Build your own gaming computer for under $800

[Kenji815]

I'm in the process of planning my next gaming computer setup.
Due to economic situation this is a budget build.
The below list everything you need to put together a budget gaming computer setup.

Prices are base on newegg.com
you can maybe find parts even cheaper if you search around.



Acer X233Hbid Black 23" 5ms Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor
-$30.00 Instant
$219.99
$189.991


ASUS P5Q SE PLUS ATX Intel Motherboard
$15.00 Mail-in Rebate
$102.991


RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEBP Foldout MB Computer Case With Side Panel Window
-$10.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$99.99
$89.991


Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$64.991


Logitech EX 110 Black USB + PS/2 Standard Cordless Desktop Keyboard & Mouse Kit
$29.991


Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model DVR-216DBK
$22.991


CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$64.001


Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 2.8GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
$119.991


HIS Hightech Radeon HD 4830 H483FN512P Video Card
$89.99

Grand Total:$774.92

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[StuBeck]

Change the video card, get a 9800. You can also get memory for probably half that price or more after rebate.

[BlockerImp]

i love my 4830, and it leaves room for cheapo x-fire

[Kenji815]

Originally Posted by StuBeck

Change the video card, get a 9800. You can also get memory for probably half that price or more after rebate.

I'm a fan of ati video card.. ati always has been a good gaming video card and the 4830 is a good overclock video card.

[Kenji815]

I forgot to add


ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail $29.00

[StuBeck]

I guess I should research more next time, AMD finally released a decent budget video card that wasn't just the previous generation.

[Mj23foreva]

You can get 4gigs of ram for 20 bucks these days

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...471&lid=566643

You can skimp a bit on the case as well

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146041

You shouldn't skimp on your video card though...

get a 9800GTX...the sweet spot when I upgraded my comp was a 4850 which i got for around $130 but now it looks like the 9800s dropped in price and the 4850s actually went up?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130339

Also a E8400 wouldnt hurt

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Core%202%20Duo

[Kenji815]

yeah 4850 is gaining is popularity.

DDR2 800 - 6400 is much cheaper than the one i choose which is faster (DDR2 1066-8500)
It's definitely an area that can be cut back for budget reasons.

The Asus P5Q SE Plus
4 x DIMM, Max. 16 GB, DDR2 1200*/1066/800/667 Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel memory architecture

[gundamwrx]

I'd get a 4850 or 4870. you also forgot about your power supply, and go cheaper on your case.

[Mj23foreva]

actually that dell ram is out of stock haha

[Mj23foreva]

this ram is ok too

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231122

yea and also you did forget the PSU...its really tough to build a gaming rig w/ monitor for under 800 unless you scour the web for good deals, or you're willing to settle for a system thats a little more out dated.

I've always loved corsair psus but they are expensive...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

[Yotsuya]

I paid about the same but I already had a monitor and was going to run XP so I only got 2gb of ram with a 3.16 CoreDuo. To cover for the 2gb of ram I got a EVGA GTX Graphics card with as much memory as I could justify spending on a graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130433. Make sure you set up the machine so there's good breathing space in the back for it.

For my needs; runs warcraft with all the bells and whistles on max, so I'm satisfied. But then I'm easy to please. For just about everything else I'm still using my old Shuttle, which sits on top of this massive new thing.

Also you may want to compare the price with mwave using the same parts.

[Kenji815]

Originally Posted by Mj23foreva

this ram is ok too

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231122

yea and also you did forget the PSU...its really tough to build a gaming rig w/ monitor for under 800 unless you scour the web for good deals, or you're willing to settle for a system thats a little more out dated.

I've always loved corsair psus but they are expensive...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

Originally Posted by gundamwrx

I'd get a 4850 or 4870. you also forgot about your power supply, and go cheaper on your case.

the raidmax case i choose comes with 500w power supply.

[Kenji815]

Originally Posted by Yotsuya

I paid about the same but I already had a monitor and was going to run XP so I only got 2gb of ram with a 3.16 CoreDuo. To cover for the 2gb of ram I got a EVGA GTX Graphics card with as much memory as I could justify spending on a graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130433. Make sure you set up the machine so there's good breathing space in the back for it.

For my needs; runs warcraft with all the bells and whistles on max, so I'm satisfied. But then I'm easy to please. For just about everything else I'm still using my old Shuttle, which sits on top of this massive new thing.

wow.. i would suggest you upgrade ram to at least 4GB it's a cheap upgrade to get the most out of your system.

[Mj23foreva]

Originally Posted by Kenji815

the raidmax case i choose comes with 500w power supply.

i wouldnt settle for a cheap 500w psu...get a 750, its something you can use for a long time and if get good quality you dont have to worry about the psu blowing up your system...

[StuBeck]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227364

28 after rebate, 1066.

[Kenji815]

Originally Posted by Mj23foreva

i wouldnt settle for a cheap 500w psu...get a 750, its something you can use for a long time and if get good quality you dont have to worry about the psu blowing up your system...

With amount of accessory the computer will be running 750w i don't think will be necessary.
I will only have 1 HDD, 1 DVDR drive and video card to power.

and will really increase the price of the built by at least $100.

This build i put together really have budget as the main goal.

[aod]

**** ATI. nVidia FTW!

[StuBeck]

Originally Posted by Kenji815

With amount of accessory the computer will be running 750w i don't think will be necessary.
I will only have 1 HDD, 1 DVDR drive and video card to power.

and will really increase the price of the built by at least $100.

This build i put together really have budget as the main goal.

750 watts is also ridiculous for any system which isn't running SLI and a quad core processor. People for some reason think that systems use a lot of power when its simply not true, there are lots of builds using C2D proc which use less than 100 watts total.

[Kenji815]

Originally Posted by StuBeck

750 watts is also ridiculous for any system which isn't running SLI and a quad core processor. People for some reason think that systems use a lot of power when its simply not true, there are lots of builds using C2D proc which use less than 100 watts total.

Yeah unless you are maxing out your accessories inside the computer the computer will essentially never get full use out of the 750w.

Although I do agree on getting a good PS. Over the course of 4-5 years with my current computer. I have burnt out at least 3 PS. PS that are under $60. I think it's bad luck on my part.

[Kenjan]

Listing of alot of the deals going on.

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthr...21346&t=553826

Also, instead of your memory choice:

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $29.99AR

[StuBeck]

Originally Posted by Kenji815

Yeah unless you are maxing out your accessories inside the computer the computer will essentially never get full use out of the 750w.

Although I do agree on getting a good PS. Over the course of 4-5 years with my current computer. I have burnt out at least 3 PS. PS that are under $60. I think it's bad luck on my part.

Yeah, get a good quality one, but 400 watts in this system would be more than enough. I've never gone through one in 12 years because I buy quality parts and spend more time researching the power supply than a lot of other parts.

[Yotsuya]

Originally Posted by Kenji815

wow.. i would suggest you upgrade ram to at least 4GB it's a cheap upgrade to get the most out of your system.

XP doesn't really need it like Vista does. For games the card takes care of things well enough.

[jsmaze]

Case: Cooler Master Centurion 5 - $50

You will not be disappointed.

+1 for quality lower power PSU. I have used Antec for years, can't complain.

PSU: Antec Earthwatts 500 - $65

It's a little much for what you have, but would give a little room too if you wanted to xfire or add in RAID or something, and is a great deal at 65 bucks.

For memory, if by "warcraft" you mean WoW, then 2GB running XP is fine (at least on my Q6600 and 3870 at home I can run 3 instances if I have to, and box with 2 at 1280x1024 easy).

...I haven't played any other games since CS:S though hah, but if you do play other newer FPS's and such, I'd wager than for the extra couple bucks, going to 4GB won't hurt.

[Kenji815]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021
The Antec case caught my eyes with the bottom mounting power supply.