Gaming Build around $700

[Bugzilla3]

Approximate Purchase Date: Middle of August when I go back to school. (Don't want Dad to know I wasted money on a computer.)

Budget Range: Preferably $700 including shipping and before rebates. (You can go over if you think it's worth it.)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: I am building this more/less to have a bad ass computer. If I game it's usually just WoW, which I know I don't need the parts I am about to list but I still want them so my computer is faster than my friends'. The main reason I'll use it for is school work and music.

Parts Not Required: Monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I usually just use Newegg but am open to other trusted sites.

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: i5 2500k and either a 6870 or GTX 560.

Overclocking: Yes to about 4GHZ. Nothing too impressive, just faster but still perfectly stable.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in the future one day, but most likely I'd just buy a better single card.

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Noise isn't really an issue, the only thing I care about is I want the case to be basic and bland. I don't want a window on the side or glowing lights. I just want the smallest I can get with good airflow (airflow obviously a lot more important than size) and one that looks like it belongs in an office building.

Parts I have found:

CPU&MOBO Combo: i5 2500k with MSI P67A-G43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.660242
$329.98 +$7.87 shipping-$20 MIB

Case: Antec 300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-042-_-Product
$59.45

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231278&cm_re=gskill_ddr3_1600-_-20-231-278-_-Product
$44.99

Power Supply: XIGAMATEK 600W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815009&cm_re=xigmatec_power_supply-_-17-815-009-_-Product
$59.95+1.99 shipping

Graphics Card: ZOTAC GTX 560
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500206&cm_re=zotac_gtx_560-_-14-500-206-_-Product
$169.99-$20MIB

DVD Burner: LITE-ON
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289&cm_re=lite_on-_-27-106-289-_-Product
$18.99

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 7200RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769&cm_re=western_digital_caviar_blue-_-22-136-769-_-Product
$39.99+$1.99 shipping

PRICE: $734.84 before $40.00 MIB

 

[browsingtheworld]

I've read XK uses the same units for their 400W, 500W and 600W. The 600W unit should still be able to provide the specified wattage but I wouldn't count on it to give you extra juice (though it's probably not needed).

This about this unit:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031&cm_re=neo_eco-_-17-371-031-_-Product

SS base.

 

[Bugzilla3]

Ok thanks, that seems better.

 

[Bugzilla3]

Anyone know of a better case?

 

[browsingtheworld]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&Tpk=antec%20300%20illusion

Same thing with more fans.

 

[Bugzilla3]

Is there any way that I could turn off all those lights on it?

 

[cbrunnem]

yeah cut the power wire to them.
also that cpu uses dual channel ram and the ram you have will only run one channel since you only have one stick.
another thing is you might look at a z68 board. they are better and enable quicksync without needing a hXX series board.

 

[browsingtheworld]

yeah cut the power wire to them.
also that cpu uses dual channel ram and the ram you have will only run one channel since you only have one stick.
another thing is you might look at a z68 board. they are better and enable quicksync without needing a hXX series board.

You mean cut the LEDs off?

Dual channel memory doesn't do anything for games.

H61 supports quicksync (though he probably won't use it).

 

[Bugzilla3]

The RAM is 2x 2GB sticks, I was just lazy and typed 4GB.

 

[Bugzilla3]

I don't know what quicksync is.

 

[Bugzilla3]

OK I just looked it up and I really have no need for it, I never upload videos or burn DVDs.

 

[cbrunnem]

You mean cut the LEDs off?

Dual channel memory doesn't do anything for games.

H61 supports quicksync (though he probably won't use it).

no just cut the wire supplying power to them.

doesnt hurt to have dual channel there.

he want to overclock and choose a p67 board. z68 are about the same cost and are better.

 

[browsingtheworld]

no just cut the wire supplying power to them.

doesnt hurt to have dual channel there.

he want to overclock and choose a p67 board. z68 are about the same cost and are better.

You're right I confused this with another thread. Z68 is a much better choice if for your 2500K.

 

[Bugzilla3]

What is the difference between P67 and Z68?

 

[hafronix]

I'm actually building a computer myself and going for the same budget. I got my final build and it's similar to yours. However my final price is at 711.92 without the 30$ rebate and the 10$ dollar first time customer and 10$ from the RAM.
I went with this:

RAM
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275

OPTICAL
Sony Optiarc disc drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039

HDD
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

CPU
Intel Core i5-2500k Sandy Bridge (I don't plan to dual card)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.660723

MOBO ^^
1155 Intel P67 Sata 6Gb/s

PSU
Antec Gamer Series 520W 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371047

CASE
Raidmax Quantom (has good reviews outside of newegg and it comes with 5 fans) ( edit* sorry didnt catch that you didnt want fancy lights)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156241

VGA
Nvidia GTX 560 (same)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500206

Just thought I would share, I posted on the forum about it not too long ago and this is what the final product was after some discussion with other Tom's users.

All of the items above have free shipping

 

[Why_Me]

FREE SHIPPING for this entire build.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 $59.45 FREE SHIPPING
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371047 $54.99 FREE SHIPPING 10% off with promo code Julsv10, ends 7/31
Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-520 520W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.660723 $304.98 FREE SHIPPING
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
MSI P67A-C43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145339 $39.99 - $29.99 after mail-in rebate card FREE SHIPPING
CORSAIR XMS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2B1600C9

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-3-5-Inch-Internal-HD103SJ/dp/B002MQC0P8/ref=sr_1_1?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1309660529&sr=1-1 $54.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Samsung Desktop Class Spinpoint F3 1 TB SATA 3.0 Gb-s 32 MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare-OEM Drives, HD103SJ

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039 $18.99 FREE SHIPPING
Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model AD-7260S-0B - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500206 $169.99 - $149.99 after mail-in rebate FREE SHIPPING
ZOTAC ZT-50701-10M GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Total: $703.38 before mail in rebates - $673.38 after mail in rebates

 

[Bugzilla3]

Ok thank you, I probably won't ever use SLI so I changed it to the C43 board and also changed the PSU to the Antec 520.

 

[cbrunnem]

z68
http://www.overclock.net/intel-motherboards/1016284-p67-vs-z68.html

 

[Bugzilla3]

Oh OK, I think I'll just stick with the P67-C43 then. Also, doesn anyone know whether RAM at 1600 is better than 1333 gaming wise?

 

[jason35]

Oh OK, I think I'll just stick with the P67-C43 then. Also, doesn anyone know whether RAM at 1600 is better than 1333 gaming wise?

I dont think the speed is huge difference, your memory timings i think make up more than 1333 to 1600. Though i never "officially" looked into it. Though I went with 1600 cause I got 2x2GB pack of PNY XLR8 for 40.99 that come with 20 rebate, thinking about getting another.

 

[Bugzilla3]

Best answer selected by Bugzilla3.