Need Help w/ $800-$900 Gaming Build

Tatsuro

Honorable
Jun 18, 2012
57
0
10,630
Currently working towards building a Gaming Computer for a friend of mine.

Approximate Purchase Date: Early to Mid July

Budget Range: 800-900 (May go over for extra parts needed due to TV being the monitor) before rebates/Shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: "heavy" Gaming (BF3, Starcraft II, Various other Real Time Strategy Games), Photoshop (Nothing intensive) HD Streaming/Everyday Internet stuff.

Parts Not Required: Monitor, Speakers, Keyboard/Mouse but will take suggestions on a keyboard/mouse (doesn't need to be included w/ build price)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com, Amazon.com, NCIX.com could also be an option

Country: US - Hawaii

Parts Preferences:
Windows 7 Home
http://www.softwaresupplygroup.com/microsoft-windows-7-home-premium-64-bit-oem-branded.html

Intel i5 2500k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

HDD, SSD, VGA, PSU, RAM
https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=20648246
Will need a Wireless Adapter

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: Im assuming 1920x1080 unless told otherwise from someone w/ experience

Additional Comments:
Everything in the Wishlist are items suggested to him by others Along with the Processer
Looking for Suggestions/Advice/Revisions to that list/anything that was preferred.

One Thing that may be odd about what may need to be considered is that he'll be using his 32' Vizio (720p From '08-'09) so anything that may need to be added because of this please list.

Also something to consider is that i live in Hawaii so Shipping will not be included in the "Budget", Originally it was a 950-1k Budget but Shipping will be a B***** (If i get everything from Newegg, Shipping went as high as $130 and sadly anything shipped to Hawaii doesn't qualify for Free Shiping Via Newegg/its all 2-Day shipping)

was actually wondering if downgrading the card into a 550/550ti or above then running duals would be better.
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
was actually wondering if downgrading the card into a 550/550ti or above then running duals would be better.

No - bad idea. Dual 550TIs is a horrible idea - I had the same setup and it's not good. You always want the single strongest GPU you can get as opposed to two weaker ones.

Try this:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 - $59.99
PSU: Corsiar CX600 - $69.99
Motherboard: Asrock Z77 Pro4 - $119.99
CPU: 3.1GHz Intel Core i5-3450 - $199.99
RAM: 8GB Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 1333MHz 1.5V - $44.99
HD: 1TB Seagate Barracuda ST - $99.99
Optical: Lite On DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 - $239.99

Total: $897.91

The CPU doesn't have an unlocked multiplier so you can't overclock but if you want to add the 3570K it won't add much to the budget.
 

bliq00

Distinguished
Feb 23, 2011
89
0
18,660
Not only that, but he won't be gaming at 1900x1080 on a 720P TV. So you may not really need a ton of GPU power given the low resolution.

Does Amazon ship to HI for free like they do in the lower 48? If so, that may be a viable option. I was going to suggest Microcenter for Mobo and CPU but you need to be able to pick up the CPU in store.
 

Tatsuro

Honorable
Jun 18, 2012
57
0
10,630
Would you all happen to know what resolution it might run at? just askin if you guys know (or anyone for future reference) just wanted to know

thanks for the input, as far as Amazon shipping to Hawaii, usually they do Free shipping (or pay extra if you want items faster still takes about a week for that total)

the Case for the most part will be bought off of Amazon/Microcenter/Ncix/Tigerdirect/etc anything suggested ill look at (Shipping from Newegg 2day = about 50-70 bucks with 20 of that being the Base cost of shipping)

also wanted to know if there would be differences of using an OC'd version of the 7850 Card w/ regular i5 processor
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator


The 7850 should support the highest resolutions available.

Not only that, but he won't be gaming at 1900x1080 on a 720P TV. So you may not really need a ton of GPU power given the low resolution.

My TV runs at full 1080p on 60 - 75hz - I got rid of that GPU setup because the framrates were terrible, the 7870 meets what I need it to do easily.
 
Pretty much guaranteed. At 1GHZ the 7850 performs at the level of a GTX 580. I haven't seen a single person that has used the 7850, that attempted a slight 100mhz-200mhz overclock and not succeeded. I say this because most 7850's are clocked at 800mhz-900mhz.
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1863/14/

The GTX 580 can overclock, but it's hardly the better option now-a-days. High power consumption, high temps (cooler dependent, mainly referring to full stock). Compared to the 7850 that runs WAY cooler, MUCH lower on the heat. Can't deny all those facts. Plus the 580 is $130 more than the 7850. The GTX 580 overclocked doesn't even perform that much better. The 7870 would be a much better buy at its price.

I'll admit the GTX 580 overclocked is a great card, but at the price, power consumption and heat might as well get the 7870 or save and have close/if not the same performance from a 7850. After OC the 7850 a crazy good card for being $250.

 

Tatsuro

Honorable
Jun 18, 2012
57
0
10,630
oh and i was wondering if he would need a CPU Cooler? i see the 212 Evo everywhere on forums. Avg temp year round here 70-82 Degrees F, Room Temperature easily can go up to 90-95 during this time of year (Late april-Middle September)
 
If you get a cpu cooler than you'll need low profile ram so it doesn't conflict with heat sink here take your pick RAM:G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416#top

RAM:CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233196#top

RAM:CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186#top
 
oh yeah the 580 price is a rip off for sure :lol:
 
The Hyper 212 Evo is decent, with Ivy's temps I'd spend a little more on the cooler than usual. The Corsair A70 is pretty solid, that or the CM Hyper 612.
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Series-Performance-Cooler-CAFA70/dp/B003IT6RE8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340344406&sr=8-1&keywords=corsair+a70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103106&Tpk=hyper%20612

The A50 or Hyper 212 Evo are of the value range but still solid.
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Series-Performance-Cooler-CAFA70/dp/B003IT6RE8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340344406&sr=8-1&keywords=corsair+a70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
 

Tatsuro

Honorable
Jun 18, 2012
57
0
10,630
^ Thanks a lot guys!
Ironically his Laptop just broke earlier, fell off of the bed, back-plate shattered/Cracked would be an easy way to put it :S so i've updated the Date to about a week from now

Any recommendations on an HDMI Cable for the Computer? i don't entirely trust neweggs ratings so i never really check/base anything off of them
 
Not really any recommendations. Using a longer Rosewill HDMI cable currently, nothing special. Does the Job. I don't notice any real bad things about it. HDMI cables for me is like if it works and it was cheap. Then it is fine. Most people can't tell the difference between a $50 one and a $10 one anyways.
 
If you mean the Antec 902, it's a solid case. Good features. For its MSRP of $100+, with all the cases out now. It's not worth it. If it was on sale for ~$80 less than $90 then maybe the argument can be made.

The Antec 900 Original isn't bad. But definitely spec wise with stuff not on par with modern cases.

The new HAF 922 and Antec One Illusion are solid cases for the $100 range and $60 range.
 

Tatsuro

Honorable
Jun 18, 2012
57
0
10,630
was just wondering because he looked at cases online and he liked the Antec nine hundred (not the 902) right now got it saved for $89 w/ free shipping,
is it even worth getting? if not i'll try throw better suggestions out (he prefers a black or white case w/ Blue LED) :S