First Gaming PC Build

everwish · Mar 13, 2013

Hello, I'm planning to build my first gaming pc, and have done a lot of research, but wanted to ask for a second opinion. My budget is $500-$750.

I've already got a monitor: 19" Dell. Model: E196FPb.
For the components:
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD
CPU: AMD FX 6100 6-Core Processor, 3.3 6 Socket AM3+ - FD6100WMGUSBX
RAM: Corsair Vengeance Blue 8 GB (2X4 GB) PC3-12800 1600mHz DDR3 240-Pin SDRAM Dual Channel Memory Kit CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B
Graphics Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 650 OC 2GB GDDR5 PCI-Express 3.0 2xDVI-D/HDMI/D-SUB Graphics Card GV-N650OC-2GI
Power Supply: Corsair Builder Series CX 500 Watt ATX/EPS 80 PLUS (CX500)
Hard Drive: WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache - WD10EZEX
by Western Digital
Case:Cooler Master HAF 912 - Mid Tower Computer Case with High Airflow Design (RC-912-KKN1)
by Cooler Master

I am planning on using this pc only for gaming (and perhaps in the future video recording/rendering and custom texture/skin building.) Probably will be getting 64bit Windows 7 OS. I am interested in playing some older games (Darkseed, System Shock 2, etc.) to new and upcoming indie games. The newest AAA title that I will probably be running is the Sims 3. I'm also wanting to play some newer MMO's: (Tera, The Secret World) and would also like to be able to run Second Life without any lag issues on medium to high graphics settings. Also, are all of these components compatible? Am I missing anything? Thanks!

***Edited to include other important information***

johnvonmacz · Mar 13, 2013

Change the GPU to 7850 more bang for the buck.
If you're willing to increase the budget up to $800, I suggest this fantastic build:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JgUs
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JgUs/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JgUs/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($92.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($229.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $771.47
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-13 23:35 EDT-0400)

Pingypoker · Mar 13, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI 970A-G46 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Kingston Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.84 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.97 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Cougar 760W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $693.74
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-13 23:48 EDT-0400)

everwish · Mar 14, 2013

thanks so much for all of the suggestions so far, in addition to video recording/rendering and skin/texture creating, I may also use it to record my music

johnvonmacz · Mar 14, 2013

everwish :

The build I suggest has the latest AMD CPU which is the 8350 piledriver core. It's an 8 core processor which is really good in Video rendering, recording music and etc. especially when overclocked.

everwish · Mar 14, 2013

Thanks johnvonmacz, a few more questions: would the build you suggested be compatable with the GIGABYTE MB in my original build, I would rather buy the GB Motherboard as I do not plan on overclocking and read a few reviews of the ASRock MB stating that it came with pre-installed third party trial software (which I'd rather avoid).

Thanks!

michxymi · Mar 14, 2013

This is what I would buy

AMD FX-8320 Eight-Core Processor Black Edition AM3+ FD8320FRHKBOX

ASUS M5A97 R2.0 AMD970/SB950 ATX AM3+ DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 SATA3 USB3.0 CrossFireX Motherboard

Patriot Memory Viper 3 Series Venom Red DDR3 8GB 1866MHz (PC3 15000) Memory Kit PV38G186C9KRD

Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM 64MB SATA 6Gbps 3.5in Internal Hard Drive - OEM

Bitfenix Merc Alpha Steel Black ATX Mid Tower Case 3X5.25 7X3.25 1X2.5 *No PS* Top 2XUSB3.0 Audio

Fractal Integra R2 500W ATX 12V 80PLUS Bronze Power Supply 120mm Sleeve Bearing Fan

Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT with Boost 2GB DDR5 HDMI / DVI-I / Dual Mini DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 11199-20-20G

SUM 715$. I also want to say that If you don't plan to upgrade your monitor, anything more than a 7850 for gaming is overkill. An option If you don't plan to upgrade soon is to drop down to a 7850 and add a SSD!

SAPPHIRE 100355-1GOCL Radeon HD 7850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card OC Version

Samsung 840 Series 2.5 inch 120GB SATA III internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-7TD120BW

everwish · Mar 14, 2013

Thanks michxymi, I should have also mentioned that I am trying to order all components directly from Amazon considering I'm the most familiar with their return policy. I didn't see either of the Sapphire Products you listed on Amazon but from research I'm leaning towards a Gigabyte graphics card. Combining your suggestions and johnvonmacz's with my own build; please let me know what either of you about this build (if all the parts are compatible and good quality, etc.) :

Motherboard: ASUS M5A97 R2.0 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard OR GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD (which will be better with the other components?)
CPU: AMD FX-8320 Eight-Core Processor Black Edition AM3+ FD8320FRHKBOX
RAM: Corsair Vengeance Blue 8 GB (2X4 GB) PC3-12800 1600mHz DDR3 240-Pin SDRAM Dual Channel Memory Kit CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B
Hard Drive: WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache - WD10EZEX
Graphics Card: Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7850 2 GB GDDR5 DVI-I/HDMI/2x mini-Displayport PCI-Express 3.0 Graphic Card GV-R785OC-2GD
Power Supply: Corsair Builder Series CX 500 Watt ATX/EPS 80 PLUS (CX500)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series Black 300R Mid-Tower Computer Case (CC-9011014-WW)

This build, with either Motherboard is a bit over my budget (since I still have to buy the OS), but I want to be fairly sure it will last me a long time. And no, michxymi, it will probably be at least a few (3-5) years before I'm able to upgrade the monitor (or any of the other components).
Also, a friend of mine recently bought a new optical drive that he's not using and said I could have it if it's compatible with my system (which is why an OD is not currently on my list). Besides the Optical Drive, is there anything else I need for my build that I didn't list?
Thanks for all the suggestions so far!!

michxymi · Mar 14, 2013

Straight for Amazon then, that would be the choices!

Antec One Computer Case

XFX ATX 550 Power Supply - P1550SXXB9

AMD FX-8350 FX-Series Eight-Core Processor Edition, Black AM3 FD8350FRHKBOX

ASRock MB-970EX4 Socket AM3+/ AMD 970/ AMD Quad CrossFireX& nVidia SLI/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard

Kingston Hyper X Blu 8 GB (2x4GB Modules) 1600MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL9 XMP Desktop Memory - KHX1600C9D3B1K2/8GX

Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7850 1GB GDDR5 DVI/HDMI/2x mini-Displayport PCI-Express 3.0 CrossFire ready Graphics Card GV-R785OC-1GD

WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache - WD10EZEX

Samsung 840 Series 2.5 inch 120GB SATA III internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-7TD120BW

SUM 810$. A little more but worth it! High quality case and PSU, the biggest 8350 as CPU, a motherboard that let's you crossfire later and has also two USB III ports plus SSD!

johnvonmacz · Mar 14, 2013

everwish :

Thanks michxymi, I should have also mentioned that I am trying to order all components directly from Amazon considering I'm the most familiar with their return policy. I didn't see either of the Sapphire Products you listed on Amazon but from research I'm leaning towards a Gigabyte graphics card. Combining your suggestions and johnvonmacz's with my own build; please let me know what either of you about this build (if all the parts are compatible and good quality, etc.) :

Motherboard: ASUS M5A97 R2.0 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard OR GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD (which will be better with the other components?)
CPU: AMD FX-8320 Eight-Core Processor Black Edition AM3+ FD8320FRHKBOX
RAM: Corsair Vengeance Blue 8 GB (2X4 GB) PC3-12800 1600mHz DDR3 240-Pin SDRAM Dual Channel Memory Kit CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B
Hard Drive: WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache - WD10EZEX
Graphics Card: Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7850 2 GB GDDR5 DVI-I/HDMI/2x mini-Displayport PCI-Express 3.0 Graphic Card GV-R785OC-2GD
Power Supply: Corsair Builder Series CX 500 Watt ATX/EPS 80 PLUS (CX500)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series Black 300R Mid-Tower Computer Case (CC-9011014-WW)

This build, with either Motherboard is a bit over my budget (since I still have to buy the OS), but I want to be fairly sure it will last me a long time. And no, michxymi, it will probably be at least a few (3-5) years before I'm able to upgrade the monitor (or any of the other components).
Also, a friend of mine recently bought a new optical drive that he's not using and said I could have it if it's compatible with my system (which is why an OD is not currently on my list). Besides the Optical Drive, is there anything else I need for my build that I didn't list?
Thanks for all the suggestions so far!!

Go for the Gigabyte Motherboard you chose, as long as it's an AM3+ Motherboard. It's compatible because as I said, it's supporting AM3+ socket which the 8350 is. Instead of spending the hundred bucks for the OS, use it to purchase a quality monitor for around $120 so that you can fully experience the power of your computer. Just private message me on how to get a Windows 7 for free

everwish · Mar 17, 2013

Thanks for all the help! Sorry for taking so long to respond. I've been busy for the past few days. And johmvonmacz, thanks for the offer on the OS, but I'm OCD about owning a hard copy of most things; so I'd rather just spend the money and buy it myself.

johnvonmacz · Mar 18, 2013

everwish :

Alright it's up to you. Glad to help

Search

First Gaming PC Build

everwish

Honorable

johnvonmacz

johnvonmacz

Honorable

Pingypoker

Honorable

everwish

Honorable

johnvonmacz

Honorable

everwish

Honorable

michxymi

Distinguished

everwish

Honorable

michxymi

Distinguished

johnvonmacz

Honorable

everwish

Honorable

johnvonmacz

Honorable

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page