Second Tier Gaming Build

The Build:

The Intel Core i3-550 3.2GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor is a great processor for the moderate gamer. It is priced fairly competitive, is highly threaded and is very versatile

The XFX Radeon HD 5770 HD-577X-ZNFC Video Cardhas been one of the top budget video cards for a while now, but thats because it rocks for its price point. Great 1920×1200 resolution in most games, and as quoted by Toms Hardware “an excellent starting point for the serious gamer”.

I find the ASRock P55 PRO/USB3 ATX Intel Motherboard a very attractive intel 1156 P55 motherboard as it does have 2 PCI Express 2.0 slots, and well a USB 3.0 port. This is very good for its $100 price tag.

In this build I included a high quality G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory, a SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5″ SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive, a SeaSonic S12II 620 Bronze 620W Power Supply, a good ASUS 24X DVD Burner – Bulk Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS, and chose the COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Computer Case.

All parts have a set of constituent products under “Budget Yielding Alternatives” that you may feel like considering if you want to go with something a little different (especially with computer cases), or better (as in a hard drive with more space, power supply with more wattage for future use, or higher quality RAM).

Required Hardware:

Processor: Intel Core i3-550 3.2GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor $130
Motherboard: ASRock P55 PRO/USB3 ATX Intel Motherboard $100
Graphics Card:
XFX Radeon HD 5770 HD-577X-ZNFC Video Card
$135
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory $50
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5″ SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $65
Power Supply Unit: SeaSonic S12II 620 Bronze 620W Power Supply $85
Optical Drive: ASUS 24X DVD Burner – Bulk Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS $19
Computer Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Computer Case $55
~SUBTOTAL (Before taxes): $633

Visual Representations:

*Note: I try to include parts that will be of best quality within a given bracket, so if you notice a hardware part that may be of greater value within the same price bracket as any of these hardware parts do not hesitate to notify me. I’m always looking to improve, so any critic is welcomed.

Budget Yielding Alternatives:

Processor: none
Motherboard: Intel BOXDP55WB Micro ATX Intel MotherboardGIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel MotherboardASUS P7P55D-E Pro ATX Intel MotherboardEVGA 160-LF-E659-KR Classified 200 SLI Extended ATX Intel Motherboard

 

Graphics Card: XFX Radeon HD 4670 HD-467X-ZDF2 Video CardSAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4650 100253HDMI Video CardGIGABYTE Radeon HD 5670 GV-R567D3-1GI Video CardGIGABYTE GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) GV-N450-1GI Video Card

XFX Radeon HD 5770 HD-577X-ZNFC Video Card

HIS Radeon HD 6850 H685F1GD Video Card with Eyefinity

EVGA GeForce GTX 460 SE (Fermi) 01G-P3-1366-TR Video Card

HIS Radeon HD 6870 H687F1G2M Video Card with Eyefinity

XFX Radeon HD 5870 HD-587X-ZNFC Video Card with Eyefinity

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6950 100312-1GSR Video Card

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) GV-N560OC-1GI Video Card

ASUS GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) ENGTX570 DCII/2DIS/1280MD5 Video Card

HIS Radeon HD 6970 H697F2G2M Video Card with Eyefinity

EVGA GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 015-P3-1580-AR Video Card

RAM:

*Note: When purhcasing RAM in quantities of 2+ memory sticks, remember to check how many 240 pin memory slots are available on the memory board you are purchasing
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop MemoryG.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
Hard Drive:

Internal Hard Drive:

SAMSUNG EcoGreen F2 1.5TB 3.5″ SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 2TB 3.5″ SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Internal Solid State Drive:

OCZ Agility 2 OCZSSD2-2AGTE60G 2.5″ MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE120G 2.5″ MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe MKNSSDCL240GB-DX 2.5″ MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Power Supply Unit: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active …COOLER MASTER Silent Pro Gold Series RS800-80GAD3-US 800W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS …SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Optical Drive:

Blu-ray Optical Drives:

LITE-ON Black 4X Blu-ray Reader SATA Model iHOS104-06

LG Black 10X Blu-ray Burner – Bulk SATA WH10LS30 LightScribe Support

Computer Case:

Quality Cases Around $50:

ENERMAX Staray ECA3171-BR-AP Black Computer Case – Retail”>ENERMAX Staray ECA3171-BR-AP Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with 3 Apollish Red LED Fan and Mesh Front

NZXT GAMMA Classic Series GAMA-001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

SILVERSTONE Precision Series PS05-B Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Tool-less Installation Design Computer Case”>SILVERSTONE Precision Series PS05-B Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Tool-less Installation Design Computer Case

NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Computer Case

NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Computer Case

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Blue RC-932-KKN3-GP Black Computer Case With Side Panel Window

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Computer Case With Side Panel Window

10548681.gif.png01_amazon-dot-com1.jpgimage-4138006-10438580.gif

For prices in Canadian please visit:

image-4138006-10606700.jpg
01_amazon-dot-com2.jpgca

 

 

Comments 0

  1. It’s crazy seeing how parts are changing everyday. I also put together computer builds for my website and I recently wrote an article describing a $600 build and comparing your $600 build with mine really says a lot about the advancement of computer parts and how prices are lowering everyday. It’s quite a phenomenon that really helps with us budget builders. Good article though.

    1. Post
      Author

      Thanks Budget Builder! I checked your build out and I would reccomend it. I need to do a refresh on most of my builds, and this only further proves that 😛

  2. Pingback: The $530 Second Tier Gaming Build Now $510 – With Upgrades! « NewbComputerBuild

  3. Pingback: $530: Second Tier Gaming Build « NewbComputerBuild

Leave a Reply