need help buying parts for a mid-low range gaming PC

Inkorperated · May 17, 2013

Hi all, I'm looking for a few parts in the mid-low price range. These will be purchased within the next two weeks. I'd like to play games, record video, and stream a little on this computer. My budget is around $360.

I don't need an OS or monitor. These are the parts I still need to purchase and would like help deciding on(going to list parts I already have/ordered to give a better feel of the setup):

Case - ??? (mid tower $40-$60)

RAM - ??? (8 gb $50-70$)

HDD - ??? (internal 500gb or 1tb[on sale] $50-$80)

GPU - ??? (150-175$)

CPU - i5 3570k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

MOBO - Asrock Z77 Extreme4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

PSU - Rosewill HIVE 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182132

This is my first build so I'd like a newb friendly case.

I'm currently using 1280x960 resolution on an old costco monitor and will be upgrading to a 1920x1080 one soon.

I'm comfortable with ordering from Newegg, Amazon, or picking up parts at the local MicroCenter(I live in Denver, Colorado).

I will not be overclocking and I might SLI/Crossfire in the future.

I'd like to use this computer to start playing modern/upcoming games(Arma2, Arma3, GTA5, War Thunder)

All help is greatly appreciated.

Jack Revenant · May 17, 2013

RAM: Corsair Vengeance Low Profile: http://us.ncix.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=62281&vpn=CML8GX3M2A1600C9B&manufacture=Corsair $63.99
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB: http://www.outletpc.com/mb1752.html?utm_source=mb1752&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=pcpartpicker&utm_content=Seagate%2B-%2BHard%20Drives%20%26%20SSD%20%3E%20Desktop%20SATA%20Drives $67.19
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 Black.Orange (other colours are available): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146092&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID= $69.99
GPU: ASUS GTX660 DC20-2GDS: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=AS-660DC2O&c=CJ $191.98

Slightly over budget (about $8 over the maximum, taking all your ranges together), but excellent parts.

Inkorperated · May 17, 2013

Jack Revenant :

Thanks for the reply, that case looks sick but is a little pricey. I just missed out on the $165 pny gtx 660 on newegg so bringing up that card made me cry a little inside.

Jack Revenant · May 17, 2013

Inkorperated :

Jack Revenant :

Thanks for the reply, that case looks sick but is a little pricey. I just missed out on the $165 pny gtx 660 on newegg so bringing up that card made me cry a little inside.

What's your total budget? I was estimating based on the total of all your ranges there, but I can come up with something, given a more specific number.

ksham · May 17, 2013

Why buy a K-series CPU and not overclock? That's like buying a Ferrari and drive it in 40 mph limit roads.

Jack Revenant · May 17, 2013

ksham :

Good catch. I didn't see that before.

OP, if we knock that down to an i5-3470 and a ASRock H77, you could almost certainly afford what I linked. More, potentially.

Inkorperated · May 17, 2013

ksham :

I got that and the mobo for 260$ at microcenter, they didn't have the locked version as part of the deal at the time.

Inkorperated · May 17, 2013

Jack Revenant :

Inkorperated :

What's your total budget? I was estimating based on the total of all your ranges there, but I can come up with something, given a more specific number.

Yeah sorry, the budget was the only thing I forgot. Added it to the OP.

Jack Revenant · May 17, 2013

Inkorperated :

How about if we drop the Phantom 410 (and crush my poor, NZXT-loving heart) and use a Corsair 200R (http://us.ncix.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=76376&vpn=CC-9011023-WW&manufacture=Corsair&promoid=1079)?
It's a worse case, no doubt about that (it's rated lower for both cooling and noise), but it's functional, and it will allow you to get the 660 without going more than $5 or so over budget.

Edit: Heck, if you use the RAM or HDD from ksham's build, you can stay under budget.

ksham · May 17, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($191.60 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec Three Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case ($32.50 @ Newegg)
Total: $345.08
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Inkorperated · May 17, 2013

$45 for the 200r is really nice and I like ksham's ram/hdd. If I wasn't waiting on a paycheck I'd make use of the promo on the 7870.

Jack Revenant · May 17, 2013

Inkorperated :

I tend to prefer AMD, but in this case I would tend to go for the 660. I haven't heard great things about XFX's coolers, while ASUS's have a quite good reputation.

Edit: A good middle-ground, mayhaps: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202025&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Inkorperated · May 17, 2013

Jack Revenant :

Yeah I like the benchmarks on the 660. I'll probably wait a while and see if that PNY card gets restocked. Thanks for your help guys!

ksham · May 17, 2013

Jack Revenant :

XFX's DD isn't the best cooler, but it's decent. And you get two free games.

Jack Revenant · May 17, 2013

ksham :

True, but I found a Sapphire one for about the same price with two...times two free games!

Jack Revenant · May 17, 2013

Inkorperated :

Jack Revenant :

Yeah I like the benchmarks on the 660. I'll probably wait a while and see if that PNY card gets restocked. Thanks for your help guys!

Our pleasure. Happy gaming!

ksham · May 17, 2013

Yeah, it's a great find.

I didn't say your Sapphire was bad.

Jack Revenant · May 17, 2013

ksham :

Oh, I know.

I'm just an overly competitive person in general.

Incidentally, is all Crucial RAM that cheap? I've been pretty much stuck on Corsair, but that's a pretty massive price gap.

Inkorperated · May 17, 2013

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-Blitz-Tower-Seasonic-Supply/dp/B00ATLIJ4E/ref=sr_1_38?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1368732130&sr=1-38
I know the PSU is amazing but is the case alright?
Might send back my rosewill 650w if I can get this.
Nevermind, this was priced at $91 but I guess it was on sale for a very short amount of time.

Jack Revenant · May 17, 2013

Inkorperated :

I'm afraid that I don't know that case, though the fan options are acceptable. $150 seems like quite a lot to pay, though, given that you could get a 620w SeaSonic S12II and a NZXT Phantom 410 for $135 or so.

Inkorperated · May 17, 2013

Jack Revenant :

Yeah I swear I just saw it for $91, that's why I posted the link.

Jack Revenant · May 17, 2013

Inkorperated :

Jack Revenant :

Yeah I swear I just saw it for $91, that's why I posted the link.

Wait, did you find someplace that sells it for $91, or did you misread? If the former, I would go for it. If the latter, unfortunate.

Inkorperated · May 17, 2013

Jack Revenant :

Inkorperated :

Wait, did you find someplace that sells it for $91, or did you misread? If the former, I would go for it. If the latter, unfortunate.

It was posted on a subreddit for PC part sales and it was advertised as $91 but I guess they ended the sale.

Jack Revenant · May 17, 2013

Inkorperated :

Jack Revenant :

It was posted on a subreddit for PC part sales and it was advertised as $91 but I guess they ended the sale.

Well, that's unfortunate. However, you should still consider sending back your Hive 650w, if possible. Rosewill is not exactly one of the great and the good of PSUs.

Inkorperated · May 17, 2013

Jack Revenant :

Inkorperated :

Well, that's unfortunate. However, you should still consider sending back your Hive 650w, if possible. Rosewill is not exactly one of the great and the good of PSUs.

Hmm never heard anything bad about them and the only reason I got it was because of the $50 pricetag.

need help buying parts for a mid-low range gaming PC

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