First time build: $700-800

[dudka]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to PC gaming (consoles for most of my life) and I would like to build a new PC. I currently am using an old Intel Centrino laptop from college for web surfing, so I'm sure anything new would be a tremendous upgrade. I have done tons of reading the past month so I have some knowledge but, figured the forum was the place to go.

Approximate Purchase Date: July 24, 2011

Budget Range: $700-800 after rebates.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, surfing the internet. No editing or movie watching or even Microsoft Word. Finally finished my Masters and I'm done with typing papers!

Parts Not Required: Mouse.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg, amazon, tigerdirect

Country of Origin: U.S.A.

Parts Preferences: I'm indifferent to Intel or AMD.

Overclocking: No, but I would be willing to learn if it's a make or break type of thing.

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: I'm not sure what is acceptable. Currently I have a 15.6" laptop, so I am hoping for a 20" or so screen... whatever resolution I would assume is adequate. Sorry.

Additional Comments: I'm new to PC gaming. All I really do is surf the web and I know any new system will be light years ahead of the Centrino I'm using now. It will be nice to finally have a PC that can actually play ESPN and CNN clips at a fast speed. Also, I'll still be using a console for many games (all FPS), if that matters. The system does not have to be "upgradeable" as I need a new PC anyways and if I like PC gaming I'd be more than happy to revamp many parts in the coming years.

Thanks!

 

[genghiskron]

So you need a monitor and OS, and thats part of the $800 budget?

 

[dudka]

I will need a monitor and OS. I do have a 23" Samsung TV that doubles as a monitor but, I would have to then replace a TV instead of buying a monitor... so, I figure a monitor would be cheaper.

 

[flyboy86]

Well a monitor and an OS are about $100 each so that lowers your build money to $500-$600.

What games were you wanting to play on the PC?

 

[dudka]

Well a monitor and an OS are about $100 each so that lowers your build money to $500-$600.

What games were you wanting to play on the PC?

What triggered me into thinking of building a gaming pc was Witcher 2. I can appreciate that it is a specific game that can stress systems and I'm not looking to crush it. Other than that; mmo and rpg would be my gaming forum. Anything that couldn't be done on the PC hopefully could be played on the PS3.

I was unsure if i3 or phenom IIx4 would be overkill or just what the doctor ordered.... same for gpu.

 

[flyboy86]

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor bundled with: ASUS M4A88T-M LE AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD =188
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.681757

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 =46
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit =182
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

NZXT GAMMA Classic Series GAMA-001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case =42
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061

Antec EarthWatts EA-500D Green 500W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply =73
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4EG HD155UI 1.5TB 5400 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive = 60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152287

ASUS 24X DVD Burner = 26
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

HANNspree By Hanns-G HF225DPB Black 21.5" 5ms Full HD WideScreen LCD Monitor w/Speakers 250 cd/m2 X-Contrast 30,000:1 (1000:1 =120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824262011

Didn't include keyboard

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM = 100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Total with shipping w/out any rebates =$837

 

[dudka]

Thanks. Looks great.

 

[manormortal]

If your a student you can get Win7 Professional for $29.99

http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/us/windows/buynow/default.aspx

 

[need4speeds]

It's from a 1000 build. 2500k/6950 crossfire system. it was still in my newegg cart,
I selected a decent budget card instead but the other parts are the same.

-The 850 watt KINGWIN was swapped for the antec400 watt.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811322020
$34.99 Free Shipping Sentey Black Box Series BX2-4284 Mid Tower Computer Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138308
$79.99 Biostar TH67B LGA 1155 Intel H67

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.679788
$52.48 LG DVD±RW SuperMulti Drive Black SATA Model GH22NS50 Bulk - OEM
bundled with:1x Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA
(There is a combo for $72 that has the 1tb seagate instead)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
$219.99 i5-2500K

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146740
$34.99 $19.99 after mail-in rebate Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
$99.99 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM Free security software

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236050
$149.99 ASUS VW224U Black 22" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ HDCP Support 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 5000:1) Built in Speakers
(1680 x 1050 16:10 ratio, 1080p is 16:9 which is too short on a desktop, and the lower 1680x1050 gives the smaller 800 shader 6770 a bit of a break so your frame rates will be still ok in games)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102941
$117.99 Radeon HD 6770 1GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371045
$40.99 Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply

Grand Total:* $831.40 ($781.40 after mail in rebates)

 

[dudka]

Nice. I was wondering if I could drop down to the HD 6770 and still play games on moderate settings. Hopefully, as most will be mmo type.

 

[need4speeds]

The 6770 is about the same as the 4870,5770 if you are looking at gaming benchmark charts. The 6790,5830,4890 are close but a bit faster. The 4850 and 5750 are a bit slower but close.

Going to a larger power supply like the kingwin850 i had before would let you run crossfire 6770's later on if it proves to be too slow for some games you are running. It will upgrade it from 800 shaders to 1600 shaders with crossfire.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121069
$79.99 KINGWIN ABT-850MM 850W


- Crossfire wont work well with the antec450.

-Actually a pair of 6770's is pretty cheap for 1600 shaders. Won't that match the 6970 or at least the 6950?
I never thought of that before, but that combo is a bit cheaper than a single 6950.