$800 gaming pc, first build, any suggestions

[Athrus2001]

I am building my first gaming pc. I have a budget of $800 +- a few dollars. I have a DVD burner and HD. I also have a sidewinder atx case it's about 3-4 years old and not sure if the fans work since I don't have a power supply to test it. Here is the build I'm hoping to purchase within 2 weeks. The total price is about $750, $700 for parts, and $50 for shipping (only shipping option available for my zip ode on newegg).

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL
$46.99


Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 32-bit - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116983
$99.99


COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel ...
$34.99

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card (11201-00-20G)

Thermaltake Smart SP-730P 730W ATX 12V 2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

-$19.00 Combo
$15.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$25.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

$215.98

Intel Core i5-3450 Ivy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.5GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2500 BX80637I53450

Intel BOXDZ77SL50K LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

-$5.00 Instant
-$20.00 Combo

$304.98


Shipping: $47.21


Any suggestions, I have $50 to play with? My main concern is compatibility and making sure that the parts work well together. Will this be a compatible build?
Should I purchase a new case for $50 or should I try to use my old case?
The video card and psu is a combo deal on newegg, the CPU and motherboard is also a combo deal.

 

[azeem40]

i5-3450 $200
ASRock Pro3 Gen3 Z77 $110
XFX 550W $75
Sapphire Radeon 7850 $240
SP1 Home Premium $100
your RAM $47
your old case

This will be cheaper than yours.

 

[aznshinobi]

You could do much better.
Check out my $650 build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore
Swap the 6870 for the 7850 (90$)
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11200-01-20G/dp/B007JCNOZA%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquid1240995-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB007JCNOZA
Since you don't need the HDD (-80)
Total: $662
Windows Here:
http://www.softwaresupplygroup.com/microsoft-windows-7-home-premium-64-bit-oem-branded.html

The 7850 will give you much more power than the 7770, even if you kept the 6870 in my actual build guide you'd be getting more performance.
The Z77 is unnecessary but besides, Intel overprices their products. Other companies like Asrock and Gigabyte have better value oriented products.
The PSU is overkill. WAY overkill especially for GPU/CPUs that consume so little nowadays.

 

[Athrus2001]

Thanks for the recommendations. I will be going for a psu with a little less power and a better video card. If I need to get a new case, are there any good cases around $50-75? Which brand of cases are usually the best?

 

[azeem40]

CM and Corsair are two good case manufacturers. For ~$60, I recommend the HAF 912.

 

[bigcyco1]

comes out to around $774 this build includes R7850 & i5-3570K Ivy Bridge

MOBO:ASRock Z77 Pro3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157297 $99.99

CPU: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#top $229.99

GPU:SAPPHIRERadeon HD 7850 OC 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card ( 11200-01-20G )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102984#top $249.99

PSU - RAM COMBO:CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply & CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.956868 $93.98


OS:Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986 $99.99

 

[dudewitbow]

how i would imagine to level out parts to maximize gpu

i5-3450 200$
Asrock b75 pro 80$+8$( also theres a current -10% off sale) shipping or Gigabytes B75
any moderate psu, i would recommend rosewill capstone 550w if you are buying it during the 15% sale or or combo the capstones 15% off psu with a rosewill case of choice for an additional 20$ off
then dumping everything else on gpu and ram

 

[aznshinobi]

Antec One Illusion is your best bet for a cheaper good case as I state in my build guide.

 

[Athrus2001]

Here is an updated build based on all of your suggestions. I thought it would be a better idea to buy a new case. Also, will 500w psu be enough to power this pc and are all these components compatable?

Antec Gaming Series one illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811129182
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate

$49.99


SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7850 OC 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (11200-01-20G)
Item #: N82E16814102984

$249.99


ASRock B75M LGA 1155 Intel B75 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813157313

$74.99


Intel Core i5-3450 Ivy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.5GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2500 BX80637I53450
Item #: N82E16819116506

$199.99


COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel ...
Item #: N82E16835103099

$34.99


CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817139027

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9

-$16.00 Instant
-$15.00 Combo
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

$93.98



Subtotal: $703.93

Shipping: $77.39

 

[dudewitbow]

ill just state now that you will probably not need a cpu heatsink. since you arent overclocking with a 3450, there is no need for one and the stock intel one is just fine.

 

[aznshinobi]

Looks solid and as stated above, the stock heatsink is more than enough since you're not overclocking.

 

[bigcyco1]

looks good to me if your sure you don't plan on overclocking cpu then i say your good to go bud ditch the heat sink you won't be able to oc with that cpu so as long as your cool with that it's all good.

 

[Athrus2001]

Which i5 would be good if I plan oc in the future?

 

[dudewitbow]

Which i5 would be good if I plan oc in the future?

you will need an i5-2500k sandy bridge or i5-3570k ivy bridge. if you choose that path, you will also need to change motherboards

 

[Athrus2001]

Would it be a lot more costly to go with the oc route?

 

[dudewitbow]

Would it be a lot more costly to go with the oc route?

doing so will require to keep the heatsink, change the cpu to a k series cpu(+20$ for 2500k, +30$ for 3570k) as well as change the mobo (from the current b75, cheapest z68 is actually biostars 80$ one and a few then the more average choice ones are in the 100$ for the 2500k processor, as for the ivy bridge one cheapest z77/z75 would hover around 100$)

so in total it would at minimum add
20$ + heatsink + any mobo changes if you went 2500k
30$ + heatsink + mobo changes if you went 3570k

part of the price increase can be offset with combos like

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.953389

which cuts off 18$(one mentioned is the absolute cheapest thing if you went bare minimum on an overclocking scene on a 2500k)

 

[bigcyco1]

comes out to around $809

MOBO & CPU COMBO:Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K & BIOSTAR TZ68K+ LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s .. $281.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.953389

Case & PSU: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 & Rosewill HIVE Series HIVE-650 650W Continuous ..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.976577 $104.98

GPU:SAPPHIRERadeon HD 7850 OC 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card ( 11200-01-20G )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102984#top $249.99

RAM :Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT4G3D1339DS1S00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148543#top $41.99


OS:Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986 $99.99


CPU Cooler: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 $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

 

[bigcyco1]

That was the cheapest option i could find you to be able to OC and still keep the R7850

 

[Athrus2001]

Will oc be a lot better for playing games or will the i5 3450 be sufficient. I plan on playing so fps, diablo 3, sc2, skyrim, and guild wars 2. Would increasing the amount of ram have a significant increase in gaming performance?

 

[EchoOne]

Replace that intel with an fx 6100 or 8120...Trust me ive owned and tested them both...my 6100 out performs a 2500k in gaming....

 

[aznshinobi]

I just lol'd at EchoOne's statement.

OC won't improve a hole lot gaming wise, certain games will however. But very little. OC is mainly for productivity things like CS5.

More RAM will not increase gaming performance at all. Most games, well all games, if they require use of RAM will use your GPU's VRAM.

 

[bigcyco1]

Also it's false what EchoOne said he better think again hes obviously, living in a fairy tale FX gets walked over, trampled, and bulldozed into it's grave compared to the rest of those options.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5626/ivy-bridge-preview-core-i7-3770k/5

Nothing like the most power hungry processor being one of the slowest tested either :lol:

 

[azeem40]

Replace that intel with an fx 6100 or 8120...Trust me ive owned and tested them both...my 6100 out performs a 2500k in gaming....

Must be some crappy tester you used it seems.

 

[bigcyco1]

OP despite what some people will tell you, I would not go with an AMD CPU. AMD used to be nice because it was considered a cheaper alternative to Intel that would still get you pretty decent performance. That's not really the case anymore though, because their newest processors aren't much of an improvement over their last generation of processors. They're best 8-core cpu barely keeps up with the Intel i5 2500, and it's just as expensive.However i am no AMD hater i like the AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition and will admit it's good for gaming the rest i don't care for nor am i impressed and you shouldn't be either pretty much AMD is a lost cause.