First build: (sanity check) sub $700 Intel CPU/AMD GPU

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adamlug

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Oct 20, 2009
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Gaming/general usage PC build. I play World of Tanks and Skyrim, so Intel's single thread performance over AMD is important to me. I'd like to run games at high/ultra quality @ 1920x1080 for at least the next 2 years with this build, so a solid GPU was important. But more importantly, I'd like to bring it below $700. I hope this is a reasonable expectation. Also, how upgradeable will this PC be?

Is there anything I don't need below (nix the CPU cooler?)? Is the motherboard overkill? I don't know much about the various motherboard brands/models/options and obviously this is not an overclock setup (3350P).

Anything else weird or inefficient about this build? Please critique, thank you.


PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1KfSK
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1KfSK/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1KfSK/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($175.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($95.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($73.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Professional (OEM) (64-bit) (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $740.56
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-03 01:53 EDT-0400)
 
Solution
Novuake
A B75 chipset board will serve you just as well and save you a little. Those Ripjaws are a little pointless, a set of G.skills at 1866 cost the same.
And finally, the CX series is not something i often suggest, at least not for systems with decent high end cards.
Also a Xigmatic Gaia performs just as well as the CM 212 EVO at 10$ cheaper.

So this would be my suggestion : Saves you about 60$. WHICH you should spend on some storage space or that sort of thing. Or maybe a faster clocked HD7950(if you do not plan to OC yourself)

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Kgby
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Kgby/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Kgby/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P...
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Novuake

Novuake

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Aug 27, 2011
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A B75 chipset board will serve you just as well and save you a little. Those Ripjaws are a little pointless, a set of G.skills at 1866 cost the same.
And finally, the CX series is not something i often suggest, at least not for systems with decent high end cards.
Also a Xigmatic Gaia performs just as well as the CM 212 EVO at 10$ cheaper.

So this would be my suggestion : Saves you about 60$. WHICH you should spend on some storage space or that sort of thing. Or maybe a faster clocked HD7950(if you do not plan to OC yourself)

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Kgby
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Kgby/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Kgby/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($175.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA SD1283 56.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI B75MA-P33 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($58.29 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($69.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Professional (OEM) (64-bit) (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $684.19
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-03 02:22 EDT-0400)
 
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Solution
K

kulmnar

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Dec 15, 2011
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Your build may not work because the Asrock z77 Pro3 motherboard may require a BIOS update to work with the i5-3350P CPU. Just replace the CPU with the i5-3570K and you will be good (this will raise the price though). If you want a cheaper CPU, pick the 3350 or 3450 (do not pick the P versions). Other than the CPU, do you need a DVD drive
 
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ImPain

ImPain

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Aug 2, 2013
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If you want to run current games (like the ones you listed and others) in High/Ultra, maybe you should increase to an 7970 or Gtx 770 to be more confortable for the next 2 years. Although it is difficult to predict if in two years you will be able to max new games still since it is moving so fast, but in high settings at least yes definitely.
 
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