One last try, $550 budget all purpose build

[noahfor]

Approximate Purchase Date: Today

Budget Range: $550 after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: eBay, Internet, Movies

Parts Not Required: Monitor, Windows, Keyboard, Mouse, GPU

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: whatever's cheapest, don't have a microcenter near me

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Intel

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

I had a build all picked out, but all my combos expired. This is what I came up with after sifting through the deals on newegg:

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
$204.99 w/ promo code.

Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066
$44.99 after promo and MIR

Hard drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAKX 320GB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136770
$59.99 w/ promo code

Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
$46.99

PSU: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.964603
$176.98 after combo and MIRs

Total: $541.57 after all discounts and rebates

Why the 650W PSU? Because it's a great deal at the moment and will be able to handle what the future may bring.
320GB, really? Yes, I've never had a problem with hard drive space, and if it turns out to be a problem I can supplement it with a SSD in the future, when I have more fund available. It's just money is tight at the moment, but I need a computer now.

 

[cranked]

That is a great build. You will need to get an aftermarket cooler when you are ready to OC. The best quality one for the lowest price is the Hyper 212 EVO, will run you around $30. You can get that later when you are ready to OC if it isn't in your budget.

I would also get this RAM:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145315

The one you chose has some heatsinks which aren't needed and if they are taller than they appear in the picture you may have a conflict with an aftermarket cooler when the time comes.

Other than that, it's a solid build. That PSU is very nice and a great price as well.

Out of curiosity what GPU are you running?

 

[noahfor]

Thanks. I've added that RAM to my cart.

I don't have a GPU at the moment. I was either going to get a 6770 or something a little better in about a months time. I'm not much of a gamer so it doesn't really matter that much to me. I'll probably only play Diablo and Starcraft, and maybe get into the Mass Effect series. I'm not a stickler for high definition or the highest settings, so it's not that big a deal.

 

[cbrunnem]

That is a great build. You will need to get an aftermarket cooler when you are ready to OC. The best quality one for the lowest price is the Hyper 212 EVO, will run you around $30. You can get that later when you are ready to OC if it isn't in your budget.

I would also get this RAM:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145315

The one you chose has some heatsinks which aren't needed and if they are taller than they appear in the picture you may have a conflict with an aftermarket cooler when the time comes.

Other than that, it's a solid build. That PSU is very nice and a great price as well.

Out of curiosity what GPU are you running?

to say the 212+ is a quality cooler is just wrong. it performs as an entry level cooler and its quality reflects that. its cheap and everyone recommends it so others think that since everyone is recommending it that its a good cooler. its not a good cooler, it does its just but it doesnt produce great temps. maybe good temps for what you pay but dont expect a high overclock with it.

 

[cranked]

to say the 212+ is a quality cooler is just wrong. it performs as an entry level cooler and its quality reflects that. its cheap and everyone recommends it so others think that since everyone is recommending it that its a good cooler. its not a good cooler, it does its just but it doesnt produce great temps. maybe good temps for what you pay but dont expect a high overclock with it.

First off, it is a quality cooler, not some piece of crap like you make it sound.

Second, I don't recommend it to people looking to do high OC's and since, I would say 90+%, of people aren't looking for high OC's, it's a great cooler for almost everyone.

 

[geekapproved]

That's why you don't ask about a build until your ready to buy.

We tell you the best deals, they don't last forever.

I'd wait till fathers day weekend if I were you.

 

[noahfor]

I was ready to buy. I had picked out the combos the day they expired. It happened without warning. Apparently, it happens on the first of the month.

Anyway, do you really think the deals will be that good for Fathers Day?

 

[Scotty99]

whoa whoa whoa, i use a hyper 212+ and ive NEVER seen my CPU go over 61c at 4.5ghz (1.35v).

Sounds like someone does not know how to apply thermal paste properly, or they got a dud.

 

[bigcyco1]

Lol... you guys chill out sure the hyper 212+ isn't the best heat sink but it get's the job done for mild overclocking it isn't that bad of a heat sink it's decent not great but good enough for mild overclocks

 

[zZ Cory]

Do you already have an OS?

 

[cbrunnem]

First off, it is a quality cooler, not some piece of crap like you make it sound.

Second, I don't recommend it to people looking to do high OC's and since, I would say 90+%, of people aren't looking for high OC's, it's a great cooler for almost everyone.

if it was a quality heatsink it wouldnt have the direct touch pipes in has it would have a proper solid copper base. if it was a quality heatsink it would not cost 25 dollars. i would probably cringe at the tollerances that the factory has to make. they probably are over 1 which is a lot.

 

[cranked]

if it was a quality heatsink it wouldnt have the direct touch pipes in has it would have a proper solid copper base. if it was a quality heatsink it would not cost 25 dollars. i would probably cringe at the tollerances that the factory has to make. they probably are over 1 which is a lot.

I said it was a good heatsink for the price, not the best one on the market.

It wil do the job for 99% of the people coming to this forum, most of which are looking to build relatively inexpensive pc's. No one is suggesting it for $3k builds or for people looking for extreme OC's.

If it was such a piece of crap, like you are so adamantly suggesting, I am sure we would all be hearing about it from people who are having problems.

 

[cbrunnem]

I said it was a good heatsink for the price, not the best one on the market.

It wil do the job for 99% of the people coming to this forum, most of which are looking to build relatively inexpensive pc's. No one is suggesting it for $3k builds or for people looking for extreme OC's.

If it was such a piece of crap, like you are so adamantly suggesting, I am sure we would all be hearing about it from people who are having problems.

you say all this till you put a real heatsink on your rig. i guarantee 10-15 degrees better AT LEAST.