Just Priced Out A Gaming PC - Wanted Some Opinions Before I Click "Order!"

teklein · May 4, 2013

My M11X C2D is finally disappointing me all the time (its old) and I decided its time. I didnt want to spend alot at first, but I picked what I thought would be upgradable in the future. I went with a i3-3220 (109.99 tonight at NE), but a Z77 MB so that I could get a i5 or i7 in 2yrs or so. Video card was picked using the GPU thread on Tom's. I picked the fastest memory the board could take.

Right now I am at 793 with shipping, and then 30.00 in MIR. Here it is:

Approximate Purchase Date: Tonight!

Budget Range: 800~

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (BL 1&2, SC2:HoS, WoW, D3, Civ V, maybe BF), remote work from home, web surfing, music playing.

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com (Preferred Account)

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: I like them to be black. ASRock MB (previously used one, but have never used others, so opinions are fine)! Also I am pretty set on the HAF 912 case.

Overclocking: Not now - maybe once I upgrade to a K proc.

SLI or Crossfire: Possibly in the future.

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 Alienware AW2210.

Additional Comments: Just looking for any thoughts or insight you could give while building - this is my first gaming PC.

Cooler Master HAF 912

Asus DRW-24B1ST DVDRW

Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200rpm 64MB HDD

Corsair CX500M Modular PSU 80+ Bronze

Crucial Ballistix Sport DD3-1600 2x4GB

ASRock Z77 Pro 3 MB

Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge

ASUS GeForce GTX 660 2GB

Windows 8 64-bit OEM

Thanks!

Someone Somewhere · May 4, 2013

You can still put an i5 or i7 on an H77 or B75 board. I'd go for that, as the low-end Z77 boards can't do x8/x8 CF/SLI anyway, and aren't that good at OCing. Plus a second GPU would require a new PSU.

A better GPU and cheaper mobo could be a good idea - it might be better to go Broadwell/Skylake when you next upgrade, which is likely to come permanently soldered to a motherboard.

smorizio · May 4, 2013

Looks fine.if you have local micro center look to up the CPU for better gaming. The have the 3470 for 149.00 it under sandy bridge CPU on there web page. Then see if there any discount or combo deals.

envy14tpe · May 4, 2013

The new Haswell CPUs require a new motherboard, a 1150. Ivy bridge uses 1155. Meaning, if you buy a Z77 and in 2 years you want a new CPU then you have to buy a new motherboard too. So, get a H77 now and buy a new CPU + motherboard in 2 years.

JackNaylorPE · May 4, 2013

I'd spend $20 more for the Corsair 500R case - $120 - $20 IR - %20 off w/ promo code EMCXRXT52, ends 5/9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139010

I'd spend $3 more for lower voltage RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233199

I'd spend $6 more on a SLI capable 650 watt PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

I'd spend $20 more for an ASUS P8Z77-V LK SLI capable MoBo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131837

Someone Somewhere · May 4, 2013

Case is entirely his choice, and spending extra there is usually pointless.

Maybe, but not really a problem.

i3 would likely bottleneck 660SLI, and if he's going for a new mobo later no point in grabbing a pricier one now. Plus one faster card is usually a better idea than two slower ones in SLI/CF.

Jack Revenant · May 4, 2013

Someone Somewhere :

That varies. Case choice can have a pretty large impact on cooling, and sometimes $20 can buy 5-8C of cooling, which I certainly consider worth at least bringing it.

Someone Somewhere · May 4, 2013

I did say "usually" In this case you're replacing a HAF912, which should be pretty decent anyway.

Sure, there are better and worse cases, but most of the time (pun successfully avoided), the difference is small and largely aesthetic.

Jack Revenant · May 4, 2013

Someone Somewhere :

True enough. I wouldn't try to replace the 912 at this price range. It's a solid case, no doubt. I just feel that people too often think that cases are purely an aesthetic choice, and end up losing a lot of potential performance as a result.

smorizio · May 4, 2013

Jack have you seen the newer coolmaster clones of the r line??? There called the n300 and n500 cases there a write up on the front page of toms hardware about them.

Jack Revenant · May 4, 2013

smorizio :

I must be going blind. I can't seem to find that write-up. Mind linking it?

teklein · May 4, 2013

Awesome guys, I upped the PS up to the one suggested. Also went to the lower voltage memory!

Appreciate the case recommendation, but im pretty set on the 912.

I looked at the H77, but will probably just get the Z77 and maybe when the Haswell's come out I will grab a i7 before they are gone. I could use the i3 elsewhere anyway!

Thanks a ton

smorizio · May 4, 2013

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/N-Series-N500-N300-Chassis,22363.html

Someone Somewhere · May 4, 2013

You can't use Haswell on any 7-series board - the new Haswell-capable boards will be out in a month or so.

g-unit1111 · May 4, 2013

Someone Somewhere :

That may be but there's a *HUGE* selection of case manufacturers that no one should ever purchase - Apevia, Raidmax, Xion, Xclio, and Ultra - avoid these brands like you would avoid the plague. Truly awful, crappy, poorly made and very poor quality construction.

An i3 won't bottleneck a GTX 660TI. The term "bottleneck" gets thrown around a lot and the definition gets misconstrued. The only thing that really bottlenecks builds anymore is usually the primary hard drive.

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