Which budget computer is better?

[drchoi21]

I made two possible computers, one using Intel core and other using AMD both under 500 dollars in Microcenter
1. Powersupply : Inland Silver Series ILS-500-2 500 Watt ATX Power Supply 35
2. Graphics card : Nvidia EVGA Geforce 550Ti 1GB 112
3. RAM : Corsair XMS3 Series 8GB DDR3-1600 PC3-12800) CL9 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit Two 4GB Memory Modules) 40
4. System case : Diablotek EVO Mid Tower ATX Computer Case 34
5. Processor : Intel Core i7 2700K LGA 1155 Boxed Processor 230
6. Motherboard : Biostar TZ77A LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard 45
7. Cooling : Intel I7 built-in CPU Heatsink


1. Powersupply : Inland Gold Series ILG-600-2 600 Watt ATX Power Supply 40
2. Graphics card : Nvidia EVGA Geforce 550Ti 1GB 112
3. RAM : CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 15000) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9R 48
4. System case : Thermaltake V3 Black Edition ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 25
5. Processor : AMD Phenom II X4 965 AM3 3.4Ghz 512KB 45NM 125W 4000MHZ Black Edition 90
6. Motherboard : ASRock 970 Extreme4 Socket AM3+ 970 ATX AMD Motherboard 100
7. Cooling : Corsair Cooling Hydro-Series All-in-One High-Performance Liquid CPU Cooler CWCH60 80

 

[SuperFudd]

I would go with #2 for no real good reason. Though 500W should be good, 600W is better. I have no opinion on the other diferences.
I think 4G of RAM is enough. I use 6 (see below).
Good choice of video card.

 

[malikrthr]

The more RAM the better. I would not go for anything that would be overkill because it is not necessary. I think the 4GB-16GB range should be good for trainz. My laptop currently runs trainz with 4GB.

 

[LNERlover5]

So many trade offs! :hehe: Personally I would go for the first option as the I7 2700K is far superior to the Phenom II. However the second option has a much stronger CPU cooler, power supply and AM3+ support. The I7 could be upgraded to Ivy Bridge at some point however.

 

[drchoi21]

1. Powersupply : Inland Silver Series ILS-500-2 600 Watt ATX Power Supply $40
2. Graphics card : Nvidia EVGA Geforce 8600 GTS $0
3. RAM : Corsair Dominator Platnium 8GB DDR3-1866 PC3-15000) CL 9 Desktop Memory Kit Two 4GB Memory Modules) $90
4. System case : Diablotek EVO Mid Tower ATX Computer Case $35
5. Processor : Intel Core i7 2700K LGA 1155 Boxed Processor $230
6. Motherboard : ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard $85
7. Cooling : Antec KUHLER H2O 620 Water Cooling System $50
$530 in total!

 

[LNERlover5]

Apart from the graphics card that is quite a reasonable build. The 8600 GTS is just to outdated and will bottleneck the I7 2700K. Even when new it was only a mid range card.

 

[Euphod]

I like the Intel build better myself.

 

[drchoi21]

new Build
1. Powersupply : Inland Silver Series ILG-600-2 600 Watt ATX Power Supply $35
2. Graphics card : Nvidia EVGA Geforce 560 1GB $130
3. RAM : Corsair XMS3 Series 8GB DDR3-1600 PC3-12800) CL9 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit Two 4GB Memory Modules) $40
4. System case : Diablotek EVO Mid Tower ATX Computer Case $35
5. Processor : AMD Phenom II X4 965 AM3 3.4Ghz 512KB 45NM 125W 4000MHZ Black Edition $90
6. Motherboard : ASRock 990FX Extreme3 Socket AM3 990FX ATX AMD Motherboard $120
7. Cooling : Antec KUHLER H2O 620 Water Cooling System $50
$500