Budget Gaming Computer - Prebuilt or build?

[autiger90]

So I came across this computer at Newegg ...

Newegg.com - CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme 1314 Desktop PC Intel Core i5 2500K(3.30GHz) 8GB DDR3 1TB HDD Capacity AMD Radeon HD 6670 Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

I'm thinking that I would be hardpressed to find something better for the price. I looked at Cyberpower's site and something comparable is more expensive.

The idea of building a comp from the ground up is intriguing but I've never done that and am really scared that I would screw that up lol.

My gaming is not bleeding edge or anything - just WoW and the occasional 1st person shooter. My existing comp is like 5 years old (still using Win XP).

So would this be a decent choice? I'm open to suggestions, but I don't want to go much over $700. Thanks much for any help.

 

[Fat.Clown]

if you played with legos, you can build it yourself

the cyberpower you linked is decent for WoW.

 

[jasonalwaysready]

i wouldnt say that the 6670 is a 'gaming' card, but it should be adequate for wow until you want to upgrade.

 

[autiger90]

So I decided to poke around newegg and see if I could come up with a better system for close to the same price as the prebuily one. Here's what I came up with (around $750).

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX combined with MSI 890GXM-G65 AM3 AMD 890GX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL


COOLER MASTER GX Series RS650-ACAAE3-US 650W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply


Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive


ASUS 24X DVD Burner

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM

So how did I do? Any input is greatly appreciated as far as compatibility issues or better deals. Also did I forget anything?

For someone who has never done this before how hard is it to put one together? What would be the best resource for step by step instructions?

Thanks for any help.

 

[jasonalwaysready]

i dont have any experience with msi boards, but it seems asus and gigabyte lead the way. watch that it is a micro atx board, which could mean tighter or not so great fits if you have larger components to stick into it.

you may want a 3rd party HSF instead of the stock amd cooler.

youre really best to stick with corsair and antec for power supplies as a general rule. a few more dollars, but a much better product: Newegg.com - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

as a personal preference, and more so if you plan on periodically upgrading, get a nice case that will hold stuff solid, wont cut your hands open and will allow for some good cable management. maybe that case is fine, but my experience with rosewill cases is not great.

 

[cp0020]

I have the rosewill Challenger case with a corsair 650w power supply and it is a great case for air flow and cable management. There are literally no sharp edges and the case is really well built. I'll take some pics of my build now and upload em so you can are what you think. And I have the same processor with the stock hsf so I'll take pics of the temps too.




edit. ok, these are not the best pics. and i am using my old IDE dvd burner so i have that big IDE cable and i dont have a modular power supply so if you got a modular PSU and a sata dvd burner than your's will be alot better cable management.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/img20110713201451.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/img20110713201929.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/832/img20110729115130.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/img20110729115202.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/854/img20110729115214.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/41/img20110729115241.jpg/


core temp- http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/coretempscrn.png/



edit again... bah! yes thats my pink hello kitty mouse... mine broke so i borrowed that one lol dont judge me


yet another edit. this is the motherboard i have in it-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138283

 

[autiger90]

Thanks much for the feedback and pics cp.

 

[cp0020]

hey no problem, hope i helped also. that was the 1st and only computer i have built. built it about a month ago. believe me when i say i was so scared of putting it together myself. but after watching alot of youtube it really wasnt that bad. i honestly felt stupid for worrying after it was all done.

 

[Slaymate]

Here a guide to building a pc, it will help

The animated guide to Building a PC. Learn to build a PC from scratch with PCitYourself!

 

[Fat.Clown]

I'd strongly suggest you replace the power supply with one of the following. (i picked ones with similar price to the CM GX)

OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom

CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-520 520W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply



Otherwise everything else looks fine. The video card you picked out, HD 6870 is 2 times, if not 3 times, better for gaming than the pre-built.