Cheapest Civ V Computer Build

[zorgath]

I am not a big PC gamer. I play the Civ franchise and some old games (XComs and the like). I have a bunch of different computers, but they are all older with linux on them all. So in order to play Civ V, I need to build myself a new computer. I want it to meet the minimum requirements, and be as cheap as possible. This is what I came up with, let me know if you can improve on it. Everything is priced at Frys.

CPU
AMD Athlon™ II X2 250 Box ADX250OCGQBOX
Price: $65

Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-M68M-S2P AMD GF7025 AM2+ Motherboard
Price: $50

Power Supply
Athena Power AT30 300W AT Power Supply
Price: $25

Video Card
EVGA GT220 1GB DDR3 PCI-Express Video Card Memory Bandwidth: 25.28 GB/sec (01G-P3-1226-LR)
Price: $55
(I know, I could go a little cheaper on the video card if I had to. However, I do plan on using this also as a media center PC as well so I splurged a bit.)

Memory
2GB DDR2-1066MHz PC2-8500 Non-ECC CL5 240-Pin DIMM Kingston HyperX model# KHX8500D2/2G
Price: $45

I am going to be using a hard drive and case I already have, but here are some prices for these as well.

Hard Drive
WESTERN DIGITAL CAVIAR BLUE 500GB SERIAL ATA/300 7200RPM HARD DRIVE - WD5000AAJS FACTORY RECERTIFIED
Price: $40

Case
Raidmax ATX-2000B ATX Computer Case
Price: $30

Add misc cables and junk @ $20.

Total cost $330.

How can you get it cheaper and still play CiV??? Much thanks.

~Tony

 

[zorgath]

Here are some pre-builts from NewEgg that should satisfy the minimum reqs.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883241031
Price $309

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220020
Price $285

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220016
Price $240

Not sure about the integrated graphics card and if its meets the specs...

 

[bhavv]

try and stretch to an AMD quad core, 4 Gb ram, and a GTX 450 if you can.

 

[ArtVanDelay1975]

I just built a system and Civ 5 was one of the motivations for me in doing that, so I've been looking at current stuff A LOT for the last month or so. Here's my two cents:

Stretch it to Quad Core, and your power supply is not sufficient to power a decent graphics card. Civ 5, from what I've read, will actually utilize those extra cores, and you can get an AMD Phenom II X4 for around 100 bucks. You also need something more like 550-650 watts power supply. That's the one area everyone who builds systems seems to agree on--don't cut corners with a PSU or you'll regret it. XFX has had some pretty good deals going on with New Egg, and they have a good reputation. I would also upgrade the graphics card to at least a GTX450.

There are ways you can luck out and unlock "cores" in particular CPUs, with the right motherboard, but that's not something I'm experienced with. I just know of the concept and I know it's possible to do. I think it depends on if you luck out getting a CPU with usable cores that are locked. That would be up for research.

 

[AlexMax]

You're not going to be able to swing a gaming computer that cheap, unfortunately.

I suggest taking a look at the Tech Report's Econobox, it can probably run Civ 5 no sweat:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/19560/2

Plus some of the parts might have come down in price since the publication of that story.