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First-Time Builder

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I'm contemplating building a gaming desktop PC, but I've never done one before.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within 2 months
Budget Range: $800 - $1500 After Rebates
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming and maybe watching movies
Parts Not Required: I'm only concerned with the tower. I don't care about the peripherals at this point.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I've bought from newegg in the past and like them, but I'm open to other sites
Country: I'm assembling in the U.S.
Parts Preferences: I've never used any AMD products and am therefore a little intimidated
Overclocking: Maybe - never done it before
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe - never done it before
Monitor Resolution: Not picky... just something 16:9
Additional Comments: I would like something that can handle BF3 with at least high settings and that future-proofs me for a few years (1 or 2)

I've made a public wishlist.

Thanks for any advice you can give regarding part compatibility and overall value of the machine.

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Gaming Authority

For $1400 you can do way better (the i7-3770 is overkill for what you want to use your system for), here's a build you should check out:

Case: Antec 1100 - $99.99
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MKII 750W - $109.99
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H - $144.99
CPU: 3.4GHz Intel Core i5-3570K - $249.99
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $33.99
RAM: 8GB Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 1600MHz 1.5V - $56.99
SSD: 128GB OCZ Vertex 4 - $129.99
HD: 2TB Samsung Ecogreen F4 - $129.99
Optical: Lite On Bulk DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: EVGA Geforce GTX 670 - $399.99

Total: $1,373.93

Add OS license and monitor and you're good to go.

g-unit1111 said:
Total: $1,373.93


Thanks for the advice g-unit1111! Should I be looking at a cheaper build then? I want to be able to play the current games (BF3, Diablo 3, Borderlands 2, maybe Skyrim) on at least high settings at max resolution. I also want to be able to use this computer for similar games for the next year or two.
Gaming Authority

juddernaught said:
Thanks for the advice g-unit1111! Should I be looking at a cheaper build then? I want to be able to play the current games (BF3, Diablo 3, Borderlands 2, maybe Skyrim) on at least high settings at max resolution. I also want to be able to use this computer for similar games for the next year or two.


This will handle anything you throw at it on ultra for the next five years. If you want a less expensive build I can suggest one for sure.
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g-unit1111 said:
This will handle anything you throw at it on ultra for the next five years. If you want a less expensive build I can suggest one for sure.

Wow, that would be impressive.. I'm used to gaming on laptops, so my standards are pretty low. :) 

If I could get virtually the same thing for cheaper, I'd be happy to see the options!
Gaming Authority

juddernaught said:
Wow, that would be impressive.. I'm used to gaming on laptops, so my standards are pretty low. :) 

If I could get virtually the same thing for cheaper, I'd be happy to see the options!


Maybe try this:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 - $59.99
PSU: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 - $89.99 ($20.00 MIR)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H - $119.99
CPU: 3.4GHz Intel Core i5-3570K - $249.99
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $33.99
RAM: 8GB G.Skill Ripjaw 1600MHz 1.5V - $46.99
SSD: 128GB Crucial M4 - $127.99
HD: 2TB Seagate Barracuda Green - $119.99
Optical: Lite On DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: EVGA Geforce GTX 670 - $399.99

Total: $1,128.99
Gaming Authority

Anything linked to Amazon on here can be found at Newegg. This case down below give you the front 3.0 USB ports, LED fans, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Carbide-Series-Gaming-Com... $92.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Corsair Carbide Series 400R Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case - CC-9011011-WW

http://www.corsair.com/pc-cases/carbide-series-pc-case/... <----- another look at that case along with links to professional online reviews

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... $149.98 save: $15.00 - $10.00 Mail In Rebates FREE SHIPPING
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9B

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... $214.98 save: $20.00
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/asrock_z77_extreme... <---- review of that board w/benchmarks

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77%20Extreme4/ <----- another look at that board along with a link to the latest bios

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-3570K-Processor-BX8063... $234.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Intel Core i5 3570K Processor 3.4 4 BX80637I53570K

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-RR-212E-2... $34.62 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R2)

http://www.amazon.com/Asus-24xDVD-RW-Serial-Internal-DR... $16.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25
Asus 24xDVD-RW Serial ATA Internal OEM Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $124.99 FREE SHIPPING
SanDisk Extreme SDSSDX-120G-G25 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $399.99 FREE SHIPPING
EVGA 02G-P4-2670-KR GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card


Total: $1,269.53 *not including shipping & rebates



http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-64bit-System-Buil... $99.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder DVD 1 Pack

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