PC Gaming Rig Question

[DriftMastrClass]

Can you build a rig comparable to current game systems for a similar price? Like about 400 dollars or so. I was thinking of converting to PC when the next gen systems arrive.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

How about this build?

Thermaltake V4 Black Edition Gaming Chassis Mid Tower Steel Computer Case Fully Black Powdered Interior VM30001W2Z - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133179

HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145299

BIOSTAR TA870U3+ AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard - $84
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138303

HIS H667FS1G Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161386

HIS Gift - DIRT3 Game Redemption Coupon - $0

Patriot 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model PSD34G1333K - $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220537

Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power ... - $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034

AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX445WFGMBOX - $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103872

HDD prices ar high right now because the Seagate and Western Digital factories got destructed because of the floods in Thailand. You can unlock the 4th core on the CPU.

Total: $424, not including shipping.

 

[nick09]

Well for $400 I'd suggest a AMD APU system. You can get the A8 CPU and then crossfire it with a HD 6670.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

The A8 is too expensive for this build if you want to put a 6670 with it, Nick. For the same price, you can get a 6770.

 

[tlowr4]

Hmm. Well it depends how high end you want to go. If you're talking i5 or i7, 8GB of RAM, etc etc, you'll have bucklies getting that for $400. It depends if you know some people. I know people and could proberbly get teh parts for $650 ish, bare minimum. If you're talking, Dual Core processor, 4GB of RAM, cheaper lower end parts, I sell those sorts of systems for only $150 - $250, so I'm sure there'd be high availability for them (not new, second hand parts, but put together and certified)

Also:

... I was thinking of converting to PC when the next gen systems arive.

I sure as hell hope you don't mean Windows 8. I wouldn't go near that if I were you. Firstly it's too major of a overhaul, secondly they're pinching Apple's ideas and will probably get sued. Thirdly, Microsoft has a pattern with their OS's. Good, rubbish, good, rubbish. I'll find the picture that explains it all.

EDIT: Image is here (mild course language used within the image, viewer discretion is advised): http://www.globalnerdy.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/windows-good-and-****.jpg

EDIT 2: Due to GTP's censorship program, I cannot post the link as it stands. Might I suggest, if you wish to view it, to change the '****' with a word that sounds like 'hit' and starts with 's'. Once again, viewer discretion is advised as mild course language is used within the image.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

Hmm. Well it depends how high end you want to go. If you're talking i5 or i7, 8GB of RAM, etc etc, you'll have bucklies getting that for $400. It depends if you know some people. I know people and could proberbly get teh parts for $650 ish, bare minimum. If you're talking, Dual Core processor, 4GB of RAM, cheaper lower end parts, I sell those sorts of systems for only $150 - $250, so I'm sure there'd be high availability for them (not new, second hand parts, but put together and certified)

Also:

I sure as hell hope you don't mean Windows 8. I wouldn't go near that if I were you. Firstly it's too major of a overhaul, secondly they're pinching Apple's ideas and will probably get sued. Thirdly, Microsoft has a pattern with their OS's. Good, rubbish, good, rubbish. I'll find the picture that explains it all.

EDIT: Image is here (mild course language used within the image, viewer discretion is advised): http://www.globalnerdy.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/windows-good-and-****.jpg

EDIT 2: Due to GTP's censorship program, I cannot post the link as it stands. Might I suggest, if you wish to view it, to change the '****' with a word that sounds like 'hit' and starts with 's'. Once again, viewer discretion is advised as mild course language is used within the image.

I doubt you can find a PC that cheap that can beat a console at playing games.

I think what he meant by next gen systems were gaming Consoles.

 

[nick09]

Yes he was thinking of a computer system that is comparable to current game consoles for $400 or so. Hardware has progressed a lot since then.

 

[DriftMastrClass]

Yeah, to clarify I meant I would get a PC now instead of a console later.

 

[bevo]

No, you can't come close to 400$ to get a pc that is going to be as good as the next gen of consoles. It would be closer to 1000$ at a minimum.

It would be really hard to build one for 400$ taht would compete with this gen of consoles.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

This generation of consoles isn't that hard to beat anymore. A 5770/6770 should provide graphics above current consoles. The hardest thing about budget computers now are the HDD prices.

 

[12thgear]

HD prices have spiked sharply since the Thai floods.

 

[DriftMastrClass]

I can get a hard drive for like $38/500GB at my local CeX here in Philadelphia.

(used)

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

HD prices have spiked sharply since the Thai floods.

Thanks for stating the already stated. I think the build I provided should match or even excel the current consoles performance. I doubt you can even get a hold of a video card that can match the performance of the next-gen consoles though. Maybe a 6970 that's been overclocked, and an i7/i5.

And if you're going to get a used hard drive, check its SMART status. I got a used hard drive from my father's workplace, its serving me quite well.

 

[Bigbazz]

It doesnt take a lot to get a system that will outperform a PS3, my previous system would be 5 year old and was capable of it. You have to take into account that the consoles run low resolutions, low res textures, crushed blacks and jaggy shadows, every trick in the book to try to fool their way into decent graphics without causing the consoles to cry.

On the PC resolution expectations are higher, but if you run low-medium settings and don't go overboard you will get better graphics and a sharper picture even with a slower computer (like the above).

If anything, you want to be able to juggle things around to get the most graphics card beef, for multiplatform games (BF3 for example) processor is not very important, infact tests show that in BF3 it makes absolutely no difference at all, probably because the game was optimised to run on the consoles.


Graphics card is most important.

 

[12thgear]

Thanks for stating the already stated. overclocked, and an i7/i5.

I did read through the thread but I missed that one portion of your post. Sorry.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

I did read through the thread but I missed that one portion of your post. Sorry. No need to be snippy about it.

Sorry about that... I was in a pissy mood from another thread in this section. My apologies, sir.

 

[12thgear]

I shouldn't have called you out either. I've seen plenty of your posts and know you're on the up and up. 👍

 

[tlowr4]

It doesnt take a lot to get a system that will outperform a PS3, my previous system would be 5 year old and was capable of it. You have to take into account that the consoles run low resolutions, low res textures, crushed blacks and jaggy shadows, every trick in the book to try to fool their way into decent graphics without causing the consoles to cry.

On the PC resolution expectations are higher, but if you run low-medium settings and don't go overboard you will get better graphics and a sharper picture even with a slower computer (like the above).

If anything, you want to be able to juggle things around to get the most graphics card beef, for multiplatform games (BF3 for example) processor is not very important, infact tests show that in BF3 it makes absolutely no difference at all, probably because the game was optimised to run on the consoles.


Graphics card is most important.

Don't worry, we're past the Nintendo 64 now.

 

[Bigbazz]

Don't worry, we're past the Nintendo 64 now.