building on a budget

CPU: Intel E4300 - $117.00
Motherboard: ASUS P5B-Plus - $136.99
RAM: Corsair XMS2 2GB DDR2-667 - $74.99
Video card: eVGA 8800GTS 320MB - $279.99
Hard drive: Western Digital 500GB SATA2 - $109.99
Power supply: Corsair 520W - $129.99

Grand total: $848.95

I didn't include a case or a DVD burner. People usually pick cases based on preference anyways. Didn't know if you had a burner or not. They're like $30 anyways.

Details about this setup. The Intel E4300 is the cheapest Core2Duo out there, but it's still hella fast. The motherboard is a very high quality board, regardless of the price. Corsair RAM is pretty much top notch. Surprising is the price. RAM is dirt cheap these days. With those three parts, you have a A LOT of room to overclock this system. I would almost recommend doing so because it's so easy.

The 8800GTS is probably your best bet, especially since your on a budget. The next step up is the GTX version at a $200 jump in price. With the new video card, you'll need a new power supply. Around $100 seems to be the standard for a 500W model. Power supplies really shouldn't be cheaped out on in the first place, though.

Lastly, you can choose whatever hard drive you want. $109 for 500GB is a pretty sweet deal, though you can still save some money and choose a smaller drive. {like this one}

Other things to think about are some intake/exhaust fans and an aftermarket CPU cooler since they do a better job than the one that comes with the CPU itself.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Just looking at screenshots for Hellgate, it would seem an 8800GTS might be the bare minimum to play the game at 30-40FPS (on everything high.) There's really not much point in buying a 7xxx series card anymore since all the "value" variations of 8xxx series cards are out now.

In comparison to Mikey's build, I traded skimped on the CPU and put it towards the video card which he'll need for Hellgate. He'll be able to play games like Crysis, UT2007, --insert demanding new game here--.

Anyway you look at it, it's possible not to pay over $900 for the entire thing (and not over $1000 with extras).

(PS: <--- not Rit.)

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by BlueMikey

Oh right, that's Reznor. Fuck all you and your bizarre names. :P

Wait, so who the hell are you?


Guru did say, though, "reasonable settings", not high. :P I mean, OK, so there's not a point in buying a 7xxx card, but from Guru's request, I don't see the need in a $300 card. A budget 8xxx then, perhaps and you save $150-$200. Skimp on my CPU back to yours and his comp is in the $600s. :P I guess we're just talking about how long his comp needs to remain fresh for (good vid card vs. budget) and how much he does outside of games (good CPU vs. OK CPU).

Haha, I'm me!
(you're the second person to mistake me for him :P)

Believe it or not, the 8800 isn't as powerful as people think. It's quite reminiscent of the FX5900 card when DX9 was new and the card failed miserably. There are still no DX10 games released, but benchmarks have been popping up showing mediocre DX10 performance. I would consider the 8800GTS to be bare minimum if you want to play games that aren't even released yet.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.