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Tweak my build! ($600-$900 Gaming Build)

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Hello Toms,

I'm looking into buying a budget gaming system in the next couple of weeks. I built my last computer about 10 years ago, so while I am sure I can assemble it, I have no idea whats what when it comes to parts these days (AGP was all the rage when I built my last computer for Counter-Strike :D  )

I put this list of parts together using the last two SBM budget gaming PC's for some guidance. These parts represent the top end of my price range. I am sure some of these parts are overkill for what I need, so I am looking to cut and downgrade from here. Please help me trim the fat (find better deals) and make sure all these parts will work together (no clue if the RAM + Mobo combination is compatible or if the Power supply was designed for this card and board). I am willing to sacrifice some performance to get closer to the $650 mark.

Let me know what you think, and thanks in advance for your help.

Approximate Purchase Date: In the next two weeks (as soon as you tell me what to buy!)

Budget Range: $650-$900 before rebate

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (BF3, SC2, Diablo3, ect.), Movies, Surfing, Editing (Audio Video)

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Country: US

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU

Overclocking: Maybe (not now, but maybe if I buy a more demanding game in the future)

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (Probably not unless you convince me)

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

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Updated 4/10/2012

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

Mobo: $121.99
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM: $46.99
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Card: $259.99
ASUS HD7850-DC2-2GD5 Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

HDD: $119.99
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

DVD: $17.99
SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Case: $59.99
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...

PSU: $79.99
Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CPU Fan:
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...



Old list


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

Mobo: $129.99
GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Graphics: $289.99
XFX Double D HD-695X-CDFC Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM: $27.99
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBNQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

HD: $109.99
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

DVD: $17.99
SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Case: $89.99
Rosewill BLACKHAWK Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, come with Five Fans, window side panel, top HDD dock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

PSU: $79.99
Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

More about : tweak build 600 900 gaming build

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aznshinobi said:
You could do better. Check out my $850 build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore
Better card for less money, a board that can use Gen3, and yeah I'd change the HDD to this. You won't see a huge difference as they both spin @ 7200 RPMs since they're mechanical and you'll save money.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


Cool thanks, taking a look now.

Also I should mention I would like this system to be as reliable as possible. I know thats probably pretty subjective since most peoples experience with computer parts makers is different. But I would like to lean towards the more reputable companies even if it costs a bit more.

That said, I have no idea who is reputable or not these days. So im all ears :D 
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aznshinobi said:
You could do better. Check out my $850 build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore
Better card for less money, a board that can use Gen3, and yeah I'd change the HDD to this. You won't see a huge difference as they both spin @ 7200 RPMs since they're mechanical and you'll save money.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


Hey Aznshinobi, looking at your site right now. Very informative, but I have question. Should I be going off the recommendations in your original article or the "Stuff from the build above" sections (ex: Graphics card recommended in the article is Radeon 7850, but below it shows the HIS Radeon HD 6950 IceQ X Turbo 1GB (256bit))

Cant tell if the "Stuff from the build above" is just ads or your updated recommendations.

Definitely go with 8GB of RAM. Also, if you want to Crossfire or OC in the future I would go with a larger PSU. The one thing you don't want to skimp on is your power. The one thing I would suggest adding to your build is a CPU cooler. I would go with something fairly inexpensive since you're not planning on OC'ing right now but something you might want to consider now. I just noticed that you're only going with 1333MHz RAM. Do yourself a favor and bump that up to 1600MHz. Remember your DIMM's run at half of what they are rated for. So 1333MHz will run at 887 and 1600MHz runs at 1333MHz unless you use the XMP profile in your BIOS. Just some food for thought. Here are some suggestions....


OCZ ZS Series 750W 80PLUS Bronze High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandy Bridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$79.99 After M.I.R

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$46.99

Ok, so now my shopping cart looks like this:

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

Mobo:
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Card:
ASUS HD7850-DC2-2GD5 Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

HDD:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


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

Case:
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...

PSU:
Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I noticed several different makers for the 7850 (ASUS, Gigabyte, Diamond, Visiontek, ect), would you guys recommend one maker over another? (back when I got my 9800 ATI just made their own cards)

Going to stick with this PSU for now and not worry about Crossfire. I think this will be more than enough for now and if I do decided to Crossfire in the future I will worry about the PSU then.

You guys havnt help me trim much fat! :lol:  But, I do like the system thats coming together. Let me know if you guys see any other changes I should make. Do all these parts look compatible to you guys? (Mobo + Ram, GCard + PSU, Mobo + PSU, ect.)

Thanks again.


maxinexus said:
7850 has 6970 performance and costs 260 while 6950 is more expensive and not as many HP...


Yes, I switched it out for the 7850.

Oh also, recommendations on a good / quiet CPU cooler. Or just use stock cooler? (not overclocking... yet)
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