Cheap but upgradable gaming PC - first time builder!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $124.99
Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I32100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $49.99
GIGABYTE GA-H61M-DS2 LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $19.99
Patriot 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model PSD34G1333K

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $84.99
Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $49.99
COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $59.99 - $20MIR
CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $109.99 - $20MIR
XFX HD-677X-ZNLC Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $16.99
SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model SH-222AB - OEM

Total: $516.92 - $40MIR

***no sli/xfire

Thank you a lot for your work, I really appreciate it! I have made some changes to the build, I would love to hear some feedback.



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $124.99 + about 5$ (difference at my local shop)
Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I32120
-> The price difference between the 2100 and the 2120 is negligible here, will it give me a little speed bump?

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=... - $49.99 + about 10$ (difference at my local shop)
Gigabyte H61M-D2H-USB3 B3, Intel H61 Chipset, 1155Pin
-> didn't find that one at newegg, but it has USB 3.0 ports

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $19.99
Patriot 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model PSD34G1333K
-> I'll maybe go with 2x4GB, I'll think about it, doesn't really make a difference..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $84.99
Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
-> That's why I may have to delay the project, those prices are just astronomic!  

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $49.99
Thermaltake V4 Black Edition Gaming Chassis Mid Tower Steel Computer Case Fully Black Powdered Interior VM30001W2Z
-> The HAF 912 isn't available here, is that one ok as well? Do I need any additional fans?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $59.99 - $20MIR
CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
-> How much Headroom do I have with this one? Would it make sense to go with a CX600?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $109.99 +about 20$ (difference at my local Mshop)
GIGABYTE GV-N550OC-1GI GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
-> Local availability and Personal preference NVidia.. Will that card be ok?

I don't need a CD drive.. "-$16.99"
-----
that would be about 20$ more than before, 535$.. If the drive prices come down again, I'll be at 500$ with this build..



How well will this build perform, with Skyrim for example?

cpu: for $5 sure why not
ram: 2x4gb would be the best but if you're tight on budget just go with 2x2gb.
case: as long as it fits the graphics card. you dont need additional fans if you are not ocing.
psu: 500w corsair is plenty for 1 gpu
gpu: sure

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/skyrim-performance-...
http://www.techspot.com/review/467-skyrim-performance/

for a case try fractal design arc midi
or if u want to go smaller core 3000
or Bitfenix Shinobi

@drunkducki
Thanks a lot for the input. It turned out I wasn't too far off with my own trials. I was just not sure if I was putting something together that wouldn't make any sense or maybe not even physically fit together in the end.

And: sorry for not using my brain and maybe google "GPU + Skyrim + benchmark"...

Maybe I'll just ditch the HDD for the moment and go for a small SSD instead, I have plenty of external hard drives to put Data on. I've seen that Gigabyte has released the GA-H61M-USB3-B3 rev2.0 in November, which is damn cheap and has USB 3.0 and a Sata 6Gb/s port -> SSD

@madchemist83
If it will work out I will stay with the Thermaltake V4 since it's both available and cheap here, but thanks for the input.

I've been able to scratch some more money together and I plan to go with this build:
(I'll add a HDD and maybe a DVD/Bluray drive later)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost)
-> I won't do any overclocking, some light overclocking at maximum, so why would I need the 2500K?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
ASUS P8Z68-V LX LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
-> In case I want to add a second ATI for Crossfire, Ivy compatible

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
-> Will those be OK and also work with the MoBo?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-60G 2.5" 60GB SATA III SSD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] take%20v4- $49.99
Thermaltake V4 Black Edition Gaming Chassis Mid Tower Steel Computer Case Fully Black Powdered Interior VM30001W2Z

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
-> Will that 600W one be enough in case I add a second ATI?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX
-> Seems to be a lot bang for the buck..?

So, what do you think? I didn't provide a price since the price differs a lot here from newegg.. Just tell me which parts don't make sense in the system.

To me that looks like a pretty decent rig.

Also make sure you get the 'k' version not to much more. Then you can overclock it if you ever deem necessary.

Okay, I'll think about the 2500/2500K thing.

Can you tell me if the RAM should work (well) with the motherboard?

Also: there is "only" one 12cm fan coming with the case. Should I get a second one for the front or is that not really required if I don't intend to overclock?

Yeah, I just ordered the system!


Here are the final specs (I only changed the i5 2500->2500K if I remember it correctly):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Thermaltake V4 Black Edition Gaming Chassis Mid Tower Steel Computer Case $49.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9 $41.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W $69.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
ASUS P8Z68-V LX LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS $124.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K $219.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-60G 2.5" 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $99.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $164.99

----------
$771.93 before rebates (It's SFR 771.70 with my local dealers. This is about $800)


I should receive the stuff on Wednesday, I'll keep you updated if I run in any trouble (in case someone wants to build this system as well).

And here we go.

Everything worked out pretty well, everything fits together and all seems to be fine  

Some things about the case:
It's pretty small, the ATX just fits between the top and the PSU. There is no cable management, you can't "hide" the cables somewhere behind the MoBo. They promote an additional 2.5" slot with the Thermaltake V4; in reality, it just has 4 holes in the bottom of the case where you can screw on the small disk (or SSD). Problem: the mainboard came with angled SATA3-cables, so the cable wouldn't fit on the SSD. I just bought a 2.5" to 3.5" mount today, problem solved.

CPU is great, love it - GPU as well. Compared to my gaming system until two days ago (MacBook Air, lol)..


Questions:

I had to manually set the RAM to 1600MHz in the BIOS, it was only on 1333MHz - is that normal (I guess so)?

I didn't do any overclocking - but should I run any stress tests?