- Jun 30, 2013
- 31
- 2
- 18,535
Just got back from vacation, & both my laptops got fried in a lightning storm. I was saving up for a monster gaming machine, but now I'm forced to expedite, only on a bit more of a budget.
My budget is now on the low-end (I am trying for under $900), but flexible if there is upgradeability in the components. I've already got a monitor (1680x1050), mouse, keyboard, speakers, full-size case, & optical drive. Also, the wife is clearing the budget for home PC portion, so the GPU will most likely come in "gift" form, but not part of the sub $900 budget.
The main purpose of this PC is for simple home use (MS Office, web browsing, etc - already tired of using my droid for everything ), but I'm hoping to crank out some BF4, Assassins Creed, & other games on high/ultra in my free time.
I will need a new OS, & I'm sure I would be more comfortable with Win 7 over 8, but I'm up for recommendations for gaming PC.
I live in Kansas, a few short hours from a Microcenter pick-up, but I'm not adverse from ordering off Amazon or Newegg.
I think I've settled on an Intel CPU, & the i5-3570k seems like a solid bang/$ chip. I've never messed with OC'ing, but I like having the option should I need it in the future. That being said, I'd rather go ahead & spend a few extra $ on an aftermarket CPU cooler now.
Other than budget and gaming capabilities, my aim would be for low noise, and efficiency. I definitely want an SSD, & probably looking at an extra 2TB HDD.
GPU recommendations are welcome: something high-end around $300 now that I can SLI/Xfire down the road when I need to. & after prices have hopefully dropped a bit.
So, with the i5-3570k: $190
http://www.microcenter.com/product/388577/Core_i5_3570K_34GHz_Socket_LGA_1155_Boxed_Processor
250GB SSD: $180
ttp://www.microcenter.com/product/402604/840_Series_MZ-7TD250BW_250GB_SATA_60Gb-s_25_Internal_Solid_State_Drive_(SSD)
2TB HDD: $100
http://www.microcenter.com/product/383892/Barracuda_2TB_7,200_RPM_SATA_60gb-s_35_Internal_Hard_Drive_SBD2000101
OS: +/- $100
...that leaves around $400 for a decent, upgradeable, SLI-able mobo, RAM, efficient PSU, & anything else I'm forgetting.
Thanks in advance, all the support in other areas of this forum have helped tremendously in catching me up to speed as I've been overseas for the last few years fighting terrorism, & finally now have an opportunity to get back to my gaming roots.
-criz
My budget is now on the low-end (I am trying for under $900), but flexible if there is upgradeability in the components. I've already got a monitor (1680x1050), mouse, keyboard, speakers, full-size case, & optical drive. Also, the wife is clearing the budget for home PC portion, so the GPU will most likely come in "gift" form, but not part of the sub $900 budget.
The main purpose of this PC is for simple home use (MS Office, web browsing, etc - already tired of using my droid for everything ), but I'm hoping to crank out some BF4, Assassins Creed, & other games on high/ultra in my free time.
I will need a new OS, & I'm sure I would be more comfortable with Win 7 over 8, but I'm up for recommendations for gaming PC.
I live in Kansas, a few short hours from a Microcenter pick-up, but I'm not adverse from ordering off Amazon or Newegg.
I think I've settled on an Intel CPU, & the i5-3570k seems like a solid bang/$ chip. I've never messed with OC'ing, but I like having the option should I need it in the future. That being said, I'd rather go ahead & spend a few extra $ on an aftermarket CPU cooler now.
Other than budget and gaming capabilities, my aim would be for low noise, and efficiency. I definitely want an SSD, & probably looking at an extra 2TB HDD.
GPU recommendations are welcome: something high-end around $300 now that I can SLI/Xfire down the road when I need to. & after prices have hopefully dropped a bit.
So, with the i5-3570k: $190
http://www.microcenter.com/product/388577/Core_i5_3570K_34GHz_Socket_LGA_1155_Boxed_Processor
250GB SSD: $180
ttp://www.microcenter.com/product/402604/840_Series_MZ-7TD250BW_250GB_SATA_60Gb-s_25_Internal_Solid_State_Drive_(SSD)
2TB HDD: $100
http://www.microcenter.com/product/383892/Barracuda_2TB_7,200_RPM_SATA_60gb-s_35_Internal_Hard_Drive_SBD2000101
OS: +/- $100
...that leaves around $400 for a decent, upgradeable, SLI-able mobo, RAM, efficient PSU, & anything else I'm forgetting.
Thanks in advance, all the support in other areas of this forum have helped tremendously in catching me up to speed as I've been overseas for the last few years fighting terrorism, & finally now have an opportunity to get back to my gaming roots.
-criz
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