gaming rig build

[funkywaggnelz]

Well I am looking to be building a new gaming rig in the next couple of months. When I return from my study abroad, I plan on selling my laptop and using the money for a gaming computer/multimedia desktop. Only problem is is that it has been quite a bit of time since I have researched this stuff and I am a little behind on the times. Another problem being the limitedness of my budget. Would it be a lot cheaper to go with an AMD machine? Could I get similar performance with an AMD as compared to a core 2 with a significant price difference at this point? Note that I would not be overclocking at all.

 

[maroon1]

Even if you don't overclock, you can still get an inexpensive and a fast processor from Intel like E7200

 

[NightSurge]

The AMD route would almost guaranteed be less expensive. You could get by pretty easily with an Athlon 64 X2 5000+ and an HD4850.

 

[funkywaggnelz]

as for a level of performance I am aiming for. Something that could play like assassins creed at relatively high settings. i've been researching around and i have some ideas now, but i'll post them later.

 

[maroon1]

Here is my suggestion

CPU:
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Wolfdale 2.53GHz 3MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors

RAM:
Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Motherboard
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

or
Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TForce TP43D2A7 LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Video card
Newegg.com - MSI N9600GT 512M GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

PSU
Newegg.com - Rosewill RP550-2 ATX12V v2.01 550W Power Supply 115/230 V CSA,UL,TUV, FCC - Power Supplies

DVD burner
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners

Hard drive
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500AAJS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives


You can also save more money by getting this P31 motherboard or 8800GT 256MB

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P31-S3G LGA 775 Intel P31 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-NX88T256HV1 GeForce 8800 GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

 

[NightSurge]

Or you could save $150 and get this:

CPU:
Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Brisbane 2.7GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors

Motherboard:
Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TFORCE TA780G M2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121251

That will still score you good performance in games like Assassins Creed and the like. The other recommendations, such as power supply and ram, that Maroon1 made are great choices.

 

[veg1992]

That board is really good, I have it...

and since he saved $150 on that AMD Build, he could step up to a better GPU (like a HD 4850) in which even though the Intel has the better CPU that is more overclockable, the AMD one would be better in games because of the overall better GPU

Newegg.com - MSI R4850-T2D512 Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Comes with the Witcher as well

 

[maroon1]

Or you could save $150 and get this:

CPU:
Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Brisbane 2.7GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors

Motherboard:
Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TFORCE TA780G M2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

GPU:
Newegg.com - ASUS EN9600GSO TOP/HTDP/384M GeForce 9600 GSO 384MB 192-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Sorry, but can you please tell me from where did you get "$150" ?

CPU: E7200 is $53 more expensive than the CPU you suggested

Motherboard: EP35-DS3L is $10 cheaper than the motherboard you suggested

GPU: 9600GT is $30 more expensive than 9600GSO you suggested (after MIR)

Total saving: $93, not $150

And total saving without counting the GPU is only $63 (he could get the GPU you suggested)

I don't think $63 is a big difference.

Moreover, he could also get GA-P31-S3G instead of EP35-DS3L motherboard and thats would lower the price of the build I suggested by $25