$800 MAX Gaming Computer

ahhyep

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Oct 12, 2011
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I'm going to be making a new computer for myself to play games on and do some internet/media work. I would prefer it to be "future proof" but honestly, I doubt I will upgrade the computer until it needs a new mobo/ram/cpu anyways. I'd prefer a SSD, and I will buy a SATA drive for additional storage at a later date. I've read that the best gaming CPU for 200$ is a i5-3450 but I don't know if I can fit it in the budget, that's why I am coming to you fellas. Thanks!

Approximate Purchase Date: Within a month
Budget Range: $800 max total upon purchase date.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, multi-application tasking, fraps, youtube, web design, video editing.
Parts Not Required: I do not need an OS, I have Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. I will purchase keyboard, monitor, mouse, and speakers separately.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com, Tigerdirect.com or Amazon.com only.
Country: USA
Parts Preferences:Intel CPU only, Crucial M4 SSD, Nvidia (AMD only if price:performance is much better as I think Nvidia has better drivers)
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 is what it will be.
 

aqualipt

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get this:

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($58.50 @ B&H)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($234.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Zalman Z9 ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: OCZ 550W ATX12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $791.41
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

and the SSD later.
 

ahhyep

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Not sure if I like that -

too much for the drive...

the mobo is nice, I prefer asus mobos but if MSI is good I wouldn't mind.
Love asus EFI bios.

The case doesn't have any USB 3.0 but the mobo does :(

also... this is before a ton of MIR's It would cost a lot more before the MIRs
 

aqualipt

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Well... you have a really tight budget so dont complain, i am trying my best :ange: just kidding :lol:

MSI motherboards are REALLY good, but at this price point [~90-120$] it wont make much of a diference if you get your motherboard from gygabyte, asus, asrock or msi, those brands start competing after 160$

and.... come on! only cost 35$ more before MRI, i am sure you can get that money from somewhere :/ and if the HDD is too much for you replace it with either of these drives:

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)

OR

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.98 @ Amazon)
 
here is my build suggestion:

core i5 3450 + ASRock Z77 Pro 3: $277.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.989365

Pareema 8 GB DDR3-1600: $40.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820576011

OCZ Solid 3 60 GB SSD: $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227728

WD/Hitachi Deskstar SATA 2 1tb HDD: 89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145304
SATA II isn't a problem -- mechanical drives get little benefit from SATA 3 vs 2

Corsair CX 430W: $44.99 before $10 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

XFX HD7850: $229.99 before $20 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

Asus 24x DVD burner: $16.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Rosewill Blackbone case: $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023

total: $800.91 before $30 in rebates.

the 7850 performs like a GTX 570, for $20 less than the 570 before the rebate.
,
an extra $35 would allow a Mushkin or AData 120GB SSD instead of the 60 GB
 

ahhyep

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that link isn't for a 7850, it's for a power supply :( but the 229 xfx card is only 1gb ddr5, the rest are 2gb.

you can buy a 560ti for same price, what do you think?
 

ahhyep

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I have chosen this for a build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($58.50 @ B&H)
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($234.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 450W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $748.43
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
 

aqualipt

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1) Get a bigger power supply, the 7850 needs atleast 500w: http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/7000/7850/Pages/radeon-7850.aspx#3

2) the case you chose sucks, EVERYTHING from Rosewill or Raidmax is CRAP, get this instead: http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0383015

 



actually, you are wrong.

The 7850 uses 150W at high stress loads. the 450W PSU is plenty. the 500W min is for crappy PSUs. XFX is top quality

The rosewill Challenger case has been a Tom's recommended buy for a long time now. Its great, inexpensive case
 

aqualipt

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Well 500w its the min... thats what AMD says, so if i were the OP id buy a 550w PSU


And about the case... Rosewill is a OK brand, i wouldnt trust them with anything but... i dont know, i just dont like them, this case is better: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=CA-VJ61N2Z&c=CJ
 
what matters is the amperage on the 12v line, aqua. the 7850 + rest of system needs 22-24 amps, the xfx 450 has 34 amps on the 12v line.

don't let your personal biases on house brands blind you.

Rosewill cases are uniformly well made, competitive designs. Toms recommended the Challenger over an Antec 300 back in 2010, because the challenger is just better on price while still good quality
 

aqualipt

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How do you think the Challenger compares to the Thermaltake case i linked?
 
Forget about a SSD on your budget if this is a gaming rig the GPU matters more PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-2120 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($102.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($314.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($47.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 500W ATX12V Power Supply ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $787.44
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)