Mom needs help with gaming computer build

Hi,
My sons have put this list of components together in order to build a gaming desktop computer using saved money. Can you please tell me if these components are compatible and reasonable?

It's a lot of money so I want to make sure there won't be regrets.
Thank you to anyone who will look at this and give me their opinion.

GIGABYTE GV-R667D3-1GI Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card Item #:N82E16814125403 $69.99

APEVIA X-JUPITER-JR S-Type X-JPJST-MG Metallic Grey SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case With Side Panel Window Item #:N82E16811144194 $79.99

KINGWIN CF-012LB Case Fan
Item #:N82E16835124023 $5.99

Kensington 56001 Optics-Enhancing Mouse Pad - Black
Item #:N82E16826999006 $4.99

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9
Item #:N82E16820233186 $41.99

Rosewill Model RCAB-11037 10" SATA III UV Blue Flat Cable w/ Locking Latch, Supports 6 Gbps, 3 Gbps, and 1.5 G
Item #:N82E16812119371 $2.49

ASRock 770iCafe AM3+ AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813157291 $64.99

Arctic Silver Arctic Alumina 1.75g Premium Ceramic, Polysynthetic thermal compound AA-1.75G
Item #:N82E16835100014 $4.99

GEAR HEAD LM6000U Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Laser Mouse
Item #:N82E16826623004 $12.99

Refurbished: TP-LINK TL-WN722N_RE USB 2.0 High Gain Wireless Adapter
Item #:N82E16833704145 $29.99

Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS
Item #:N82E16817371044 $89.99

Western Digital WD Blue WD10EZEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5
Western Digital WD Blue 1TB 3.5" SATA 6.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #:N82E16822236339 $109.99

AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4100WMGUSBX
Item #:N82E16819103996 $104.99

Acer S201HLbd Black 20" 5ms LED-Backlight LCD monitor
Item #:N82E16824009256 $139.99

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS
Item #:N82E16827135204 $19.99

Grand Total: $628.83

can you please tell us where you are (USA, EU, etc), do you have microcentre near you, or any other electonics shop you want to buy parts from?
I would change the Graphic Card for a better one, a GDDR5 instead of GDDR3, I have the same card and it is really bad. I regret not spending $50 more for RadeonHD7750

To the Overclockers forums!

Though I'm not an AMD person, it appears everything is compatible.

The only thing I see that is missing is an SSD drive. I see you have listed two WD HDD, but having an SSD for a boot drive is the single most performance upgrade one can do these days. Most go with an OCZ Vertex 4 120GB, which usually cost no more than $100. There is no comparison between HDDs and SSDs for speed in booting the OS and loading apps plus with a SSD, there are no moving parts which cause friction and heat. Perhaps you can shave some costs in other areas to accomodate this if your budget is tight, but this is one component you'll be glad you added when all is said and done.

@PolePosition, agree, just got vertex4 128gb, windows boots in 40sec, instead of 2min from HDD (a lot of start up programs), i paid 108, newegg sells for 110.Vertex4 128GB NewEgg

You could change PSU for this. then yuo have $10 more to spend on other components.

Motherboard change also could be good for this one insteadfor this one instead. 6GB/s SATA instead of 3GB/s, never controller (970 instead of 770)

@polacos, what size and resolution monitor are you running with your graphics card?

I see the OP has selected the Acer 20", which has a max resolution of 1600 x 900. Perhaps the 6670 is suitable enough to push that monitor? Granted, I agree with you that it would be better to spend the $50 more for the better card, but will it benefit the OP that much more with that monitor?

A newegg list I have done for you. I comes to $705, includes SSD

+1 to what PolePosition said.

6670 should indeed be enough to play most games on decent settings at that res, but to the mom, what games do your kids play that could make a difference.

edit: personally for a gaming computer id drop the SSD and put the extra dollars towards a better gpu, but that is just my opinion.

@PolePosition, i have a 25" asus, but couldn't play well with that card, so i use my old lg 17"

Nice build list Polacos. A lot depends on where supernewatthis lives and shops. She might have to pay sales tax in certain states and there might not be a Newegg available to her. We'll just have to wait and see.

For the case, you can save a few dollars to use toward a better video card if you can move to one of these rosewill cases. These cases are fine for the money and should provide you with all you need.
EMCJNNH25 $10 off promocode if you can use it
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147159

This single 1TB harddrive should do it for you too
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145533

I’ve used this ram before, it worked fine for all my purposes
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313266

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151256

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009256

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166056

EMCNAHB33 $30 off promocode
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153126

Okay so through newegg U.S. this will run you about $627, $527 without the OS. I have not included a video card because that is all dependent on your hard budget, you could go with the Radeon 7750, 7770 or 6770 for between 90 and $110 through newegg or if you had more cash you could go for the 6850 for about $130-150. My price list also does not include the prices of all the small stuff such as thermal paste, mouse pad and the likes, but I am sure your prices on those are fine so just add the $31.50 to the price for items that I did not include.

Anyway, obviously this all depends on where you can shop so take it for what it is.

In answer to the first question: I am in the US and the site my sons are planning to buy the equipment is Newegg. I don't know much about the various games they are planning to play, but right now my younger son has a pretty big Minecraft addiction.

I will have them look at the things mentioned so far:
*GDDR5 instead of the GDDR3 they selected
* An SSD drive
*Possible motherboard and PSU changes.

I will have them read this entire thread when they get home.

Thank you so much to everyone who answered! Why is gaming so much fun? I don't get it!

Why is gaming so much fun?

Its the next best thing to being an actual super hero, and the challenge to compete is inviting.

wagex said:

edit: personally for a gaming computer id drop the SSD and put the extra dollars towards a better gpu, but that is just my opinion.

Click to expand...

Id still go bigger on the GPU. A 6670 is a slug, even at that low resolution. 7770 is a bit faster, or 660 would be my choice if the budget allows. BUt this is a GAMING machine not an interwebs machine. Look at the 6670 and how it performs at 1680x1050 (yes more pixels but you get the idea).

In this budget range, I think an AMD APU with a 6670 for dual graphics is the best bang/buck you'll get.

Will the APU push those cards enough though?

It should, the 6670+3870K gets you about 6770 performance, I'd imagine a 5800K+6670 should net around 7770 performance, but cheaper. $630 including a monitor, you're looking at a $500 machine, not much to work with.

I see what you are saying now... use the onboard and discrete together... I thought you meant 2 6670's.

Ok hi this is the son now but I wanted to know if this GPU would work any better than the other one. All the reviews are great about it and they all say you can run almost all games on high graphics even Battlefield 3.


SAPPHIRE Ultimate Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card (100326UL) - $85.00

Please reply soon were ordering tonight. Thank you.

you could play low setting battlefield with the sapphire 6670 you posted and get 30-40fps, at least that is what I was getting when I had the 6670. If you are set on going the 6670 route, look into getting one of the AMD APUs and an FM board instead of the AM3+

Trinity APUs use the FM2 while Fusion uses FM1.

OK well I cant go much more up in price we have a budget ): But if you could find me something in this same price range that would be great and it doesn't have to run Battlefield 3 ultra graphics (even though it wouldn't ever) just medium I guess. Thanks a lot.