Help with my first gaming build. Price cuts, value and everything I want to know.

Bino991 · Apr 16, 2013

So I'm building my first PC and I've been looking around for parts. Right now this is my part list:
Xigmatek Alluminum Midtower
Asrock Z77M LGA 1155
Gigabyte Geforce GTX 650 TI boost 2gb
Corsair cx500
Intel i3 3220
Team Extreem Dark series 8 gb(2x4) GDD3 ram
Seagate Barracuda 1 tb 7200 rpm hdd

This is only for gaming at about the mid to high range on a single moniter. I had a few question though.

Would I be able to downgrade my PSU to a cx430 with no problems?
Are there are anythings I could cut back a bit on to save some money?
Is going with a Mini ATX motherboard going to bring about any problems at all?
Any tips and tricks for my first build?
Thanks

quas · Apr 16, 2013

If you use core i3, you don't need Z77. H77 is good enough, even B75 works just fine.
650 Ti seems like a good choice, but the 7850 probably costs about the same and delivers more performance.
430watt corsair is good enough.
Mini ATX is okay.

Make sure you have good airflow in the system to prevent overheating.

lunyone · Apr 16, 2013

Well here are some ideas to consider:

* Mini ATX isn't an issue per se, but if you want some expansion capabilities (usually PCI slots) than consider an ATX mobo.
* i3 3220 is a good gaming GPU and does quite well all around. It doesn't OC and isn't a Quad Core or better, if that matters to you in the multi-tasking area. AMD has some pretty compelling CPU's in this price range that are at least a Quad Core (Ph II x4 ~$85-100 or FX 4300 or possibly FX 6300 - 6 core)
* The GTX 650 Ti Boost is a good GPU, but I'd opt for a GTX 660 or AMD 7850 (depending on your budget and preference).
* I'm not sure of your budget, so I can't recommend too many changes yet, but the Corsair CX 500w is a good PSU, but the CX 430w PSU would easily power the 650 Ti or even the GTX 660 or AMD 7850.

What is your budget and what parts do you need?

Bino991 · Apr 16, 2013

lunyone :

My budget for the computer itself is just around the 600$ mark and its only for gaming. No video editing, not Photoshop or game development. Just gaming.

l89 · Apr 16, 2013

you don't need a z77 motherboard get a cheap b75 and may be get a i5(3330 or 3470)
i3-3220 being a dual core and some games now recommend a quad core cpu
on the other hand a fx 6300 is a good cpu but don't go for fx 4300 over i3-3220
and what is the resolution will u be playing at

lunyone · Apr 16, 2013

Here you go!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($72.37 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($187.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $593.29
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-16 23:51 EDT-0400)

* CPU is quad core and does quite well. OC's easily (Intel i3 doesn't OC at all).
* Mobo has what you will need for 95% of uses.
* RAM has LOW PROFILE heat spreaders, so you can add just about any aftermarket CPU HSF out on the market.
* GPU is bit better than the GTX 650 Ti.
* PSU is perfect for the GTX 660 for the price.

Upgraded CPU:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($135.08 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($72.37 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($187.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $633.38
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-16 23:54 EDT-0400)

Bino991 · Apr 17, 2013

lunyone :

Here you go!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($72.37 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($187.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $593.29
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-16 23:51 EDT-0400)

* CPU is quad core and does quite well. OC's easily (Intel i3 doesn't OC at all).
* Mobo has what you will need for 95% of uses.
* RAM has LOW PROFILE heat spreaders, so you can add just about any aftermarket CPU HSF out on the market.
* GPU is bit better than the GTX 650 Ti.
* PSU is perfect for the GTX 660 for the price.

Upgraded CPU:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($135.08 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($72.37 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($187.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $633.38
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-16 23:54 EDT-0400)

I don't really want to stray away from Intel and this is all being shipped to Canada so prices are a bit more. Considering that I don't want to leave the 650 ti boost because it saves me much more.

l89 · Apr 17, 2013

cpu-i5-3350p-180$
mobo-ASRock B75 PRO3-M LGA 1155 Intel B75-70$
gpu:-gigabyte 650 ti boost-170$
u don't need a z77 motherboard a b75 will do just fine
i5 is highly recommended for gaming since now some games are performing well on quad cores

lunyone · Apr 18, 2013

How about this, not sure which Canadian stores you like, but here it is:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($124.68 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: Asus P8B75-V ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($61.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.00 @ Vuugo)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Zalman Z5 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $636.62
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-18 00:24 EDT-0400)

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Help with my first gaming build. Price cuts, value and everything I want to know.

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