1000 Gaming Pc

[nami_1788]

Wanted to get a mid end gaming PC that's around $1000
and here is my list for discussion.

XFX HD-695X-CNFC Radeon HD 6950 Video Card - 2GB - $279.97
4GB DDR3 RAM - 1600MHZ (X2) - $51.94
500-Watt Power Supply - $49.97
Intel Core i5-2500 Quad Core 3.30 GHz - $219.97
ASUS P8P67 LE B3 Intel P67 Motherboard - $139.97
Hard Drive - 1TB, 3.5", 7200 RPM, SATA - $139.99
Phantom Full-Tower Case - $129.97

Total = CAD $1,011.78 = USD $ 993.98

Is there anything I can adjust to make it to I7 without suffering too much that's still around $1000?

 

[jackofhearts495]

Hmm... you can get a lot more bang for your buck here, and your priorities are a little off.

The CPU's good (I have the same card). Nowadays, with RAM as cheap as it is, it's worth picking up 8gb of 1333MHz or 1600MHz (whatever you can find) for less than $40 (check newegg.com).

500W is also underpowered; it may get by, but not for long. Invest in a quality PSU from a company like Corsair, Seasonic, Antec, etc. I think Seasonic sells a great 630W for $70ish.

Definitely make sure you get the 2500K, not the regular 2500. It's only a few dollars more, but it gives you plenty of overclocking headroom in case you ever want to overclock.

The motherboard also may be a little high end for your build, but that's more up to you. I'd go with ASRock's Gen 3 board for around $125 (PCIe 3, Ivy Bridge support, etc.).

As for the hard drive, think about whether or not you need a full terabyte. With the prices as high as they are, you could save quite a bit by downgrading to 500gb or 750gb.

Finally, the case is overkill. You can find plenty of fantastic cases for $100 or less; you don't need a full tower. Find a Lian Li or Fractal Design case (I highly recommend the Fractal Design Arc Midi).

And don't worry about the i7 (I'm assuming you mean the 2600K). It's overkill for a $1000 rig; the 2500k is ample, especially if you overclock it.

Good luck!