New Gaming PC Build Help ($700)

WheresWilmo

Reputable
Mar 10, 2014
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Here's the build for the PC I currently have.

PCPartPicker part list

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($30.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.97 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 60GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($58.48 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($205.66 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($84.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: BenQ GW2450 24.0" Monitor ($159.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $958.01

I'm completely new at PC affairs and this is the first build I have completed, although I have done a fair amount of research on this one. The build is basically $700 dollars, but I need a monitor and operating system to go along with it. Does anyone have any advice on this build? (Better price alternatives, compatibility issues, etc.)
 
I shaved some money off where I could, minus the monitor it's about $700. (monitors aren't typically considered in the system "budget" because of how expensive they are and how much they will impact the build)
I took out the SSD as it seriously will only improve your loading times by minimal amounts. SSDs ONLY improve loading times, no other type of game performance. (If you can't wait 20 seconds for your computer to boot you have bigger issues than an SSD could ever solve)
You don't need ram that fast for gaming so I scaled the speed back as well to save some dollars.
And I dropped your GFX down a tier (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html) to save some money as well.
Scaled back your MOBO as well, but this might hinder future upgrade options of dual GFX cards, but dual GFX are only really necesary for dual+monitors (I have no issues running my 2 24 inch 1080ps and a 60" hdmi TV on a single HIS IceQ Turbo Radeon HD 7850 2GB
256-bit GDDR5, 1080p blurays on the TV and Skyrim on one of the monitors at the same time. (skyrim doesnt do dual screen, the movies artifact a bit but only because the mouse (even though it's locked inside skyrim) goes over to the tv and brings up the control menu for the movie)

I added an optical drive because it's hard to install an OS without one (but if you have an old optical drive there isn't a dire need to buy a new one). With the smaller MOBO you MAY be able to go with a smaller and cheaper case, but the case is all about design and it's all about what looks best to you.

And a tip about buying the monitor, hold off on it and setup a price alert on PartPicker for monitors, you might be able to snag a cheaper one that's better for gaming. Your BenQ is only 5ms response time (which is actually perfectly fine) but true gaming monitors are 1-2ms, and you might be able to get one sale.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($32.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: MSI 760GMA-P34(FX) Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($57.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: BenQ GW2450 24.0" Monitor ($159.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $860.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-10 17:27 EDT-0400)