Current Best Value Gaming Systems [Updated 15-04-2010]

[freakdawg_]

Shawn both are 50, check it estate and MSY, both ~50

[fissure]

you building a PC freak?

[xr6_turbo]

Thats bad luck then freak

[camana]

referring to the <$700 Build. Is there need for a cooling system or you just didnt put it there because it doesnt fit in the price range? I'm a noob with PC Specs, but going over the price range for a cooling system can be considered as a good option?

[Jam0864]

referring to the <$700 Build. Is there need for a cooling system or you just didnt put it there because it doesnt fit in the price range? I'm a noob with PC Specs, but going over the price range for a cooling system can be considered as a good option?

Sufficient fans are included with the case, and of course I had to cut corners as much as possible. Aftermarket cooling is only necessary for overclockers. If you're overclocking, by all means get a s1283 for $50 or something which would allow you to overclock your CPU quite a bit. Otherwise it's a waste of money that could be used to upgrade other parts.

Since I've cut so many corners to make a build less than $700, the power supply is very weak and might not handle heavy overclocking or a graphics card faster than the one I've recommended.

[f1tzy]

i went with

AMD Phenom II X2 Dual Core 550 3.1GHz - Black Edition $138.00
Gigabyte GA-MA770-US3 AMD Mainboard - $98.00
Corsair DDR2 4GB PC-6400/800 (2x2GB) Value Select Ram (VS4GBKIT800D2) $70.40
Antec Three Hundred - Black ATX Gaming Case (No PSU) $105.60
CoolerMaster 650w Power Supply $101.00

already have CD/DVD Drive + 3 HDD's + 8800GTs

[Jam0864]

i went with

AMD Phenom II X2 Dual Core 550 3.1GHz - Black Edition $138.00
Gigabyte GA-MA770-US3 AMD Mainboard - $98.00
Corsair DDR2 4GB PC-6400/800 (2x2GB) Value Select Ram (VS4GBKIT800D2) $70.40
Antec Three Hundred - Black ATX Gaming Case (No PSU) $105.60
CoolerMaster 650w Power Supply $101.00

already have CD/DVD Drive + 3 HDD's + 8800GTs

What do you think of it?

[f1tzy]

What do you think of it?

ordered it all today, ill let you know later next week

[InternetFUG]

can the <700 build hold 100fps on all maps/situations? W/o a fps config or would you need one

[Jam0864]

can the <700 build hold 100fps on all maps/situations? W/o a fps config or would you need one

It should hold 100fps extremely well. Would drop when double scoped into lots of smoke probably, I don't have such a system to test with.

[WallybR]

So really these prices aren't accurate at all? Because im assuming pricespy is like shopbot and statice, which means most prices are excluding gst and dont include postage and some are just outdated sites....

Or am i wrong and have u added GST for those who dont have it and added a standard postage fee?

[pinto]

@kegy, i dunno anything about the AMD's, but if you were to upgrade that 700 build, to an e8400 for not TOO much more, you would hold 200fps easy lol. You could even downgrade the gfx card to a 8800/9600gt if u only play css and still hold 200

[Jam0864]

So really these prices aren't accurate at all? Because im assuming pricespy is like shopbot and statice, which means most prices are excluding gst and dont include postage and some are just outdated sites....

Or am i wrong and have u added GST for those who dont have it and added a standard postage fee?

GST is included. The prices are a bit lower than they should be because they don't count shipping charges, and most buyers will get all their parts from one store. (which will cost slightly more)

Also the prices are about a month old, and the fluctuations in the aussie dollar effect our prices.

[Jam0864]

@kegy, i dunno anything about the AMD's, but if you were to upgrade that 700 build, to an e8400 for not TOO much more, you would hold 200fps easy lol. You could even downgrade the gfx card to a 8800/9600gt if u only play css and still hold 200

The amd cpu will get as much fps as an e8400. (e8400's overclock higher though.)

[InternetFUG]

@kegy, i dunno anything about the AMD's, but if you were to upgrade that 700 build, to an e8400 for not TOO much more, you would hold 200fps easy lol. You could even downgrade the gfx card to a 8800/9600gt if u only play css and still hold 200

yeah pretty much would only be 1.6ing, sourceing and HoNing

[Jam0864]

The build should hold plenty of fps. Might even be able to get away with a 9600gt downgrade, but 9800gt's are so cheap these days so you might as well just get a 9800gt.

[mookz]

can the <700 build hold 100fps on all maps/situations? W/o a fps config or would you need one

it should hold 250+.

xyphz recently got a very similar system to the $700 and he gets 300+

[pinto]

keGy, upgrade CPU to e8400, downgrade GPU to 9600gt/8800gt or keep the 8600gt if u dont mind spending a bit of extra cash

just read some reviews, and unless they've improved the Phenom alot since the 9600 (as opposed to the 9650), then the e8400 still kills it, and has a much higher clock speed. 3ghz as opposed to 2.3ghz? or something

take note of bolded part

[Jam0864]

keGy, upgrade CPU to e8400, downgrade GPU to 9600gt/8800gt or keep the 8600gt if u dont mind spending a bit of extra cash

just read some reviews, and unless they've improved the Phenom alot since the 9600 (as opposed to the 9650), then the e8400 still kills it, and has a much higher clock speed. 3ghz as opposed to 2.3ghz? or something

take note of bolded part

...You obviously haven't been following the market.

Phenom II DOES greatly improve the original Phenom, and the clockspeed is 3.1GHz.

e8400 cost about $210, this cost $130... no difference in performance for CSS either... I know what I'd be buying...

[mookz]

...You obviously haven't been following the market.

Phenom II DOES greatly improve the original Phenom, and the clockspeed is 3.1GHz.

e8400 cost about $210, this cost $130... no difference in performance for CSS either... I know what I'd be buying...

this

[pinto]

...You obviously haven't been following the market.

Phenom II DOES greatly improve the original Phenom, and the clockspeed is 3.1GHz.

e8400 cost about $210, this cost $130... no difference in performance for CSS either... I know what I'd be buying...

why do you think i said read the bolded part lol.....i havent followed the market since only a few months after i built my mate an e8400 setup, just after they came out.

[xr6_turbo]

Prices change people...

[lerelonde]

quad core is better for modern games, dual is best for older games, like css.

[stedytc]

wut...

[`rizeN]

Does aus have the TRUE 120? If so wouldnt that perform better then that Xig cooler

[benJ[dd]]

quad core is better for modern games, dual is best for older games, like css.

2sharp son

[mookz]

Does aus have the TRUE 120? If so wouldnt that perform better then that Xig cooler

the true120 only beats the xigmatech cooler by a few degrees. it also costs $30~$50 more when you the fan and also, when it comes to that price range, the prolimatech megahelem is better.

[Jam0864]

quad core is better for modern games, dual is best for older games, like css.

Quad is only better for a selected few new games.

A quad at same clock frequency as a dual will always beat it, but if we're talking same price range then a 3.16GHz dual will smash a 2.4GHz quad in gaming.

[xr6_turbo]

Quad is pointless

Sick of repeating myself.

[f1tzy]

I based mine on the $700 build,

8800GTs 640MB
4GB RAM
MA770-US3
MD Phenom II X2 Dual Core 550

very happy with it, maintains 100fps pretty much all the time (averages 250 but i use fps_max 101) and im sure it would improve with a newer gfx card (mines 2 years old)

[Jam0864]

Good to hear!

[xr6_turbo]

Not bad fitzy...

Intel will whip the arse soon of AMD

[Jam0864]

Not bad fitzy...

Intel will whip the arse soon of AMD

AMD will always win the lower end market, always have.

[vctm]

~$1500 Build:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 (~$250)
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P (~$194)
GPU: DUAL ATI Radeon HD 4890 1GB Crossfire (~$540)
PSU: Silverstone ST75EF (~$180)
RAM: Team Dark 4GB 1066MHz CL5 (~$90)
Hard Drive: Western Digital 640GB Caviar Blk (~$95)
DVD Writer (~$40)
Case: CoolerMaster Storm Scout (~$135)

Is this pretty much still the best for it's price range?

Also, anywhere to buy a system like this prebuilt for about the same price, preferably pick up from Syd/Wollongong area?

[Jam0864]

Is this pretty much still the best for it's price range?

Also, anywhere to buy a system like this prebuilt for about the same price, preferably pick up from Syd/Wollongong area?

It should be cheaper than that, the prices are little outdated.

As for prebuilt, you'll never get it the same price, perhaps 70 dollars more.

I don't know NSW

[mookz]

Is this pretty much still the best for it's price range?

Also, anywhere to buy a system like this prebuilt for about the same price, preferably pick up from Syd/Wollongong area?

I wouldn't think so.

Instead of E8500, GB P45-UD3P and the team dark ram, you could have

i5 750, P55-UD3 and G-skill ripjaws.

[Jam0864]

I wouldn't think so.

Instead of E8500, GB P45-UD3P and the team dark ram, you could have

i5 750, P55-UD3 and G-skill ripjaws.

It's a different price range...

This system would be 1300 most likely now.

[mookz]

only about $25 difference between the the i5 items and c2d items

[turbine]

This is a more updated wiki, custom built by myself.

$650 AMD "Gaming Box":

CPU: AMD Phenom II x2 550BE $133
Motherboard: Gigabyte MA770-US3 $92
RAM: Kingston 4GB DDR2-1066 $88
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB $61
GPU: Gigabyte 512MB ATI Radeon HD4670 $86
Case & PSU: Antec NSK4480B-II w/ 380W Earthwatts PSU $115
Optical Drive: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S (24x) $59

Total: $634
.................................................. ..................................

$650 Intel "Gaming Box":

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 $152
Motherboard: Gigabyte EP41-UD3L $91
RAM: Kingston 4GB DDR2-800 $78
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB $61
GPU: Gigabyte 512MB ATI Radeon HD4670 $86
Case & PSU: Antec NSK4480B-II w/ 380W Earthwatts PSU $115
Optical Drive: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S (24x) $59

Total: $642
.................................................. ..................................

$850 "Best Bang-For-Buck Gaming Box":

CPU: AMD AM3 Phenom II x3 720BE $158
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P $115
RAM: G.Skill-NQ 4GB DDR3-1333 $112
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB $61
GPU: Powercolor 512MB ATI Radeon HD4870 $169
Case: Antec 200 $73
PSU: Vantec ION2+ 600W $83
Optical Drive: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S (24x) $59

Total: $830
.................................................. ..................................

$1,050 AMD "Gaming Box":

CPU: AMD AM3 Phenom II x4 955BE $267
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P $115
RAM: G.Skill-NQ 4GB DDR3-1333 $109
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB $104
GPU: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
Case: Antec 200 $73
PSU: Vantec ION2+ 600W $83
Optical Drive: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S (24x) $59

Total: $1,046
.................................................. ..................................

$1,150 Intel i5 (LGA1156) "Gaming Box":

CPU: Intel Core i5 750 $258
Motherboard: Gigabyte P55-UD3 $148
RAM: G.Skill-NQ 4GB DDR3-1333 $109
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB $104
GPU: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
Case: Lian Li Lancool PC-K60 $125
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 500W $103
Optical Drive: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S (24x) $59

Total: $1,142
.................................................. ..................................

$1,300 AMD "Gaming Box":
(CrossfireX "ready" for a second HD4890)

CPU: AMD AM3 Phenom II x4 955BE $267
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P $189
RAM: G.Skill-NQ 4GB DDR3-1333 $109
HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB (WD1001FALS) $126
GPU: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
Case: Lian Li Lancool PC-K62 $159
PSU: Corsair HX-620 $164
Optical Drive: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S (24x) $59

Total: $1,309
.................................................. ..................................

$1,350 Intel i7 (LGA1156) "Gaming Box":
(CrossfireX "ready" for a second HD4890)

CPU: Intel Core i5 750 $258
Motherboard: Gigabyte P55-UD4P $217
RAM: G.Skill-NQ 4GB DDR3-1333 $109
HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB (WD1001FALS) $126
GPU: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
Case: Lian Li Lancool PC-K62 $159
PSU: Corsair HX-620 $164
Optical Drive: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S (24x) $59

Total: $1,328
.................................................. ..................................

$1,600 AMD "Gaming Box":
(Highly, highly recommend holding off this build, or making do with a cheap graphics card, until ATI's HD5000 series cards go on sale in October)

CPU: AMD AM3 Phenom II x4 955BE $267
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P $253
RAM: G.Skill-NQ 4GB DDR3-1333 $109
HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB (WD1001FALS) $126
GPU1: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
GPU2: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
Case: Lian Li Lancool PC-K62 $159
PSU: Corsair HX-620 $164
Optical Drive: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S (24x) $59

Total: $1,609
.................................................. ..................................

$1,850 Intel i7 (LGA1366) "Gaming Box":
(Highly, highly recommend holding off this build, or making do with a cheap graphics card, until ATI's HD5000 series cards go on sale in October)

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 $364
Motherboard: ASUS P6T $288
RAM: Kingston 6GB DDR3-1333 $146
HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB (WD1001FALS) $126
GPU1: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
GPU2: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
Case: Lian Li Lancool PC-K62 $159
PSU: Corsair HX-620 $164
Optical Drive: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S (24x) $59
CPU HSF: Noctua NH-U12P $79

Total: $1,857
.................................................. ..................................

$2,100 AMD "Gaming Box":
(Highly, highly recommend holding off this build, or making do with a cheap graphics card, until ATI's HD5000 series cards go on sale in October)

CPU: AMD AM3 Phenom II x4 955BE $267
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P $253
RAM: G.Skill-NQ 4GB DDR3-1333 $109
SSD G.Skill Falcon 128GB SSD $425
HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB (WD1001FALS) $126
GPU1: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
GPU2: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
Case: Lian Li Lancool PC-K62 $159
PSU: Corsair HX-620 $164
Optical Drive: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S (24x) $59
CPU HSF: Noctua NH-U12P $79

Total: $2,113
.................................................. ..................................

$2,350 Intel i7 (LGA1366) "Gaming Box":
(Highly, highly recommend holding off this build, or making do with a cheap graphics card, until ATI's HD5000 series cards go on sale in October)

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 $364
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P $319
RAM: Kingston 6GB DDR3-1333 $146
SSD G.Skill Falcon 128GB SSD $425
HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB (WD1001FALS) $126
GPU1: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
GPU2: HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4890 $236
Case: Lian Li Lancool PC-K62 $159
PSU: Corsair HX-750 $219
Optical Drive: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S (24x) $59
CPU HSF: Noctua NH-U12P $79

Total: $2,368

[Jam0864]

only about $25 difference between the the i5 items and c2d items

not really, about 30-40 difference in cpu, about 30-40 in mobo and about 40-50 in ram.