The $350 gaming computer.

[Cry Havoc]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103726

Proc - $71

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131626

Mobo - $55

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156245

Case - $20

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227582

Memory - $75

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152244

Hard Drive - $42

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139004

Power supply - $50

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162044

Video Card - $65

Total - $378

Optional: Sound card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829111003 for $19 and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136147 DVD/CD Superdrive for $18.

It is not necessary to buy a DVD player, as most games can be streamed for download these days via Steam or the publisher's website.

This will run most demanding games on medium to high, and it will run games that scale well on high settings, like Starcraft II.

I just posted this to Reddit, so I thought I would post here as well for anyone thinking about buying a computer but dissuaded by the rumors that you have to spend $900 to get a decent gaming rig.

Note that this computer is NOT assembled, you will have to do that yourself, but if you ask me, that's part of the fun. It's easy to learn and will likely give you a lot more appreciation for your system.

At minimum, this computer is as powerful as a 360/Ps3, but gives you the flexibility of an actual PC. This PC will handle non-gaming equally as well as the games you want to play on it.

[Wild Cobra]

Careful, you're going to make me want to buy another computer!

I haven't checked, so how much more is it for a legal operating system to add to it?

[NASpurs]

Careful, you're going to make me want to buy another computer!

I haven't checked, so how much more is it for a legal operating system to add to it?

Well Linux is free... so to answer your question, zero?

[Wild Cobra]

Well Linux is free... so to answer your question, zero?

LOL...

True.

I guess I could use my current license and disk for Windows 7, but if someone wants windows, seriously... What is that cost?

[baseline bum]

LOL...

True.

I guess I could use my current license and disk for Windows 7, but if someone wants windows, seriously... What is that cost?

$100.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754

[Cry Havoc]

Changed the MOBO to one that's actually compatible with DDR3 RAM.

[z0sa]

Computers are much more versatile machines than consoles so one expects there to be a difference in price. Yet, Havoc still makes a great point: quality PC gaming can be done on the (relatively) cheap. And all the additional stuff a PC has to offer, obviously..

[Cry Havoc]

Computers are much more versatile machines than consoles so one expects there to be a difference in price. Yet, Havoc still makes a great point: quality PC gaming can be done on the (relatively) cheap. And all the additional stuff a PC has to offer, obviously..

Not only that, but for literally just $100 more you could upgrade to an extremely good video card and CPU.

[SourCandy]

Does it come with instructions? Ha no way I could figure that out.

[TDMVPDPOY]

why bother with this

when new cpus and video cards are coming out in the last quarter of 2010...then again they always bring new out every quarter, but this quarter is new generation of cpus and vc with different architecture...so new mobo is needed

just see how much the current generation will decrease in value b4 splashin the moolah

[MiamiHeat]

just make sure you buy a triple core or quad-core CPU

that will be more future proof.

[sabar]

Assuming that people already have things like a hard drive, power supply, and case, you can actually make some good upgrades to that system.

The key to computers is what TDMVPDPOY was getting at, which is grabbing up stuff when a new generation of technology arrives.

[baseline bum]

Does it come with instructions? Ha no way I could figure that out.

If you do it once, you'll never forget. It's a pretty easy 13-step program:

1) Put the CPU die in the motherboard. It'll only fit in one direction.
2) Remove the cover over the thermal pad on the heatsink and lock the heatsink into place over the CPU die. Make sure to plug in its power cable to the board so the fan on it goes.
3) Place your RAM in the motherboard. It'll only go in one way.
4) Screw the fans into the case. The ones in back should be pointed to pull air out of the case while the ones in front should blow air into it.
5) Screw the motherboard into the case.
6) Screw the power supply into the case and plug it into the motherboard. Also connect the fans you put in in step 4 to the power supply.
7) Put your hard drive(s) and DVD/BluRay drive(s)/burner(s) into the case and plug them into the motherboard, and also the power supply.
8) Plug all the annoying little wires for the power button, lights, front usb ports, etc. into the motherboard.
9) Put the video card into the motherboard and screw it into the back of the case.
10) Screw the case shut (unless you have PCI cards to put in, in which case do like step 9 with them).
11) Plug in the power cable, monitor to the video card ports in back, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc.
12) Install the operating system.
13) Go download porn.

[ElNono]

How's a system priced at $378, the $350 gaming computer?

[baseline bum]

How's a system priced at $378, the $350 gaming computer?

I'm guessing when you factor in that you don't pay taxes from newegg unless you're in California, it all comes out the same (San Antonio sales tax on a $350 purchase would bump the price up to $378.44).

[Cry Havoc]

How's a system priced at $378, the $350 gaming computer?

Well, I had to change the mobo/power supply to something a little better. I could respec as right now there are better deals on newegg than I found earlier in the day, but the way I see it, $28 isn't that much of an overcost. Pretty amazing IMO that for around $450 you can build a PC that will decimate a 360/Ps3 for gaming, if you upgrade to an Nvidia 450 vid card and slightly better processor.

Assuming that people already have things like a hard drive, power supply, and case, you can actually make some good upgrades to that system.

The key to computers is what TDMVPDPOY was getting at, which is grabbing up stuff when a new generation of technology arrives.

You can play the upgrade game all day long, though. Although it might be worth it to see what ATI releases this fall.

And yeah, if they already have a power supply that's 500+ watts certified, you could really make a sweet system for ~$400.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Well, I had to change the mobo/power supply to something a little better. I could respec as right now there are better deals on newegg than I found earlier in the day, but the way I see it, $28 isn't that much of an overcost. Pretty amazing IMO that for around $450 you can build a PC that will decimate a 360/Ps3 for gaming, if you upgrade to an Nvidia 450 vid card and slightly better processor.

wtf are u comparing todays computer technology to ps3 which is how many year old now since release? its not like they are doing any improvements for the system atm until they announce ps4. PS3 was meant to be a console to last for 10yrs when it was release its hardware was ahead of what the game comps could do, but the computer hardware has taken over cause every quarter new comes out.

You can play the upgrade game all day long, though. Although it might be worth it to see what ATI releases this fall.

And yeah, if they already have a power supply that's 500+ watts certified, you could really make a sweet system for ~$400.

AMD/ATI is releases new core cpus new architecture not am3 socket boards, so you must buy the new boards for this chip, also new video cards coming out atm....it depends on ur usage of the comps, are you into benchmarking and oh i need increase in frames per second and high 3dscore benchmarking for bragging rights...then u can play the upgrading game all you want cause there will always be another person with a better comp. << hopefully the new chips would push current technology prices down, they are still good cpus especially the black edition cpus for overclocking. Nothing wrong with current stuff will probably last you another 3-4 years since most of the programs and apps today dont even use up all the cores of the cpu.

the am3 socket current tech from AMD, is still useful for another couple of years, not future proof, but better then nothing...since u can always overclock the thing...

[jacobdrj]

I took a PoS eMachine with a Celeron 2.0Ghz proc and a PCI express slot that already had 2 gb or RAM, and just swapped power supplies and added an 8800GT I had laying around, and SCII works great (for my uncle who doesn't really care so much).

If you have a computer with a PCIe slot, just get a 9800gt (you can pick one up for about 80 dollars at tigerdirect.com) and get a decent 500w or better power supply for like 30 bux from newegg. It will be fine.

[TDMVPDPOY]

I took a PoS eMachine with a Celeron 2.0Ghz proc and a PCI express slot that already had 2 gb or RAM, and just swapped power supplies and added an 8800GT I had laying around, and SCII works great (for my uncle who doesn't really care so much).

If you have a computer with a PCIe slot, just get a 9800gt (you can pick one up for about 80 dollars at tigerdirect.com) and get a decent 500w or better power supply for like 30 bux from newegg. It will be fine.

any spare parts lying around, you can just setup a htpc and hook it up to ur plasma/lcd.....

[ElNono]

I'm guessing when you factor in that you don't pay taxes from newegg unless you're in California, it all comes out the same (San Antonio sales tax on a $350 purchase would bump the price up to $378.44).

I was being pedantic/sarcastic. BTW, you pay sales taxes when buying from NewEgg on every state where they have a warehouse/distribution center. I'm in NJ and whenever I buy from them I have to pay taxes.

[Cry Havoc]

wtf are u comparing todays computer technology to ps3 which is how many year old now since release? its not like they are doing any improvements for the system atm until they announce ps4. PS3 was meant to be a console to last for 10yrs when it was release its hardware was ahead of what the game comps could do, but the computer hardware has taken over cause every quarter new comes out.

There is a misconception that PC gaming is too expensive to be affordable for the average person, and that consoles are cheaper in both real world cost and dollar for dollar. The reason I brought this up in my post is the fact that a machine like this completely debunks the idea that a console is a cheaper way to game, particularly if you consider the fact that games for PCs are typically cheaper than on a console. And since a lot of people are going to have desktop parts lying around anyway, the fact that you can piece together a new rig for almost nothing that will play every game on the market is nothing short of awesome.

AMD/ATI is releases new core cpus new architecture not am3 socket boards, so you must buy the new boards for this chip, also new video cards coming out atm....it depends on ur usage of the comps, are you into benchmarking and oh i need increase in frames per second and high 3dscore benchmarking for bragging rights...then u can play the upgrading game all you want cause there will always be another person with a better comp. << hopefully the new chips would push current technology prices down, they are still good cpus especially the black edition cpus for overclocking. Nothing wrong with current stuff will probably last you another 3-4 years since most of the programs and apps today dont even use up all the cores of the cpu.

the am3 socket current tech from AMD, is still useful for another couple of years, not future proof, but better then nothing...since u can always overclock the thing...

That's the hope. Of course, if you're waiting for the next big thing to buy your computer, you're never going to purchase one, because there is new tech always around the corner.

[resistanze]

If you do it once, you'll never forget. It's a pretty easy 13-step program:

1) Put the CPU die in the motherboard. It'll only fit in one direction.
2) Remove the cover over the thermal pad on the heatsink and lock the heatsink into place over the CPU die. Make sure to plug in its power cable to the board so the fan on it goes.
3) Place your RAM in the motherboard. It'll only go in one way.
4) Screw the fans into the case. The ones in back should be pointed to pull air out of the case while the ones in front should blow air into it.
5) Screw the motherboard into the case.
6) Screw the power supply into the case and plug it into the motherboard. Also connect the fans you put in in step 4 to the power supply.
7) Put your hard drive(s) and DVD/BluRay drive(s)/burner(s) into the case and plug them into the motherboard, and also the power supply.
8) Plug all the annoying little wires for the power button, lights, front usb ports, etc. into the motherboard.
9) Put the video card into the motherboard and screw it into the back of the case.
10) Screw the case shut (unless you have PCI cards to put in, in which case do like step 9 with them).
11) Plug in the power cable, monitor to the video card ports in back, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc.
12) Install the operating system.
13) Go download porn.

I knew your repeated use of 'screw' had a purpose.

[baseline bum]

I was being pedantic/sarcastic. BTW, you pay sales taxes when buying from NewEgg on every state where they have a warehouse/distribution center. I'm in NJ and whenever I buy from them I have to pay taxes.

That sucks. I never knew they had any warehouses outside of Cali.

[baseline bum]

I knew your repeated use of 'screw' had a purpose.

I guess I could have said ``take your Phillips-head and insert it in the slit, and then turn it SLOW''

[Wild Cobra]

I guess I could have said ``take your Phillips-head and insert it in the slit, and then turn it SLOW''

Some computer components use pozidrive instead. You should try one of them. They look like a phillips to the armatures, but they have better grip.