Build a Budget Gaming PC

By Chuck Miller

March 19, 2007

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When it comes to PC performance, gamers are a power-hungry breed. But with high-performance rigs commanding a $3,500 to $5,000 investment, today's gamers with limited resources are in a tough position, especially with the arrival of software hogs like Vista and DirectX 10.

System builders can help. White-box builders can offer clients a value-added investment focusing on the right Vista- and DirectX 10-compatible components, leaving performance-enhancing upgrades for later.

In this article, I'll guide you in making choices on components that will ease the transition to Microsoft's new OS and the improved gaming experience it will eventually offer. The result is a capable game rig (sans monitor and speakers) that will cost you less than $2,000 while still satisfying your gamer clients both today and -- a simple and cost-effective upgrades -- tomorrow.

To meet this goal, you will need to invest in a quality case, power supply, motherboard and video card. That way, you put the lion's share of capital into components that don't require near-term replacement. A faster processor, additional hard drives, quality audio card and second SLI-capable video card can be added later to enhance the user's game experience.

Ingredients

Let's start off with the list of ingredients for concocting our budget system. As a disclaimer, let me say that, apart from several key components, most of the parts listed below are interchangeable. For example, as long as the specs are similar, leeway exists on items such as memory, video cards, hard drives and optical drives. Moreover, options exist for those who want to trim the cost further or expand capabilities. I'll discuss those options at the end of this article.

While I've included ballpark prices for these components, for bargain hunters, I suggest checking out a Web site called Pricewatch.com. It's a terrific portal that offers pricing comparisons and direct links to suppliers' sites. For general purchasing, I usually shop on Newegg, as they offer consistent low prices and deliver products in a timely fashion.

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