Help me build an mATX Gaming PC, <$1300. By June 2013

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tom_dobro

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Mar 30, 2013
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Ok so I want to build a Gaming PC that's small. I just don't want a massive huge tower sitting around. Quiet is a plus. OC ability is not required but I woudn't say no. I want to be able to play games like Shogun 2 and Cryis 3 and Bioshock infinite at decent levels.

I'm in China but have US embassy postage which is like being in the US.

I plan on buyin in the next couple of months. Hopefully have it all up and running by June. I'd like for it to not need to be upgraded for about 2 years.

Here's what I've got so far:

case: Silverstone Temjin TJ08/NZXT vulcan (Help me choose please)

mobo:Maximus V Gene/ASRock z77

pro4-M mATX (Help me choose please, or a cheaper one, as long as it gets the job done)

cpu: i5 3570k

cpu cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

gpu: HD 7870/7950/7970 (which one do you guys think is best value? I've heard the 7870 can be juiced to match or even better the 7950's performance?) I like Radeon coz they come with good free games.

RAM: G.Skill Ripjaw 16Gb 1866 (8G*2) - do I need 16gb?

psu: if 650W is enough - XFX Core Edition PRO650W, if 750W - CORSAIR HX Series HX750 750W (I like that the CORSAIR one is modular)

Storage: Open to suggestions, a small SSD for OS and games and a big HDD for storage is ideal.

Optical: undecided

Monitor: I don't have any ideas on monitors. Open to suggestions up to ~$200.

Thanks guys, much appreciated.


 
Solution
geofelt
My thoughts:

In a couple of months, like June, haswell will launch.
You might want to wait for that.

1. I use the TJ-08E, and it fits the bill. It is very quiet, and can hold a full sized cpu cooler.

2. I would buy the cheapest M-ATX Z77 motherboard. They all will oc decently.

3. Buy the strongest graphics card you can. In your case a 7970.
I would buy one with a direct exhaust cooler like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161399

4. No game will use more than 2-3gb. 8gb is sufficient unless you are doing heavy multitasking.
Buy a low profile2 x 4gb kit of ddr3 1600.

5. A 7970 will run on a 550w psu. You are good there. 650w is a good size. Seasonic, antec, corsair, xfx are all...
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,269
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My thoughts:

In a couple of months, like June, haswell will launch.
You might want to wait for that.

1. I use the TJ-08E, and it fits the bill. It is very quiet, and can hold a full sized cpu cooler.

2. I would buy the cheapest M-ATX Z77 motherboard. They all will oc decently.

3. Buy the strongest graphics card you can. In your case a 7970.
I would buy one with a direct exhaust cooler like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161399

4. No game will use more than 2-3gb. 8gb is sufficient unless you are doing heavy multitasking.
Buy a low profile2 x 4gb kit of ddr3 1600.

5. A 7970 will run on a 550w psu. You are good there. 650w is a good size. Seasonic, antec, corsair, xfx are all good.

6. use a 120gb ssd at least. It will hold the os and a handful of games. If you can manage 240gb, you may not need a hard drive for a long time.
My preference would be Intel or Samsung for reliability.

7. suggest you look at a largish IPS panel monitor with a larger 178/178 viewing angle.
Perhaps one like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176424
 
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Solution
batuchka

batuchka

Splendid
Dec 31, 2007
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This is an even smaller form factor gaming rig but may interest u
Untitled-773_zps76b922d4.jpg


If i were in your shoes i would consider 32-37" LED TVs rather than 23-27" LCD monitors these days
 
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,269
4,130
174,240


I love small cases, the TJ0-08E is 15.16" x 8.27" x 14.72"
But, the bitfenix prodigy is not significantly different in size, despite the ITX form factor 9.84" x 15.91" x 14.13"
 
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