STARCRAFT 2 CUSTOM PC BUILD NEED HELP

[mbouttarat]

So, I was going to build a custom pc suitable enough to play starcraft 2 on the settings high-max, and made a list November before Income Taxes.

Since I did get some of my income taxes, the current budget at my disposal to spend for parts is $600.

I'm certain that the prices I list below the parts are no longer on sale, (or MIR either) but it was the best I could come up with at the time for such a build. Please if you have any advice for parts and prices that fit my budget, I would greatly appreciate it.

MotherBoard:BIOSTAR A880G+ AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
69.99 combo deal with AMD processor / total (128.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Combo...-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3891137&SID=194r0

Processor:AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX445WFGMBOX
73.99 combo deal with BIOSTAR motherboard / total ( 129.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Combo...-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3891137&SID=194r0


Graphics Card:XFX HD-577X-ZMF3 Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
134.99 combo deal with Power supply / total (189.98)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Combo...-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3891137&SID=194r0

Monitor: Acer X193WCb Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 ACM 50000:1(1000:1)
99.99+8.99 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3891137&SID=194r0

Tower:Antec TWO HUNDRED S Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
39.99+free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3891137&SID=194r0

Power Supply:XFX P1-650X-CAH9 650W ATX12V v2.2 / ESP12V v2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
89.99 combo deal with graphics card / total (189.98)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Combo...-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3891137&SID=194r0

Hard drive:SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
42.99+7.28 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3891137&SID=194r0

RAM:GeIL Value PLUS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10660) Desktop Memory Model GVP34GB1333C9DC
49.99+0.99 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3891137&SID=194r0

KeyBoard:Logitech MK120 Black USB Wired Slim Desktop
21.99+3.99 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3891137&SID=194r0

Disc Driver:SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner LightScribe Support - OEM
19.99 + 2.99 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3891137&SID=194r0

 

[Marshmallow64]

The build looks good. Some suggestions I have is to switch the hard drive to a western digital black and to switch the power supply to a corsair 650 watt.

 

[Theocnoob]

Don't get an Athlon based PC. If that's where you have to aim you should go for a used Core 2 system. There's no point in spending $600 on that.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138290
49 99 mo

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103824
99 99 cpu

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231180
46 99 mem

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187115&cm_re=GTX_460-_-14-187-115-_-Product
179 gpu

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192
16 99 optical

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
HD 49 99

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129065
Case/psu 99 99

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254053
LCD 84 99

Keybo/mouse $20

$654 +assorted BS

I accidentally did this all on the canadian site so odds are yours will be cheaper. BTW the above config will play SC2 on ULTRA.

 

[mdamda]

SC2 is highly CPU dependent, but will run better with faster cores than with more cores.

AMD procs with a lower IPC will probably bog down in larger battles compared to Intels.

I'm still dipping into the 20FPSs in 4v4 battles even after upgrading to a 6870.

Looks like sandy bridge would fix things, but personally I'd rather wait it out for another CPU generation.

But for 1v1/2v2 gameplay, those should suffice

 

[Marshmallow64]

That athlon will be able to play the game no problem on highest settings.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103887

This cpu will also play the game np, but probably perform a bit better than that athlon.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

If you really want to be safe get the quad core, but the pricing is coming close to i5 setups, which performs even better. So you have to weigh your options.

 

[mbouttarat]

Those are some things I hadn't yet thought about. Thanks. I wonder though, since Starcraft is cpu oriented, would dual core be enough for it? Some matches like the "Fastest Possible Maps" for SC2 have high unit distribution when played by many people, so I was hoping to have something suitable enough to support that.
For processor, I still want to stick with AMD seeing as they come cheaper,usually. So the list I mentioned above should be enough to support SC2 except for the processor and power cords right?

If there are some used parts, I would gladly buy some of those as well, seeing as I am not free to spend wherever.

 

[Theocnoob]

That athlon will be able to play the game no problem on highest settings.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103887

This cpu will also play the game np, but probably perform a bit better than that athlon.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

If you really want to be safe get the quad core, but the pricing is coming close to i5 setups, which performs even better. So you have to weigh your options.

SC doesn't use two cores. I've checked the usage. It'll load four.

Also, architechture wise, even 2 Phenom II cores murder 2 Athlon cores.



You can get the cheapo Phenom II quad that's like $100. I'd get the 955 black. That's the lowest AMD CPU I'd build on right now. It's worth the difference.

 

[Marshmallow64]

Yea i know it uses more than 2 cores. I was basing the pricing on what I assume to be his budget. I also recommend the 955 over the 555 and athlons.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2010/08/18/how-many-cpu-cores-does-starcraft-2-use/1

 

[bigben6]

My old 9500GS (read: not 9500gt) oc'd to the max with a wolfdale 2.6ghz dual core ran SC2 happily all day at high settings, it may be CPU heavy but it does not require anything insane to run well.