$400-450 Gaming PC (Adding GPU later, 50" Plasma as monitor, upgrading later)
Approximate Purchase Date: July 8
Budget Range: $400-550
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing the web, steaming video
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS, hard drive, monitor, optical drive
I'm planning on using my 50" 1080P plasma or a 1280x1024 old VGA as a monitor and/or buying a monitor in the future, and I also have an external optical drive that I'm wondering if I'd be able to use. Let me know if the TV/monitor or optical drive won't work.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I'll be driving to a wedding 4 hours away and passing a microcenter on the way, so if I can save money (especially on the CPU, letting me know if buying so far away is a bad idea), I'll shop there. Other than that newegg or any other reputable online dealer works.
Country: US
Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, better CPU than GPU with the plan to upgrade the GPU down the road. Don't care about noisy case, I just want good cooling and one that might last for a couple builds. Decent PSU so I can upgrade down the road.
Overclocking: Maybe, perhaps down the road if I need to get more out of my CPU.
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe, perhaps down the road to keep up with new games.
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 if I it's possible to use my 50" plasma, would the plasma be able to display other resolutions? If that isn't feasible I have a 17" 1280x1024@75Hz monitor that would be a stand in until I can afford a better one, but that is VGA and I don't know if that is an outdated input.
Additional Comments: My biggest goal is longevity. I'd like a computer that can last for a while (6 years or so) through minimal upgrades. (Obviously I don't plan on max settings in 6 years, but low settings and frame rates that are playable).
My thought was go for a better CPU and then upgrade the GPU down the road (or add another card to do crossfire/SLI) because it seems more costly to upgrade both the CPU and MoBo and it seems like the video cards go through greater improvements over time and would be a more beneficial upgrade in the future.
I don't care about how loud the case is, I would like the best cooling/airflow for the lowest price.
I'm thinking mid Tower and ATX since this is my first build and I'd like to have lots of room to work with.
I'm wondering if I'd be able to use the integrated graphics card on the CPU with either the TV or VGA monitor as I'm not sure if the integrated card can handle a 50" TV or can connect to an old VGA monitor.
The price difference in the budget is because I'm wondering if I can use the integrated graphics card for a couple months and put in a GPU after I save up some cash and how hard it would be to do that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU: Again, My thought was go for a better CPU and then upgrade the GPU down the road (or add another card to do crossfire/SLI) because it seems more costly to upgrade both the CPU and MoBo and it seems like the video cards go through greater improvements over time and would be a more beneficial upgrade in the future.
Core i5 2500K LGA 1155 Boxed Processor $170 @ microcenter
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354589
Intel Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Processor $190 @ microcenter (I'm assuming this is overkill/over budget, but I'm looking long term)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388577>
Motherboard: I honestly don't know much about MoBo, other than I need the 1155 socket (Budget $70?)
Microcenter has a $50 discount on any Z77 or Z68 Mobo with the i5 2500K or i5 3570K
Here's the Z68 Mobos - http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.phtml?sortby=pricelow&N=4294966996%2B4294937532
Here's the Z77 Mobos - http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.phtml?sortby=pricelow&N=4294966996%2B4294936811
Here a link with the promo and some other Mobos http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/0c732362#/0c732362/27
Here's a sample of the boards that are discounted w/ the i5 overclockable CPUs
$85 ASUS P8Z77-V LX Socket 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard
$90 ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard
GPU: I'm not buying a GPU right now so don't add one into your budget, I will in a couple months and I might crossfire in the future for an easy upgrade. I could use a little help on which brands are good and what specs to look for since it seems like there are lots of options and different sales all the time.
Here's an idea of what I might get in a few months
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity (100315L ) $150 @ newegg (-$15 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908
Case: I don't care about noise, I'd like good cooling/airflow and ease of use since it's my first build.
Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan $50 @ newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
Or
Diablotek EVO Mid Tower ATX Computer Case $40 @ microcenter
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0351733
RAM: I have no idea what I'm doing here, just copy and pasted RAM from the latest system builder, but I was thinking one 4GB stick so I can add another in the future to upgrade to 8GB. I could use a little help on which brands are good and what specs to look for since it seems like there are hundreds of options and different sales all the time.
Team Elite 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model TED34096M1333C9DC $21 @ newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313102&Tpk=N82E16820313102
PSU: I have no idea about Power supply's. I could use a little help on which brands are good and what specs to look for since it seems like there are many options and different sales all the time.
(Budget $60?)
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Approximate Purchase Date: July 8
Budget Range: $400-550
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing the web, steaming video
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS, hard drive, monitor, optical drive
I'm planning on using my 50" 1080P plasma or a 1280x1024 old VGA as a monitor and/or buying a monitor in the future, and I also have an external optical drive that I'm wondering if I'd be able to use. Let me know if the TV/monitor or optical drive won't work.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I'll be driving to a wedding 4 hours away and passing a microcenter on the way, so if I can save money (especially on the CPU, letting me know if buying so far away is a bad idea), I'll shop there. Other than that newegg or any other reputable online dealer works.
Country: US
Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, better CPU than GPU with the plan to upgrade the GPU down the road. Don't care about noisy case, I just want good cooling and one that might last for a couple builds. Decent PSU so I can upgrade down the road.
Overclocking: Maybe, perhaps down the road if I need to get more out of my CPU.
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe, perhaps down the road to keep up with new games.
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 if I it's possible to use my 50" plasma, would the plasma be able to display other resolutions? If that isn't feasible I have a 17" 1280x1024@75Hz monitor that would be a stand in until I can afford a better one, but that is VGA and I don't know if that is an outdated input.
Additional Comments: My biggest goal is longevity. I'd like a computer that can last for a while (6 years or so) through minimal upgrades. (Obviously I don't plan on max settings in 6 years, but low settings and frame rates that are playable).
My thought was go for a better CPU and then upgrade the GPU down the road (or add another card to do crossfire/SLI) because it seems more costly to upgrade both the CPU and MoBo and it seems like the video cards go through greater improvements over time and would be a more beneficial upgrade in the future.
I don't care about how loud the case is, I would like the best cooling/airflow for the lowest price.
I'm thinking mid Tower and ATX since this is my first build and I'd like to have lots of room to work with.
I'm wondering if I'd be able to use the integrated graphics card on the CPU with either the TV or VGA monitor as I'm not sure if the integrated card can handle a 50" TV or can connect to an old VGA monitor.
The price difference in the budget is because I'm wondering if I can use the integrated graphics card for a couple months and put in a GPU after I save up some cash and how hard it would be to do that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU: Again, My thought was go for a better CPU and then upgrade the GPU down the road (or add another card to do crossfire/SLI) because it seems more costly to upgrade both the CPU and MoBo and it seems like the video cards go through greater improvements over time and would be a more beneficial upgrade in the future.
Core i5 2500K LGA 1155 Boxed Processor $170 @ microcenter
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354589
Intel Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Processor $190 @ microcenter (I'm assuming this is overkill/over budget, but I'm looking long term)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388577>
Motherboard: I honestly don't know much about MoBo, other than I need the 1155 socket (Budget $70?)
Microcenter has a $50 discount on any Z77 or Z68 Mobo with the i5 2500K or i5 3570K
Here's the Z68 Mobos - http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.phtml?sortby=pricelow&N=4294966996%2B4294937532
Here's the Z77 Mobos - http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.phtml?sortby=pricelow&N=4294966996%2B4294936811
Here a link with the promo and some other Mobos http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/0c732362#/0c732362/27
Here's a sample of the boards that are discounted w/ the i5 overclockable CPUs
$85 ASUS P8Z77-V LX Socket 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard
$90 ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard
GPU: I'm not buying a GPU right now so don't add one into your budget, I will in a couple months and I might crossfire in the future for an easy upgrade. I could use a little help on which brands are good and what specs to look for since it seems like there are lots of options and different sales all the time.
Here's an idea of what I might get in a few months
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity (100315L ) $150 @ newegg (-$15 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908
Case: I don't care about noise, I'd like good cooling/airflow and ease of use since it's my first build.
Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan $50 @ newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
Or
Diablotek EVO Mid Tower ATX Computer Case $40 @ microcenter
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0351733
RAM: I have no idea what I'm doing here, just copy and pasted RAM from the latest system builder, but I was thinking one 4GB stick so I can add another in the future to upgrade to 8GB. I could use a little help on which brands are good and what specs to look for since it seems like there are hundreds of options and different sales all the time.
Team Elite 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model TED34096M1333C9DC $21 @ newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313102&Tpk=N82E16820313102
PSU: I have no idea about Power supply's. I could use a little help on which brands are good and what specs to look for since it seems like there are many options and different sales all the time.
(Budget $60?)
Thanks for any help you can provide.