Solid i5 2500k-based build for under $ 750?

[uion1715]

Approximate Purchase Date: Next week, preferably Monday.

Budget Range: $ 700 ~ 850 (WITH tax and shipping, as I live in California)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Web surfing, Watching/editing HD video (not Blu-Ray though), programming?, light gaming (see above), editing photos

Parts Not Required: Umm... Monitor, keyboard, and a mouse

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Fry's is my number one choice, as I'll be going there on Monday to buy some parts for my builds. Amazon (as hectic as its interface is) is my second, as I don't have to pay tax/shipping there, and Newegg is my third.

Country of Origin: U.S.

Parts Preferences: Intel i5-2500k, P67 Motherboard from ASUS/MSI (Although I like ASRock, Fry's don't have any ASRock 1155-based motherboard), Case and 400~500 watt PSU from companies with a solid brand reputation, Samsung hard drive (as I heard is much better than WD/Seagate speed-wise), and solid, under $ 60 video card

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1440 x 900

Additional Comments: This is the first build I'm doing, and although I will do light gaming (Starcraft 2 high/max at 1440 x 900 resolution is the maximum I would like to push my video card before I upgrade my monitor in a year or two), I would like my build to have as maximum computing power as possible.

Parts that I'm considering:

Corsair 4GB (2 X 2GB) XMS-series DDR3-1333 RAM - $ 30 w/rebate from Fry's

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145251

Antec Earthwatts Green 500W PSU - $ 40 w/rebate from Fry's

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035&cm_re=antec_earthwatts-_-17-371-035-_-Product

Lite-On 24X DVD burner - $ 15 w/rebate from Fry's

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106334

Intel i5 2500K CPU - $ 220

http://www.frys.com/product/6487382?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB - $ 65

http://www.frys.com/product/6473452?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

 

[eloric]

Do you have a Micro Center near you? What is your sales tax rate?

Core i5 2500K for $180 plus tax For a $40 savings it is probalby worth a trip if you are remotely close.

Here is a good price on a video card: Sapphire Radeon HD4670 for $60 plus shipping ($45 after rebate)

If you are going to overclock: Cooler Master Hyper 212 plus Cooler for $30 plus tax.

Samsung Spinpoint F3 is not much better than Wester Digital Caviar Black, in fact it is a little bit slower. The difference is that Samsung did not jack up their prices like WD. I know Newegg is your #3 choice for vendors, but they have $15 discount, if it is not sold out. F3 1TB for $55 plus tax

Since you want to overclock, you need a P67 motherboard.

Here is an ASRock mobo from Newegg: ASRock P67 PRO3 LGA 1155 for $127 plus tax

The next cheapest, that appears in stock, is this: MSI LGA 1155 P67 ATX Motherboard P67A-C45 for $140 plus shipping

You want a case to put all these nice new toys in? Cooler Master Elite 430 for $40 plus tax This is a decent budget priced case.

Wow, that total comes to $562 after rebates plus tax or shipping. Not bad for a solid build. You could move up in a case and beef up your graphics to a 5750/5770 and still be within budget, even if you don't have access to a Micro Center.

 

[uion1715]

I do have Micro Center nearby... about 20 minutes further from Fry's though... Is stock cooler good enough to push CPU to 4.0 GHz? I think that's good enough for me.. Is Cooler Master Elite 430 better than let's say, Antec Three Hundred? I know it cost $ 20 extra, but I would like to have my case as solid as possible. Anyway, thanks for the advice .

 

[eloric]

I am pretty sure you can reach 4 Ghz with a stock cooler, but it would be HOT, and not necessarily something to do every day.

The Antec 300 is a good case, but I like this one a lot more in that price range: LIAN LI Lancool for $64. If you look at the motherboard tray of the Lian Li, you will see cut outs for cable management, and another for installing your heat sink after the motherboard is installed in the case. Makes for an easier build, and cleaner cable management.

Its not too late to pick up that hard drive, if you have not done so already. They are still in stock, but the promotion code expires today.

 

[uion1715]

I am pretty sure you can reach 4 Ghz with a stock cooler, but it would be HOT, and not necessarily something to do every day.

The Antec 300 is a good case, but I like this one a lot more in that price range: LIAN LI Lancool for $64. If you look at the motherboard tray of the Lian Li, you will see cut outs for cable management, and another for installing your heat sink after the motherboard is installed in the case. Makes for an easier build, and cleaner cable management.

Its not too late to pick up that hard drive, if you have not done so already. They are still in stock, but the promotion code expires today.

That case looks really solid... toolless case would definitely help me in building my first computer...

Well, thanks for the advice! I think I'll probably go with what you have with very few modifications... It's way cheaper with room for me to go to GTX 460 if I really want to (as it sells for $ 90 after rebate now at Fry's...).

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002G1YPH0/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0003H4GXE4AEQK63TDKR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846 $26.75 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master RR-B10-212P-G1 Hyper 212 Plus 775/1156/1366/AMD/AM2/AM3 Universal Direct Contact Heat-Pipe 120mm Fan CPU Cooler

 

[uion1715]

Best answer selected by uion1715.

 

[Maziar]

This topic has been closed by Maziar