Building a gaming desktop

[ryan12]

Hello -- I'm looking to build a gaming desktop. Would like to create something that will keep up with the current games and future releases. I'm pretty uninformed when it comes to computer stuff, so please don't judge ;p.


Budget: Would like to stay around $1,000, give or take $100-200. With that being said, if spending $25 more means getting much more, I'm open for it -- I just don't need TOP of the line stuff, that's all.

Would like:
windows 7 (i'm assuming that's the go to OS?)
Wireless card
sound card

I'll be checking into the periphereals after the tower is established. Open for any and all ideas! I appreciate it.

 

[Chengc1]

Oh wow, $1000 budget for a gaming rig eh? Well, here are my ideas:

Case: http://www.xoxide.com/aerocool-sycloniiblackedition-fulltowercase.html

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130644

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231309

Graphics Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130652

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256071

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

I think that all comes to almost $950. I don't know if I'm missing anything, but like you said "I just don't need TOP of the line stuff". These parts will be able to run modern games like BF3, MW3, Crysis 2 with great amount of FPS. Anything else such as sound cards or monitors you can add later if you got money left.

Hope this helps, enjoy.

 

[wr6133]

The above build is ridiculous an i7 2600k is NOT needed for gaming and pairing it with a 550ti is like buying a ferrari then putting a Lada engine in it

 

[wr6133]

Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

GIGABYTE GA-Z77-DS3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128547

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231426

EVGA 012-P3-1570-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130593

CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

COOLER MASTER Elite 311 RC-311B-OWN1 Orange Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119248

Total $926

Add windows and a dvd drive and it'll be $1000 and thats a real meaty gaming machine... note case is personal taste thats just an example i put there.

*EDIT* That Chengc1 guy was either taking the p*ss or has little clue

and add $20 for a wireless card

 

[Traciatim]

Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

GIGABYTE GA-Z77-DS3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128547

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231426

EVGA 012-P3-1570-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130593

CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

COOLER MASTER Elite 311 RC-311B-OWN1 Orange Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119248

Total $926

Add windows and a dvd drive and it'll be $1000 and thats a real meaty gaming machine... note case is personal taste thats just an example i put there.

*EDIT* That Chengc1 guy was either taking the p*ss or has little clue

This is pretty much the same machine that I just ordered yesterday, I just went for a 7850 instead of the 570 for the lower power usage (and I'm running a single monitor at 1920x1200 and am on a 5770 now, so anything is a huge upgrade for me). I agree on the i5 over the i7 and more video card for a gaming machine, you'll end up with a much better gaming experience.

 

[ryan12]

I appreciate the replies, thanks a lot. As far as the processor goes, I had heard that the i5-2500 3.4 (i believe) ghz was a good one as well -- how does that compare to the i5 3570 that you had posted?

edit: also, can someone take a peek at this list. will probably go somewhere in the "outstanding" range

https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/1/?ui=2&ik=f50d78b6d1&view=att&th=13719c2d2d41f9c1&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=1401072659766853089-1&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P-uziNuQS1_CANeMZqAV4Tx&sadet=1336167057310&sads=M3kfrRTHpLea6s4D-ItgG3GKCC0&sadssc=1

 

[ryan12]

Would like to update the thread a little bit now. Changing the tower budget to ~$1,200.


Considering:

i7 2600k sandy bridge for the cpu (open for suggestions)

looking for ideal options with:

video card: $300-350 (give or take $25-50)
750+ W power supply
Mid-high mid ASUS mobo
$100-$150 max for the case (willing to go cheaper too -- just whatever looks / works best)
Just probably going with 8gb ddr3 ram
1tb internal hard drive (whatever is recommended)
some optical disc drive
wireless card
Sound card? Worth it?
Is a SSD worth it?
Cooler necessary if it's a good tower?


Please let me know what you guys think with the updated criteria!

 

[wr6133]

i7 is not needed for gaming you would spend there on something not properly utilised. If I was you with that budget increase I would still use the build i listed but change the graphics card to a GTX680 and get a slightly better case. If theres enough change left over consider a smallish SSD for your games

 

[wr6133]

and sorry your earlier question... the i5 2500k is the older architecture the new version of it on newer architecture is the 3570k. Both can be overclocked hence the K at the end thats important if you want this system to last a while and why I included a good CPU cooler on the build list

 

[ryan12]

is this barebones kit a good deal, and then I can piece together the remaining parts?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2580461&csid=_22

 

[wr6133]

It's ok. Never heard of the RAM but that could be we just dont have have brand in the UK. The PSU I would replace then toss in the best GPU you can afford and a 212+ CPU cooler

 

[ryan12]

Looking at stuff on tiger direct right now, some items are cheaper. I have a few video cards, looking for opinions, please! And from all I can see, the 680s are out of stock everywhere o.o. Mind linking me to the exact one you had in mind? Here are some other alternatives that looked nice, in that relative price range.

gigabyte 7950: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1927008&CatId=7387

zotact gtx 580: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=332378&sku=Z700-0583

visiontek 7970: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1817062&Sku=V261-7970

evga gtx 580: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=419882&CatId=3669

xfx: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1890907&CatId=7387


Plenty more. I guess maybe the more efficient thing to do would be to ask, given a $400-550 range on the gpu, what is the best buy there? Aside from the 680.

 

[wr6133]

GPU wise 680 is really top dog if you can find one.

Best thing is look at this chart

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-graphics-card-review,review-32416-7.html

Shoot as high as you can on there

 

[ryan12]

I appreciate it, thanks. I found some 680s on amazon, for $600 usd =/. Is it worth shelling out that additional 100 or so on that, versus spending 400-480 on the ones I had posted?