Double Check my build

[ML_Triforce]

1. My PC will be used for gaming and basic school work. I will be running Windows 7 and wish to be able to play Skyrim, at least.

2. My budget is $600.

3. I'll be buying my parts from America, I presume. I'm using Newegg.com.

4. I don't have any preference to any brands.

5. I don't need to buy the monitor and I already have a copy of Windows 7.

6. I've yet to look at any threads, in fact I'm here for the express purpose of help with this build.

7. I'm assuming I won't be overclocking my CPU. Information on this subject would be much obliged, though I believe I have the general idea of what it is already.

8. I can honestly say I'm not sure, I haven't done much computer gaming.

9. I plan to build it as soon as the parts come in. Early December, most likely.

Parts:

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4

Motherboard: Biostar A880G+

Video Card: EVGA 01G-P3-1302-LR GeForce 8400 GS 1GB

RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB)

HDD : Western Digital 160GB

Disk Drive: Samsung DVD Burner

PSU: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series 650W

Tower: Rosewill R101-P-BK

The total to the parts above + shipping is $477.94. So there is room for more expensive/reliable parts. I expect to update this rig, but I feel this is a good start. Any suggestions for different parts and reasons for these changes would be appreciated.

 

[fastamdman]

I don't like your build. I hate bio star, I think that video card is weak sauce, the ram is over priced and the PSU is 100% over kill for that build. A cx430 for 17 dollars would be better for that setup lol.

Why not just get a "prebuilt" setup from like dell or something and then drop a better video card in it?

 

[lehtv]

I don't like your build.

I absolutely agree

OP, you can have a lot better system and I do think you should aim to spend your whole budget, it'll benefit you in the long term. If you buy today you benefit from the low Black Friday prices. Dunno if it lasts over the weekend (?)

Skyrim utilizes only two threads and it's pretty CPU intensive, so it benefits from a fast dual core.

CPU i3-2100 $110
Mobo Biostar TH67+ microATX $60 AR
RAM G.Skill Ripjaws 2x4GB $30
GPU Powercolor 6870 1GB $140 AR + free Dirt3
HDD Hitachi 7K1000.D 750GB $116
ODD Lite-on DVD-RW $17
PSU XFX 650W $45 AR (don't let the price fool you, it's equivalent to Corsair TX)
Case Antec 300 $35 AR [or Fractal Design Core 1000 $40 microATX]

$553 after rebates ($638 before)

This system will play Skyrim on high settings 1080p with smooth FPS. What about keyboard and mouse? Have those?

You could save a bit of money with HD6850 $130AR and Corsair CX430 $17AR (CX430 doesn't support a 6870 in terms of available connectors.) That might allow you to fit in a quad core i5-2400 $190.

 

[mfenn]

:thumbsup: to Lehtv's build as usual.

 

[ML_Triforce]

Oh, yes. These parts look a lot more promising. Maybe I didn't do enough research, but this is my first build so I suppose I expected as much. Thanks a lot.

 

[Tool]

grab the HDD drive that lehtv mentioned. it is now $40 cheaper.

 

[Apoplexy]

Yup, like Tool said that HDD is a steal on Newegg for black Friday. Just grabbed one myself about an hour ago.