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$700 Budget Build

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GamingRigger

New Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2012
Hello folks, I am trying to assemble the pieces for a 600-700 dollar gaming rig I'd like to build. I will link the pieces I have thus far below, but this is my first attempt at a rig so if I am missing something or can find a better deal elsewhere, please let me know. Trying to save money at all costs, so if there is a slight downgrade performance wise but could save a lot of money, please let me know!

Motherboard-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7114016&sku=S458-1373

Case-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6531504&sku=C283-2094

RAM-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=40739&sku=C13-5720

Hard Drive-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6280178&sku=TMD-500AS4

Processor-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5581941&sku=I69-0650

Video Card-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=41125&sku=E145-0550

Power Supply-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4435074&CatId=1483


Thank you in advance!
 
First, that processor you linked is not compatible with the motherboard. What you need is a Sandy Bridge, socket 1155 CPU. The best bang for buck is the i5-2500k at the moment. Amazing speed at a great price and overclocks easily.

Also, you have selected a 2.5" hard drive commonly used for laptops. You will need a 3.5" hard drive. Unfortunately, due to the Thailand floods, the prices have almost doubled since last October. A 2TB drive will be approx. $120.

Do you have a Microcenter near you? They usually have motherboard/CPU bundle deals really cheap.

On the PSU, Coolmax is not known for good quality power supplies. To protect all these valuable components, I would suggest spending a little more on a quality PSU like Seasonic, Corsair, Antec, etc.

Finally, what games will you play and at what resolution? Do you have a monitor already?
 
So the new processor should look like this-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7073161&Sku=I69-2500K

And the new hard drive should look like this-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7281716&CatId=2459

Finally, a better power supply unit-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=422166&CatId=5432

I live in Florida and there are no Micro Centers in the state. I am currently playing Star Wars: The Old Republic an MMORPG, and Mass Effect 3.
Resolution is 1280x720.
 
Is there a reason you are using tigerdirect? May be able to shave some off at newegg.

Your basically in this area and can build a pretty good system.

225 - 2500K
125 - Z68 Asrock\Gigabyte
40 - Gskill
85 - WD hdd
50 - case
60 - psu

Add in a 6850 for $125'ish and a hyper evo cpu cooler and it'll push you to $750-800 range with any tax\shipping but it will be a much better system.
 
Last edited:
X 3

If you have to it's worth saving until you get the extra $100-$200. If $700 is your max ceiling, you can downgrade the case, GPU and possibly the CPU but don't cheap out on a good PSU.
 
WAIT WAIT WAIT Ivy bridge is just around the corner and nvidia is releasing their new 6XX series (the 680 is RUMORED to be 3x as powerful as the 580.) and even then if those are to high you can always just go with the lowered price 5 series or the lower priced i5-2500k
 
Going to play the devil's advocate here.

You're all slightly pushing up the budget, and while it is by FAR worth the extra money, not everybody can afford it. You can still play current games on lower settings with the budget he has set (which seems to be the maximum he wants to spend).

I'd go one of these two.

Screen Shot 2012-03-12 at 12.17.11 AM.png

Screen Shot 2012-03-11 at 11.58.00 PM.png
 
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