Need help with first build 800-1000$ gaming comp

[SolarCynder]

Approximate Purchase Date: Next week or two, optimistically by the end of june

Budget Range: 800-1000 before rebate, rebates seem unreliable to me but i have no real experience to back that up

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, general use (programming and running other programs for school), web surfing

Parts Not Required: Monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: new-egg, micro center, whatever is cheapest and reliable

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Intel, nvidia, corsair, seagate,

Overclocking: Yes/Maybe I would like to be able to overclock in the future if i decide i need the performance boost

SLI or Crossfire: Yes/Maybe I would like to double up the graphics cards in a future upgrade i i think i need the boost (worried about micro stuttering and or driver issues though)

Monitor Resolution: not sure yet, i have a 23 inch 1080p hd tv as one monitor and am planing on having a second monitor for less that 200$ at some point (2 monitor total)

Additional Comments: So this is my first build and i really don't want to get blindsided by getting a crappy comp, this is a replacement for my really flaky hp laptop that I have for school. I have put in well over 50 hours of research but I still could use help because I just don't know if this will work. My plan for this comp is to have 2 drives to start with, one 120 GB SSD SATA 3 for my OS and programs, and a cheaper HDD for the rest of the programs that don't fit and the rest of my data. I have the idea of making this overclock able so that i can do this in the future as well as stable even under maximum load, I plan on keeping this computer for 3+ years hopefully 4 or 5. I would like to potentially upgrade my graphics to SLI if i need it as my comp ages, and I would like to run games like Skyrim and Starcraft 2 of high graphics with over 30 FPS. I also would like to keep this computer upgrade able as it gets older, not sure what i might need as it gets older maybe some insight to that. I still need a case that has good ventilation that is pretty close to or less than 100$ (maybe with some red LEDs) These are the parts that i have found so far that should work.


Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
i saw this really cheap at microcenter 180 or 190$

GIGABYTE GA-Z77-D3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128543

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345

EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1563-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130610
Is the overclocked worth it?

Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F120GB3A-BK 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233206

ARCTIC COOLING Arctic Cooling MX-4 AC-MX4 4 gram (g) All-Around Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186038
For the processor

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

I already also have a Seagate Barracuda 500 GB SATA 2 7200 RPM 16 MB cache HDD, i got it for 75$ and i dont know if I should return it and see if i can find a cheaper, faster 500GB HDD

I need an optical drive, nothing fancy but something reliable and cheap.

And i still need a case I have a few ideas but I am still looking. . .

I am hoping that none of these parts are overkill or are bottlenecks as I would like the best value for this computer.

Any advice or help would be fantastic, thanks in advance.

 

[azeem40]

On your budget, I recommend ditching the SSD and getting a GTX 670 as the GPU is the most important part of a gaming pc. The Hyper 212 comes with MX-4, so you won't need the MX-4.

 

[SolarCynder]

Oh and i completely forgot I was considering a corsair enthusiast series 750 WATT PSU, I don't know if this is way too much or too little the 650 WATT is much cheaper

 

[azeem40]

750w is needed for SLI 560ti.

 

[Reverend_Mason]

If you aren't wanting Blu-Ray this drive is good quality and cheap

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

As for a case I myself am about to purchase a Corsair 300R, it's quite roomy and easy on the budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139011

 

[SolarCynder]

I looked up the gtx 670 2GB and it seems to have 50% more power, not sure how that would compare to 560 ti in SLI, If i get one expensive card I am going to stick with it because a second one will be too expensive and I would need a better mobo for 2 pcie 3 slots, so is it better to get one good card or 2 cheaper cards? Also is the radeon side better when compared to the 670 gtx?

I like the optical drive because I doubt I will need Blu-Ray since everything is usually downloaded these days so it seems. The case looks pretty good, sturdy looking and well priced I don't know if I will need more fans for it.

Also do you think that a 7200 rpm SATA 3 1 TB drive would be good, I know SSDs are fast but like you mentioned I have no idea if its worth it, I wonder what the comparison is for loading times in game.

 

[Reverend_Mason]

You can always get the 7200 RPM drive now and save up for an SSD later down the road if it's really that big of a hit on the budget. Also go with the single card. The GTX 670 is a beast. As of right now the GTX 670 and 680 pretty much stomp their Radeon counterparts and the 690 just destroys everything. Also an overclocked 670 can beat a stock 680 in some cases so the 670 really is an amazing card. Also incredibly power efficient.

 

[SolarCynder]

The 670 is a beast and from the research it seems to run just about twice as good as 560ti for a little less power consumed as you said, I am not sure but it seems like i could get away with a 650 watt psu so that leaves the 670 route about 130$(optimistically) more expensive, do you think that the ssd will influence game loading times by a very noticeable amount? If I go for the 670 it basically could pump out extreme 60 + frames per second on highest settings for most games.

Now I am contemplating a 1000 to 1200$ build I guess, honestly I wish there was a better deal for the 670.

 

[Reverend_Mason]

Yeah I do to as I'm looking to purchase one within the next week but I don't see any sales for them on the horizon as it's hard enough keeping 600 series in stock as it is. Also an SSD will make games load faster yes, that's why most people have at least 1 SSD in their system but it really depends on your budget. You can get by with the HDD but I say if you can get one go SSD but if it comes down to either the SSD or the 670 in regards to gaming take the 670 now and pick up an SSD later.

 

[SolarCynder]

I assume with the 670 being 400$ and its performance rating, there probably wont be much need for an upgrade for a long time. Just some future overclocking I bet. I was also wondering about the psu, if 650 watts is enough to power the 670 and everything else? I think it should do the job and last a while especially since it seems there is a focus on energy efficiency for most new components.

 

[Reverend_Mason]

You could run it on 650w but that would be as low as you would want to go most likely. Personally I would go 750w just be sure and also with 750w you would have enough to go Sli with 2 670s in the future if you wanted.

Link for a good 650w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

Link for a good 750w (the one I'm getting for my setup actually)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

 

[SolarCynder]

Thanks for the help, I think I pretty much have a handle on what I am going to do now. I will for now stick with the 560 ti because of a very recent hand injury my budget will be a bit smaller now and I will keep the 670 in mind for a future upgrade. Again thanks for the help.

 

[Reverend_Mason]

Hey no problem, any more questions don't hesitate to ask the forums here. Hope the hand gets better quick.

 

[pvtevan99]

i know its AMD but its amazing, (i use this build):

CPU:AMD FD8350FRHKBOX FX-8350 FX-Series 8-Core Black Edition ($194.67 @ Amazon)

Motherboard:GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard ($133.99 @ Amazon)

PSU:Corsair CX750 Builder Series ATX 80 PLUS Bronze Certified Power Supply ($88.24 @ Amazon)

Graphics Card:EVGA SuperClocked 02G-P4-2762-KR GeForce GTX 760 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card ($259.99 @ Amazon)

RAM:Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB Kit (4GBx2) DDR3 1600 MT/s (PC3-12800) CL9 @1.5V UDIMM 240-Pin Memory BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00 ($66.18 @ Amazon)

Case:RAIDMAX Seiran ATX-902WR Red Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($64.99 @ Amazon)

Total: $808.06

ADVANTAGES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~Supports 3-4 Monitors (more monitors, Slower PC)

~Runs all games, even crysis on high-MAX maintaining around 50-80 fps - Minecraft 300-500 fps

~PSU will last around 4 years

~High end CPU and Motherboard

~Motherboard supports 2 CrossfireX graphics cards and 2 SLI cards

~Motherboard supports Overclocking extremely well

~Latest AM3+ slots

~Graphics card is already overclocked (So you dont have to, makes it easier)

~RAM is DDR3 1600Mhz 1.5V 8gb (4gb 1333Mhz DDR3 is still standard for everything so having 8 is amazing for multitasking)

~The Red/Black/Blue Case (depending on which you choose) Has ALOT of space for building and adding parts

~The Case has a no-tool design so you dont have to unscrew the DVD ROM, HardDrives, or SSD's

~For $800 you cant go wrong with this build, This is very upgradable and will last years. (this is gonna be my life PC - ill keep upgrading it throughout life)

~You get to build it

~8 Core CPU allows for extreme multitasking. (if you had 2-4 monitors youll be able to have things like: Skype, A Game, Internet tabs in Google Chrome. All open at once)

~With a 8 core AMD pc you'll be able to record,upload and stream faster (for videos)

 

[SolarCynder]

I never did close this thread did I, well I felt like posting what I ended up getting:
I-5 3570k
2-4 gigabyte vengeance ram sticks
Nvidia GTX 560 TI EVGA
Gygabyte motherboard (too lazy to look it up right now)
Sandisk 120 gb solid state drive
500 gb 7200 rpm seagate drive
700 watt non-modular corsair PSU
this build came to just under 1000$ when I finally purchased it, I had planned on getting a second 560 TI but since most games do not support SLI when released I decided to pick up a GTX 770 of some type pretty soon. I also purchased a 2 gigabyte seagate 7200 rpm drive because 500 gb was certainly not enough. Thanks for all the help with the build.