Micro ATX AMD gaming rig ~$700

[monkeychef23]

Hi everyone,

So I'm going off to college soon and I plan on getting a laptop and a desktop for my dorm (one to fall back on if the other dies for some reason). I am pretty sure I know which laptop I am getting, but I am having a harder time building a decently priced small gaming rig for a desktop.

Approximate Purchase Date: Most likely during the black friday/holiday season

Budget Range: 500-800 w/ rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Surfing the Net, Schoolwork

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, RAM (4gb GSkill DDR3), Hard Drive (1.5 TB Samsung 5400 rpm)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Tigerdirect, (any site is okay by me)

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: by brand or type Intel CPU, NZXT Vulcan MicroATX Case, SSD

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Needs to be small but very powerful, which is why I selected the Vulcan case.

Here is what I have so far:

AMD Phenom II X4 955-109.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5752143&CatId=4432

NZXT Vulcan Micro Tower Case-69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146065&Tpk=vulcan

OCZ 600W PSU- 69.99 (I'm bad at finding PSU's, so this is open to change)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

Gigabyte GeForce 560 Ti- 220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3067296&SID=

Thanks Everyone.

Update: I will also take any suggestions for a small case that supports ATX Motherboards.

Update 2: Switched AMD processor to Intel, Most likely going to purchase an I5 2400. The board will also have to change because of this.

 

[Jawshh]

Hi everyone,

So I'm going off to college soon and I plan on getting a laptop and a desktop for my dorm (one to fall back on if the other dies for some reason). I am pretty sure I know which laptop I am getting, but I am having a harder time building a decently priced small gaming rig for a desktop.

Approximate Purchase Date: Most likely during the black friday/holiday season

Budget Range: 500-800 w/ rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Surfing the Net, Schoolwork

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, RAM (4gb GSkill DDR3), Hard Drive (1.5 TB Samsung 5400 rpm)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Tigerdirect, (any site is okay by me)

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: by brand or type AMD CPU, NZXT Vulcan MicroATX Case, SSD

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Needs to be small but very powerful, which is why I selected the Vulcan case.

Here is what I have so far:

AMD Phenom II X4 955-109.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5752143&CatId=4432

NZXT Vulcan Micro Tower Case-69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146065&Tpk=vulcan

OCZ 600W PSU- 69.99 (I'm bad at finding PSU's, so this is open to change)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

Gigabyte GeForce 560 Ti- 220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3067296&SID=

Thanks Everyone.

I think you'll get better performance with the Radeon HD 6870. And, I believe it's cheaper as well!

But, I'd build and Intel machine if I were you because those Core-i5 2400+ are rocking right now. And, your budget is screaming for them as well.

https://www.techspot.com/guides/buying/page4.html

Tweak it a little and it should fit your budget.

 

[monkeychef23]

Thanks for the heads up on the 6870. I looked at the benchmarks and they were much better.

The reason I want to stay away from Intel is because I hate upgrading my mobo and cpu whenever I want something new. If I really have to, I will stick with Intel (and if that CPU goes on sale, I will totally buy it in a heartbeat).

I looked more at the 2500k instead of the 2400 though because it has way more positive reviews.

 

[LinkedKube]

If you're not overclocking a ton you shouldn't worry about the 2500k over the 2400, both perform well with what you want to do.

 

[GamingB]

The other thing I'd mention is that I personally own that Gigabyte graphics card and I've had trouble with stability in games... It's standard overclock at 900 and in order to get it to function properly I had to turn it down to 822. If you google it you'll see that others have had similar problems.

 

[Jawshh]

The other thing I'd mention is that I personally own that Gigabyte graphics card and I've had trouble with stability in games... It's standard overclock at 900 and in order to get it to function properly I had to turn it down to 822. If you google it you'll see that others have had similar problems.

Man, I don't think I understand you! Do you already have some parts right now or are you looking to purchase everything from scratch?

If you already have some parts, I might be able to recommend you some parts without you needing to trash the current ones! Let me know...

 

[mailpup]

Jawshh, GamingB is not the original poster with the question. It's monkeychef23.

By the way, Jawshh, it's not necessary to quote the entire previous post when you respond to it.

 

[monkeychef23]

Hey guys, thanks for your input.

I'll take the gigabyte Video Card into consideration.

I already have 4gb of G.Skill, so I don't have to get that. I also have the OS, so I don't need that either. I basically need everything else. The things that I have posted are the general idea of what I want. I am asking that people put in their opinion on what I have picked, and if they have a better suggestions, then they can tell me.

 

[monkeychef23]

Update: I will also take any suggestions for a small case that supports ATX Motherboards.