Mid-Low Budget Gaming PC (USA)

[6Eleven]

1. What is the purpose of the computer? What all applications and games are you going to run? (Stupid answers like 'gaming' or 'office work' will not work. Be exact. Which games? Which applications? Avoid the word 'et cetera.')

Work (open office database, excel, maybe applicad, word processing)
Internet, music, movies
Games: Diablo 3, Dota 2, some Starcraft 2 Maybe, classic games


2. What is your overall budget? If you can extend a bit for a more balanced configuration, then mention this too.

$600-$700, including monitor. I could extend a bit more, but would prefer not to.

3. Planning to overclock?
no

4. Which Operating System are you planning to use?
Windows 7 Home Premium x64. I own it already

5. How much hard drive space is needed?
Minimal. I have a large external hard drive.

6. Do you want to buy a monitor? If yes, please mention which screen size and resolution do you want. If you already have a monitor and want to reuse it, again mention the size and resolution of monitor you have.

I plan to buy a very cheap 17" monitor for now. Once I have more cash on hand I plan to dual monitor and use the one I'm about to purchase as the #2.

7. Which components you DON'T want to buy or which components you already have and plan on reusing?
I have keyboard, speakers, mouse, microphone.

8. When are you planning to buy the system?
May 10th or so

9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
I've built before

10. Where do you live? Are you buying locally? Are you open to buying stuff from online shops if you don't get locally?
Plan to buy all online

11. Anything else which you would like to say?
I want my computer to be easily expandable--that is to say I'd prefer to overspend on case/PSU/motherboard so that I can upgrade RAM, Hard Drive, CPU, GPU later. Given that, I THINK intel might serve me a bit better.

Here's my current best idea. Hopefully I can get good advice to improve or make my build cheaper.

Can I use a micro ATX motherboard in a mid ATX tower?

Case/PSU combo deal $100: Rosewill Challenger ATX mid
Rosewill HIVE series HIVE-650 650W

Motherboard: ASRock H61M/U3S3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $65

CPU: Intel core i3-2100 sandy bridge 3.1 GhZ 65W $115

GPU: SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity $120

RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 $49.00

HDD: Recertified: Western Digital Caviar Green WD5000AZDX 500GB IntelliPower SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $80

Optical Drive: LG 22X Super-Multi DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS90B - Retail - OEM $17

Monitor: Recertified: HP 1740 17" 8ms LCD Flat Panel Monitor $79

Total after rebates/shipping (NewEgg): $638



Thanks!

 

[Cilus]

Here is my suggestion:-


Intel Core i3 2120 @ $127
MSI H67A-G43 (2 PCI Express X16 at X16-X4) @ $85
Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1333 MHz CL9 @ $40
HIS H687FN1GD Radeon HD 6870 1GB @ $155
WD Blue 500 GB @ $85
NZXT Source 210 Elite @ $49
Rosewill Green Series RG530-S12 530W @ $49
Acer G185HVb Black 18.5" 5ms @ $80

Total: $669. The prices are taken from Newegg. You can check other sites like TigerDirect for lesser price. Most of the components mentioned above do carry Mail in Rebate which might lower your price by another $30-$40.

 

[6Eleven]

Here is my suggestion:-


Intel Core i3 2120 @ $127
MSI H67A-G43 (2 PCI Express X16 at X16-X4) @ $85
Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1333 MHz CL9 @ $40
HIS H687FN1GD Radeon HD 6870 1GB @ $155
WD Blue 500 GB @ $85
NZXT Source 210 Elite @ $49
Rosewill Green Series RG530-S12 530W @ $49
Acer G185HVb Black 18.5" 5ms @ $80

Total: $669. The prices are taken from Newegg. You can check other sites like TigerDirect for lesser price. Most of the components mentioned above do carry Mail in Rebate which might lower your price by another $30-$40.

Thanks! Looks great

Question:

Is the PSU/Case combo I posted no good? The rosewill HIVE-650 looks like a step above the Green RG530 for the same price. Am I missing something?

 

[$$Lionking$$]

AMD FX-4170 @ $130 (after $10 off using coupon)
ASRock 970 EXTREME3 $85
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline (2x4GB) 1600MHz CL9 @ $45
XFX HD-685X-ZCFC Radeon HD 6850 1GB @ $140
WD Blue 500 GB @ $85
Cooler Master Elite RC 430 @ $39
Rosewill Green Series RG630-S12 630W @ $59
Acer G185HVb Black 18.5" 5ms @ $80

Total : $665. MIR will be around ~$50 on this.

NOTE -

1. AMD FX-4170 @ 4.2GHz because all the software you intend to use are Integer core specific and FX should perform
better there as it has 4 Integer cores(Quad Core in that sense) and has a very high clock speed. Also AMD board has lots of options!

2. Consider buying the Silverline 2x2GB 1333MHz CL9 kit @ $25 as I dont see you using 8GB memory, now or even later.

3. Downgraded ur video card to 6850 from 6870. All the games u have listed above will run fine on this card too at Medium to high settings.
If u have the budget go for HD 6870 suggested above by Cilus.

Enjoy!