Help with A Budget Build! Seeking the Masters :)

[JustinDee]

Approximate Purchase Date: 2 Weeks

Budget Range: $650 After Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming > all

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: MICROCENTER

Country: U.S

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: Intel based build

Overclocking: NOPE

SLI or Crossfire: NOPE

Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050

Additional Comments: This is my very first build and I want this one to be able to run most games at medium-high settings with VERY good FPS.

 

[mopman411]

Ok, first off, don't limit yourself to microcenter. I have parted out some stuff. Use this as a get you in the door on what you would look for in a good mid level rig.

On this list you will find everything except a harddrive.

XFX HD-687A-ZHFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card ~ $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150561
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL ~ $47
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I52400 ~ $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
ASRock Z68M/USB3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard ~ $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157270
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ~ $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
XFX Core Edition PRO550W (P1-550S-XXB9) 550W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply ~ $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013
LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 – OEM ~ $18
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Total = $630 without shipping

If you use a different video card this is what you can do.

HIS H675F1GD Radeon HD 6750 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity - ~ $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161379
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL ~ $47
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I52400 ~ $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
ASRock Z68M/USB3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard ~ $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157270
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ~ $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
XFX Core Edition PRO550W (P1-550S-XXB9) 550W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply ~ $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013
LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 – OEM ~ $18
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
Seagate Barracuda ST3160316AS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148698

Total = $645 without shipping

Use these parts as a reference or a guide to what you want, but either of these rigs will fit what you want very nice. for reference I use newegg and tigerdirect for most of my purchases, shipping is fast for both. I use microcenter when I want to pick something up the same day.. but usually the price is a little higher.

 

[vrumor]

Right now the only advantage to using Microcenter over Newegg is the deals on the Intels. If those are done, then Newegg all the way. But a 2500k for $180 instore is hard to pass up.

 

[mopman411]

Nice find on the processor at microcenter, buy the processor if you can't find a better price anywhere else on the net. Now that being said, thats a lot of processor for the motherboard I have listed. If you want to overclock you are gonna need a better board than the one I listed. Expect to spend at least $100 if you want an overclockable board. If you don't plan on overclocking stick with whats listed.. the 2500K is a good processor at stock speed and the potential to upgrade the board later.

Do you have any parts on hand to include in the build, if money can be shaved somewhere that means the potential for a better motherboard.

 

[roll_right]

Right now you can get an i5 + mobo at microcenter for $250: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/750770a3#/750770a3/2

Look bottom left.