Gaming pc for 800$

[neotran]

I am hosting a lan center and I'm looking to renew some of my oldest desktops.

Approximate Purchase Date: End of august

Budget Range: 800-900$ (without mail-in rebate)

System Usage: The goal is to play 2011-2012 games at medium settings

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: looked at newegg so far

Country of Origin: Canada

Parts Preferences: Looking for an Intel/nvidia combo... But I am still open to good AMD video cards deal

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050

What I got so far:

Antec Sonata III 500 ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - $129.99

GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 - $119.99

Intel Core i5-2300 Sandy Bridge 2.8GHz - $179.99

CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - $44.99

GIGABYTE GV-N56GOC-1GI GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 1GB - $189.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD7502AAEX 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s - $59.99

For now, this build is at 800$ and I'm thinking about switching the core i5 for a i7 2600 but its 120$ bucks that I could use for something more usefull.

Any comment is welcome!

 

[jackspeed]

this is in the prebuilt section so where are you buying from? Are you upgrading your pc? or are you building your pc? and IF you are not using a prebuilt pc the core i5 2500k or 2500 is just as good as the i7 2600/2600k.

 

[neotran]

Thanks a lot for your advices!

I'm from Canada so I'm not in the range of a microcenter but i'll look at to i5 2500 (k just mean a better discrete video card right?) As for now I just looked at newegg... I know I can save 5-10$ at some place but usually the shipping break the savings.

For the case, Got any recommendation? The desktops I have now are XPS 720 (Who are really gaming looking case and sturdy) I know I dont have the budget to get something as big a these ones but I want something clean.

@Jackspeed: Sorry I used the wrong section. I'm building a new pc from start. Anyway to change the section?

 

[jackspeed]

I dont know but I can help you better now that I know you are building a pc K means you can overclock your rig. I will see what i can do with 800

 

[jackspeed]

pcu i5 2500k http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 220
mobo msi z68a-G43 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130614 125
HDD seagate 1 tb http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148764 55
ram 8GB http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314 58
psu antec 650 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371044&cm_sp=Cat_Power_Supplies-_-Spotlight-_-17-371-044 80
Case Antec 300 illusion http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&cm_sp=Cat_Computer_Cases-_-Spotlight-_-11-129-066 60
GPU 6950 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150523 240

Total 838 $40 over budget

 

[neotran]

Nice one, but I would take something else as a mobo... It may be because its a new one but there is not a lot a good reviews on it.

Is there any use for more than 4gb of ram? Articles I saw on Tomsharware gave almost null boost between 3, 6 and 12gb. (Correct me if I'm wrong! ) But I'll take G.Skill for sure.

I'm not aware of hard drives performance charts but am I not better with a 7200rpm?

The Antec psu and case seem to be a far better choice than mine!

Thanks!

 

[jackspeed]

It is not that much more than 4 gb and you want to prep for the future I am using that board in a p67 on my own computer but its more expensive in ca and the z68 is better so that is why I recomended that board. and how about this hard drive then http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136767 it is 60. Go with whatever mobo u want just trying to keep the cost down msi is a good brand but if you have second thoughts trust them.

EDIT for a case how about http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153 55
and mobo you could go with this http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128520 115

 

[aznshinobi]

Save on Shipping and go with directcanada, a solid company with free shipping on purchases over $50 plus you get cheaper products.
i5 2500K $210
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12200BD1527&vpn=BX80623I52500K&manufacture=INTEL
Gigabyte Z68A-D3H-B3 $127
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD4863&vpn=GA-Z68A-D3H-B3&manufacture=GIGABYTE
G.Skill 4GB DDR3 1600 $30
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15380BD5460&vpn=F3-12800CL9D-4GBXL&manufacture=G.SKILL
Seagate 500GB $37
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14120DR4977&vpn=ST3500413AS&manufacture=SEAGATE
Antec HCG750w 80+ Brnze $95
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10370AC9874&vpn=HCG-750&manufacture=ANTEC
HAF 912 $52
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11130AC0700&vpn=RC-912-KKN1&manufacture=COOLERMASTER
Sapphire 6950 2GB Dirt3 $254
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14080BD4250&vpn=11188-05-50G&manufacture=SAPPHIRE
Total: $805

 

[aznshinobi]

Just the FYI, you get the 2500K, the ability to quick sync and overclock, the future proof on the PSU so you can CF if you want in the future and the 6950 2GB which is a great card.

 

[jackspeed]

I like the build aznshinobi but at this point why not get the 8gb of ram and a 500GB hd not a 1TB hd?.

EDIT there is no operating systems in our builds so that is an extra $100 ish just an FYI

 

[aznshinobi]

To save money? I was unaware of OP not having OS. That's why people should read stickies.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

Now on behalf of the OP, it is posted in the Prebuilt section so.... Yeah.

 

[jackspeed]

Just trying to get a feel on peoples builds thats all and I don't know if he has a OS or not I was just reminding him/her/it of that cost if he/she/it/god? doesn't have one.

 

[neotran]

I got enough OEM's here, I should have said it. Thanks Jackspeed.

aznshinobi wrote :

Just the FYI, you get the 2500K, the ability to quick sync and overclock, the future proof on the PSU so you can CF if you want in the future and the 6950 2GB which is a great card.

Newb question, "CF" stand for?

@ aznshinobi: Directcanada seems to have fair prices but a lot of items are limited at 1 per customers. Have you ever tried to get more than 1 to the same adress/Credit card? (dont matter if I have to do more than 1 invoice)

*Tried to work out my first post a little*

 

[aznshinobi]

I'm sure that when they say "1 per customer" it's like every store. 1 per customer every time you purchase. I'm sure after a few weeks to a month you can purchase again.

CF stands for Crossfire. Which I'm going to guess you aren't going to use since you didn't really research it. It is the dual-card format for AMD cards, SLI is for Nvidia cards.