1st build, flexible mutli-use & gaming - ~$1000

valpospe

Honorable
Apr 29, 2012
2
0
10,510
Mixed use, 1st time build with decent gaming potential.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within a week or so

Budget Range: initially $1000, however I’m ending up around $1100

System Usage: Upgrading *cough* an 8 year old HP a350y p4 with an ATI 800GTO card (which I added later). I used to play “recent” titles, but was not motivated to keep up. I still play IL2 1946 every few days (and will break out Silent Hunter III or Red Orchestra every once in a while), although my current frame rates are barely acceptable. I intend to dive back into some more “modern” game titles and have also started shooting home movies in HD, which cannot be edited on my current machine. I realize I can “meet” my current needs for much less money, but I’d like to build in some longevity (maybe not 8 years worth though ;) ).

Parts Not Required: Don’t need any HID’s, speakers or a monitor (which will be updated some point in the near future). I have a ton of external USB drives that I back up pictures and home movies to (and then back up those back ups, what the heck is on that one drive?)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Bit of a Newegg fan, although I could be persuaded to look elsewhere, I also have Amazon prime.

Country: US of A

Parts Preferences: Definitely getting an Intel CPU, and have grown used to ATI/AMD for better or worse for GPU. The rest is fairly negotiable.

Overclocking: Not likely

SLI or Crossfire: Not likely, but having the option is nice.

Monitor Resolution: 1280 x 1024 (have not yet drunk the widescreen coolaid) – Will most likely upgrade when I will my current computer to my son in a few months.

Additional Comments: Not looking for bragging rights or a display piece. Just want something that won’t be obsolete in a year, won’t flinch at the old games I still play, gives me the opportunity to play newer titles (at acceptable resolution and rates) when the spirit moves me and allows me to reasonably edit HD video.

I'm not new to computers, or their parts, but have never put together a complete system from scratch.

Here are the parts I feel reasonably sure about, but am open to suggestions on:

CPU - Intel Core i5-3550 $220

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116505

MB - ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 $135

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

HD – WD – 6gb/s SATA C Black 1tb $140

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

Case - Rosewill CHALLENGER-U3 $60

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147060

DVD - ASUS 24x DVD $19

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

RAM -G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB $60

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445

OS – Windows 7 HP $100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986



Haven't settled on a GPU or PSU. The GPU I was looking at:

GPU - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7850 11200-01-20G $250

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102986

is sold out. However, there are other comparable 7850's for almost the same price.

And here is the PSU I was considering. Like I said crossfire not in my immediate future, but would hate to have to buy a new PSU if I do cross that bridge.

PSU - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650M 650W $110

www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139031


All told, that comes to $1094.

Thoughts, suggestions, obvious holes or oversights?

Thanks in advance.

 

licktheenvelope

Honorable
Apr 6, 2012
100
0
10,690
Looks good.

If you're going i5 3550 you could get a 2500k for the same price... it's the exact same speed + can be overclocked later if you need...

(Edit... sorry meant 2500k.. which actually does have an on board GPU)
 

valpospe

Honorable
Apr 29, 2012
2
0
10,510
Thanks for the replies, I will take a look at the i5-2500k and that PSU.

Should I take the crickets chirping on this thread to mean that the rest looks okay?

Anyone have any idea when Newegg (or anyone for that matter) will have Sapphire 7850's back in stock?
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.910431 $374.98
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX806237I53570K

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231544 $44.99 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-8GAO

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-AD-7280S-0B-Internal-Drive-Black/dp/B0057FRTPW/ref=pd_cp_e_0 $17.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25
Sony AD-7280S-0B 24x SATA Internal DVD+/-RW Drive (Black)

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST1000DM003/dp/B005T3GRNW/ref=sr_1_6?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1335686168&sr=1-6 $99.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Seagate Barracuda 7200 1 TB 7200RPM SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive ST1000DM003
 

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