Need advice on a $1000 gaming PC

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misterm00

Honorable
Apr 10, 2012
8
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10,510
Approximate Purchase Date: Within the coming weeks

Budget Range: $1000 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, internet

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

Preferred Websites for Parts: newegg.ca, tigerdirect.ca, canadacomputers.ca - this last one is helpful as for some parts I can go to their physical stores rather than pay shipping.

Country: Canada

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe, but not immediately

Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024

Additional Comments: I'd like to keep the cost as low as possible, with $1000 being my maximum. I especially need help selecting a Motherboard. I have a few ideas, but I have no idea whether or not they're frivoulous or if they'll offer me any benefit. In particular, I was hearing things about Z77 boards and ones with PCIe 3.0. I've come up with most of the parts, however they run me just over $1000 without the Motherboard. I was hoping someone could suggest a few alternatives that wouldn't reduce performance, but might lower the cost a bit. I'm also not dead set on any parts, so if there are better options, by all means, let me know.

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I was considering the following parts:

Motherboard: This is where I need the most help I think, but I was considering something along these lines, though there were a few ASUS ones I was looking at that seemed good, though significantly more expensive. I do require Wifi and USB 3.0, I don't know how much of a price hike that will make.
GIGABYTE GA-Z77-DS3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128547

Processor:
i5-2500k
http://www.amazon.ca/Intel-i5-2500K-Processor-3-3GHz-LGA1155/dp/B004EBUXHQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334073706&sr=8-1

GPU:
GTX 560 ti
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7191409&CatId=3585

RAM:
8GB Ripjaw DDR3 1600
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_311_312_612&item_id=035786

HDD:
WD Caviar Black 500GB
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=15_1086_210_212&item_id=035358

Power Supply:
Antec 750w
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049

Optical Drive
ASUS DRW-24B1ST
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=3_61&item_id=029356

Case
Antec 900
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

Cooler
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=8_129&item_id=044952

Thermal Paste
Arctic Silver 5
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=8_128&item_id=021296

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Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!
 
Solution
Pezcore27
If not overclocking, than drop the processor down to the i5-2400. stock speeds are close enough to the 2500k that you probably will never notice the difference.

http://www.amazon.ca/Corei5-2400-3-10ghz-6mb-910678-S/dp/B004EBUXIA/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1334079578&sr=1-2 (-$20 off original budget)

The stock cooler should be more than enough so the 212 EVO and the Thermal Paste can be taken off as well. (-$44 off original budget)

Drop the PSU down to a good 600-650w.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020 (theres a 15.00 MIR on this as well) (-$10 off original budget before MIR)

Then up the GPU to the 7850...
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jsrudd

jsrudd

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Jan 16, 2009
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I think you could cut the power supply to 650w and get a Z68 motherboard instead of a Z77 (unless you want to be able to upgrade to Ivy Bridge).

Remember you will only get PCI 3.0 with an Ivy Bridge chip.
 
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H

hwangchan

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Feb 14, 2012
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Overall not a bad build. It's difficult to make a price adjustment without affecting performance.

If you don't plan on overclocking, the Cooler Master is not necessary, the default Intel cooler is not bad when used at stock values.

the wi-fi card cost should come in below the cost of the cooler master, but it might be close, so ill count that as a wash.

If you are not going SLI, you can drop the PSU down to a 500W or 600W to save a few loonies(could be ~50, depending on brand).

If you really need to drop some more cost to get in budget I can make some recommendations, but build looks pretty close to target, and i don't usually price in CDN, so not sure if the values in my mind (USD prices) are far off.

 
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Pezcore27

Pezcore27

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Feb 8, 2012
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If not overclocking, than drop the processor down to the i5-2400. stock speeds are close enough to the 2500k that you probably will never notice the difference.

http://www.amazon.ca/Corei5-2400-3-10ghz-6mb-910678-S/dp/B004EBUXIA/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1334079578&sr=1-2 (-$20 off original budget)

The stock cooler should be more than enough so the 212 EVO and the Thermal Paste can be taken off as well. (-$44 off original budget)

Drop the PSU down to a good 600-650w.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020 (theres a 15.00 MIR on this as well) (-$10 off original budget before MIR)

Then up the GPU to the 7850.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2262863&CatId=7387 (+$30 to the original budget)

You will be $44 under your original budget, but will have better overall graphics performance and very, very similar processor performance.

( this is using the same sites you had listed for the items. You could probably shop around and find a deal or two to take off a few bucks more, I just did it for simplicity :) )
 
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Solution
M

misterm00

Honorable
Apr 10, 2012
8
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10,510
How about the motherboard? Is there much of a difference between the two of these?:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128547

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157297&Tpk=ASRock%20Z77%20Pro3%20LGA%201155%20Intel%20Z77%20HDMI%20SATA%206Gb%2fs


Additionally, is there any reason to spend an extra $80 on the ASRock Z77 Extreme4?

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293&Tpk=ASRock%20Z77%20Extreme4%20LGA%201155%20Intel%20Z77%20HDMI%20SATA%206

I'd like to keep the possibility of SLI/Crossfire open, I'm not exactly sure what to look for.
 
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A

azeem40

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Dec 11, 2011
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Only? It will be able to fully utilize 3.0 with IB.
 
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L

levin70

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Oct 4, 2010
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For gaming at 1280x1024, everything you listed is complete and total overkill. Your $1,000 PC will perform no better than a PC put together on a $600 budget. You will not notice a difference between this system which will get you 100 fps vs 60 fps that you could get with a $600 budget.

If you want to take gaming up to a significantly higher resolution, than by all means go with what you have. Your system will run everything on high to max for 1920x1080 and even 1920x1200. That is where your $1000 budget will show itself, but not at 1280x1024
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Jul 27, 2011
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I definitely agree about the thermal paste. If you were using a fan that included crap paste like the Xigmatek Gaia, I would. But the 212 Evo comes with a really good solution. No need to buy extra.

I'd also recommend switching out the case - the Antec 900 was good in it's day but now with so many better cases in the same price range offering far better features it's not worth getting the 900 anymore.

I'd be inclined to suggest these:

- Antec 1100: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129178
- Fractal Design Arc MIDI: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352007
- Corsair Carbide 400R: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139008
 
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C

cbrunnem

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Dec 19, 2010
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I totally agree and i can't believe everyone above you didn't mention that. They shouldn't be giving advice if they didnt think about this being overkill for that resolution.
 
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Why_Me

Why_Me

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Jan 17, 2008
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You don't need Arctic Silver seeing how that CM cpu h/s comes with a small tube of excellent thermal compound. Also you don't need that 750w psu if you plan on using that board. That gigabyte board is meant for a single card, it runs dual cards @ x4. Also look at Direct Canada since they offer free shipping. And no PCI-E 3.0 with Sandy Bridge. I see all these people including yourself getting Z77 boards and an SB cpu. Wait until April 29th for Ivy Bridge if you want all the goodies.


 
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M

misterm00

Honorable
Apr 10, 2012
8
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10,510
I can't tell you all how much I appreciate all the advice you've given thus far. After taking everything posted here into account I have come up with the following:

Motherboard:ASUS P8Z77-V LX Z77
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10530BD9683&vpn=P8Z77-V%20LX&manufacture=ASUS

Processor:i5-2500k
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12200BD1527&vpn=BX80623I52500K&manufacture=INTEL

GPU:Sapphire Radeon HD 7850
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950BD1041&vpn=11200-01-20G&manufacture=Others

RAM:8GB Ripjaw DDR3 1600
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15380BD5211&vpn=F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL&manufacture=G.SKILL

HDD:WD Caviar Black 500GB
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=25350AC0126&vpn=WD5002AALX&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD

PSU:Corsair 650w
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11180AC7339&vpn=CMPSU-650TXV2&manufacture=CORSAIR

Optical Drive:ASUS DRW-24B1ST
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10530DR5213&vpn=DRW-24B1ST%20Bulk&manufacture=ASUS

Case:Corsair Carbide 400R
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11180AC6193&vpn=CC-9011011-WW&manufacture=CORSAIR

I'm looking to get everything from DirectCanada.com, as someone suggested. Are they fairly reputable? The free shipping will save me a ton, I've got everything coming out to $958.00 or so.

I have a few monitors, so I'm just looking to get the bet resolution possible, nothing firm in mind... I can buy a new monitor soon if need be, but I'd like to get a computer that can do pretty well with whatever I chose.

Just a few questions:

1) How is this revised build looking?
2) Is there anything I'm missing?
3) How is the motherboard I've selected?
4) Will this build keep Crossfire/SLI options open for the future?
5) Will this build keep the possibility of overclocking in the future open?
6) Will this build keep the possibility of upgrading to Ivy Bridge in the future open?
7) I'll need a wireless network card - is there one you can recommend, or are they all fairly similar?

Again, thanks so much for all the help!
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Jul 27, 2011
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1) How is this revised build looking?
2) Is there anything I'm missing?
3) How is the motherboard I've selected?
4) Will this build keep Crossfire/SLI options open for the future?
5) Will this build keep the possibility of overclocking in the future open?
6) Will this build keep the possibility of upgrading to Ivy Bridge in the future open?
7) I'll need a wireless network card - is there one you can recommend, or are they all fairly similar?
Click to expand...

1. Looks great!

2. Nope.

3. As long as it's Asus - it should be good. The Z77 chipset is brand new and should be better than Z68.

4. The TX650 should be able to run 2 x 7850 due to the card's low power requirements but maybe go with a 750 just to be on the safe side.

5. Most definitely.

6. Yes - the Z77 is pretty much tailor-made for Ivy.

7. As long as you get one where the antenna doesn't fall off you'll be fine.
 
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Why_Me

Why_Me

Polypheme
Jan 17, 2008
16,375
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No not that board !!!! It runs dual cards @ x4.

If you can't wait until April 29th for Ivy Bridge cpu's then look at this board down below.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950BD2247&vpn=Z68%20Extreme3%20Gen3&manufacture=Others $144.72
ASRock Z68 EXTREME3 GEN3 ATX LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E SATA3 USB3.0 SLI CrossFireX Motherboard

If you can wait three weeks for that new line of cpu's to come out then look at these boards or wait a few weeks until Direct Canada gets all it's Z77 boards in their inventory. Those boards just came out two days ago and it's going to take a two or three weeks for them to all get out on the shelves That way you have more of a selection of inexpensive boards that support SLI and Crossfire (x8 & x8). Also look at NCIX to see what they have for boards atm.

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_722&item_id=047869

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD3604&vpn=GA-Z77X-UD3H&manufacture=GIGABYTE

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=28220BD9613&vpn=Z77A-GD55&manufacture=MSI/MicroStar
 
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