First time pc builder/ gamer, Leaving consoles behind. Need help/ opinions help a girl out please :)

Forte EXE

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Jun 7, 2013
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Basically iv ALWAYS been a console gamer iv owned every console ever made including handhelds....With that being said I'm very disgusted with the xbox one and ps4 so far....So iv decided to spend the 800-900 the new consoles will cost on a pc instead. Now keep in mind I'm used to xbox graphics and fps which if my research is correct falls around 30 FPS so really anything around there from games and ill be happy.

NOW i also would like this PC to last me a while you know 3-5 years before needing to upgrade anything i wanna get my moneys worth. IV researched overclocking and while it makes the PC run better and faster iv read it can shorten its lifespan so part of me kinda dosen't want to OC as well as i have no idea how to do it and if done wrong i hear it can trash your system.... But a coworker of mine recommend I still get a set up to be able to OC so later down the road were the i5 3470 would be pushing its limits i could start to OC the i5 3570k and get some extra life out of it before upgrading to compete with the current cpus at the time.

The 3570k build is a lil out of my budget i was hoping to be around 850 dollars and after mail in rebates the 3570k sits at $885 its $925 before the rebates. Were the 3470 build is $805 after rebates and $845 before rebates. So i ask you is the like 80 dollars extra now plus the cost of a aftermarket heat-sink later worth it for the 3570k and the ability to overclock later down the road?

I5-3570k build - http://pcpartpicker.com/user/ForteEXE/saved/1Ip9

I5 3470k build - http://pcpartpicker.com/user/ForteEXE/saved/1IRa

OR i could put the 50 dollars extra i have in my I5 3470 build into getting a 7870 instead of the 7850 and also get another free game crisis 3 all for $852 after rebates $892 before rebates.

I5 3470 with HD 7870 - http://pcpartpicker.com/user/ForteEXE/saved/1J5d
 

rex4235

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Jun 9, 2012
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The 3570k is the better of the two. If you dont plan on overclocking, then you dont need a "K" or Z77 chipset. Seeing how you're admittedly new to PC gaming, let me explain one thing... The degradation rate of hardware is generally high in PCs. You do have one thing going for your 3-5 year goal though; you are not looking to max out games.

Most people come here with a build in mind but preface it with, " I want the $xxxx machine to last for 5 years playing games on ultra". thats just not going to happen. Unlike consoles that have a unified, non-upgradable hardware set, PC tech is constantly evolving. Thus game developers are constantly upping the production values of their titles. Since no one can tell what the future entails, we can only gauge a PC's "Future Resistance" on what the trends are. You may be able to get a few years out of a machine, but to put a requirement like you have on a build is unrealistic.
 

fulge1638

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I have a 3570k (no oc) with a msi 7870 and get 60+ fps on ultra at 1600x900 on the games I play (skyrim, bioshock, portal...) if that helps.
Also if you can go to a microcenter, you can get the 3570k for 170$ and get 40 more of any mobo... If you did that that'd make room in your budget for the 7870 over the 7850. If not, I would go for the 3470 and 7870...
 

firo40

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Id go with the 7870 over the 7850 if you can and if you dont know very much about computers I wouldnt overclock in the future chances are youll hurt your system just go with the non K version and a H77 motherboard save yourself some money
 

Forte EXE

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Thats what scares me the most is hurting my computer by ocing cuz even if its done right it still shortens its lifespan and most likely i wont get it right the first time i ever oc so i dont think i wana chance ocing ill just go with the 3470 thanks guys

And i considered a microcenter its about 2 hours from me 125 miles round trips thats 4 hours and 250 miles with current gas prices and knowing what my car gets per mile iv worked it out to costing like 40-50 in gas and id only save 60 by going to a micro center so after gas its a 10-20 dollar savings not worth the drive in my opinion
 

Fulgurant

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Nov 29, 2012
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Also, depending on which state you call home, the sales' tax thrown on top of that could make the Microcenter deal more expensive than what you'd get at the generic online vendor.

Not worth it.
 

TheCowman

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MSI 7850 1GB is currently the best price/performance GPU you can buy. I'd recommend it over the 7870 for that reason.
 

TheCowman

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H77. Be careful when choosing motherboard. Intel changes their socket so frequently. (The socket is where the CPU fits into the computer). For the 3470/3570K it's an LGA1155 socket, so you have to find a H77 LGA1155 motherboard.