$800 budget

[orbero]

Approximate Purchase Date: This month
Budget Range: 750-850

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, surfing the internet)

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor OS (Plan on using windows 8 trial until it comes out)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: No preferred website as long as it's cheap

Country: Canada

Parts Preferences: no preferences

Overclocking: Probably not
SLI or Crossfire: Probably not

Monitor Resolution: Planning to get a 1920x1080 monitor soon

Additional Comments: Would like it to run BF3, Skyrim, Civ5, Anno 2070, Guild wars 2

 

[James McKeane]

Here's my thoughts for 800. also i personally wouldn't recommend using windows 8 as a primary os, as they are still working out some stuff. at least make sure you keep your data backed up some way.

*****edited with aftermarket hsf removed, case downgraded*******


Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2310 2.9GHz Quad-Core Processor ($178.36 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3-B3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($242.99 @ Vuugo)
Case: Antec Three Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case ($52.88 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: Antec 650W ATX12V Power Supply ($59.88 @ Canada Computers)
Optical Drive: LG GH22NS90B DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $817.07
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-04-14 20:33 EDT-0400)

 

[psikaikai]

Here's my thoughts for 800. also i personally wouldn't recommend using windows 8 as a primary build, as they are still working out some stuff. at least make sure you keep your data backed up some way.


Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2310 2.9GHz Quad-Core Processor ($178.36 @ DirectCanada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.98 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3-B3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB Video Card ($189.99 @ Canada Computers)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.98 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: Antec 650W ATX12V Power Supply ($59.88 @ Canada Computers)
Optical Drive: LG GH22NS90B DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $806.15
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-04-14 20:20 EDT-0400)

You will be able to run those games on maybe medium maybe

 

[orbero]

Is there any way at all to get those games to run on high with at least 30-40 fps?

 

[psikaikai]

Is there any way at all to get those games to run on high with at least 30-40 fps?

Maybe if you OC ur gpu and cpu

 

[Guest]

Is there any way at all to get those games to run on high with at least 30-40 fps?

either of those card will

http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/Sapphire_HD_7850_OC/9.html
games are much more GPU dependent than cpu @1920x1080

 

[psikaikai]

Well it's better you oc your cpu along with your gpu to avoid bottlenecking

 

[Guest]

a sandy bridge i5 will NOT bottleneck ANY single card solution; nor many sli/crossfire set ups.

 

[kwb]

MOBO: ASRock Z68M/USB3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157270

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=N82E16820231314

GPU: SAPPHIRE 11199-00-20G Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102981

PSU: OCZ ZT Series 550W Fully-Modular 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=N82E16817341050

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=N82E16811119233

SATA CABLE: BYTECC Model SATA-118C 18" Serial ATA-150/300 Cable w/Locking Latch http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812270093

OPTICAL DRIVE: ASUS Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E818A7T/BLK/B/GEN - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135224

CPU: Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I32120 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115077

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073


My recommendation for $750-850. Total: $832.41 USD after mail in rebates.

I was able to save big in a few areas, due to your no overclocking, no SLI/CF preferences. I was able to pick a cheaper motherboard, as you said you don't need SLI/CF/OC features.

Also, many games utilize CPU much less these days, so I felt with your budget, an i3 would be more appropriate, it is an extremely good processor and is faster than many of AMD's quad cores. I was able to squeeze in an HD 7870, which is just an amazing GPU, and should give you good frame rates on most of todays titles using high to max settings. Plus it comes with a free copy of Dirt 3.

I also included a sata cable, because the cd drive is OEM, and doesn't come with one. The PSU is modular, so that will help with cable routing, it's also 80+ bronze certified, so it's built to a tighter spec and will save you a few dollars on your power bill. Other than that, good luck with your build!