First Gaming Build, Tower only, <$700

[sevier89]

Approximate Purchase Date: End of February

Budget Range: 700 After Rebates (can go higher if completely necessary)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Movies, Autocad and other modeling programs

Parts Not Required: Lets focus on the tower only. OS unnecessary as i can get that through a family member

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg and amazon. Although any legit site is fine if cheaper.

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Would like Intel CPU

Overclocking: Would like to have the option in the future.

SLI or Crossfire: Yes as an upgrade path

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Since this is my first build i am looking to start out by using everything stock no OC however I would like the option in the future if possible. If i can get this build to last 4 years or so that would be great. Some current games I am interested in are the following: Battlefield 3, Skyrim, Diablo 3, Starcraft II

My thought on parts:

CPU: Intel i5 2500k if i can work it into the budget. If not what are other good chips that a relatively easy to OC for a first timer.

GPU: Looking at a Sapphire Radeon 6870 but open to suggestions

Mobo: No idea these just confuse me so far. One thing i for sure want is HDMI and the option to run dual gpu in the future

HD: Would like 1TB if possible but not a deal breaker.

Case: Does not need to be fancy just want something on the cheaper side that will last and has sufficient ventilation.

PSU: Also not sure where to go on this one.

RAM: Is 4 GB eneough or should i jump straight to 8. Also 1333 or 1600?

Optical: Would like a Bluray drive so that i can play and rip movies.

 

[gregcky]

Live near a microcenter by chance?

 

[sevier89]

Live near a microcenter by chance?

Closest one seems to be about 5 hours away so no.

 

[Tavo_Nova]

sapphire hd 6950 (2gb) if not get the 6970 2gb, for hd get a seagate 1tb

g.skill 8gb (2x4gb) for ram

haf 912 for the chassis

seasonic 520w 80plus certi/bronze for psu

or go with a seasonic x750w if you plan to go crossfire

msi z68a-gd 65(g3) for mobo

going to put prices in a min

 

[Tavo_Nova]

-i5 2500k 229.99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

-cooler master gx 750w 80plus bronze
and cooler master haf 932 for 234.98$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.794335

or
-msi z68a-gd65(g3) for 189.99$ to 159.99$ after mail-in rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130611

-SAPPHIRE HD 6950 2gb 259.99$ to 239.99$ with rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102945

-G.SKILL Sniper 8gb)2x4gb) 1600mhz cl9 = 43.99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

total = 908.64$

w/ 6850 = 803.94$



-i5 2500k 229.99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

-msi z68a-gd65(g3) for 189.99$ to 159.99$ after mail-in rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130611

-Corsair Special edition white 600T for 169.99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139005

Seasonic 750w 80plus bronze for 129.99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151107

-msi z68a-gd65(g3) for 189.99$ to 159.99$ after mail-in rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130611

-SAPPHIRE HD 6950 2gb 259.99$ to 239.99$ with rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102945

-G.SKILL Sniper 8gb)2x4gb) 1600mhz cl9 = 43.99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

total = 1133.93$

w/ 6850 = 1028.93$

this is quite a lot since both are over the budget so lets skimp out on the gpu and use the 6850's

SAPPHIRE HD 6850 1gb = 149.99$ = 134.99$ after mail-in rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908

so i say go with the one above and choose either a 6850 1gb or a 6950 2gb or get the 6970 if you can afford the bread


also add this to the build
Seagate 500gb = 84.99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

well i do think this is a nice build if your going intel but the build below who goes amd is good too

if your not overclocking right away then you stay with the stock cooler, but when you plan to overclock lets say 1 or 2 weeks from now then get a cm 212 evo

 

[jman1423]

Im building a new build too, but its an amd and i still need some advice,

this is my build in progess, i think you should look at this and just get a basic outline, who knows... maybe youll convert to AMD/ATI, ill be putting down rough estimated price

CPU - AMD Phenom II x6 1055t - $150
Motherboard - MSI 880gx (a lot of varieties) - $90
Graphics Card - ATI/AMD XFX HD 6950 2GB - $260
PSU - VisionTek 500W PSU - $60
HDD - Western Digital 500 GB SATA 6.0GBps - $80
DVD- LG AIO Blu-Ray - $90
RAM - G skill Ripjaw 4 gb DDR3 - $30


Thats the main components that are going to be in my build, any suggestion could be nice, but maybe OP you should look at it and look at other possible methods of a gaming/media build. This right here is at most $780

now the case and monitor is completely up to you, i always thought AMD/ATI build were more towards the consumer side for as intel is for the corporate side, i just like AMD better

 

[Tavo_Nova]

Im building a new build too, but its an amd and i still need some advice,

this is my build in progess, i think you should look at this and just get a basic outline, who knows... maybe youll convert to AMD/ATI, ill be putting down rough estimated price

CPU - AMD Phenom II x6 1055t - $150
Motherboard - MSI 880gx (a lot of varieties) - $90
Graphics Card - ATI/AMD XFX HD 6950 2GB - $260
PSU - VisionTek 500W PSU - $60
HDD - Western Digital 500 GB SATA 6.0GBps - $80
DVD- LG AIO Blu-Ray - $90
RAM - G skill Ripjaw 4 gb DDR3 - $30


Thats the main components that are going to be in my build, any suggestion could be nice, but maybe OP you should look at it and look at other possible methods of a gaming/media build. This right here is at most $780

now the case and monitor is completely up to you, i always thought AMD/ATI build were more towards the consumer side for as intel is for the corporate side, i just like AMD better

ahahaha now that reminds me i forgot to put an HDD on my set above, i'll edit that later but let me see if i can help improve yours too

xfx 6950 2gb, go with this sapphire hd 6950 2gb instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102945 its 279.99$ but after rebate it goes ti 259.99$

for processor i suggest to get this, but they are out of stock, phenomII x6 1090T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103849 179.99$

but if you only plan to game on the pc and well edit stuff and just leave it over night a 4 core should do you well

124.99$ phenom II x4 960T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103995

and for you an TS just get a seagate hdd its cheaper than western digital but also good

 

[jman1423]

found an MSI Twin Frozr 1GB OC for 239.00, buying it haha, this card has a good success rate of unlocking to 6970, and i always had a thing for MSI's look and preformance.