Build a Mid-Range Core i5 Gaming Rig

With the arrival of the new Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs and the supporting hardware it makes more sense to build a gaming PC using these components if you don’t want it to get outdated soon. So far, the Intel Core 2 Quad CPUs, DDR2 RAM and Intel P45 chipset-based motherboards have been the ideal choice for gamers for building a gaming machine. But the latest generation of computer hardware now costs the same and offers better performance. A few components such as DDR3 memory and high-end P55 motherboards are still expensive, but they’re good investments because they won’t get outdated for the next couple of years down the line. Whereas with the arrival of the new Core i5 CPUs, the Core 2 Quad line-up will gradually fade away.

Lately there aren’t many entry-level and mid-range P55 motherboards to choose from, but they should hit the shelves very soon. However, you can still pick a decent micro-ATX P55 motherboard with multi-GPU support for around Rs. 8,000 which isn’t bad at all. In short, you just need the latest-generation CPU, motherboard, memory and graphics card to build a future-proof gaming PC. Other hardware such as power supply, cabinet, hard drive, optical drive and input devices can stay the same. Here’s our configuration for a mid-range Core i5 gaming PC.

Processor

Intel Core i5 750, 2.66 GHz

Clocked at 2.66 GHz, this new processor by Intel packs a good punch for demanding applications. It comes in the LGA 1156 package and features 8 MB of cache. This one's a good pick if you plan to build a mid-range gaming PC with the latest-generation hardware.

Price: Rs. 10,500

Motherboard

Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2, Intel P55

The Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2 is based on the Intel P55 chipset and sports a micro-ATX form factor. With support for up to 16 GB of DDR3 RAM and CrossFireX it's a good bang for the buck. The audio chip on this board is the 7.1-channel Reatek ALC888B and the rear panel has both coaxial and optical S/PDIF connectors for digital output. The rear panel has 10 USB ports and a gigabit Ethernet port as well.

Price: Rs. 7,800

Memory

Zion 2x2 GB DDR3-1333

The 2 GB DDR3-1333 RAM module by Zion is a good pick for an entry-level and mid-range gaming PC. We recommend at least 4 GB of RAM if you want Windows 7 and games to run stutter-free on your PC.

Price: Rs. 5,100

Graphics card

Zotac GeForce GTS 250, 512 MB DDR3

Identical to the GeForce 9800 GTX+, the GTS 250 is a great mid-range gaming card. This 512 MB DDR3 variant by Zotac should be sufficient to fuel the eye candy in most games at full-HD resolution with medium or high settings.

Price: 7,150