• First time builder - $600 Budget
    14 replies, posted
Hey guys, I have always wanted to build a computer, and I finally reached my goal amount of money saved up for the build. (Budget is in USD.) Here are the things I already have: •1080p HDMI monitor (also has VGA input) •USB Keyboard •USB Mouse •Speakers (using standard headphone jack) •Operating system That leaves just the computer itself left. What I'd like is the most powerful gaming machine possible for the price. As for looks, I don't care much and would just prefer function over form. I really don't know much about computer building, so if possible, include any cables or things I may need to put it together. (I have screws and the basics covered.) Also, are there any guides/things I should know for assembly? Thanks guys, I'm looking forward to this build :D [B]EDIT:[/B] [U]The final build specs are as follows:[/U] [B]Processor[/B]- Intel Core i3-2120 3.3GHz [B]DVD Burner[/B]- LITE-ON DVD Burner - SATA Model iHAS124-04 [B]Case[/B]- COOLER MASTER Elite 430 RC-430-KWN1 [B]Hard Drive[/B]- Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Bare Drive [B]Graphics Card[/B]- SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB [B]Power Supply[/B]- SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 Power Supply [B]RAM[/B]- G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) [B]Motherboard[/B]- ASUS P8H61-M LE/CSM (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard [B]All put together with a subtotal of $584.92 (with mail-in rebates) as of 3/24/12. Tax and shipping brings the grand total up to $663.29.[/B] [B]EDIT 2:[/B] As for the computer, the case arrived in pretty poor condition, but I bent it back into shape and assembled everything together nicely. The hardest part of the process was just getting a hackintosh setup running, and now I'm dual booting OS X and Windows 7 with almost no issues. Thanks for all the help guys!
Hey again, this is just a bump to see if anyone has a list of parts they'd like to post. My bday is on Sunday, and I'd like to order pretty soon.
-CPU - i3 2120 - [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115077[/url] -Combo the above with this DVD Burner : [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289[/url] Link to the combo page : [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.846595[/url] -ASRock P67 Motherboard w / 1 PCIE 2.0 slot : [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157230[/url] -8GB Memory in 2 sticks : [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422[/url] -HAF 912 Case : [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=haf%20912[/url] -520W PSU from Seasonic : [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094[/url] All should add up to 609, a little over but I'm sure you can manage. Decent enough for current gaming, though next gen games won't play very well and you'll have to grab a new CPU, GPU, and possibly mobo in 2 or 3 years to keep up. Poor man's build honestly.
Wow, I just made a build right before you posted. This goes a bit over budget, but when rebates are cashed, it comes down to $616. I'd like you guys to take a look at that one too. Here's what I came up with: LG 22X Super-Multi DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS90B - OEM- [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136240[/url] Xigmatek ASGARD II B/B CPC-T45UC-U01 Black / Black 0.8 mm SECC / Aluminum and Aluminum Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer ...- [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815004[/url] Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive- [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769[/url] SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card- [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948[/url] Thermaltake TR2 W0070RUC 430W ATX12V V2.2 Intel Core i7 Compliant Dual 80mm Fans Full Cable Sleevings Power Supply- [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023[/url] G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBNS- [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396[/url] MSI H67A-G43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel H67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard- [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130616[/url] Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 ...- [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074[/url] Is all of this stuff compatible and good?
What is this for again? Get rid of that PSU, go with mine. Or at least the Seasonic brand.
This will be for getting as much gaming power and overall speed as possible out of my small budget. I realized that there was massive tax on all of this stuff, so I edited the list to cut prices down. Here's what I have now: [QUOTE=Saq;35268725]-CPU - i3 2120 - [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115077[/url] -Combo with this DVD Burner : [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289[/url] -ASRock P67 Motherboard w / 1 PCIE 2.0 slot : [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157230[/url] -520W PSU from Seasonic : [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094[/url] [/QUOTE] And the other stuff: (Changed graphics card.) Xigmatek ASGARD II B/B CPC-T45UC-U01 Black / Black 0.8 mm SECC / Aluminum and Aluminum Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer ...- [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815004[/url] Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive- [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136769[/url] [B]HIS H685FN1GD Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity-[/B] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161384[/url] G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBNS- [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231396[/url] Is this any better?
my take based on those builds: [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/kcIFN.png[/thumb] 1. you changed from a 6870 to a 6850, which doesn't make sense considering you want the best gaming performance you can get 2. you don't need a P67 motherboard, a budget H61 will do just fine with that CPU i do realize it's a bit over budget when including shipping (cost could be different for you, though), here's a [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241]cheaper mobo[/url] in case you need to lower cost
[QUOTE=Snausages;35270387]my take based on those builds: [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/kcIFN.png[/thumb] 1. you changed from a 6870 to a 6850, which doesn't make sense considering you want the best gaming performance you can get 2. you don't need a P67 motherboard, a budget H61 will do just fine with that CPU[/QUOTE] Oh, ok. I was under the assumption that the slower cpu might bottleneck the gpu. I was also trying to stay close to the budget, but the cheaper mobo seems to have taken care of that problem. I have edited the list to basically what you have right there. Is there anything else that I need? Like cables or thermal paste?
the cpu should not be a bottleneck, and everything should come with its own cables, e.g. psu should come with more than enough cables to power up everything in your build, and so on thermal paste is not needed, the heatsink that comes with the cpu should already have some paste pre-applied, so you do not have to worry about that
Awesome, I guess I'll order the parts tomorrow. Thanks guys!
Ok, just placed my order through NewEgg with a different case. (The OP has the new one listed.) I'll be sure to post pics of the assembly process when the parts arrive!
Wow you didn't even order any poptarts?
[QUOTE=Saq;35277447]Wow you didn't even order any poptarts?[/QUOTE] They happened to be out of stock :P [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16896010215[/url]
[QUOTE=Chase827;35277468]They happened to be out of stock :P [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16896010215[/url][/QUOTE] Nope [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16896010214&Tpk=pop%20tart[/url]
Sorry for not updating with pics and stuff guys, I've been really busy. As for the computer, the case arrived in pretty poor condition, but I bent it back into shape and assembled everything together nicely. The hardest part of the process was just getting a hackintosh setup running, and now I'm dual booting OS X and Windows 7 with almost no issues. Thanks for all the help guys!
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