Build gaming tower for $500

G

gold333

New Member
Help me.

I haven't bought a new PC in a few years, I know nothing of what's good.

I currently use a 3.2 GHZ HT 800 MHZ FSB laptop with Rage Mobility 9600.

I want to build a desktop gaming rig for $500-$600. I don't need a monitor, keyboard, OS, printer, etc.

1. It is mainly going to be a gaming rig so what's the right video card to get? I want the max video available for that money. Nvidia? Ati? Who's in the lead these years?

2. It has to run XP

3. I realise that CPU power isn't as important as GPU power. I come from an old P4 3.2 GHz HT (single core) which (even compared to my Dual core 2.6 ghz work PC is a screamer). So if the new rig atleast equals the CPU feel of that I'm happy.

I do need:

atleast 60gig HD
DVD drive (maybe blueray drive but I'm not sure.)

Oh and I'd like the thing to be able to interface 100% with the best HD monitors out there, so that's HDMI? Need the best of that.

And if possible the best surround sound capability, but I don't know if that is going to be possible. Can you get soundcards that do 8+1 these days?

Thanks if there's anyone out there that can help.


If anyone can advise a ready made tower any company does that meets the bill that would be welcome too.
 
Last edited:
Euklid

Euklid

Member
With your budget, I would stay away from Blu-Ray. I think they start at around $150 -
which is going to eat a good portion of your budget.

Compare that with - you can get a 22x DVD-RW for $25.

Here's my recommend. All prices Cnd, assume 13% sales tax, and I use prices from
CanadaComputers.com (I would use newegg, but their website is really slow for me):

CPU: AMD AM2+ Dual-Core [2.7Ghz x 2] [w/ Heatsink & Fan] - $77
Mobo: Gigabyte Micro ATX [max. ram 8GB] - $68
Ram: 2 x 1 GB OCZ [800mhz] [5-5-5-15] - $28
GPU: Nvidia 9600GT [256-bit] [512mb DDR3] - $130
HDD: 160GB SATA Seagate [3.0GB/s transfer] [7200 RPM] - $50 (OEM)
DVD: 22x SATA DVD-RW LG - $29 (OEM)

That is total $382 w/ tax is $432.

Case & PSU: And now find a case + 500W PSU combo for $40 XD


GPU:
Save every dollar you can and spend it on the GPU. A 9500GT costs $90,
but only offers texture fill rate of 8 billion/sec. For $130, you get 9600GT, and
a texture fill rate of 20 billion/sec - more than double for $40 more. And then you
have $192 for a GTS 250, with texture fill rate of 48 billion/sec.

Of course, as you upgrade the card, you will have to provide more power.

GPU Power Requirements:
9500 GT:
350W PCI Express®-compliant system power supply with a combined 12V current
rating of 18A or more (Minimum system power requirement based on a PC configured
with an Intel Core®2 Duo processor)
Click to expand...
9600 GT OC:
425W PCI Express-compliant system power supply with a combined 12V current
rating of 28A or more (Minimum system power requirement based on a standard PC
configured with an Intel® Core™2 Extreme X6800 processor)
Click to expand...
GTS 250:
475W PCI Express®-compliant system power supply with a combined 12V current
rating of 26A or more (Minimum system power requirement based on a PC configured
with an Intel Core®2 Duo E6750 processor)
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
bomberboysk

bomberboysk

Active Member
Marcin said:
With your budget, I would stay away from BlueRay. I think they start at around $150 -
which is going to eat a good portion of your budget.

Compare that with - you can get a 22x DVD-RW for $25.

For $500, I think:

CPU: AMD AM2+ Dual-Core [2.7Ghz x 2] [w/ Heatsink & Fan] - $77
Mobo: Gigabyte Micro ATX [max. ram 8GB] - $68
Ram: 2 x 1 GB OCZ [800mhz] [5-5-5-15] - $28
GPU: Nvidia 9600GT [256-bit] [512mb DDR3] - $130
HDD: 160GB SATA Seagate [3.0GB/s transfer] [7200 RPM] - $50 (OEM)
DVD: 22x SATA DVD-RW LG - $29 (OEM)

That is total $382 - with tax (at least in Cnd) it is $432.

Case & PSU: And now find a case + 500W PSU combo for $40 XD

All prices in Cnd dollars.

That's the best I could do with $500.
Click to expand...

Question for the OP- where are you located? If your located in the US then this should suit you nicely:

Case, Rosewill "wind ryder": ($39.99 Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147113

CPU, Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300, 2.6Ghz ($79.99 Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116074

Hard Drive, Western Digital Caviar SE16 500gb Hard Drive: ($64.99 Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

Power Supply, Corsair 450W: ($74.99, $44.99 after rebate Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

Motherboard Asrock P45XE Crossfire Capable Motherboard: ($109.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157143

Video Card, XFX Radeon 4770(Leaves you ability to go crossfire in the future) : ($109.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150366

ODD, Lite-On DVD+/- RW with Lightscribe: ($27.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106280

Memory, PNY 4gb (2x2gb) 800Mhz DDR2 Memory: ($39.99 Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178219

Cpu Cooler, Xigmatek S1283 Dark Knight: ($39.99 Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

This is closer to $600.... but for the money you get a better cpu, a good gpu, quality power supply, crossfire capable mobo, and 4gigs of memory;) Plus with the cpu cooler you should be able to get a pretty good overclock with the e5300. Dropping the cpu cooler and just using the stock cooler though would drop the price after rebates to $532.48

Total Before Rebates including Shipping------------------------------------$602.47
Total After Rebates, Including Shipping-------------------------------------$572.47
 
Last edited:
Breadman177

Breadman177

New Member
Or if you wanted an AMD option you could go with this. It's just a bit over 600 with MIR but will be well worth it.

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387
AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz Dual-Core black edition Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103300
A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211188
SAPPHIRE 100259L Radeon HD 4870 CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102810
OCZ Fatal1ty 550W Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
Seagate Barracuda 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262
LITE-ON Black 22X DVD Burner with LightScribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106280
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125

622.87+17.30(shipping)=640.17-25.00(mail in rebate)=615.17
 
G

gold333

New Member
Thanks for your help guys:


I'm going to build a rig around the HD4890 I've decided.

The only question remains what is the weakest processor that would not be a bottleneck for this GPU?

I don't know whether to get AMD or Intel (I don't know the pro's and cons of each).

The store owner did say that for gaming he advises against multiple core's saying you'd better get a dual core with high mhz than a quad core with low mhz. I believed him because he could have tried to sell me the more expensive quad core.

This is his offer:

Video: MSI Radeon 4890 OC
CPU: Phenom or Intel undecided
MB: MSI K9A2 CF-F 790 F (if AMD cpu: futureproofing as it includes crossfire support)

Coolermaster Hyper TX
2x2048 DDR2/800
160GB 7200rpm (on my insistence)
Coolermaster Centurion 5 Midi
Coolermaster Silent Pto 500W PSU

Any advice on what CPU to go for to prevent bottlenecking the 4890?

If I'm lucky a cpu I can upgrade?


thanks again for you help getting me back on track.
 
mx344

mx344

New Member
mobo:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387
cpu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103300
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141366
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127420
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817702010
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262
CASE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119195
DVD/CD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106291
CPU fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134
This build comes to a total of 514$ without mail and rebates, i beleive its an extra 20$ off with mail and rebates.
This doesn't include the OS, but this is a budget rig, so a 9600GT, with a 7750 would be enough to play games on high, Ill include a fan so you can overclock the 7750 to even higher clocks.


OP, a 4890 is out of the question for a 500$ you would have to have a new p2 or intel quad or highly clock dual core, that wouldn't bottleneck that GPU, you will be looking at about 650-700$ if you want that.
 
Last edited:
bomberboysk

bomberboysk

Active Member
Lol, +1 to those, just go with a 4770, it performs on bar/a little better than a GTS 250 nvidia(rebadged 9800gtx+) and gets very playable framerates in most newer games. As far as cpu... i would go with at least an e5200/e5300 and overclock it.
 
Russian777

Russian777

New Member
gold333 said:
Help me.

I haven't bought a new PC in a few years, I know nothing of what's good.

I currently use a 3.2 GHZ HT 800 MHZ FSB laptop with Rage Mobility 9600.

I want to build a desktop gaming rig for $500-$600. I don't need a monitor, keyboard, OS, printer, etc.

1. It is mainly going to be a gaming rig so what's the right video card to get? I want the max video available for that money. Nvidia? Ati? Who's in the lead these years?

2. It has to run XP

3. I realise that CPU power isn't as important as GPU power. I come from an old P4 3.2 GHz HT (single core) which (even compared to my Dual core 2.6 ghz work PC is a screamer). So if the new rig atleast equals the CPU feel of that I'm happy.

I do need:

atleast 60gig HD
DVD drive (maybe blueray drive but I'm not sure.)

Oh and I'd like the thing to be able to interface 100% with the best HD monitors out there, so that's HDMI? Need the best of that.

And if possible the best surround sound capability, but I don't know if that is going to be possible. Can you get soundcards that do 8+1 these days?

Thanks if there's anyone out there that can help.


If anyone can advise a ready made tower any company does that meets the bill that would be welcome too.
Click to expand...

hey p/m me and ill hook you up with a nice gaming rig for $500. Or Aim Me At Russianplayaz777
 
G

gold333

New Member
Guys thanks.

I've completely changed the setup though. Damn anandtech was so ATI based. Turns out the GTX275 blows away the 4890 if you bother to read 20 more reviews.

System is going to be Core Duo 2 E8400 (3ghz) and GTX 275. Budget will have to adapt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top