ExtremeTech Shows You How to Build an $800 Gaming PC
By Ron on Thursday, February 28th, 2008 at 12:01 PM PST In Computer, Game Platforms, Gamer Life
So you’re looking to get into PC gaming? Are you worried about the high cost of today’s gaming PC’s? What if I told you that the idea that gaming PC’s are overly expensive is nothing more than a myth?
The folks over at ExtremeTech are taking a look at just how you can bring the cost of a gaming PC down under $800. Sure, that doesn’t include a monitor, keyboard, or mouse; but if you’re serious enough to buy a gaming PC you probably already have those peripherals anyway. If not, you can grab a decent widescreen and a keyboard and mouse for $250 or so. (Note: The case pictured here is not the case the article mentions)
This isn’t some stripped down machine, either. With a Core 2 Duo, GeForce 9600, and 2GB of RAM, this dog can definitely hunt. Sure, it won’t play Crysis at max settings, but most computers that haven’t traveled back in time from the year 2014 won’t either. You can check out the entire article, along with ExtremeTech’s explanation for the hardware they chose for each slot, right here.
via ExtremeTech
“Sure, it won’t play Crysis…”
Dude what have you been smoking? I get so tired to seeing misinformation like this posted on so called reputable sites. I have that game, it runs at a very good frame rate on mostly high, some medium settings with a slightly lesser PC than the one mentioned. Sure, it won’t run at 60 fps TOTALY maxed out, but with a game like Crysis it dont have to be maxed out to look amazing. I highly suggest you edit that line to something a little more accurate so you look like you at least have a clue about what your posting.
It’ll play Crysis, just not on super dooper awesome high.
BTW, I have that case picture. BEST. CASE. EVER.
I know it WILL play Crysis. I was just making a joke at the expense of the most graphically intense game on the planet. However, I’ve added (at max settings) to clarify a bit. Thanks for reading.
How many fans does that case have in the picture. That case is just crazy
Sorry for the double post but why is it that a GeForce 9600 costs less than the GeForce 8800
Hmm, looking at their own benchmarks it seems this system should play Crysis in high detail quite well. There are a few things I don’t understand about their hardware selection: why choose between a Radeon HD3870 and Geforce 9600GT when the Geforce 8800GT costs just as much and performs significantly better than either of those cards? And why go for an E6550 when the E6750 sells for just $10 more?
I mean… if the E6750 and 8800GT would’ve been included then you’d have a genuine top-of-the-line system. Seeing as quadcore means just about nothing for games as of yet and the 8800GT can handle anything a GTX can nearly as well. Ah well, at least it’s good to see some more tech sites demonstrating that PC gaming isn’t nearly as expensive as some people make it out to be.
@ LightAce
The 9600 still does not out perform the 8800’s. Getting close on the GTS, still not really close on the GTX and don’t even think about it being better than the 8800 ultra. There should be a 9800 coming out… you can best belive it. Then my friend, you can probably expect to see the 8800’s price to drop and the 9800 will take its place. I always go to guru3d.com for all my info on new hardware thats coming out. They always do full testing of new products too.
Check out the 9600 review (this link jumps straight to the performance charts but you can just go back to page 1 for the full review
http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/501/19/
Mine was under $700 and will do the same thing with more memory.
http://www.theinquisitivetechie.com/?p=25
They said “Sure, it won’t play Crysis at max settings…” MAX SETTINGS…thats the key word there chief. This computer by no means would run crysis on MAX settings. On the settings you described it would….although it may look good max settings
@ mywordislaw
Nah man when i posted the “max settings” part wasent in there. The implication without that is that it wouldnt run at all, thats why i said something.
Resolution.. high settings.. bleh. There may be plenty of systems that will play it at “high resolutions” and “high settings”. All depends on your definition of such. My system will run it very nicely at 1920×1200 and maxed out settings.. The kicker is when you try to turn up anti-aliasing too. Don’t remember what mine ran at 1920×1200 with max settings, but it was easily playable and nice. When I cranked up anti-aliasing to 32xQ as well, FPS dropped to somewhere around 10-12 FPS ha
It will be interesting to see how many people will be able to
afford PC games and hardware in the year 2014 A.D.
pc gaming is dead as we know it? didn’t you hear?
lol.
BTW, I play dozens of games on Steam and just bought KOTOR on PC last night..
Oh a gaming PC for under $800? Yeah people who had a clue about putting together their own systems already knew this. You either have enough savvy to enjoy PC gaming for cheap or you buy a premade gaming PC with all the bells and whistles and extraneous crap that usually costs $2000+ which usually scare people. And my PC can play most games at a reasonable level and able to play crysis on lowest settings (it looks like crap tho so I’ll just wait till I upgrade). I made this PC about 4 years ago and it cost me
less than 500.
Your commenting system cut off my post!