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1200-1400 Gaming PC - Want Opinions

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*NOTE - please prepare for many links. I pretty much have all my parts chosen. Just looking for input. Also, the $1200-1400 budget includes all the peripherals like the mouse, keyboard, monitor, and headset. I'm starting from ground zero here.

Approximate Purchase Date: 2 weeks

Budget Range: $1200-1400

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Canada Computers (there's a website and a physical store like 5 minutes from my house)

Country: Canada

Parts Preferences: Doesn't matter too much. More recognizable brands (i.e. Asus, Coolermaster, Antec, Gigabyte, etc. preferred)

Overclocking: Probably not - this is my first build ever

SLI or Crossfire: Probably not

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: LED fans are cool. Wouldn't want it to be too loud either I guess. Just looking for some input on the components I've already picked to be quite honest. Also, I prefer intel>AMD, but if you can show me an AMD that performs the same/better for $50+ cheaper I could be persuaded to go that route, but if so please also provide a $100-$120 AMD mobo.

Parts -

PSU: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=3...

HDD: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=1...

MOBO: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...
OR http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...

GPU: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=4...

CPU: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=4...

RAM: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...

Monitor: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...

Mouse: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...

Headset: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=1...

Case: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=6...
OR http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=6...
OR http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=6...

Keyboard: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...
OR http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...
OR http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...

I don't think I'm missing anything, but let me know if I'm missing any parts. I probably just forgot to link it if it's left out. Thank you so much for any input!

More about : 1200 1400 gaming opinions

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If your going with an Ivy Bridge cpu then I would get a Z75 or Z77 cipset motherboard and not a Z68 motherboard. Everything else looks good and the case , keyboard and mouse are usually personal choices as to what you like. As long as the case has good ventilation such as more than one fan it should be good.

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/8VCU

heres a good build. might want to go for ncix. you can price match it on the spot in the shopping cart. all you have to do is put the url in. my build doesnt include monitor or other peripherals. the monitor is a ok choice. might want to get a monitor with 2 ms response time. the gfx card i included is capable of maxing out bf3 on 1080p

nodoubtgenius said:
*NOTE - please prepare for many links. I pretty much have all my parts chosen. Just looking for input. Also, the $1200-1400 budget includes all the peripherals like the mouse, keyboard, monitor, and headset. I'm starting from ground zero here.

Approximate Purchase Date: 2 weeks

Budget Range: $1200-1400

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Canada Computers (there's a website and a physical store like 5 minutes from my house)

Country: Canada

Parts Preferences: Doesn't matter too much. More recognizable brands (i.e. Asus, Coolermaster, Antec, Gigabyte, etc. preferred)

Overclocking: Probably not - this is my first build ever

SLI or Crossfire: Probably not

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: LED fans are cool. Wouldn't want it to be too loud either I guess. Just looking for some input on the components I've already picked to be quite honest. Also, I prefer intel>AMD, but if you can show me an AMD that performs the same/better for $50+ cheaper I could be persuaded to go that route, but if so please also provide a $100-$120 AMD mobo.

Parts -

PSU: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=3...

HDD: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=1...

MOBO: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...
OR http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...

GPU: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=4...

CPU: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=4...

RAM: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...

Monitor: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...

Mouse: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...

Headset: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=1...

Case: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=6...
OR http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=6...
OR http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=6...

Keyboard: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...
OR http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...
OR http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2...

I don't think I'm missing anything, but let me know if I'm missing any parts. I probably just forgot to link it if it's left out. Thank you so much for any input!

Change your motherboard to this one down below so you have the front 3.0 USB header.

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2... $79.99
Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H Socket 1155 Intel B75 Chipset Dual Channel DDR3 1600/1333/1066 MHz 2x PCI-Express x16 GigaLAN 7.1-CH HD Audio 1x SATA 6Gb/s 5 x SATA 3Gb/s x USB 2.0 x USB 3.0 VGA/DVI/HDMI Micro ATX

Then get a case that has the front 3.0 USB ports like this one down below.

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=6... $59.99
Antec Three Hundred Two Premium AB All Black Gaming Series Mid-ATX w/ 1x 140mm Blue Twocool / 2x 120mm Blue Twocool -- *Canada Computers Exclusive*

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inzone said:
If your going with an Ivy Bridge cpu then I would get a Z75 or Z77 cipset motherboard and not a Z68 motherboard. Everything else looks good and the case , keyboard and mouse are usually personal choices as to what you like. As long as the case has good ventilation such as more than one fan it should be good.

If the OP doesn't plan on over clocking...which he doesn't with that 3450 cpu, then a H77 or B75 board will work fine. He will have a board with front 3.0 USB header, PCI-E 3.0 and be able to use 1600hz RAM. Kind of like the H67/H61 SB 1155 boards but they didn't have that front 3.0 USB header, PCI-E 3.0 and they only allowed for 1333hz RAM.

So basically, my build should be alright, but since I'm not planning to overclock I should be alright with a mobo that doesn't include Z68/Z77? Also is there a disadvantage of going with Z68/Z77 if I'm not going to O.C.?

@Why_Me http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2... Looks good too, but I thought the Mobos I originally linked had USB 3.0?

TheBigTroll said:
http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/8VCU

heres a good build. might want to go for ncix. you can price match it on the spot in the shopping cart. all you have to do is put the url in. my build doesnt include monitor or other peripherals. the monitor is a ok choice. might want to get a monitor with 2 ms response time. the gfx card i included is capable of maxing out bf3 on 1080p


The gfx I've already included (Gigabyte O.C. HD 7850 2GB) is supposed to be able to play bf3 on ultra at 1080p with an average of about 50fps if what I've read in reviews and posts is true.

Forgot to ask if I need to get an optical drive and if it is a necessity to apply thermal paste/compound to the CPU.

They do but not for a front panel usb 3.0 port only for the rear I/O panel , there is no usb 3.0 header on the motherboard to plug in a case lead to a front port.

inzone said:
You can always use an optical drive , not everything is digital download just yet and you do still need to use a dvd player. So I would get one.


Alright, I'll pick up one of those too then. Do you know if I'll need to get thermal compound for the CPU as well?

inzone said:
You can if you want to but there will be some that comes with the cooler and is preapplied to the cpu block.


Thanks a million, man. And lastly, will I be alright with the B75 Gigabyte mobo mentioned earlier. I'll be getting an ivy bridge processor probably.

Best solution

nodoubtgenius said:
So basically, my build should be alright, but since I'm not planning to overclock I should be alright with a mobo that doesn't include Z68/Z77? Also is there a disadvantage of going with Z68/Z77 if I'm not going to O.C.?

@Why_Me http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=2... Looks good too, but I thought the Mobos I originally linked had USB 3.0?



The gfx I've already included (Gigabyte O.C. HD 7850 2GB) is supposed to be able to play bf3 on ultra at 1080p with an average of about 50fps if what I've read in reviews and posts is true.

Forgot to ask if I need to get an optical drive and if it is a necessity to apply thermal paste/compound to the CPU.

The Z68 boards are older and targeted for Sandy Bridge cpu's. For the newer Ivy Bridge cpu's like that 3450 you have up there (which is a great choice btw) are best used in Z77/Z75 boards if you plan on over clocking (which you don't) or the H77/B75 boards. That way you can use the 1600hz RAM you have up there, and get other features as well like the front 3.0 USB header/ports and the PCi-E 3.0 among other Ivy Bridge features.

That case I linked has those blue LED fans you wanted and it has the front 3.0 USB ports. That case is a bargain at that price.

Why_Me said:
The Z68 boards are older and targeted for Sandy Bridge cpu's. For the newer Ivy Bridge cpu's like that 3450 you have up there (which is a great choice btw) are best used in Z77/Z75 boards if you plan on over clocking (which you don't) or the H77/B75 boards. That way you can use the 1600hz RAM you have up there, and get other features as well like the front 3.0 USB header/ports and the PCi-E 3.0 among other Ivy Bridge features.

That case I linked has those blue LED fans you wanted and it has the front 3.0 USB ports. That case is a bargain at that price.


Perfect. I think I'm set to lock and load then, can't wait! Just need the GPU to come back in stock and I can check out! Thank you everyone who replied - you all gave me great input.

nodoubtgenius said:
Forgot to ask, and I feel like I shouldn't start a new thread for just one question. So how can I tell if a motherboard has usb headers/usb 3.0 headers? Just for future reference.

All Z77/Z75/H77/B75 boards have a front 3.0 USB header. Some Z68 boards have them also but you have to check whatever Z68 board out on the manufactures site to see if it does or not.
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