Help building a $1000 or under PC that will last!

[supersport ss2]

Approximate Purchase Date: Hopefully within the next 2-6 months, basically when I can get a new job and build up the cash

Budget Range: around $1000 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Work (MIS professional), and Video/image editing

Parts Not Required: Monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, but it doesn't matter, I am looking for the cheapest

Country: U.S.

Parts Preferences: Intel i5 3570k processor/ASUS mobo

Overclocking: No, maybe in the future, but not anytime soon

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 720p HDTV via HDMI

Additional Comments: I am trying to stay as cheap as possible. I would also like this machine to last as long as possible, hopefully around 3-4yr before being recycled or divided into other machines. Also, it doesn't have to run games at full resolution at 60fps. Running BF3 at high around 40-50fps would be good. I would also like to be able to recycle/reuse in later builds.



Here is a list I put together, it is over 1k by a few hundred but that is mostly dew to the operating system and keyboard and mouse.



PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/anCT
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/anCT/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/anCT/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($175.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: GeIL Value Plus 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($132.99 @ B&H)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($409.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Full (32/64-bit) ($234.99 @ B&H)
Keyboard: Logitech MX 5500 Revolution Wireless Standard Keyboard w/Laser Mouse ($134.79 @ Amazon)
Total: $1425.71
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)


This is kind of what I want, maybe to save money I could go with a GTX 570 instead of the GTX 670 or maybe a GTX 660 when it is released, and I hope windows 8 is going to be cheaper than 7, that way I can save some money.

 

[cranked]

A lot can change in 2-6 months time, so you never know what your build will look like then. The 660 will likely be out and it sounds like it will be priced decently.

You most likely won't need windows ultimate. Home premium will probably do you just fine and is quite a bit less.

You also have a $140 mouse/kb combo, which doesn't sit right in a $1000 build.

Bottom line, re-post when you are closer to building. Things will have changed greatly by then.

 

[supersport ss2]

I am just trying to get an idea of the components that I may want/need so I can be on the lookout for lowering prices.

Also, that is a decent wireless mouse and keyboard set so I can use it anywhere in my room, although I'm not sure if that mobo has Bluetooth to use it, which would make this rig cheaper and the home premium. Hopefully Win8 will be like the new OSx's as far as price.

 

[bctande1]

I'd say if your REALLY big on video editing-rendering, you should opt for a 3770k and swap out for a GTX 570.

Reasons why:

Video Rendering -
The 3770k utilizes a technology Hyper-threading, which allows the 4 cores to do 2 tasks or "threads" each instead of the conventional one-task-per-core. So pretty much, windows will read the 3770k as 8 cores instead of 4 as you have 4 physical cores+4 virutal cores as a result of HyperThreading. Hyperthreading is utilized quite effectively by most popular video,music and photo-editors and this can yield to an upwards of 30% performance increase from the 3570k, which, does not have Hyperthreading. So if your passionate on your video and picture stuff, then 3770k is worth the 100$ increase. A 3770k would also be good for the long run as it is also a better CPU than the 3570k in terms of just raw performance.

- Gaming -
Because your running at a somewhat low resolution of 1280x720, the workload will be taken off the GPU and placed a bit more on the CPU. Therefore, at lower resolution, a better CPU(3770k) will be optimal for achieving high Framerates and with a GTX 570, you'll definitely be able to achieve 50+ frames even at ULTRA @ 720p. Plus, a GTX 670 is a fairly high quality GPU and would be overkill for a 720p screen.

Conclusion -
If you see yourself becoming more active in your video-editing, go for a 3770K as Hyper-Threading will give you a good boost in performance in comparison to the 3570K

If your more of a gamer, I say keep the same setup but swap out your 680 for a HD 7870 -- you'll save about 80 bucks and BF3 will easily run at 55+ frames IF**** you stick with the 720p display. If youre upgrading to 1080p, go for 670 as it will run BF3 better at the Resolution

Plus, go for a GOOD QUALITY 700W or even 650w PSU .

750w is a bit too much even for a GTX 670 and 3770k -- the 600 series NVIDIA cards are manufactured to take less power and perform better than their predecessors, same to the Ivy Bridge Processors.

_______________________________________________________

Good Luck on your PC search !

 

[bctande1]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/apnE

This should be your best set-up if your running a 720p screen.

Look to my last comment for info - although you probably already have.

 

[supersport ss2]

Thanks for the input, I might go with the 3570k CPU with the GTX 570 to save money since I don't do as much vid/image editing as a used to. I was in graphic design but now I am doing more of the database programming.

I will downgrade the watts of the PSU as suggested.

Will probably get a lot cheaper keyboard/mouse and only get the Win Home Premium.

The CPU and MOBO combo should last a while, and the GTX 570 GPU should last 3-4 years as far as performance, even if will probably be running the low end of future games by then.

 

[supersport ss2]

- If I go with a GTX 660 or 560/570 GPU

- bump the PSU down to a 550w since I wont be overclocking anytime soon

- get windows 8 when it launches

- and go with a Seagate barracuda 7200rpm 500 gb drive instead of the Crucial M4 drive


Will this still be a solid system that will be fairly future proof or easily upgradeable?