• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 00:20
CEST 06:20
KST 13:20
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO4 & Finals Preview4[ASL21] Ro4 Preview: On Course12Code S Season 1 - RO8 Preview7[ASL21] Ro8 Preview Pt2: Progenitors8Code S Season 1 - RO12 Group A: Rogue, Percival, Solar, Zoun13
Community News
Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO8 Results2Weekly Cups (May 4-10): Clem, MaxPax, herO win1Maestros of The Game 2 announcement and schedule !11Weekly Cups (April 27-May 4): Clem takes triple0RSL Revival: Season 5 - Qualifiers and Main Event12
StarCraft 2
General
Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO4 & Finals Preview Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO8 Results Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO12 Results Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists MaNa leaves Team Liquid
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament KSL Week 89 2026 GSL Season 2 Qualifiers Maestros of The Game 2 announcement and schedule ! $5,000 WardiTV Spring Championship 2026
Strategy
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3 [A] Nemrods 1/4 players
External Content
Mutation # 525 Wheel of Misfortune The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 524 Death and Taxes Mutation # 523 Firewall
Brood War
General
Pros React to: TvT Masterclass in FlaSh vs Light vespene.gg — BW replays in browser BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion ASL21 General Discussion
Tourneys
[ASL21] Semifinals B [ASL21] Ro8 Day 4 Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 2 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues
Strategy
Muta micro map competition Fighting Spirit mining rates [G] Hydra ZvZ: An Introduction Simple Questions, Simple Answers
Other Games
General Games
Path of Exile Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Starcraft Tabletop Miniature Game
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread UK Politics Mega-thread YouTube Thread
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread McBoner: A hockey love story Formula 1 Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
streaming software Strange computer issues (software) [G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
How EEG Data Can Predict Gam…
TrAiDoS
ramps on octagon
StaticNine
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1629 users

Optimized Gaming Computer Builds For Every Budget - Page 2

Forum Index > Tech Support
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 13 14 15 Next All
jacosajh
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
2919 Posts
October 04 2011 21:03 GMT
#21
You can use a 6-pin adapter which comes with the graphics card.

I still don't like their $500 build. I'd rather get H61 + i3 2100. It performs better.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=88

The Phenom II X4 955 is overclockable, but would need an aftermarket heatsink, which they didn't include.

And if you need really need quad-core that bad, you swap the 6870 for a 6850. That added with the savings of a CPU cooler can get you an i5 2300 instead.
poopman
Profile Joined September 2011
Canada83 Posts
October 04 2011 21:03 GMT
#22
+ Show Spoiler +
On October 05 2011 05:50 Shikyo wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 05 2011 05:38 poopman wrote:
http://www.tomshardware.com/
this place gives computer builds every 2 or 3 months
here are last months builds
$500
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/phenom-ii-overclock-graphics-card,3032.html
$1000
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-cpu-ssd,3027.html
$2000
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-cpu-sli-ssd,3031.html

so how does that work? why does the 500$ build have a 6870 and a PSU with only one 6pin cable? is that enough?

Though it's true, I shall change my build a little.

okay changed 500$ build, removed 600$ build as obsolete.

It's nice that my 1k build is better than theirs though.



if you read further, they said that the gpu came with 2 power adapters, one of which they used
skyR
Profile Joined July 2009
Canada13817 Posts
October 04 2011 21:04 GMT
#23
Tomshardware is terrible, I don't know why they still have readers.
jacosajh
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
2919 Posts
October 04 2011 21:06 GMT
#24
^ I agree. They have some useful information, but trying to get it is like mining for gold, but even harder.
Shikyo
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Finland33997 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-04 21:15:05
October 04 2011 21:13 GMT
#25
On October 05 2011 06:03 poopman wrote:
+ Show Spoiler +
On October 05 2011 05:50 Shikyo wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 05 2011 05:38 poopman wrote:
http://www.tomshardware.com/
this place gives computer builds every 2 or 3 months
here are last months builds
$500
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/phenom-ii-overclock-graphics-card,3032.html
$1000
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-cpu-ssd,3027.html
$2000
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-cpu-sli-ssd,3031.html

so how does that work? why does the 500$ build have a 6870 and a PSU with only one 6pin cable? is that enough?

Though it's true, I shall change my build a little.

okay changed 500$ build, removed 600$ build as obsolete.

It's nice that my 1k build is better than theirs though.



if you read further, they said that the gpu came with 2 power adapters, one of which they used

do all GPUs come with those or just some brands? o.O That'd mean I could cut 10$ from like 4 of those builds.

On October 05 2011 06:03 jacosajh wrote:
You can use a 6-pin adapter which comes with the graphics card.

I still don't like their $500 build. I'd rather get H61 + i3 2100. It performs better.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=88

The Phenom II X4 955 is overclockable, but would need an aftermarket heatsink, which they didn't include.

And if you need really need quad-core that bad, you swap the 6870 for a 6850. That added with the savings of a CPU cooler can get you an i5 2300 instead.
They overclocked with the stock cooler it seems. Anyway what I find hilarious is that pretty much all of the performance increase in comparison to their last build is because of the better GPU and the overclocked AMD processor functions worse / at same level and consumes over double the power.
League of Legends EU West, Platinum III | Yousei Teikoku is the best thing that has ever happened to music.
skyR
Profile Joined July 2009
Canada13817 Posts
October 04 2011 21:14 GMT
#26
Most GPUs come with adapters...
Shikyo
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Finland33997 Posts
October 04 2011 21:16 GMT
#27
On October 05 2011 06:14 skyR wrote:
Most GPUs come with adapters...

mine didn't so <_>
League of Legends EU West, Platinum III | Yousei Teikoku is the best thing that has ever happened to music.
jacosajh
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
2919 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-04 21:48:42
October 04 2011 21:48 GMT
#28
Even ones with only 1 6-pin requirement usually comes with them like the GTS 450 and HD 5770.

You can overclock with the stock cooler because you probably aren't going to get to the same level as prime95 playing a video game. So it's pretty safe.

Still, they overclocked it to basically a Phenom II X4 980, which is still worse than the i3 2100.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/362?vs=289

And yes, at much more power consumption.
Shikyo
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Finland33997 Posts
October 04 2011 22:17 GMT
#29
Slightly offtopic but speaking of overclocking... I just came accross this in a Finnish PC store o.O (in Finnish but you can still identify the components or just use google translate)

http://www.jimms.fi/tuoteinfo/JIMMS-GAMER-MORNINGSTAR?pid=1317766343462
http://www.jimms.fi/tuoteinfo/SF3D-SB-SE-NV?pid=1317766317791

Wtf is this shit?
League of Legends EU West, Platinum III | Yousei Teikoku is the best thing that has ever happened to music.
Puritas
Profile Joined July 2011
Germany39 Posts
October 04 2011 22:41 GMT
#30
Will all of those run starcraft fluently? I mean like which fps can i expect on lowest grafics ? I am really new to the PC world :/ used to use macs but its just not working for me with starcraft and a mac :D Would be really nice if any of you could help me with the PC I am hopping to build that runs starcraft. PM if you were so kind
All, all are gone, the old familiar faces
Shikyo
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Finland33997 Posts
October 04 2011 22:44 GMT
#31
Depends on your resolution.
League of Legends EU West, Platinum III | Yousei Teikoku is the best thing that has ever happened to music.
Shikyo
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Finland33997 Posts
October 05 2011 02:16 GMT
#32
Any opinions on the latest 2 builds? Any good way to spend 1500$ instead of 1400$? Probably should get a better case, but as HAF X feels so overpriced wonder which one would be a good choice.
League of Legends EU West, Platinum III | Yousei Teikoku is the best thing that has ever happened to music.
Molybdenum
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
United States358 Posts
October 05 2011 02:31 GMT
#33
I thought this (below) was a pretty decent guide for budgeting a computer. It also gives a bit of detail on the parts and how to go about choosing them. It usually gets updated about once a month.
+ Show Spoiler +
[image loading]
(it's big)
Aside from some of the AMD recommendations, it's not bad. Of course, tailored advice is ideal to target different resolutions/expectations/uses.

I'd like to see some mention of SSDs, I'd much rather have an SSD over CFX/SLI, as it would be more beneficial even if it doesn't add FPS. The vast majority of users don't have anything bigger than 1900x1080 or 1900x1200 and don't play eyefinity, making CFX/SLI a waste in the $800-1000 range where you started to suggest it.

If you really want to have this guide (we already have the build thread, which may be better because prices/sales change faster than the OP can be updated) then you should explain parts to help people choose based on their setup (resolution, streaming, desire to OC).
Shikyo
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Finland33997 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-05 02:48:37
October 05 2011 02:41 GMT
#34
My OP is incomplete.

Btw my 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 are all better and the first build of his that comes to the level of my 1230$ build is his 1360$ build, also he doesn't include CPU coolers and he uses overclocking mobos with locked GPUs not to mention AMD boards and CPUs -> I dunno why you linked that

Btw most of that info is in the Computer Build Resources-thread so I don't get why it should be here as well.

EDIT: Okay although his builds are bad he has some decent info there that might or might not be useful
League of Legends EU West, Platinum III | Yousei Teikoku is the best thing that has ever happened to music.
CharlieBrownsc
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Canada598 Posts
October 05 2011 02:58 GMT
#35
On October 05 2011 11:31 Molybdenum wrote:
I thought this (below) was a pretty decent guide for budgeting a computer. It also gives a bit of detail on the parts and how to go about choosing them. It usually gets updated about once a month.
+ Show Spoiler +
[image loading]
(it's big)
Aside from some of the AMD recommendations, it's not bad. Of course, tailored advice is ideal to target different resolutions/expectations/uses.

I'd like to see some mention of SSDs, I'd much rather have an SSD over CFX/SLI, as it would be more beneficial even if it doesn't add FPS. The vast majority of users don't have anything bigger than 1900x1080 or 1900x1200 and don't play eyefinity, making CFX/SLI a waste in the $800-1000 range where you started to suggest it.

If you really want to have this guide (we already have the build thread, which may be better because prices/sales change faster than the OP can be updated) then you should explain parts to help people choose based on their setup (resolution, streaming, desire to OC).


That chart is silly, it doesn't reccommend an H61 for anything....
SC2 ID: CharlieBrown.318, #1 bitbybit.Prime fan
Shikyo
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Finland33997 Posts
October 05 2011 03:06 GMT
#36
On October 05 2011 11:58 CharlieBrownsc wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 05 2011 11:31 Molybdenum wrote:
I thought this (below) was a pretty decent guide for budgeting a computer. It also gives a bit of detail on the parts and how to go about choosing them. It usually gets updated about once a month.
+ Show Spoiler +
[image loading]
(it's big)
Aside from some of the AMD recommendations, it's not bad. Of course, tailored advice is ideal to target different resolutions/expectations/uses.

I'd like to see some mention of SSDs, I'd much rather have an SSD over CFX/SLI, as it would be more beneficial even if it doesn't add FPS. The vast majority of users don't have anything bigger than 1900x1080 or 1900x1200 and don't play eyefinity, making CFX/SLI a waste in the $800-1000 range where you started to suggest it.

If you really want to have this guide (we already have the build thread, which may be better because prices/sales change faster than the OP can be updated) then you should explain parts to help people choose based on their setup (resolution, streaming, desire to OC).


That chart is silly, it doesn't reccommend an H61 for anything....

"This guide only recommends gaming mobos, not cheaper office / home usage mobos" -> recommends a Z68 board with a pentium 630.
League of Legends EU West, Platinum III | Yousei Teikoku is the best thing that has ever happened to music.
Molybdenum
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
United States358 Posts
October 05 2011 03:25 GMT
#37
Why post an incomplete post... The first few replies to an incomplete thread will be obsolete when it's 'finished'. Most of the info in this thread can be found in the Comp. build resource thread, especially by reading the last few pages.

That guide is a month old, it's due for the new version, so the pricing is bound to be a little out of date. Some of the advice is a little wonky, but then again, I find CFX/SLI on a $700 budget to be strange. Part of intel's sandy bridge line was released on the day the guide was published, maybe in the next version he'll take a look at the low end SB pentiums and H61 as an option.

Probably the best part is the actual explanation of the parts, which yours has none of. Explaining parts is key as it can help make a more intelligent decision and allow for switching out of parts based on availability/pricing/needs.

Frankly, the computer resource build thread covers all of this information. There were a few guides like this before (a laughable budget guide by b-something88 and a rather nice sandy bridge guide by a176 in the early SB days) but neither of them stood up the the comp. resource thread.
iTzSnypah
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States1738 Posts
October 05 2011 03:39 GMT
#38
For the 500 price one, IF you dual monitor I would suggest the I3-2105/2125 because of the hd3000 graphics, your gaming monitor would be on the 6870 and the second monitor on the Hd3000 albeit you would need a mobo that works with it...
Team Liquid needs more Terrans.
skyR
Profile Joined July 2009
Canada13817 Posts
October 05 2011 03:42 GMT
#39
On October 05 2011 12:39 iTzSnypah wrote:
For the 500 price one, IF you dual monitor I would suggest the I3-2105/2125 because of the hd3000 graphics, your gaming monitor would be on the 6870 and the second monitor on the Hd3000 albeit you would need a mobo that works with it...


Uh... that's not how it works. If you were doing Eyefinity with two monitors (you shouldn't), you wouldn't (shouldn't) be using a single 6870...
nihlon
Profile Joined April 2010
Sweden5581 Posts
October 05 2011 06:54 GMT
#40
You should probably add dates for the builds so if you don't update for some while people know at what time they were most relevant.
Banelings are too cute to blow up
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 13 14 15 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Patches Events
22:45
Patches' Patch Clash #6.5
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
RuFF_SC2 213
Nina 125
StarCraft: Brood War
Sea 4941
Hyuk 682
yabsab 71
Noble 36
Bale 24
Icarus 9
Dota 2
monkeys_forever317
NeuroSwarm229
League of Legends
JimRising 704
Other Games
summit1g14204
WinterStarcraft424
UpATreeSC29
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1073
BasetradeTV100
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• practicex 22
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Lourlo1054
Other Games
• Scarra3312
Upcoming Events
GSL
3h 40m
Cure vs herO
SHIN vs Maru
IPSL
11h 40m
Bonyth vs Napoleon
G5 vs JDConan
BSL
14h 40m
OyAji vs JDConan
DragOn vs TBD
Replay Cast
1d 4h
Monday Night Weeklies
1d 11h
Replay Cast
1d 19h
The PondCast
2 days
Kung Fu Cup
2 days
GSL
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
[ Show More ]
GSL
4 days
WardiTV Spring Champion…
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
WardiTV Spring Champion…
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
RSL Revival
6 days
Classic vs SHIN
Rogue vs Bunny
BSL
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Escore Tournament S2: W7
WardiTV TLMC #16
Nations Cup 2026

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
ASL Season 21
IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
Acropolis #4
KK 2v2 League Season 1
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
SCTL 2026 Spring
RSL Revival: Season 5
2026 GSL S1
Heroes Pulsing #1
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2

Upcoming

YSL S3
Escore Tournament S2: W8
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Maestros of the Game 2
WardiTV Spring 2026
2026 GSL S2
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.