Micro ATX Build

[boeing114]

Approximate Purchase Date: 1-2 weeks

Budget Range: $600, Before Rebates (cheaper the better)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Web Browsing, Web Development, Adobe CS5.5 Web Premium, Gaming (Minecraft, Flight Simulator X, Civilization V, Call of Duty)

Parts Not Required: Monitors, Hard Drive, Keyboard, Mouse, Case, Optical Drive, Operating System, Speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: www.newegg.com

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU. Don't mind getting last generation cpu/motherboards. Micro-ATX MotherBoard

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: dual 1680x1050

Additional Comments: I would like to have it quiet (the case is already pretty silent). The old machine in it is a Pentium E5300 and an HD4770 512mb video card. I don't mind getting last generation intel stuff (lga1156). MICRO-ATX ONLY! Thanks.

 

[triplej]

I'm using the i5-2500k and Z68MA-D2H-B3 motherboard. I'd recommend it over the 1156 stuff

 

[jmsellars1]

Sounds like you don't need a very powerful graphics card, it would make more sense to get a good CPU and plenty of RAM. Hows this?

Intel Core i5 2500k
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB)
ASRock Z68M/USB3
MSI R6850 Cyclone PE Radeon HD 6850 1GB
CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W

This totals just less than $590 before $35 of rebates and shipping.

If you wanted to save some more cash though I think you could easily cope with a HD 6770 and a Corsair CX-430 PSU because games are quite far down on your list and the ones you mentioned aren't exactly taxing on the graphics card.

 

[boeing114]

I was looking to get either a gtx 460 or an hd6850. Possibly a hd6790.

As far as RAM, I will probably go with 8gb, though I'm not sure of which kind.

Do you think I could cope with an i3 to save more cash?

 

[Onus]

Civilization V is an outlier that STRONGLY favors nVidia cards, so much so that a GTX460 beats a HD6950 in that title. Doesn't CS5.5 take advantage of CUDA? That would be two strong points in favor of a nVidia card.

 

[inanition02]

You could use a Core i3, but beware that the hyper threading is not equivalent to having 4 physical cores. If you really want to save cash, go Core i5 but lower than the 2500k.

Put it this way, for what you want to do, the CPU is WAY more important than the GPU - get an HD 6770 rather than sacrifice the CPU.

 

[Onus]

^+1. I agree with that. A GTX460 would be a nice choice without taking too much away from the other parts.

 

[jmsellars1]

If you want to save some cash lower the GPU to a GTS 450 or HD 6770 imo, don't get an i3. Yes the i3-2100 is good value but you will definitely notice the difference between that and an i5 with your usage. Much more than the difference between HD 6850 and GTS 450 anyway. I'm pretty sure the GTS 450 and HD 6770 only need 1 x PCI-e connector too so you could go with a slightly cheaper CX-430 PSU.

EDIT: Just added it up, you can shave another ~$80 off by going GTS 450 and CX-430. Totals $512.95 on Newegg.

 

[boeing114]

Okay, do I am pretty sure I'll get the i5 760 @ 2.8ghz and the gtx460 1gb. Im still not sure what ram I want or what motherboard.

Also, this machine will only have to last me till next year. I just needed to put a little money into a better machine because my current set up is starting to lag. I am getting into some web development, so hopefully Ill have more money by next year to get an Ivy Bridge/Windows 8 machine!

 

[Onus]

Try to get a current generation i5, like an i5-2400.

 

[inanition02]

^ +1 agree - you at least want a current gen platform, LGA 1155, not the older 1156.

 

[jmsellars1]

Yeah the 1156 platform is actually more expensive.