$700 budget gaming PC

[Rips]

Approximate Purchase Date: Next 2 weeks

Budget Range:$700 after rebates (without monitor)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, internet, movies

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS, CPU-Intel Core i5-2500(found on sale but might return it for the 2500k)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences:Intel

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Yes

This is my first build, I threw some parts together on newegg and was looking for some feedback before I made the purchase. I am open to, and appreciative of any suggestions.

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500 (found on sale but I might return it for the 2500k)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115073 - $190

MOBO: MSI P67A-G45 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130582 - $95 after rebate

GPU: MSI N560GTX-M2D1GD5 GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127592 - $170 after rebate

PSU: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021 - $85 after rebate

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428 - $50

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795 - $50

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233 - $60

Optical Drive: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 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 DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204 - $20

Total: $720 after rebates

Thanks for your help.

 

[Proximon]

Here are my thoughts.

You are shorting yourself based on a misconception that you will add a second card later. I've been advising on these boards for many years now and I assure you it rarely happens. You are better off getting a single card and planning that way, because when you start to feel the need for a new card a better single card solution will already be there. SLI/Crossfire is best purchased up front or not at all for that reason.

Your budget is not practical for an SLI rig. You can get more performance now by avoiding it.

Including combo deals, with the CPU change:
■ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
■Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
■GIGABYTE GV-R695OC-1GD Radeon HD 6950 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
■GIGABYTE Gift - AMD Dirt 3 Game Coupon
■G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR
■Kingston 4GB Micro SDHC Flash Card Model SDC4/4GB
■ASUS P8H67-V (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
■Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
■Rosewill Green Series RG630-S12 630W Continuous @40°C,80 PLUS Certified, Single 12V Rail, Active PFC "Compatible with Core ...
■Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm ...
TOTAL: $809.67

That's shipped to me, but there are a few promo codes and rebates that take it down.

As you can see, you get the more powerful 6950 that way, and a PSU that can handle pretty much any single card. A larger HDD, good case.

 

[eyecantell]

Some experts just guided me through choosing a nice system (you will need to add a psu) for $736 - $50 mailin = $686 in this thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/324210-31-build-gaming

Here's the gist:

MSI P67S-C43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s ATX Intel Motherboard: $105 - 15 instant - 30 mail in = $60 total
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130576

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL: $185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive: $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701

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

COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-222AB - OEM: $77 - 10 combo = $67
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.743728

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K ($15 off with promo code EMCJKJG34, ends 10/19)
XFX HD-687A-ZHFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card : $400 - 20 combo -20 mail in - 15 promo on processor = $365 (enjoy the free game with this too dirt 3)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.749771

Good luck!

 

[Rips]

Here are my thoughts.

You are shorting yourself based on a misconception that you will add a second card later. I've been advising on these boards for many years now and I assure you it rarely happens. You are better off getting a single card and planning that way, because when you start to feel the need for a new card a better single card solution will already be there. SLI/Crossfire is best purchased up front or not at all for that reason.

Your budget is not practical for an SLI rig. You can get more performance now by avoiding it.

Including combo deals, with the CPU change:
■ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
■Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
■GIGABYTE GV-R695OC-1GD Radeon HD 6950 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
■GIGABYTE Gift - AMD Dirt 3 Game Coupon
■G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR
■Kingston 4GB Micro SDHC Flash Card Model SDC4/4GB
■ASUS P8H67-V (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
■Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
■Rosewill Green Series RG630-S12 630W Continuous @40°C,80 PLUS Certified, Single 12V Rail, Active PFC "Compatible with Core ...
■Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm ...
TOTAL: $809.67

That's shipped to me, but there are a few promo codes and rebates that take it down.

As you can see, you get the more powerful 6950 that way, and a PSU that can handle pretty much any single card. A larger HDD, good case.

Thanks for the advice guys. I think im going with this build but I had some questions before I commit to it. I was wondering if I should stick with the h67 or go for the p67? Is the rosewill green series a good psu? I dont want to cut corners on the psu and end up paying for it. Will this setup work with the i5 2500? Having trouble exchanging the 2500 for the 2500k so i may stick with the 2500. Thanks again.

 

[Proximon]

I linked the H67 in error. I meant to link a P67 for sure... you can't OC an H67.

As long as you are OK with the rebate, this ASRock board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157230
That's got enough voltage regulation for an adequate OC.

MSI is never my first choice in gaming boards, but this one has all the features at a great price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130583

On the other hand if you have to stay with the non-K CPU, you might as well get the H67 I linked, as Asus is the better brand.