First homebuilt pc for mid level gaming around $600

[mtrotchie]

Hello, I've been looking into building my own PC for a while, something that is customizable, will last a long time, and easily upgradable

Approximate Purchase Date: Whenever but soon would be awesome!

Budget Range: Preferably no more than $600 but willing to go over a bit

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Internet surfing, games (not hardcore but something that can run good games with decent or better fps), schoolwork (papers etc...)

Parts Not Required: Speakers/mouse and keyboard

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Any credible and reasonably priced store/online store such as newegg.com or bestbuy

Country: America (Texas)

Parts Preferences:Leaning towards intel CPUs (nothing with integrated graphics!!)

Overclocking: yes

SLI or Crossfire: Not really sure if this will help but if it makes a big difference in games than yes! (ati or nvidia? please help if this is suggested!)

Monitor Resolution: Anything good for a lcd/led monitor around 20in

Additional Comments: Looking to make this PC last for quite a while now so I want it to be upgradable pretty easily and to have plenty of RAM (6-8gb I guess...). lastly I am pretty clueless with PC cases and power supplies so please help!

 

[Tavo_Nova]

[Processor]
-Intel Core i5-2500K BX80623I52500 Unlocked Processor - Quad Core, 6MB L3 Cache, 1MB L2 Cache, 3.30 GHz (3.70 GHz Max Turbo), Socket H2 (LGA1155), 95W, Fan, Retail 219.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7073161&Sku=I69-2500K

[Mother Board]
-ASUS P8H61-M LX PLUS REV 3.0 Intel H61 Motherboard - Micro ATX, Intel H61 Express, Socket H2 (LGA1155), 1333MHz DDR3, SATA 3.0 Gb/s, 8-CH Audio, Gigabit LAN, Intel HD Graphics 69.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1419453&CatId=7162

[HDD]
-Samsung HN-M500MBB Spinpoint M8 2.5" Internal Hard Drive - 500GB, SATA 3G, 8MB, 5400 RPM 69.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1455518&CatId=2681

[RAM]
-Corsair CMV4GX3M1A1333C9 4GB DDR3 RAM - PC10666, 1333MHz, 4096MB 19.99$

[PSU]
-Corsair CP-9020003-NA Enthusiast Series TX750M Modular Power Supply - 750W, 80 Plus Bronze, Single +12V Rail 119.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=580996&Sku=C13-2824

[Chassis]
-Cooler Master RC-430-KWN1 Elite 430 Mid Tower ATX Case - ATX/Micro-ATX, USB, Audio, 120mm Blue LED Fan, Black 49.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6430030&CatId=1509

[SSD]
-Corsair Nova Series 2 Solid State Drive - 60GB, SATA II, 3Gbps 74.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=744447&CatId=5300

[Video Card]
-Gigabyte GV-N560OC-1GI GeForce GTX 560 Ti Video Card - 1GB, GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0 (x16), Dual DVI, HDMI, DirectX 11, SLI Ready 214.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7192161&CatId=3669

Total = 769.93$



if you can you can choose between these video cards based on your budget

-Sapphire 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 Video Card - 1GB, GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0 (x16), 1x HDMI, 1x Dual-Link DVI, 1x Single-Link DVI, 1x DisplayPort, DirectX 11, Dual-Slot, CrossFireX Ready 169.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1006280&CatId=3669

-MSI N560GTX-Ti Twin Frozr II GeForce GTX 560 Ti Video Card - 1GB, GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0 (x16), Dual-DVI, Mini-HDMI, DirectX 11, Dual-Slot, SLI Ready 244.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=458652&CatId=3669
(i just like MSi Brand)[its the same with the gigabyte 560 ti above]

you can also choose a different mobo that has 3 PCI Slots like this
Gigabyte Z68A-D3H-B3 Intel Z68 Motherboard - ATX, Socket H2 (LGA1155), Intel Z68 Express, 2133MHz DDR3, SATA 6.0 Gb/s, RAID, 7.1-CH Audio, Intel HD Graphics, Gigabit LAN, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 139.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=353597&CatId=7212

 

[Tavo_Nova]

the one i wrote above is good it can handle games with good FPS, also works nicely with your school works/paper works/job etc.
you can choose another GPU like the Sapphire HD 6870 i wrote below which is cheaper at 169.99 but i prefer the GTX560 TI of Gigabyte, well the MSi GTX560-TI Twin Frozr II/OC is also good but more expensive than the one gigabyte has to offer, about the HDD there are other choices but it's cheaper and it's also a good HDD i wrote down a SSD so that you can load faster, which is good for games and your time, if you do paper work/ school work. but you can always take it out if you want and save up a couple of dollars.

SSD = Drice C: and the HDD: Drive D: where you store files.

Note: oh the reason i recommended a 750W because in the future where you want to upgrade, you won't be needing to buy another PSU, just another video card or another mobo if you want to go CF or SLI. there are other psu from corsair like the 500w and 550w which should handle your set up nicely, here they are below

-Corsair CP-9020001-NA Enthusiast Series TX550M Modular Power Supply - 550W, 80 Plus Bronze, Single +12V Rail 94.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=580993&CatId=1079

-Corsair CMPSU-500CXV2 Builder Series™ CX500 Power Supply - 500W, 80 Plus, 120mm Fan, Single +12V Rail, Active PFC 59.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=422168&CatId=1079

the 2nd one is a lower kind of PSU although i don't really recommend it, if you wanna go fo a cheaper one the one with 80PLUS Bronze is a good choice but only a few dollar difference with the 750W i wrote above which is better

 

[Zero_]

Check my sig for a few suggestions

 

[mtrotchie]

the one i wrote above is good it can handle games with good FPS, also works nicely with your school works/paper works/job etc.
you can choose another GPU like the Sapphire HD 6870 i wrote below which is cheaper at 169.99 but i prefer the GTX560 TI of Gigabyte, well the MSi GTX560-TI Twin Frozr II/OC is also good but more expensive than the one gigabyte has to offer, about the HDD there are other choices but it's cheaper and it's also a good HDD i wrote down a SSD so that you can load faster, which is good for games and your time, if you do paper work/ school work. but you can always take it out if you want and save up a couple of dollars.

SSD = Drice C: and the HDD: Drive D: where you store files.

Note: oh the reason i recommended a 750W because in the future where you want to upgrade, you won't be needing to buy another PSU, just another video card or another mobo if you want to go CF or SLI. there are other psu from corsair like the 500w and 550w which should handle your set up nicely, here they are below

-Corsair CP-9020001-NA Enthusiast Series TX550M Modular Power Supply - 550W, 80 Plus Bronze, Single +12V Rail 94.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=580993&CatId=1079

-Corsair CMPSU-500CXV2 Builder Series™ CX500 Power Supply - 500W, 80 Plus, 120mm Fan, Single +12V Rail, Active PFC 59.99$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=422168&CatId=1079

the 2nd one is a lower kind of PSU although i don't really recommend it, if you wanna go fo a cheaper one the one with 80PLUS Bronze is a good choice but only a few dollar difference with the 750W i wrote above which is better

thanks so much! really helpful and definately fulfills what I want

 

[Tavo_Nova]

good luck in building your system, if any problem arise, just ask here at toms ^_^