need guidance for budget gaming build

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eyced

New Member
Ive been looking into computer gaming for a long time and finally want to build my own computer. I don't need it to run the most graphic intensive games at maxed out settings. I would use it mostly for minecraft, counter strike, witcher 2 and the like. Im computer illiterate and dont really know what i need, even though i've spent hours reading up on it all lol...

Budget is about $400, no help from the parents :(

Any advice is appreciated thanks!


just made a wish list came out to around 560, any advice on cutting costs is appreciated

-case - A355-2010 ::Apex PC-389 ATX Black Mid Tower Case
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4580415&sku=A355-2010

-PSU -ULT-LS600 ::Ultra LS600 Lifetime Series 600W Power Supply - ATX, SATA-Ready, PCI-Express,
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3255393&sku=ULT-LS600

-Vid Card -P450-5838 ::XFX Radeon HD 5830 1GB DDR5 Video Card
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=421995&sku=P450-5838

-Ram -P33-2005 ::Patriot PSD34G13332H Signature PC10600 4GB DDR3 Memory Upgrade - 1333MHz, Non-ECC, Unbuffered, CL9, 1x4096MB(0.1 lbs)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7023168&sku=P33-2005

-HDD- TSD-500AS9 ::Seagate ST3500413AS Barracuda Hard Drive - 500GB, SATA 6Gbps, 7200 RPM, 16MB(1.15 lbs)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7332879&sku=TSD-500AS9

-Motherboard -G452-0141 ::GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 Intel Z68 Motherboard - Micro ATX, Socket H2 (LGA1155), Intel Z68 Express, 1333MHz DDR3, SATA 6.0 Gb/s, RAID, 8-CH Audio, SuperSpeed USB 3.0, CrossFire/SLI Ready(3.5 lbs)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=344432&sku=G452-0141

-CPU -A79-1955 ::AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition AM3 CPU HDZ955FBGMBOX - 3.20GHz, Socket AM3, 6MB Cache, 2000MHz (4000 MT/s) FSB, Retail, Processor with Fan(1.1 lbs)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5752143&sku=A79-1955
 
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eyced said:
Ive been looking into computer gaming for a long time and finally want to build my own computer. I don't need it to run the most graphic intensive games at maxed out settings. I would use it mostly for minecraft, counter strike, witcher 2 and the like. Im computer illiterate and dont really know what i need, even though i've spent hours reading up on it all lol...

Budget is about $400, no help from the parents :(

Any advice is appreciated thanks!
Click to expand...

Do you have a preference on intel or amd?
 
 
I have a copy of xp laying around somewhere, which will have to do.
I just wish i knew more about computers so i could understand more about what you picked lol, thanks so much though

--also i think i would want to get a graphics card to improve the quality from the integrated one
 
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eyced said:
I have a copy of xp laying around somewhere, which will have to do.
I just wish i knew more about computers so i could understand more about what you picked lol, thanks so much though
Click to expand...

it is decent, but it wont run anything hardcore, it will run what you posted at medium settings, your budget is really low, lol my 1 video card (I have 2) cost the same as your entire computer xD
 
I used to have a amd 9550 x4, 5 gigs of generic ram, and a gts 250. With stated rig, i managed to max out css, tf2, and various source games, along with minecraft for the past two years. I have just upgraded pretty much my whole rig ( except for the 250 which i am planning on upgrading soon ). *sniff* the gts 250 was my baby
 
RoRoYoBoat put together a pretty good build but I would suggest replacing some parts.

Get DDR3 1333 RAM. DDR3 1866 RAM will only run at DDR3 1600 speeds overclocked with that motherboard and I doubt you plan to overclock.

A-DATA 4 gigabytes (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit RAM - $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...64&cm_re=DDR3_1333_4gb-_-20-211-364-_-Product

Here is a Triple-Core processor for only $9 more:

AMD Athlon II 450 Rana (3.2 gigahertz) Triple-Core Desktop Processor - $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886

Here is a better hard drive:

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640 gigabyte 7200 RPM Serial ATA Hard Drive - $61
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-na&AID=10521304&PID=4169961&SID=yjpw5kx85c2o

Read through the below link. It will give you valuable information on how to build a desktop computer.
http://www.computerforum.com/104641-how-build-computer-step-step-photos.html
 
2048Megabytes said:
RoRoYoBoat put together a pretty good build but I would suggest replacing some parts.

Get DDR3 1333 RAM. DDR3 1866 RAM will only run at DDR3 1600 speeds overclocked with that motherboard and I doubt you plan to overclock.

A-DATA 4 gigabytes (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit RAM - $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...64&cm_re=DDR3_1333_4gb-_-20-211-364-_-Product

Here is a Triple-Core processor for only $9 more:

AMD Athlon II 450 Rana (3.2 gigahertz) Triple-Core Desktop Processor - $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886

Here is a better hard drive:

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640 gigabyte 7200 RPM Serial ATA Hard Drive - $61
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-na&AID=10521304&PID=4169961&SID=yjpw5kx85c2o

Read through the below link. It will give you valuable information on how to build a desktop computer.
http://www.computerforum.com/104641-how-build-computer-step-step-photos.html
Click to expand...

I told you it would be revised xD, 400 dollers was a low limit for me, I had never looked at items priced that low before
 
Since you obviously have a monitor/keyboard/mouse,,,and using XP for now, do you have anything else?
A case to use till you save up a bit more?
What about a cd/dvd drive? Or a hdd?

If so, state each brand and model #.
 
Benny Boy said:
Since you obviously have a monitor/keyboard/mouse,,,and using XP for now, do you have anything else?
A case to use till you save up a bit more?
What about a cd/dvd drive? Or a hdd?

If so, state each brand and model #.
Click to expand...

no case, no cd drive, and i plan on hooking up the computer to my vizio flatscreen

i think i'll end up going with this build and then buy a graphics card when i want to, money is not really the problem here, the problem is i am a cheap ba*tard lol :)

Any compatibility issues?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130293

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135224

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371023

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211364

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886

Afterthought...should i get a more powerful PSU if i plan on putting in a graphics card in the future?
 
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I have heard of issues with people hooking up their PC to televisions. The biggest issue I have heard of is the Windows taskbar getting burned into the television. Be sure you set your system to go to screen saver in around 5 minutes.
 
Thinking about what RoRoYoBoat said, even if you have the screensaver set at five minutes, it still is really likely to burn an image into your television. I would get a monitor. Using a flat screen television is a bad idea.
 
^^ Televisions for one have a faster refresh rate and project images at a much brighter light, so thinking of it, you have a thin film of tv protection, flashing bright lights at high rates, your just bound to burn it an image in since there are alot of times that the images in your game or screen do not change, such as the start bar, or your attack bar in an RPG, or your little invetory bar in Minecraft
 
Thanks for all the input, glad I joined these forums. Looks like I will have to find a monitor somewhere as well now.

My only lingering concern is if the build in my last post is ready to go, the only change to it being the updated psu
 
RoRoYoBoat123 said:
How much are you looking to spend on monitor?
Click to expand...

as cheap as i can get one for lol, around $100 or so (im not really sure what they go for)

for memory, i may take your advice on that slightly more expensive version or maybe i'll steal 2 gigs off of my family desktop mobo...im sure no one would notice ;)

im just eager to order this all and get it running
 
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