Gaming $500 Computer

playallday · Mar 23, 2009

OK, I ordered a full sized case (it's this one).

Here's what I'm thinking of getting:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16822136010
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16813188036
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16817341019
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16820145184 x 2
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16819103244
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16835200049 x 2
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814133246

$744CAD plus the $114CAD I've spent already: $858CAD. Even if all goes well I'll be short $50 and I'll still have to buy Windows.

How hard is putting the computer together? This will be my first build ever.

Raki · Mar 23, 2009

why did you choose a mainboard with a IGP on it? You won't need it

playallday · Mar 23, 2009

Raki said:
why did you choose a mainboard with a IGP on it? You won't need it

It was cheap? Also it's full sized. But if you can find one without a IGP on it and cheaper please give me the link

.

Joe88 · Mar 23, 2009

note on the gfx card
the GTS 250 is more powerful and cheaper
well its just a relabeled 9800GTX+ actually
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814130468
and it comes with CoD WaW

you could also get a 4830 which has the same performance as the 9800GT except it costs $126 if you wanted to save a bit of money
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814102822

PSU is a bit too powerful for your needs since you cant add a second card on that board
500w would suffice fine

velocity37 · Mar 23, 2009

playallday said:
How hard is putting the computer together? This will be my first build ever.

Easy as cake. You'll probably make at least one minor mistake, but there's really nothing to it.

Wear anti-static wristband.
Install case fans, optical drives, hard drives.
Attach CPU (orient golden triangle) and heatsink+fan to motherboard.
Install RAM modules to motherboard.
Pop out stock I/O shield from case, pop in motherboard I/O Shield.
Attach motherboard standoffs, then motherboard.
Install the case leads (power/reset/HDD LED/USB/Headphone) as per the motherboard manual.
Connect optical/hard drives to motherboard.
Install graphics card and other PCI cards.
Install power supply, connect to motherboard, optical/hard drives, case fans, and graphics card.
Power on, be happy.

It also helps to have some zip ties on hand to tidy up the wires when you're done. You'll also want to probably run memtest86+ on the computer for 12 or 24 hours to identify any bad RAM ahead of time, it'll save you many a headache.

playallday · Mar 23, 2009

velocity37 said:
playallday said:

How hard is putting the computer together? This will be my first build ever.
Easy as cake. You'll probably make at least one minor mistake, but there's really nothing to it.

Wear anti-static wristband.
Install case fans, optical drives, hard drives.
Attach CPU (orient golden triangle) and heatsink+fan to motherboard.
Install RAM modules to motherboard.
Pop out stock I/O shield from case, pop in motherboard I/O Shield.
Attach motherboard standoffs, then motherboard.
Install the case leads (power/reset/HDD LED/USB/Headphone) as per the motherboard manual.
Connect optical/hard drives to motherboard.
Install graphics card and other PCI cards.
Install power supply, connect to motherboard, optical/hard drives, case fans, and graphics card.
Power on, be happy.

It also helps to have some zip ties on hand to tidy up the wires when you're done. You'll also want to probably run memtest86+ on the computer for 12 or 24 hours to identify any bad RAM ahead of time, it'll save you many a headache.

Is putting the CPU and Heatsink on the motherboard hard? This is the part where I'm most freaked out about... I've heard about people breaking their CPU's. Don't I need that paste stuff or something as well?

So I'd just clip this on to the case while I'll installing the parts?

QUOTE

Click to expand...

note on the gfx card
the GTS 250 is more powerful and cheaper
well its just a relabeled 9800GTX+ actually
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814130468
and it comes with CoD WaW

you could also get a 4830 which has the same performance as the 9800GT except it costs $126 if you wanted to save a bit of money
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814102822

PSU is a bit too powerful for your needs since you cant add a second card on that board
500w would suffice fine

Err... If the GTS 250 is a relabeled 9800GTX+ why should I pay $40 more for it? It also comes with CoD WaW. Anyways, I think I'll go for the 4830 and a better motherboard that can CrossFire.

What I'm changing:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814102822
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16813157139

Computer is down to $804.

Joe88 · Mar 24, 2009

playallday said:
QUOTE said:

note on the gfx card
the GTS 250 is more powerful and cheaper
well its just a relabeled 9800GTX+ actually
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814130468
and it comes with CoD WaW

you could also get a 4830 which has the same performance as the 9800GT except it costs $126 if you wanted to save a bit of money
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814102822

PSU is a bit too powerful for your needs since you cant add a second card on that board
500w would suffice fine

Click to expand...

Err... If the GTS 250 is a relabeled 9800GTX+ why should I pay $40 more for it? It also comes with CoD WaW. Anyways, I think I'll go for the 4830 and a better motherboard that can CrossFire.

What I'm changing:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814102822
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16813157139

Computer is down to $804.

?
not sure what you mean, the 9800GTX+ and the GTS250 are pretty much the exact same price range, except the GTS250 goes for cheaper most of the time

I thought I saw a 9800GT on your list before, must have been my imagination.

Jdbye · Mar 24, 2009

playallday said:
Is putting the CPU and Heatsink on the motherboard hard? This is the part where I'm most freaked out about... I've heard about people breaking their CPU's. Don't I need that paste stuff or something as well?

So I'd just clip this on to the case while I'll installing the parts?

Putting on the CPU is really easy. The heatsink is a bit harder, but not hard at all.

playallday · Mar 24, 2009

Joe88 said:
playallday said:

QUOTE said:

note on the gfx card
the GTS 250 is more powerful and cheaper
well its just a relabeled 9800GTX+ actually
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814130468
and it comes with CoD WaW

you could also get a 4830 which has the same performance as the 9800GT except it costs $126 if you wanted to save a bit of money
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814102822

PSU is a bit too powerful for your needs since you cant add a second card on that board
500w would suffice fine

Click to expand...

Err... If the GTS 250 is a relabeled 9800GTX+ why should I pay $40 more for it? It also comes with CoD WaW. Anyways, I think I'll go for the 4830 and a better motherboard that can CrossFire.

What I'm changing:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814102822
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16813157139

Computer is down to $804.

Click to expand...

?
not sure what you mean, the 9800GTX+ and the GTS250 are pretty much the exact same price range, except the GTS250 goes for cheaper most of the time

I thought I saw a 9800GT on your list before, must have been my imagination.

At newegg.ca, the 9800GT is $160 while the GTS250 is $200. But I think I'm going for the 4830.

playallday · Mar 24, 2009

Hey, what about this video card?

playallday · Mar 25, 2009

Man, I can't find any Arctic Silver 5 anywhere! I have to get it from a store that ships from Canada, because of the stupid rules! Help?

DSGamer64 · Mar 26, 2009

Why waste your time with crappy ATI cards that require more power and generate more heat? For 150 bucks you can get a 9800GT 512MB graphics card from Zotac on Newegg.ca, thats the card I am after and has great reviews on it too.

notnarb · Mar 26, 2009

DSGamer64 said:
Why waste your time with crappy ATI cards that require more power and generate more heat? For 150 bucks you can get a 9800GT 512MB graphics card from Zotac on Newegg.ca, thats the card I am after and has great reviews on it too.

Why waste your time with the agin 9800gt when you can get a 4830 which generates the same amount of heat, uses the same amount of power, and gives around the same performance (although the 4830 can be clocked much higher with simple overclocking utilities) for 20 dollars cheaper (for you silly Canadians at least, here in the states it can be had for 75, half the price of your 9800)

source: http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware...iews/msi9800gt/ which is a little outdated as the 4830 has dropped in price significantly since then and the 50 dollar rebates have all expired for the 9800, leaving the after rebate price around where the 4830 is before rebate. The reviewer also had a stock 4830, a better overclock can be obtained with one with a new fan, such as the sapphire version of the card.

But I will agree with you, OP should get a newer, more efficient card (both the 9800 and 4830 are a step up from the 3870), unless of course he has a reason for needing 1GB of video ram

playallday · Mar 26, 2009

Well sadly I'll be running off a old 15" CRT for a while

Joe88 · Mar 26, 2009

notnarb said:
DSGamer64 said:

Why waste your time with crappy ATI cards that require more power and generate more heat? For 150 bucks you can get a 9800GT 512MB graphics card from Zotac on Newegg.ca, thats the card I am after and has great reviews on it too.
Why waste your time with the agin 9800gt when you can get a 4830 which generates the same amount of heat, uses the same amount of power, and gives around the same performance (although the 4830 can be clocked much higher with simple overclocking utilities) for 20 dollars cheaper (for you silly Canadians at least, here in the states it can be had for 75, half the price of your 9800)

source: http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware...iews/msi9800gt/ which is a little outdated as the 4830 has dropped in price significantly since then and the 50 dollar rebates have all expired for the 9800, leaving the after rebate price around where the 4830 is before rebate. The reviewer also had a stock 4830, a better overclock can be obtained with one with a new fan, such as the sapphire version of the card.

But I will agree with you, OP should get a newer, more efficient card (both the 9800 and 4830 are a step up from the 3870), unless of course he has a reason for needing 1GB of video ram

indeed

I heard you can easily OC them to 4850 specs
much better value

QUOTE(playallday @ Mar 26 2009, 08:31 AM)

Click to expand...

Well sadly I'll be running off a old 15" CRT for a while

. Maybe I'll get a new one at xmas.

Current build:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16812123176 x 2
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16827151173
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16822136113
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16813157139
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16814102822
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16817341019
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16823126041
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16820145184 x 2
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16819103286
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16835200049 x 2
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16835233029

$872 plus $114 I've already paid plus $40 for Windows: $1026CA.

Need to get this thing cheaper!

the mobo comes with 2 sata cables, so you dont need to buy anymore unless planning on future upgrades

also 8GB ram = overkill
4GB is the most you should put in unless its an i7 rig then it would 6GB
all the extra ram is just a waste of money and pretty much will never be used by the system

playallday · Mar 26, 2009

QUOTE said:
indeed

I heard you can easily OC them to 4850 specs
much better value
I thinking about getting the 3870. Is is better or worst?

QUOTEthe mobo comes with 2 sata cables, so you dont need to buy anymore unless planning on future upgrades

also 8GB ram = overkill
4GB is the most you should put in unless its an i7 rig then it would 6GB
all the extra ram is just a waste of money and pretty much will never be used by the system

The motherboard that I have on my list now only comes with one and I want one for a backup.

Yeah, I downgraded the RAM to 4GB.

Joe88 · Mar 26, 2009

it comes with 2 cables
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Mode...8M&s=AM2%2b

QUOTE said:
Accessories
- 1 x ASRock SLI/XFire Switch Card
- Quick Installation Guide, Support CD, I/O Shield
- Floppy/ATA 133 Cables
- 2 x SATA Data Cables (optional)
- 1 x SATA 1 to 1 Power Cable (optional)

there is also a pic on NE showing it has 2 cables as well

playallday · Mar 26, 2009

Nope, I swapped motherboards

. THIS is the one I'm talking about.

notnarb · Mar 27, 2009

playallday said:
EDIT: Just saw the last post that I missed.

QUOTE said:

indeed

I heard you can easily OC them to 4850 specs
much better value

Click to expand...

I thinking about getting the 3870. Is is better or worst?

Like I said, unless you have something specific requiring 1GB of video ram, the 4830 is a better card, especially when overclocked.

Also, OP if I were you I would just stalk slickdeals to look for a good deal on a premade computer. I took a $467 Dell (after tax and shipping and California disposal fee), sold the monitor on ebay for 160 (didn't even have to take it out of the package, just put a new label on the one dell sent me) and used that to get me a new power supply and graphics card.
In the end I have a 2.8 Ghz Core2Duo, 250Gb hard drive, 2GB of ram (cheap enough nowadays that I could increase to 4 for 15 dollars), a 400W corsair PSU (more then enough), a 4830 overclocked past a 4850, and all the basic computer amenities (CD drive, mouse, keyboard, etc). The case is very nice and compact, easily surpassing any budget case out there in style and quality.
Upgradability is sacrificed, but with the advent of the core2duo, you aren't going to be upgrading your CPU (assuming you don't go the AMD route, which I see you are doing now)

playallday · Mar 27, 2009

notnarb said:
playallday said:

EDIT: Just saw the last post that I missed.

QUOTE said:

indeed

I heard you can easily OC them to 4850 specs
much better value

Click to expand...

I thinking about getting the 3870. Is is better or worst?

Click to expand...

Like I said, unless you have something specific requiring 1GB of video ram, the 4830 is a better card, especially when overclocked.

Also, OP if I were you I would just stalk slickdeals to look for a good deal on a premade computer. I took a $467 Dell (after tax and shipping and California disposal fee), sold the monitor on ebay for 160 (didn't even have to take it out of the package, just put a new label on the one dell sent me) and used that to get me a new power supply and graphics card.
In the end I have a 2.8 Ghz Core2Duo, 250Gb hard drive, 2GB of ram (cheap enough nowadays that I could increase to 4 for 15 dollars), a 400W corsair PSU (more then enough), a 4830 overclocked past a 4850, and all the basic computer amenities (CD drive, mouse, keyboard, etc). The case is very nice and compact, easily surpassing any budget case out there in style and quality.
Upgradability is sacrificed, but with the advent of the core2duo, you aren't going to be upgrading your CPU (assuming you don't go the AMD route, which I see you are doing now)

kk, I guess I'll go for the 4830 then.

Little late now, I've already paid and got the case. Well, it isn't THAT bad of a deal even if I buy it now, $955 (with Windows, tax, shipping and keyboard and all that money wasting junk) which is like $770USA.

I need the CPU power, this is also doubling as my programing computer.

Gaming $500 Computer

Group: GBAtemp Ghost

Well-Known Member

Group: GBAtemp Ghost

[λ]

Well-Known Member

Group: GBAtemp Ghost

[λ]

Always Remember 30/07/08

Group: GBAtemp Ghost

Group: GBAtemp Ghost

Group: GBAtemp Ghost

Canadian, Eh?

Not narbing it up

Group: GBAtemp Ghost

[λ]

Group: GBAtemp Ghost

[λ]

Group: GBAtemp Ghost

Not narbing it up

Group: GBAtemp Ghost

Similar threads

Popular threads in this forum