Gaming Rig for total idiot

[irishfan89]

Hello All,

I know this particular thread has been done to death but I never seem to get the answers i need from other threads. So here is the deal, I just graduated and am taking a year off before med school. I want a gaming pc capable at running bf3 at decently high settings ( does not have to be the highest) and skyrim, and maybe even the next generation games ie bf4 (minimal settings etc). I will also need it to be capable of doing basic stuff such as research for med school. I am a complete noob at pcs, but I always wanted to build my own rig and I figure the only way to learn is to do. I was thinking about getting a barebone kit to make it easier, from tigerdirect.
Budget: 800ish
stores' newegg, tigerdirect
Date: early 2012
I was hoping somebody would be up to the task of holding my hand through the process and maybe someone can post a comprehensive guide to pc components. I understand the basics but most threads go over my head.
the only thing I have figured out is that I want an i5 2500K as this seems to be the best bang for your buck, but other than that I have no idea.
I will be extremely grateful for any help and information.

 

[Eddie C]

Good choice on the CPU; the i5 2500K will satisfy your needs gaming wise. Other than that, you should fill out a form - Are peripherals needed (e.g. mouse, keyboard, monitor)? How big of a case can you handle? Are you someone really into their Blu-rays?

CPU: i5 2500K
MOBO: ASUS Z68 Pro
GPU: ASUS GTX 560 Ti
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB
PSU: Antec 600W
SSD: Crucial M4 128GB

 

[irishfan89]

Approximate Purchase Date: January

Budget Range: 600-700

System Usage from Most to Least Important: bf3 skyrim typical research and such

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor (will be updating eventually if you advice I would be glad to hear it)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg, tigerdirect

Country:US

Parts Preferences: Intel (other than the i5 2500K i don't really care)

Overclocking: Yes
SLI or Crossfire: Have no idea

Sorry I am new to this forum..@ eddie C I will eventually be getting a new 28in monitor, and I will eventually be buying a new wireless keyboard and mouse. I do not really watch blue ray, but who knows, I can always upgrade right? This will be my first build, I am currently fooling around with older stuff ( single core 2005 laptops and desktops ) to familiarize myself before I do my build.
Will the above build run everything I need on high settings ? What about a barebone kit? Is building one from the floor up really that difficult.
Also ( sorry lots of ?s) is there a website that compares the actual bench tests? Its just one forum says "o, x is better than y" then another says "y is better the x".

Thanks for the help, started to research and buy and was immediately overwhelmed!

 

[RichterFry]

Nice CPU. I'm not a fan of the CPU choice with the budet being between 600 and 700 though. $230 for you CPU, you'll want at least a 560/6870, which will cot you abou another 200-250. So let's say, $450 for all of that, so $250 for Case, PSU, RAM, mobo, and Storage? You're not going to end up wih a very good anything other than your CPU and GPU. I'd reccomend going for a Phenom II X4. It'll save you a lot of money on the CPU and possibly the mobo, and you can use tat cash to actually be able to build a decent computer. HDD prices just won't allow you to build that cheap anymore.

 

[longpig]

Nice CPU. I'm not a fan of the CPU choice with the budet being between 600 and 700 though. $230 for you CPU, you'll want at least a 560/6870, which will cot you abou another 200-250. So let's say, $450 for all of that, so $250 for Case, PSU, RAM, mobo, and Storage? You're not going to end up wih a very good anything other than your CPU and GPU. I'd reccomend going for a Phenom II X4. It'll save you a lot of money on the CPU and possibly the mobo, and you can use tat cash to actually be able to build a decent computer. HDD prices just won't allow you to build that cheap anymore.

I might have to go with this.
If you can't build a pc please let us know where you end up after med school - that's a state to avoid!

 

[irishfan89]

@long pig HA Ha. I am just starting getting into this, I get the jist of new builds but when it comes to my spending around a thousand dollars of my money I want the experts to give me advice, just like a sick computer genius would still ask a Doc for medical advice. Sorry if I am not technologically advanced as most users, but hey I'm trying. But anywho...

The more I research the more I realize as richterfry says i think my budget needs to be re-evaluated. So what I think I will do is theoretically build two computers, since the phenom II x4 will satisfy my requirements, but I am told the i5 2500K is a bit more future proof. So depending on how much I save on cpu, mobo, psu on the phenom build I will make a decision then, but for now I am leaning towards the i5.


CPU: i5-2500K http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7073161&CatId=6988 $219.00

GPU: Asus Radeon HD 6950 2gb GDDR5 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121431&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-ASUS-_-14121431 $289.00
(crossfire later)

MOBO: ASUS P8p67 PRO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131771&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Motherboards+-+Intel-_-ASUS-_-13131771 $169.00

Memory: G.SKill RIPjaws 2 x 4gb http://www.amazon.com/G-SKILL-Ripjaws-1600MHz-PC3-12800-F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM/dp/B004KY719A
$85.00

PSU: ?
Case?
Additional Cooling System?
* I will be waiting to build rest later including 120 gb ssd and additional 500tgb, cd/dvd drive, cooling systems?
Does this seem like a good start, to start looking for deals and getting the ball rolling?
Thanks for the patience and help

 

[Emelth]

Case: (~$50)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&cm_sp=Cat_Computer_Cases-_-Spotlight-_-11-129-066

CPU: i5 2500k (~$220)

Motherboard: (~$125)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233187
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

GPU: (~$179)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

CD: (~$19)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

HDD~$90)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701

PSU: (~$100)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341051&cm_sp=Cat_Power_Supplies-_-YTVideo-_-YT17-341-051

Total: $783 (didnt input RAM amount which would bring you a little past $800)

 

[xl-caliber]

hey there,
I'm building a pc in a similar budget range. It may help you to take a look at my components
Asus nVidia GTX560 1GB $195.00
G.SKILL DDR3 4GB (2X2GB) PC-12800/1600 F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ Ram $31.90
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 Intel Mainboard - LGA 1155 $139.00
Intel CPU Core i5-2310 - LGA 1155 $169.00
Cooler Master Storm Enforcer SGC-1000-KWN1 $103.40
XFX ProSeries 650W Core Edition $111.10

Total:$749.40
(Prices in Australia)

 

[irishfan89]

Will the 6870 be able to run at 1080 with mostly max settings and around 50 fps? That is really what I am looking for. I heard the 6950 can run at max settings, and also it would make sense to get a 6950 so i could crossfire later on more gpu intensive games in the future. But because of the price difference I am on the fence. What about a GTX 560ti? I will have one 1080 monitor for gaming, but usually a tri monitor set up (only use 1 for gaming).
Thanks!

 

[flips]

I suggest you come back and ask when you are about a week or few days away from purchasing.

 

[madchemist83]

do you have a microcenter close by ?

 

[irishfan89]

I do not have a microcenter (about an hour n half away).

Ok so I know what gpu I am getting. I am going to get the 560 ti. I am going to Oc that and then In a few months get another and SLI.
I was thinking going the z68 mobo route but everyone that is recommended on the forums I have read are all discontinued! very frustrating when you finally make a decision and go to buy but you can't!

Any ideas on the Motherboard? Will Emelth's Mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=cwyyqndztnz0

do the job?


i will be overclocking the cpu and gpu, and I will be scavenging my other computers for a ssd, cd, and hdd.

So really i just need a psu, Im guessing 850w, and any additional after market cooling.

thanks for all the help guys!

 

[madchemist83]

would not go with that Asrock mobo
2 reasons - it only has 2 year warranty and PCB itself is pretty thin and flimsy
I would suggest to wait a little more to see if new components that are coming out will drive the price down
here is a good PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194086
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021&Tpk=750%20tx%20v2

 

[irishfan89]

Best answer selected by irishfan89.