Cheapest Computer that can play L4D

[aramadia]

I need a PC that can play L4D at 1680x1050 comfortably (60fps med-high settings).

• I can build my own PC
• Buying in Toronto
• Cheap does not mean low quality parts hopefully
• Not really into overclocking
• Already have monitor, keyboard, mouse just need the PC box

I'm thinking of less than $500 but I don't have too much experience with parts in this range. Any ideas?

[JD]

First and foremost, does it need to be bought locally? Or are you fine with ordering from NCIX?

For the barebones I'd start with this:
Canada Computers - : Cooler Master Elite 310 Blue Mid Tower Case.
Canada Computers - : OCZ StealthXStream 500W Power Supply - Active PFC, 120mm Fan (OCZ500SXS).
Canada Computers - Cooling > Case Fan : Scythe SLIP STREAM 120mm (1200rpm) Chassis Fan (SY1225SL12M). (install on the side panel of the case)
That's $125 w/tax if bought by August 20th, and minus $30 MIR.

[bissa]

If you have a case you can probably save some by putting your computer parts in there instead of buying a new case.

[aramadia]

I don't have a case and I don't mind ordering online except that I have to factor in shipping charges.

[JD]

Well if you go with DirectCanada, shipping is free if your order is over $300 (which it is of course). Also there's only 5% tax too which is a nice benefit.

AMD Athlon II X2 240 2.8GHZ
Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3
OCZ Gold XTC PC2-6400 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-800
Powercolor Radeon HD PCs 4850 512MB
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB
Samsung SH-S223B/BEBE 22X DVD+-RW SATA DVD Writer
Corsair CMPSU-400CX 400CX 400W
Antec Three Hundred Case
2x Zalman ZM-F3 120MM Sleeve Bearing Case Fan (for the front of the case where you put your hard drive and for the side panel to cool the video card)

That comes to $530.72 + 5% tax - $21 in MIRs. So the grand total would be $565.61 (with shipping insurance) - $21 MIRs, thus $544.61.

I know, it's a bit over budget but it's a solid system IMO. I'm fairly sure it would easily run L4D at maximum settings on 1680x1050. I know my HD4850 did though I have a quad-core clocked at 3.4GHz.

You could ditch the front case fan and save $6.81, but I'd suggest keeping the side one since HD4850s do run pretty hot.

EDIT: Could also downgrade the GPU to a HD4670: Sapphire Radeon HD 4670 750MHZ 512MB. That would put you at $496.32 before tax and a total of $528.95 - $21 in MIRs still. Thus being a mere $7.95 over. Should still be able to pull medium settings fine, probably even some things on high.

[Sushi Warrior]

Why not get the Antec 200? It's $10-20 less and has better cooling. Also you could get a 9600GSO for $40 after MIR.

[Squeetard]

Here's what I got from the NCIX back to school specials:

Corsair XMS2 CM2X2048-6400C5 2GB DDR2 1X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL 5-5-5-18 240PIN Memory $24.99
NCIX Value Bundle Deal AMD Athlon II X2 250 & Gigabyte MA785G-UD3H DDR2 Motherboard - $164.99
Antec Basiq BP500U 500W 24PIN ATX 12V Power Supply Active PFC $44.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB SATA2 3.5IN 8.5MS 7200RPM 16MB Hard Drive $52.99
Antec Two Hundred Mid-Tower ATX Gaming Case Black 3X5.25 6X3.5INT 1 SATA Hot-Swap Bay No PS $49.99
Powercolor Radeon HD PCs 4850 625MHZ 512MB GDDR3 PCI-E VGA DVI-I HDMI Video Card $109.99

$470 without dvd. Will kill l4d and play any game out there at higher settings.

[Safearus]

Myself I would prefer the Sapphire Radeon HD 4670 750MHZ 512MB 128BIT GDDR3 PCI-E HDMI DVI-I VGA Video Card

But I just do not like the customer service that Powercolor has provided myself and friends in the past...

Other than that, that system is a solid build for the price and should easily run through L4D maxed.

[JD]

Originally Posted by Sushi Warrior

Why not get the Antec 200? It's $10-20 less and has better cooling. Also you could get a 9600GSO for $40 after MIR.

Antec 200 looks ugly IMO, and it's only $8 less. I really doubt its cooling is any better since it has the same placements as the Antec 300. It still lacks any intake fans as well, so I'd still suggest buying some. Also the build quality looks even worse than the 300, but it could just be bad pictures.

I think the 9600GSO is kind of lacking memory, but I suppose its another cheap option.

[Sushi Warrior]

It would max out L4D for sure. My bad about the 200, I saw the pic on NCIX before they updated it that looked like the 902. The 200 is butt ugly!