BleepingComputer.com: $500 gaming PC

I am going to build two identical $500 gaming computers (mainly for Starcraft II). I do not need windows, monitors or keyboards/mice. I am pretty sure I want to base it off the AMD Athlon II X3 because benchmarks on games usually max out at 3 cores (especially Starcraft II). This CPU is the best value CPU with 3 cores according to several sources. The rest of the components I am not too sure about. All of these prices are from newegg. I hope to be buying during the next week. I'm afraid I have missed some awesome combo deals, and also I may have included some not optimal components, or low quality ones. Please look over the list and provide some feedback! Please also check for compatibility!


Components:

CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX445WFGMBOX $80.99

Optical: LITE-ON DVD Writer - Bulk - Black SATA Model iHAS224-06 LightScribe Support $19.99

Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ,comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan $54.99 -$10.00 Instant $44.99

HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $42.99

Motherboard: ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard $59.99

Video Card: PowerColor AX5750 1GBD5-H Radeon HD 5750 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $134.99 -$10.00 Instant $124.99 - $20.00 Mail-in Rebate = $104.99

Power Supply: SILVERSTONE ST50F-ES 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply $59.99

Memory: OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV4GK $117.99 -$20.00 Instant $97.99 - $30.00 Mail-in = $67.99

Subtotal: $531.92
Shipping: $23.44
Grand Total: $555.36
MIR: $50
Final total after MIR: 505.36

Thank you for your help!

Do NOT buy that RAM. Buy this instead: A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB)
You could save some money with this PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP

I have been looking around, and have updated the list some:

Optical: LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 $17.99

Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ,comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan $44.99

Motherboard: ASRock 770 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 770 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $74.99

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT $80.99

Video card/CPU combo
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100283VX-2L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card w/ Eyefinity
AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX445WFGMBOX
$218.98
$15.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

PSU/HDD combo:
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$99.98
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

Subtotal: $537.92
Shipping: $14.82
Grand Total: $552.74
MIR: -35
Total after MIR: $517.74

I also found this case/mobo deal: How does this case/MB combo look?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.465819
Saves $30, but loses USB3.0 to USB2.0. and also has eSATA 3Gb/s instead of SATA 6Gb/s
Worth it?

The link is broken.
SATA 6gbps is useless unless you use RAID.
You can get a USB3 add-on card if you really need it, but you probably won't.

Sorry about that, here is the fixed link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDet...st=Combo.465819

I came to the same conclusion as you, and decided to change it (replaced mobo and case with a combo I found on newegg). Here is the system as it stands now:

Components:

Optical: LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 $17.99

Motherboard/Case combo:
ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$99.94
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT $80.99

Video card/CPU combo:
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100283VX-2L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card w/ Eyefinity
AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX445WFGMBOX
$218.98
$15.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

PSU/HDD combo:
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$99.98
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

Subtotal: $517.88
Shipping: $7.82
Grand Total: $525.70
MIR: $45.00
Total after MIR: $480.70

One quick question: I am a little nervous about the motherboard. Will the on-board integrated GPU it has mess with the Raedon 5770?

Other than that, any more advice??

This post has been edited by DukeJP2010: 23 August 2010 - 09:26 PM

You might want to get a full ATX motherboard instead.
The onboard GPU will be disabled when you're using the video card.

Is there any difference between micro ATX and ATX? Isn't it just size?

I found a case motherboard combo featuring an ATX DDR3 motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDet...st=Combo.479504 (pretty much the only other amd DDR3 motherboard+case combo on newegg right now).

However, it is around $40 more expensive. Maybe I can buy them separate and cheaply? I think I'll be hard pressed to find a motherboard and case (separately) for $90.

Motherboard: ASRock M3A770DE $59.99
Case: Rosewill Blackbone $34.99

I've heard that MicroATX boards have heating issues. You also don't get as many expansion slots.

This post has been edited by RainbowSix: 23 August 2010 - 10:01 PM

I'm afraid that raises the price to $529.68 - $35MIR = $494.68 (compared to $480.70)

Are there any advantages to ATX over micro ATX that warrant the $14 increase?

DukeJP2010, on Aug 23 2010, 09:50 PM, said:

A micro ATX board tends to run hotter, due to the compactness of the components.
Heat kills electronics.
Also, a micro ATX board limits your options for future expandability, due to fewer expansion slots.
That's why I think an ATX board, would be a better option.

tg1911, on Aug 23 2010, 11:21 PM, said:

I looked into the negative reviews for this particular micro ATX board, and not one mentioned overheating. In fact, even the negative reviews noted that this motherboard ran cool. Considering I do not need a ton of PCI slots, I think microATX might be a good deal for me.

Are there any good deals (newegg.com combodeals or otherwise) out there that I should look at? I plan on purchasing this on thursday.

I didn't say it ran hot, I said it tends to run hotter, than a full ATX.

Chances are that you will end up doing more with your system than you originally planned.
I'm sure the MicroATX will be fine, but you may regret not getting a motherboard with extra PCI slots.

Thank you for your help so far.

Some other people who are giving me advice tell me that the OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W is a terrible PSU. Can anyone comment on it? I think the setup I have will run at about 350W, and this PSU even if it is only mediocre should be more than enough.

Any comments?

I have a Comment..

Doesnt the Radeon HD 5770 require minimum 450watt PSU? I googled it and all the links mention that.

Also, just because its rated at 550w doesnt mean it puts out 550w, add the wattage of the parts you have (GPU, CPU, RAM) for starters, and get a solid PSU that can match those requirements.

Your GPU is 450 watts and the CPU you have listed runs at 95 watts, so your looking at 545 watts allready. A PSU running at full potential all the time burns out much faster due to the constant strain. I would get a 750 watt PSU so you never reach max output and have room to grow if u ever add anything. Also look into SLI ready PSU's, being this is a gaming PC you might want to add another GPU later on.

In my opinion, building a gaming computer shouldn't be cut short with a micro atx board, gaming PC's require more power, PCI slots, and features because the games these days require it. I think you will regret using micro atx in a year or so. There will be that one game you cant live without, and it will require more GPU power then you have now, and you cant upgrade because of a smaller mobo.

EDIT>
To add to what tg1911 said, which made perfect sense by the way, the closer together electronics are operating, the greater the heat signature will be. The board might not get hot enough to be considered over heating, but as common sense dictates, the longer something runs at higher temperatures, the sooner it fails, especially in electronics...why do think so many people worry about cooling???

This post has been edited by s1lents0ul: 25 August 2010 - 08:38 AM