Need help with gaming build

[Kyle Daigle]

Hey everybody!

I found your forum here and wanted to ask for some help. I read the FAQ about gaming builds but wasn't entirely sure which one I should go with. I haven't built myself a real gaming PC in probably... 8 or 9 years at this point. The last one I built was a mess. I still use it today and it's seriously showing it's age at this point.

I play mainly MMO-type games with the occasional FPS. Mainly things like Diablo 3, SWTOR, Guild Wars 2, etc.

I have a 24" 1920x1200 monitor I still use. Otherwise, my current PC, I don't think there is much of anything I can salvage (I made some poor CPU and motherboard choices so I couldn't really find much to upgrade from my current box).

Because I mainly use my PC for gaming only (but I'm not a really avid PC gamer) I'm looking for something that can let me play games with friends online but doesn't need to be playing on UTRA high. I would like something though that I could pick up just about any game and play it at at least medium settings. Right now, even Diablo three I basically have to turn everything off and set things to low.

Budget wise, I'd love it if I could keep it around $500 USD. I could do $700 USB if there is a really compelling reason. I can afford more, I just don't want to sink too much money into this since I don't use it too much (but then again, right now, all the games I play on it chugg so maybe that's why I don't play it).

I intend to buy everything I can from NewEgg.

Thanks!

[BigDavy]

If you're on a tight budget, I'd opt for an AMD Llano-based platform. The integrated GPU on the CPU die beats Sandy Bridge when it comes to gaming, and it can be paired up with a modest discreet card such as the Radeon 6670 in CrossFire mode (roughly on-par with a GeForce GTX 460).

I have a Llano-based laptop (HP Pavilion G6-1220SA), and it plays Mass Effect 3 at the laptop's native resolution at reasonable framerates.

[Arceles]

If you're on a tight budget, I'd opt for an AMD Llano-based platform. The integrated GPU on the CPU die beats Sandy Bridge when it comes to gaming, and it can be paired up with a modest discreet card such as the Radeon 6670 in CrossFire mode (roughly on-par with a GeForce GTX 460).

I have a Llano-based laptop (HP Pavilion G6-1220SA), and it plays Mass Effect 3 at the laptop's native resolution at reasonable framerates.

I also confirm the same, also llano processors can be overclocked, see my sig, there is no game that I haven't been able to play. Always go for quad core.

[BigDavy]

I also confirm the same, also llano processors can be overclocked, see my sig, there is no game that I haven't been able to play. Always go for quad core.

Absolutely agree there - the higher-end Llano CPUs also have the better GPUs (my A8-3500M CPU includes a Radeon 6620g built-in). Most games run perfectly at 720p, including Skyrim!

[TEX4S]

I also confirm the same, also llano processors can be overclocked, see my sig, there is no game that I haven't been able to play. Always go for quad core.

You have someone who hasnt done it in years -- has no idea what to do - and you mention the merits ofbuying a CPU thats good with OCing ? :rolleyes:

[Arceles]

You have someone who hasnt done it in years -- has no idea what to do - and you mention the merits ofbuying a CPU thats good with OCing ? :rolleyes:

That's just in case and anyway... the processor works great by itself.

[Wakers]

Avoid AMD. Yes, it's good for budget builds, but if you have $500 dollars there's no need to handicap yourself with AMD. That pains me to say, as for years and years I was thrilled with the value for money they offered.

You can go something like i3 processor, ATI6850, 4GB DDR3 (8 if you have cash left over) a Cooler Master or Antec 500W(ish) PSU and a H67 Motherboard (socket 1155) and be good. If you can keep the case of your old machine, even better - but that means you will need some new screws, if you're anything like me!

Keep the drives from your current computer. If you want a new hard drive, get a Caviar Black, 500GB should be enough unless you have massive media libraries.

Go to pcpartpicker.com and play around.

[Kyle Daigle]

Wakers, thanks so much!

Yeah, I think I OC'd my current computer but it was after walking through a ton of tutorials and still didn't get much out of it.

I'll go through and price out your suggestion and drop the results in here. I can definitely keep the drive and case until I upgrade those most likely. Short of putting all the pieces together though, I'm pretty much a noob here.

[Kyle Daigle]

Alright, what do you all think of this? Let me know if you have any specific model suggestions.

Buying this:

Intel BOXDH67BLB3 LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity ...

Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I32100

Total: $401.96

Using my existing:

Thermaltake TR2 W0379RU 500W ATX 12V v2.2 Power Supply

Rosewill Wind Ryder RZLS142A-P YE Dual 120mm Cooling Fans and Mesh Design Front Panel Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

[Kyle Daigle]

Maybe a few changes?

Intel Core i5-2310 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz (3.2GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 ...

ASUS P8H67-M PRO/CSM (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

[Wakers]

If the i5s fit in your budget, that's super - but you might as well get the Ivy bridge as they're pretty much at the same price point. See if the i5 - 3450 fits in your budget.

[Open Minded]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116506

I would get this CPU instead. It's slightly faster and uses 77 watts (at load) instead of 95 watts like Sandy Bridge.