Attention Low-End/Midrange Gaming System Builders

[Blue_Max]

I've done a LOT with only $500... not everyone just can't live without a Titan.

If you've got ANY parts to reuse, it can make all the difference.

Some great suggestions have already been made, and I'd only be duplicating their efforts. Keep up the fine work, lads!

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Thanks for the build, monkeydelmagico! I'm using your G3258 bundle. There's only one significant problem I see with that build:
To HEC with that!

Credit to CBN for posting it in the deal section. I just found his work and claimed it. The TD deal is dead now, Newegg revived it for a couple days, now that's dead too. The G3258 combo's listed on the egg now are not any great deals, especially if you are looking to OC on the cheap.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Bump n build. Cuz the G3258 w/mobo got cheap again

GA-H81M-DS2V w/G3258 for $80.

4gb team memory for $40.-
xfx 270x GPU for $160 AR
Antec VSK-3000 case $30.-
EVGA 430w PSU - $31.- AR
Seagate 1tb HD - $55.-
Win 8.1 - $93.-

Total - $489.-

 

[crashtech]

The thing I realized I don't like about the H81M-DS2V is that it has no internal USB 3.0 header. So no front panel USB 3.0 without a separate adapter card.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

The thing I realized I don't like about the H81M-DS2V is that it has no internal USB 3.0 header. So no front panel USB 3.0 without a separate adapter card.

I'll gladly give up USB 3.0 to keep the 270x in the build. Granted, my priorites are gaming first, all else second.

 

[crashtech]

Yeah, my plans are probably different than most. But I did want to put it out there for anyone planning to build with that combo that they might want to buy a card like this to go with it if their case has front panel USB 3.0.

 

[Ken g6]

Bump for 8/29 update. Get 'em while they're hot - some deals expire by Sunday!

 

[cbn]

I think I've now figured out PCPartPicker's bundle system

Since writing my initial comments on bundles in this thread, I have since noticed that PC Part Picker will allow someone to enter a custom part (which includes url) under System build.

That ability to enter a custom part allows the builder to list combos beyond the ones found in the PC Part Picker system (which AFAIK are limited to Newegg).

So if a Tiger Direct or some other retailer processor/motherboard combos pops up there is now a place for it through the custom part listing.

 

[mfenn]

This thread is now a sticky. Congrats Ken!

mfenn
General Hardware Moderator

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Cool, congrats Ken! It's the budget builds that I get the most excited about. There is just a certain pleasure in knowing that NOBODY builds a better price to performance ratio box than this one.

 

[crashtech]

Huzzah!

This is where it's at for most new hobbyists. I think helping to make the low-end a viable starting point will draw more users into the hobby of PC building. It's easy to go terribly wrong when funds are limited, another reason why this thread is invaluable.

 

[pcsavvy]

I second that crashtech!

 

[Ken g6]

Nuts, now I really have to update this every week.

Thanks!

 

[mfenn]

Nuts, now I really have to update this every week.

Thanks!

And so you figured out my ulterior motive. :awe:

 

[monkeydelmagico]

There are no deals going into this weekend. Terrible time to try and build a budget box. I'm sure Ken will give it the old college try but if it was my $$$ I'd wait a week to see what comes up.

 

[cbn]

There are no deals going into this weekend. Terrible time to try and build a budget box. I'm sure Ken will give it the old college try but if it was my $$$ I'd wait a week to see what comes up.

Too bad there weren't any G3258 deals on Friday.

Today there was this deal here---> http://slickdeals.net/f/7184570-int...rock-h97m-micro-atx-motherboard-97-3-shipping

(Pentium G3258 and ASRock H97M Pro4 for under $100 with shipping)

 

[monkeydelmagico]

G3258 w/mobo is cheap again. Thx to cbn for posting up some of the parts below in the deals section.


GA-H81M-DS2V w/G3258 for $80.
Corsair 430w PSU for $20.- AR
NZXT Source case for $30.- AR
Win 8.1 - $88.- AR
4gb Corsair memory for $28.- AP AR
Sapphire 270x GPU for $170 AR
Hitachi 1tb HD - $50.-


Total - $466.- Lowest total I've been able to manage and keep a solid GPU in the build.

 

[cbn]

Here is a review of the MSI H81M-E33 overclocking Pentium G3258:

https://translate.google.com/transl...g3258-dengan-msi-h81m-e33/&edit-text=&act=url

This is the motherboard that Ken G6 commonly uses in his Core i3 builds (and sometimes G3258 builds).

 

[Ken g6]

Thanks, cbn! I'm generally trying to avoid unofficial overclocking boards these days with the G3258. Unless there's a really good sale. :twisted:

 

[crashtech]

I think splurging on a Z97 motherboard makes sense for anyone that thinks they will upgrade in the future. The G3258 is a great training CPU to learn most of the settings that would apply to much more expensive "K" CPUs with low cost and risk. It would be interesting to poll G3258 system builders to see how many plan to step up to an i5 or i7.

 

[J-Acito]

I've noticed that the vast majority of system builds do not include an optical drive of some sort. Am I missing something? Is everyone using external ones or reusing existing ones? My current one is IDE so I don't think I'll be reusing it.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I've noticed that the vast majority of system builds do not include an optical drive of some sort. Am I missing something? Is everyone using external ones or reusing existing ones? My current one is IDE so I don't think I'll be reusing it.

Becoming obsolete. Between cloud, NAS, and usb there is increasingly little use for optical drives.

 

[crashtech]

They can be found for $15 new, or far less if you can find a junked PC. Not really a deal breaker. Many go without ODDs these days, since most content is delivered over the web. I usually install Windows from a flash drive, the only sticking point where an ODD might be handy is drivers, but once a NIC driver is "sneakernetted" over to the machine being built, it's easy to get all the latest drivers from the web, too.

 

[cbn]

Oh, and I learned that the G3258 doesn't use RAM faster than DDR3-1333.

G3258 will use RAM faster than DDR3 1333 if the user has a Z board. (confirmed on my own Z97 using DDR3 1600 RAM).

Its the Non-Z board that impose the limitation of 1333 RAM.

 

[cbn]

I'm generally trying to avoid unofficial overclocking boards these days with the G3258. Unless there's a really good sale. :twisted:

Is there a reason other than fear of Intel of removing overclocking ability that makes you want to avoid Non-Z overclocking for G3258?

Is there something about the BIOS being changed that is not good for other reasons we don't know about?