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KevinSevenSeven

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Jul 5, 2013
15
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10,510
I'm trying to build my first gaming PC, the problem is I have no experience and don't have a lot of money to throw at a PC. I've been doing some research and have compiled a list of the parts I think I need to get, the problem is I have no experience and therefore don't know if its any good.

Here's my list:
Case: Roswell ATX Challenger-U3
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
GPU: Radeon HD 7850
Motherboard: GA 970A DS3
Memory: 8gb DDR3 1333mhz
CPU: FX 8320 AM3+
Hard Drive: Samsung 840 series 120GB SATA III SSD
Optical Drive: Lite-On 24x CD/DVD Burner
PSU: Antec 450W ATX 12V v2.3

Please tell me if that computer would be able to play Skyrim, Civilization 5, Stronghold 3, Starcraft 2 (including all current and future expansions), and Battlefield 4 (I don't know if the System Requirements for that are out yet, but the Alpha ones are so it might be close) at decent/lower end setting.

Also, I repeat that this is my first foray into the world of computer building and my only research was youtube videos and tech articles, so if I made a stupid mistake or forgot or don't need something please point it out.

As I said before I don't have an unlimited supply of cash, so if there is any way that I could lower the price of the computer while still running those games, or can upgrade a piece without too much extra money, please tell me.

Thanks!
 
Solution
Swordkd
If you order within the next 40 minutes on some parts:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6350 3.9GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Kingston Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ TigerDirect)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.03 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze...
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KevinSevenSeven

Honorable
Jul 5, 2013
15
0
10,510


I probably will be using the stock cooler as I don't really know much about it, is there a better way to cool it that wouldn't be too expensive?
 
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Swordkd

Swordkd

Splendid
Oct 3, 2012
2,795
1
21,965
Give us a general budget. We can get you the most bang for your buck. The first thing about your build I'd recommend is that you lose the SSD as your only storage drive. Save the money, get at least a 500gb drive. Down the road you can add an SSD for the loading performance benefits, but to start with you want to save the money and spend it where you will notice it more.
 
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Swordkd

Swordkd

Splendid
Oct 3, 2012
2,795
1
21,965
This is what you have planned out, generally.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($144.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($96.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($159.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($38.18 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $718.08
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-05 02:07 EDT-0400)

So with that as a budget, lets see what we can do.
 
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KevinSevenSeven

Honorable
Jul 5, 2013
15
0
10,510

In a perfect world I would like to get the price to around $600, but I don't want to sacrifice too much to get there. I am, however, perfectly fine with playing games on lower settings

EDIT: To clarify, by "not sacrifice too much" I mean that I want to be able to play games that are coming out in the next few months, even at lower settings, without having to upgrade my pc
 
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lxxjordan23xxl

lxxjordan23xxl

Honorable
Jul 6, 2012
220
0
10,760
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($96.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($38.18 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $683.08
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-05 02:16 EDT-0400)

A little cheaper with more focus on the graphics card.
 
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Swordkd

Swordkd

Splendid
Oct 3, 2012
2,795
1
21,965
If you order within the next 40 minutes on some parts:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6350 3.9GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Kingston Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ TigerDirect)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.03 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $671.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-05 02:23 EDT-0400)

Even in your build you had at least one item that ends it's sale after 7-04, so this is what I'd buy RIGHT NOW. If you are waiting a few days even, we'll see what we can get ya then. The deals change very often, and sometimes some things are just too good to pass up(the PSU i listed is one).

:edit: For games you'll get better performance out of this CPU than even the 8 core 8320. If you can swing it in your budget, don't drop below DDR3 1600. Again, if you can swing it get the 7870ghz over the 7850. Cases are mainly a matter of preference, but I listed one that has decent cable management and still is less expensive. You'll want to buy an after market cooler down the road(Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo), but you can use the stock one for a while. Again, an SSD is great, but don't get it as your only system drive. 120gb minus the 20% you have to leave empty for performance isn't a lot of space. Save the money, get a normal HDD and upgrade to SSD down the road.
 
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