 720 BE is the way to go... Another $20...

BTY, I think this $50 case is quite good looking...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121087

 

[zer0_c00l]

ya ive used that case in a build before its a very decent case, looks good and lots of room and +2 on the 720 its worth it ! you can squeeze 3.9 4.0 ghz out of it

 

[Geoff]

Alright, let me give it a go. I honestly think it's worth the extra $50 to upgrade to these parts below:


LG 22x DVD+/-RW DVD Burner - $23
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136144

Antec Three Hundred Black ATX Case - $59
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

2x WD Caviar 500GB SATAII 16MB HD's - $60 ea.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

Asus M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX - $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131381

ATI Sapphire Radeon HD 3870 512MB - $86 ($10 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102719

BFG Tech 550W SLI/CF-Ready PSU - $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817702010

PNY 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-800 - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178219

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Black - $139
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649

IMC Black USB Card Reader - Free
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820717001


Total before MIR's: $591.38

 

[MatrixEVO]

Well so far I think Geoff's (Omega's) build is the best. I like the Antec 300 case because Iv'e had a similar case before. The 4GB of Ram is plenty enough, I like the motherboard because I have owned Asus before, the processor sounds good from what everybody says, and the specs on the GPU look outstanding for the price.

 

[Geoff]

Well so far I think Geoff's (Omega's) build is the best. I like the Antec 300 case because Iv'e had a similar case before. The 4GB of Ram is plenty enough, I like the motherboard because I have owned Asus before, the processor sounds good from what everybody says, and the specs on the GPU look outstanding for the price.

That's why I chose it, I have the 900 and 1200 and they are both excellent cases. 4GB of RAM is still plenty, and the video card is one of the best I've found for the price. I believe that CPU is also the BE (Black Edition), meaning that it has unlocked multipliers like the FX series did. If others want to comment on my build feel free!

 

[MatrixEVO]

Bump, this was back in May. Now it is August and I am seriously considering a build. The budget is $600 now.

 

[Bodaggit23]

This is pretty killer for under $600.

$578.92 after power supply rebate.

AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz ($99.00)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103648

ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO ($99.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131398

Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 ($83.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220331

HIS Radeon HD 4670 1GB ($79.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161273

OCZ Fatal1ty 550W ($74.99)
($49.99 after Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022

Western Digital Caviar Blue 250GB ($47.99 x 2 = $95.98)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

COOLER MASTER Centurion ($44.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106

LITE-ON Black DVD Burner ($24.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106281