Can you game for 350?

[wiwazevedo]

Best gaming build for 350? i know its tight but moneys rough right now as everyone knows

should i look to start with a barebones kit or should i try to part it out?

 

[daisymtc]

Ps3?

 

[Drenlin]

Really good combos and some Source games. Counter Strike: Source, Team Fortress 2, and Left 4 Dead/L4D2 can all be run on AMD's current IGP chips, and don't take a terribly powerful CPU. The deal breaker will be the OS...Windows 7 is $100 by itself, which only leaves $250 for the rig...not good.

However, if you have the patience to run the games through Linux, Steam and most Source games will run through WINE, as well as many other games both through Steam and independently. It's sometimes a pain in the arse to get it all set up, though.

I'll throw a quick build together.

edit: Wait...what about the rig in your signature?

edit2: This should have you doing basic gaming. You'll have to use pretty low settings but it'll work, and with the simple addition of a better GPU and some more RAM, it'll be a fairly powerful gaming system. However, it doesn't come with an OS, or any peripherals...it's just a tower.

Gigabyte GA-880GA-UD3H - $95 ($10 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128444

Athlon II x4 OEM + simple 92mm cooler - $91
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.541449

2GB G-Skill DDR3 - $31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231395

WD Caviar Blue $320GB - $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136098

Abtec Earthwatts 380W - $48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

Rosewill FB-01 - $17 (not the greatest case ever but it looks livable...)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147090

Asus DVD/RW - $19
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Total - $346, with a $10 rebate.