Budget Gaming Machine Build! Need help ASAP!

Hi all!

I am getting ready to order parts for a budget gaming / office build for a new computer (my first DIY build). Could anyone who knows please review my parts and drop their two cents? Some of the deals, particularly the RAM deal on Newegg will expire tonight!

This build will include my new 60gig Intel SSD, two HDD drives, and a copy of Windows 7 student edition. Anyone have any motherboard ideas? If anyone has any ideas to cut corner without too much performance loss, that would be GREAT. (CHEAPER IS BETTER!)

------------------------------------------------------
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Item #: N82E16811129042

Price: $54.99
-$15.00 Instant Rebate

MSI R7770-2PMD1GD5/OC Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Item #: N82E16814127664

Price: $124.99
-$15.00 Rebate

+ AMD Gift - Dirt SHOWDOWN Gift Coupon

LEPA B650-SA 650W SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Item #: N82E16817194103

Price: $79.99
-$20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

x2 Patriot Signature 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model PSD34G13332

Item #: N82E16820220480

Price: $49.98
($24.99 each)
- $15.00 Mail-in Rebate

Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I32120

+ SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE

$139.98
-$11.00 Combo Discount
Price: $128.98

Subtotal: $438.93

Or would this be a better build? (Utilizing Tom's Hardware as a guide with an upgraded Video card and processor)

Cart Item List:

MSI R7770-2PMD1GD5/OC Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
$124.99

AMD Gift - Dirt SHOWDOWN Gift Coupon

2x Patriot Signature 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model PSD34G13332
$49.98


GIGABYTE GA-H61MA-D3V LGA 1155 Intel H61 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
$69.99

Rosewill R101-P-BK-450W MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case, come with 1x 120mm Fan, 450W Power Supply
$49.99

Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply
$37.99

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE (Combo)

Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I32120
$128.98

Grand Total: $461.92



If you have any questions, please visit our Contact Us Page.

Here [tigerdirect.com] you have a machine that includes a 1tb hard drive and a motherboard, double the processor power, double the ram, near identical GPU for $558.
Seems to me like a much better deal.

ASUS M5A99X AMD FX-6100 Black Barebones Kit -
ASUS M5A99X EVO Board,
AMD FX-6100 6-Core CPU,
Patriot 8GB DDR3 RAM Kit,
Radeon HD 6770 1GB,
1TB HDD, 24x DVDRW,
Thermaltake V3 Black Mid Tower,
600W PSU

If you setup deal alerts and get this bit by bit you could probably save yourself a little money. If I were building a new system I might also go with the 2500k i5 even if it's a bit more than your setup. I have an AMD setup myself and made sure I had future upgradeability to the FX series, but man, the stats on that line were a major letdown.

EDIT: Hmm didn't realize the 8 core FX series had dipped below $200 making it less than the 2500k. Might be worth your while after all.

Quote from RockySosua : Here [tigerdirect.com] you have a machine that includes a 1tb hard drive and a motherboard, double the processor power, double the ram, near identical GPU for $558. Seems to me like a much better deal.

Actually, the i3-2120 is superior to any of the AMD FX processors when strictly talking about gaming performance:
http://www.tomshardware.com/revie...20-10.html

And the 6770 and 7770 are far from nearly identical. The 6770 was little more than a rebadged 5770, the 7770 uses an entirely new chip.


OP: The build in your second post looks pretty solid. Only thing I see is that your case comes with a (probably crappy) PSU and you're buying a nice Antec. I'd go with a cheaper case without a PSU like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6811147122

Quote from FlashX83 : And the 6770 and 7770 are far from nearly identical. The 6770 was little more than a rebadged 5770, the 7770 uses an entirely new chip. ]

Here are the Passmark benchmark [videocardbenchmark.net] scores for those two GPU's

Radeon HD 6770 Score = 1749 Ranked 65th.
Radeon HD 7770 Score = 2021 Ranked 54th

Not exactly a big difference, one 54th and the other 65th out of over a thousand.

As for the processor,
AMD FX-6100 Six-Core Score = 5573 Ranked 120th
Intel Core i3-2120 Score = 4217 Ranked 184th.

Now that IS a big difference, more that 25% more powerful.
Tom's chart is vague at best and far from accurate.
As sure as I am sitting here, the combo I suggested will give better frame rates than the one in the OP. and less expensive.

Quote from RockySosua : Here are the Passmark benchmark [videocardbenchmark.net] scores for those two GPU's Radeon HD 6770 Score = 1749 Ranked 65th. Radeon HD 7770 Score = 2021 Ranked 54th Not exactly a big difference, one 54th and the other 65th out of over a thousand.

That's still a 15% difference and the 7770 uses less power to do it. That might not qualify as big but it's certainly noticeable.

Quote from RockySosua : As for the processor, AMD FX-6100 Six-Core Score = 5573 Ranked 120th Intel Core i3-2120 Score = 4217 Ranked 184th. Now that IS a big difference, more that 25% more powerful. Tom's chart is vague at best and far from accurate.

Passmark scores are largely irrelevant for gaming, which is why I mentioned in my post I was strictly talking about gaming performance. Tom's chart is vague because it's part of a much larger review where the i3-2100 consistently gets better framerates using the same GPU then any of the FX processors and even competes favorably with overclocked FX's:
http://www.tomshardware.com/revie...120-9.html

Quote from FlashX83 : That's still a 15% difference and the 7770 uses less power to do it. That might not qualify as big but it's certainly noticeable. Passmark scores are largely irrelevant for gaming, which is why I mentioned in my post I was strictly talking about gaming performance. Tom's chart is vague because it's part of a much larger review where the i3-2100 consistently gets better framerates using the same GPU then any of the FX processors and even competes favorably with overclocked FX's: http://www.tomshardware.com/revie...120-9.html

Let's agree to disagree. I believe Passmark ratings way more than one Tom's study.
It's not that I don't like Toms, but I benchmark several machines everyday, and seeing is believing.
BTW: I'm not exactly an AMD fan, although I don't dislike them, but I certainly have a preference for Intel. I am open minded and despite your opposite opinion, I believe the PC I posted to be slightly more powerful and a better deal.
The OP can make his own decision.
We both have the same goal, help the OP get the best machine for the least money.

Don't forget about this. I use this for schoolwork and word processor.

The Free and Open Productivity Suite,

Word, Excel, PowerPoint and access database alternative.

http://www.openoffice.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenOffice