Best purchase for $800

[cmichalek91]

Approximate Purchase Date: this week
Budget Range: 800
System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming Max specs skyrim, diablo 3, bf3, watching movies in 3d blu ray for 55in 3dtv

Parts Not Required: monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg or none if better deal is found
Country: im in the USA!
Parts Preferences: neither only performance

Overclocking: maybe

SLI or Crossfire: maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080p or 3dtv

Additional Comments: would this be my best buy? this is my first build . I do need a copy of windows 7?http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.864847

 

[aznshinobi]

Check out my $850 build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore
Unless your windows budget is included in your build. In which case I'd use the $650 build from the same website and just upgrade the 6870 to the 7850.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B007JLFV7U/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

 

[cmichalek91]

i could squeeze an extra hundred bucks for my budget, just to have a better graphics card. Should i wait till tomorrow due to the new month coming and possibly new sales? And also how well would this run BF3 in 1920x1080p. The main reason is I plan on using this PC as a Partial home theater pc due to blu ray 3d and wanted to play possible new games in 3d. Not that i'm a huge enthusiast on 3d, it's just i might as well put it to the best use ;]

 

[UVB076]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($142.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($42.99 @ NCIX US)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($329.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: OCZ 500W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($45.98 @ NCIX US)
Total: $951.79
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-04-30 18:58 EDT-0400)

 

[cmichalek91]

so should i wait for a while for the cpu prices to drop or no? And also i forgot to mention that i need to be able to have Wireless capabilities.

 

[aznshinobi]

UVB, your build is nearly $150 above the OP's budget and after rebates, you do realize most of those prices are after rebates correct? Specifically referring to the 7870 and OCZ's pricing and not including OS yet.

As for your question on prices. Don't expect an immediate drop of Ivy Bridge prices, maybe in a month or so but not in a week. That's a bit quick. As for your squeezing a couple hundred more. I guess you could get UVB's build if you wanted to. My $850 build is essentially the same you get a bigger power supply for SLI/CF in the future. You could add $100 to the 7850 to get the 7870 if you wanted to.

 

[cmichalek91]

thanks for noticing that aznshinobi. i didn't realize about the rebates. I personally hate dealing with rebates unless they drastically save you more than $15. The budget isn't strictly $800 but is the 7870 a lot better than the 7850? is it worth spending the extra $100 for it. If it's worth it to future proof it, then i would be willing.

 

[aznshinobi]

I beg your pardon actually. Just the OCZ had an MIR. The 7870 was actually priced at 7870. Still, a large margin above your intended budget.

As for the budget. The 7870 is quite a large margin better. But the 7850 can overclock to the 7870 and greater in performance. So that's the thing.

If you get the build I suggested and just overclock the 7850 it'll equate to a 7870 or greater. If not, maybe it is worth the extra $100 for the 7870. Here's a bench.
7850 vs 7870
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/549?vs=548

 

[cmichalek91]

hmmmm the numbers seem far greater. Can you overclock the 7870 or just the 7850oc? i saw that the build didn't have a blu ray player in it or dvd drive or am i missing something? I might just go with your $850 build . i also gotta find a cheap copy of windows 7 thanks so much

 

[azeem40]

You can OC any GPU as long as the motherboard supports it.

 

[cmichalek91]

O learned somethin new today Haha do I still have to purchase a blu ray drive ?

 

[UVB076]

Cannibalize it

 

[cmichalek91]

You dirty girl

 

[azeem40]

Yes, you do to playback Blu-Ray.

 

[aznshinobi]

Just to correct Azeem's statement. Your motherboard, as in the one with the CPU on it, has nothing to do with overclocking your GPU. Your GPU's PCB/whatnot (can't remember what it's called) would have to allow it, which is not an issue most of the time. Most manufacturers build their cards to be able to overclock.

 

[cmichalek91]

Okay now that makes sense thanks again now to look for a great price blu ray player for the pc and windows 7

 

[azeem40]

I have been wrong a lot recently. Idk why. :/

 

[cmichalek91]

I'm lost after that comment Haha okay then

 

[aznshinobi]

Umm.... Yeah, any Blu-Ray player at a low price would work. And keep in mind Windows 7 64-bit.

I say cheap Blu-ray would work because sometimes people think you need the most expensive thing for it to be solid. And I say 64-bit because sometimes not all of us pay attention to what we order haha.

 

[cmichalek91]

Where would be the best place to get windows 7 for cheap ?

 

[Pezcore27]

Www.softwaresupplygroup.com - windows 7 64 bit for $68

 

[cmichalek91]

i never heard of it. it looks bootleg

 

[Pezcore27]

They sell overstock oem versions from companies like dell, etc. I bought a copy for our home office computer we built and it worked and installed flawlessly.

 

[cmichalek91]

Best answer selected by cmichalek91.