Gaming PC: Current best value systems for the price - UPDATED 20/7/2008

[elmo]

Okay, lately there has been a high influx of people posting threads asking for help and recommendations regarding parts for their new PC - so I figured I'd create a thread with my recommended systems at each of the major price points consisting of the best price/performance specifications possible at the given point in time.

The prices are a rough average estimate based on the first few results for each component from staticice.com.au - they don't include shipping.

If you have any questions, concerns or have spotted an error with what I have listed here, please drop me a PM.

I will try and keep this thread updated as often as possible as the technology and prices change.

Updated: 20/7/2008

~$750 Build:

CPU: Intel Core2Duo E8200 (~$182)
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L (~$107)
GPU: NVidia 8800GT 512mb (Any brand) (~$187)
RAM: 2GB Kingston PC-5300 667MHz DDR2 (~$48)
Hard Drive: Western Digital 500gb SATAII (~$90)
PSU: Coolermaster eXtreme 430w PCAR/PCAP (NOT PMSR) (~$55)
DVD Writer (~$27)
Case: Coolermaster Centurion 5 (~$65)

TOTAL: ~$761



~$1000 Build:

CPU: Intel Core2Duo E8400/Intel Xeon E3110 (~$207)
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L (~$107)
GPU: ATi HD4870 512mb (Any brand) (~$325)
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 500w (~$97)
RAM: 2GB Kingston PC-6400 800MHz DDR2 (~$55)
Hard Drive: Western Digital 500gb SATAII (~$90)
DVD Writer (~$27)
Case: Coolermaster CM690 (~$95)

TOTAL: ~$1003



~$1250 Build:

CPU: Intel Core2Duo E8400/Intel Xeon E3110 (~$209)
MOBO: Asus P5E (x38, NOT G35) (~$214)
GPU: ATi HD4850 512mb Crossfire (Any brand) (~$428) (based on each card being ~$214 each)
PSU: Corsair HX-620 620w Modular PSU (~$140)
RAM: 2GB Geil Ultra PC-6400 800MHz 4-4-4-12 DDR2 (~$80)
Hard Drive: Samsung 750gb SATAII (~$99)
DVD Writer (~$27)
Case: Coolermaster CM690 (~$95)

TOTAL: ~$1292



~$1500 Build:

CPU: Intel Core2Duo E8400/Intel Xeon E3110 (~$209)
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3P (~$152)
GPU: Nvidia 280GTX 1gb (Any brand) (~$580)
PSU: Thermaltake ToughPower 750w (~$200)
RAM: 2GB Geil Ultra PC-6400 800MHz 4-4-4-12 DDR2 (~$80)
Hard Drive: Samsung 750gb SATAII (~$99)
DVD Writer (~$27)
Case: Coolermaster CM690 (~$95)

TOTAL: ~$1442



~$1750 Build:

None - stick with the $1500 system.

[fUtz]

Nice post

Now go back to my thread!

[Pinto]

Originally Posted by elmo

~$750 Build:

CPU: Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160 (~$98)
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L (~$120)
GPU: ATi x1950pro 256mb PCI-E (Any brand) (~$140)
PSU: 430W Coolermaster eXtreme (~$60)
RAM: 2gb Kingston 667mhz DDR2 (~$50)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 320gb SATAII (~$96)
Aftermarket CPU cooling: Thermalright Ultima 90 + 120mm Fan (~$75)
DVD Burner (~$35)
Case: Coolermaster CM690 (~95)

TOTAL: ~$769

Refer to my sig, alost the same pc, with a few exceptions

[saba]

great write up, hopefully everyone visiting this forum will read this first

[Faded.]

good thread elmo, hopefully this will help alot of people

[studiosoundguy]

Stickied for Reference for New Users wishing to build a Computer.

This should fix those "What PC for X amount of $ threads"

-Shawn

[xRtizzle!]

Nice thread elmo.

[elmo]

Cheers guys, hope it helps

[jth]

I don't mean to sound rude but why not just link to the ocau wiki article?

[elmo]

Originally Posted by jth

I don't mean to sound rude but why not just link to the ocau wiki article?

Because for the most part their systems are completely different, rarely updated and barely take into consideration overclocking - I just personally believe you can get better price/performance than what they have listed there.

[shirasE_]

OCAU don't take into consideration overclocking?

[elmo]

Originally Posted by shirasE_

OCAU don't take into consideration overclocking?

zzzZZZzzz we could argue all day, if your that desperate though you can go and check out their wiki article and make comparisons with what I've come up with and you'll see what I mean.

Just a quick example, their $750/$1000 Intel systems don't even include an aftermarket cooler - my $750 recommendation was centered around getting the E2160 stable @ ~3ghz, including a very decent graphics card and still staying at the approx budget.

No need to be a smartass about it.

[jth]

You will find only a small percentage of users overclock though.

[ShiFTy]

Originally Posted by jth

You will find only a small percentage of users are computer illiterate

Fixed

[studiosoundguy]

A large percentage will overclock if it is simple for them

Which these days it usually is.

-Shawn

[shirasE_]

Originally Posted by elmo

zzzZZZzzz we could argue all day, if your that desperate though you can go and check out their wiki article and make comparisons with what I've come up with and you'll see what I mean.

Just a quick example, their $750/$1000 Intel systems don't even include an aftermarket cooler - my $750 recommendation was centered around getting the E2160 stable @ ~3ghz, including a very decent graphics card and still staying at the approx budget.

No need to be a smartass about it.

Wow relax I just found it amusing because OCAU = Overclockers Australia, settle petal.

[jth]

Originally Posted by studiosoundguy

A large percentage will overclock if it is simple for them

Which these days it usually is.

-Shawn

You're demographic must differ to mine then.

[studiosoundguy]

It does.

Its 2008 and people are more than ever getting into the overclocking sector

-Shawn