First gaming build $500cap

caltex · April 17, 2013, 11:54am

hi guys,

first time pc builder and currently cant decide what would be the best system to build for gaming.

my budget is pretty much $500, but thats $500 AUSTRALIAN dollars which unfortunately means i dont quite get as much bang for my buck.

currently my build looks like this:

CPU: $111.00

AMD x4 A8-5600K Quad Core 3.6Ghz/4M/100W FM2 CPU ADVAD560KWOHJBOX Integrated Radeon HD7560D

GPU: $118.00

Gigabyte GV-R777OC-1GD 1GB 7770 PCI-E VGA Card

Motherboard: $69.00

ASRock FM2A75M-DGS A75 FM2 2xDDR3/SATA3/4xUSB3.0/DVI/D-Sub/GBLAN/RAID/mATX Motherboard

Ram: $71.00

G.Skill Sniper 8G Kit(4Gx2) DDR3 1866 F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR

Case: $69.00

Thermaltake V3 Black Edition Mid Tower Case With 500W PSU

Hard Drive: $56.00

Seagate 3.5" Barracuda 500GB ST500DM002 SATA3 7200RPM 16MB HDD

TOTAL: $494.00

My question is mainly round the CPU and GPU (of course). i keep hearing good thins about the Radeon HD 7870 which i'd love to fit into my system however its about $225 which i cant afford to just add unless i change other things which im not sure what i could do?

The other CPU's i was looking at were the AMD x4 A10-5800K ($135-is it worth the extra?), the AMD AM3+ x4 FX-4300 3.8Ghz/Quad Core ($125-is it worth the extra) and the AMD x2 A6-5400K Dual Core 3.6Ghz ($75-is it better for the price?)

I'd like to get some advice on what i should be putting in this system keeping in mind my $500 mark.

the current main sites im using are:

http://msy.com.au/default.jsp?category=9

http://www.umart.com.au/newindex2.phtml?bid=7

http://www.cplonline.com.au/

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php

thanks in advance.

GreyStrix · April 17, 2013, 1:44pm

I'm Aussie too, so I would say that you will find the best prices at MSY most of the time - though don't look to them for anything that resembles service as they suck for that.

The thing that is making me wonder here is whether you are wanting to run your independent GPU in xfire with the integrated GPU on the APU (the A8-5600k), as I am unsure if you can run the 7770 in xfire with it. Can anyone here correct me on this?

What I might suggest, if you want to go down the gaming road, is to try to get your hands on a Phenom II x4 or x6 and go that way. If you can get a good price you will get better performance than the APU and have more money for a better GPU.

Alternatively, get the A10-5800k and xfire it with a 7660 - will probably perform better than the 7770 solo and for about the same price.

caltex · April 17, 2013, 1:54pm

i wish i could get a Phenom but i just cant find them anywhere!

i know the A8-5600 doesnt cross fire with the 7770 so would you then say a better cpu might be the AMD AM3+ x4 FX-4130?

however if you do know anywhere i could get a Phenom I'd definately be up for the suggestion.

GreyStrix · April 17, 2013, 11:03pm

It would have to be eBay for a Phenom I think. Though I do think that an FX-4130, or even better an FX-4300 would be a better choice if you aren't going to utilise the internal graphics component of the APU.

ragingh4vok · April 17, 2013, 11:23pm

ya get an fx or a phenom and a 7770 or an i3 is good too. Three of my freinds have 7770 and they are plenty good even though you would like a 7870 spend some money for a good cpu like fx 4300, 6300, or a phenom 965. every thing else looks great though.

forsaken2011 · April 17, 2013, 11:41pm

Don't bother on an APU if you are gonna get a dedicated GPU. Phenom IIx4, FX 4130, FX 6100, FX 4300, all of those are around similar prices, see what you can find, and put it together with a decent AM3+ motherboard