Sample Builds - 1/9/09 - Overclock.net

Mr. Mojo · 01-10-09

This is a companion to my guide: How To Build Your Own Computer. It is, of course, impossible for anyone to list all the possible builds. This is only meant to provide examples of possible build configurations for different price categories.

Ultra Budget

Build 1: AMD CPU with ATI Integrated Graphics

Motherboard - MSI K9A2GM-F - $52.99
CPU - Sempron 64 3400+ Skt AM2 - $19.99
RAM - Kingston ValueRAM 512 DDR2-667 - $6.49
HDD - Seagate Barracuda 80 gig SATA 2 - $34.99
Optical - Lite-On DVD Burner - $20.99
Case - Rosewill Mid Tower - $19.99
PSU - Antec Basiq 350 - $19.99
Monitor - Hanns G 17" LCD - $119.99
Keyboard/Mouse - Logitech combo - $12.99
OS - Ubuntu 8.10 - Free
Total Cost - $308.41 plus shipping

Build 2: Intel CPU with Nvidia Integrated Graphics

Motherboard - Foxconn M7VMX-K - $44.99
CPU - Celeron 430 Conroe-L - $39.99
RAM - Kingston ValueRAM 512 DDR2-667 - $6.49
HDD - Seagate Barracuda 80 gig SATA 2 - $34.99
Optical - Lite-On DVD Burner - $20.99
Case - Rosewill Mid Tower - $19.99
PSU - Antec Basiq 350 - $19.99
Monitor - Hanns G 17" LCD - $119.99
Keyboard/Mouse - Logitech combo - $12.99
OS - Ubuntu 8.10 - Free
Total Cost - $320.41 plus shipping

As I said in my guide, these builds are only really useful for basic web surfing and email checking. The single core CPU's, small amount of RAM, and on-board graphics will render these systems unable to play even basic 3D games, and Vista will not be an option. For a few dollars more you could add in a cheap PCIe graphics card such as this or this, and you could easily add 2 gigs of RAM fairly cheap as well. The addition of a discrete GPU and more RAM will enable you to run Vista and play some 3D games, but the single core CPU will still be a potential problem.

General Use

Build 1: AMD CPU with ATI Graphics

Motherboard - Biostar TForce TA780G - $73.99
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 x2 5000 - $52.99
RAM - OCZ 2x1 gig DDR2-800 - $22.99
GPU - Sapphire Radeon HD4650 - $63.99
HDD - WD Caviar SE 250 gig SATA 2 - $49.99
Optical - Lite-On DVD Burner - $20.99
Case - Antec 300 - $47.99
PSU - Thermaltake TR2 430 Watt - $40.99
Monitor - Acer 20" LCD - $149.99
Speakers - Logitech S-220 2.1 - $22.99
Keyboard/Mouse - Microsoft combo - $16.99
OS - Vista Home Premium x64 - $99.99
Total Cost - $663.88 plus shipping

Build 2: Intel CPU with Nvidia Graphics

Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-P31-ES3G - $64.99
CPU - Intel Celeron e1200 - $47.99
RAM - OCZ 2x1 gig DDR2-800 - $22.99
GPU - eVGA 8600GT - $59.99
HDD - WD Caviar SE 250 gig SATA 2 - $49.99
Optical - Lite-On DVD Burner - $20.99
Case - Antec 300 - $47.99
PSU - Thermaltake TR2 430 Watt - $40.99
Monitor - Acer 20" LCD - $149.99
Speakers - Logitech S-220 2.1 - $22.99
Keyboard/Mouse - Microsoft combo - $16.99
OS - Vista Home Premium x64 - $99.99
Total Cost - $645.88 plus shipping

These builds are suitable for family use, office work, and light to moderate gaming. These builds have some overclock potential, and I chose the 64 bit version of Vista to make upgrading the RAM to 4 gigs easier if you decide to do so later. The stock cooling on the CPU's will hamper overclocking, and the modest graphics cards and 2 gigs of RAM will be a problem for some of the newer games.

Budget Gamer 1 - Moderate but Powerful

Build 1: AMD CPU with ATI Graphics

Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H - $94.99
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 x2 6000 - $72.99
RAM - G.Skill 2x2 gig DDR2-800 - $39.99
CPU Cooler - Xigmatek HDT-S1238 - $36.99
GPU - Sapphire Radeon HD4850 - $149.99
HDD - WD Caviar SE16 320 gig SATA 2 - $54.99
Optical -Samsung SATA DVD Burner with Lightscribe - $22.99
Case - Antec 900 - $99.99
PSU - OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt - $84.99
Monitor - Samsung 22" LCD - $219.99
Speakers - Logitech x-540 5.1 - $78.99
Keyboard - Saitek Eclipse - $34.99
Mouse - Logitech MX518 - $39.99
OS - Vista Home Premium x64 - $99.99
Total Cost - $1131.86 plus shipping

Build 2: Intel CPU with Nvidia Graphics

Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3L - $99.99
CPU - Intel e5200 - $83.99
RAM - G.Skill 2x2 gig DDR2-800 - $39.99
CPU Cooler - Xigmatek HDT-S1238 - $36.99
GPU - eVGA 9800GTX - $159.99
HDD - WD Caviar SE16 320 gig SATA 2 - $54.99
Optical -Samsung SATA DVD Burner with Lightscribe - $22.99
Case - Antec 900 - $99.99
PSU - OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt - $84.99
Monitor - Samsung 22" LCD - $219.99
Speakers - Logitech x-540 5.1 - $78.99
Keyboard - Saitek Eclipse - $34.99
Mouse - Logitech MX518 - $39.99
OS - Vista Home Premium x64 - $99.99
Total Cost - $1157.86 plus shipping

These builds are probably similar to most of the ones you'll see here on OCN. They are workhorses without being too over-the-top, and they are very capable machines. A build like this should be capable of running every game except Crysis with sufficient eye candy. These builds are both overclock friendly, and have room for upgrades when/if necessary. These components represent some of the best bang-for-the-buck parts on the market today.

Budget Gamer 2 - High End of the Spectrum

Build 1: AMD CPU with ATI Graphics

Motherboard - DFI Lanparty DK 790FX-M2RS - $139.99
CPU - AMD Phenom 9600 - $109.99
RAM - G.Skill 2x2 gig DDR2-1066 - $54.99
CPU Cooler - Xigmatek HDT-S1238 - $36.99
GPU - Sapphire Radeon HD4870 512 - $199.99
Sound - X-Fi XtremeGamer - $90.99
HDD1 - Seagate Barracuda ES.2 250 gig - $74.99
HDD2 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 750 gig - $79.99
Optical -Samsung SATA DVD Burner with Lightscribe - $22.99
Case - Antec 900 - $99.99
PSU - Corsair 650 Watt - $99.99
Monitor - Samsung 22" LCD - $219.99
Speakers - Logitech x-540 5.1 - $78.99
Keyboard - Saitek Eclipse - $34.99
Mouse - Logitech MX518 - $39.99
OS - Vista Home Premium x64 - $99.99
Total Cost - $1484.84 plus shipping

Build 2: Intel CPU with Nvidia Graphics

Motherboard - Asus P5N-D - $134.99
CPU - Intel C2Q 6600 - $189.99
RAM - G.Skill 2x2 gig DDR2-1066 - $54.99
GPU - eVGA GTX 260 core 216 - $259.99
Sound - X-Fi XtremeGamer - $90.99
HDD1 - Seagate Barracuda ES.2 250 gig - $74.99
HDD2 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 750 gig - $79.99
Optical -Samsung SATA DVD Burner with Lightscribe - $22.99
Case - Antec 900 - $99.99
PSU - Corsair 650 Watt - $99.99
Monitor - Samsung 22" LCD - $219.99
Speakers - Logitech x-540 5.1 - $78.99
Keyboard - Saitek Eclipse - $34.99
Mouse - Logitech MX518 - $39.99
OS - Vista Home Premium x64 - $99.99
Total Cost - $1582.85 plus shipping

The systems listed here are only considered "budget" in the sense that they do not use the absolute newest/fastest/most expensive parts on the market. These are both high end builds and would be overkill for any but the most extreme gamer. SLI/Crossfire are options (with maybe a beefier PSU), RAID0 is no problem, and you would be insulting these components if you didn't overclock them to the limit. For a more modest budget, you could shrink or even eliminate the second HDD, pick a smaller GPU, drop down to a dual/triple core CPU, use on-board sound, or go with a basic KB and mouse or 2.1 speakers.

High End Gamer

If you're in the market for a high end gaming build, you obviously already know what you're looking for so I'll leave you to it

jasoncho92 · 01-10-09

That budget gamer rig is a little overkill isnt it lol. A 4870 isnt exactly what one would get on a low budget

Mr. Mojo · 01-10-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasoncho92

That budget gamer rig is a little overkill isnt it lol. A 4870 isnt exactly what one would get on a low budget

Yeah, that's what I said in the post

They are only budget in the sense that they don't use x2 graphics, or i7 or Phenom 2 CPU's.

Tainok · 01-10-09

You should rename budget to 'mid-end'. You can build a budget system that can play everything except GTA4 for a LOT less than that. Like 1/4th.

metaverse · 01-10-09

great idea

kazakia · 01-10-09

watch the links go obsolete the second Newegg changes Prices/Rebates and Shipping ;P

Mr. Mojo · 01-10-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by kazakia

watch the links go obsolete the second Newegg changes Prices/Rebates and Shipping ;P

Yep, that's why I put a date in the title. I know someone will come along 2 years from now and bump this for some reason

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Sample Builds - 1/9/09

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