T's Semi-Budget Gaming Rig

[tlowr4]

Well I thought I'd throw out my rig that I'm getting later this week. We'll get a bit more performance over my MacBook

Case: Bitfenix Shinobi Black Mid-Tower Case with Window

$80.50 x1

$80.50

PSU: FSP Aurum Series 750W Modular 80PLUS Gold PSU

$128.00 x1

$128.00

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H Motherboard

$179.00 x1

$179.00

Processor (CPU): Intel i5 2500K @ 3.3GHz

$207.00 x1

$207.00

RAM: Kingston HyperX KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX (2x4GB) DDR3

$55.00 x1

$55.00

Video Card: Too be found, max $200 including shipping. This is somthing I'd like help with, if possible

$200.00 x1

$200.00

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB WD5000AAKX

$67.99 x1

$67.99

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit with SP1 OEM

$88.00 x1

$88.00

+ Shipping

TOTAL: ~$1100

Soo yeah guys. I'll use the Intel 3000 graphics for a week or so till I can get hold of a graphics card. Mind if anyone helps me find one? Don't care if it's second hand or new, limit is $200 including shipping. I just can't buy off eBay, but any other second hand site is fine.

I'm based in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. The closer to home the better.

And I'll travel a bit if it's within about 80KM.

Cheeers.

 

[SEBAR]

The best you can do for a new card is probably an HD 6850. http://www.pcmarket.com.au/22208_HIS-ATi-Radeon-HD-6850-1GB-PCI-Express-Video-Card-w.php

Used you should be able to pickup a GTX470 for under 200.

 

[tlowr4]

Yeah. I found a 5870 (which actually performs better than the 6870) for $150, but it sold out. Now I gotta search.

Thanks for the link. If anyone else has got anything, please post.

 

[I Hunta x]

For for just over $200 ($210) there is a 6870 on the site above http://www.pcmarket....Card-with-D.php

 

[Master&Puppet]

If you are constrained by budget then i would seriously consider an i3 cpu.

Yes the 2500k is more powerful and overclockable but is actually more than you need.

An i3 has 2 cores but hyperthreads so it's not as bad as it sounds. Any of the 3.0ghz or more models would be fine (and by fine I mean will run modern games above 30 minimum fps which is still seamless gameplay wise)

This would save you the best part of what, $100? I'd put that towards a better gpu and you'll have a better gaming system overall although generally performance won't be as snappy. That puts you in the $300 gpu bracket which might get you a 7850 and that is my pick of that gpu price range.

You can see the in game performance of the cpus here:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/...core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/20

You can always sell it down the line and put the $50-75 towards the 2500k in several months time.

I think this will give you a better fps now and will give you a cheaper upgrade path down the line (selling on a 6xxx series gpu will probably loose you $100 rather than <$75 on the cpu).

 

[tlowr4]

Wow, thanks for the links and stuff. You guys here are on the ball. Few things though:

I've been working on this list for about 2 months now, finally getting around to ordering. I do lots of FRAPS recording, and heaps of video rendering. That's why I took the extra mile and went with a 2500K, I'll overclock it like no one's buisness.

Also, $200 is hands down the most I can spend on the GPU, since I have to buy prepaid cards (I'm buying the graphics card after the rest of the build for personal reasons). However, I found a few links on Gumtree.com (australian second hand website). I can pick up a couple of differant cards, all within the $200 price limit:

4870x2

http://www.gumtree.c...card/1001521015

Dual 6870's in Crossfire:

http://www.gumtree.c...card/1001195402

560Ti with TFII Cooler:

http://www.gumtree.c...card/1000750466

I'm thinking the 560TI twin frozor myself. I know the Crossfire solution will give me better graphics performance, but I've been told that those cards have a bit of a hickup every now and then when in crossfire. Just not that great to do. Also, I think they're stock cooling, and since I'm a cooling/silence freak, I really don't want to hear two fans flat out to have a hot rig...