New build - Sub $800 Gaming PC

[bmcdee123]

I am working on a new build for a sub-$800 gaming machine for my wife. She mostly plays games like Tera, Diablo 3, and some BF3. I'd like to get as close to 60fps as possible. She will not be overclocking this machine. Here's what I have so far:

Apevia X-plorer Series - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144258
Western Digital 7200rpm 500gb - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769
Sapphire Radeon 6870 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948
Corsair Builder Series 500w PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
GSkill Ripjaws 8GB RAM(4GBx2) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231426
LG DVD Burner - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136247
Windows - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Here's where I need help. I am having trouble decided on MOBO and processor. Currently I have:

Core i5 2400 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
Asrock h61m-ge - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157256

Total Price - $769

Would it be smart to drop alittle more and go for an Ivy bridge? i5 3450
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116506

I'd probably have to get a different mobo for this. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[g-unit1111]

I'd drop that whole build. The words "cheap junk" don't even begin to accurately describe how poorly made Apevia cases are. I will never buy those after seeing how easily they fall apart. Cooler Master also has a horrendous reliability issue with their power supplies.

Try this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H77-DS3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($95.98 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($45.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card ($164.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair 600W ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($90.65 @ Amazon)
Total: $745.55
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

 

[bmcdee123]

All that looks quite excellent. Thank you.

 

[bmcdee123]

Did mean to add, I do not have a micro center that close to me. Do you still think the i5 3450 is the way to go?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the 2400 and H61 will be fine, just change the case from the first build

 

[g-unit1111]

Did mean to add, I do not have a micro center that close to me. Do you still think the i5 3450 is the way to go?

I think it's a better choice than the 2400 personally. I'm certainly not a fan of H61 though because you lose an incredible amount of functionality by going cheap with the motherboard.

This is what it looks like from Newegg - a little over $750 but I included a better GPU:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H77-DS3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($45.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB Video Card ($214.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 600W ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $778.90
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

 

[Simplexity88]

If he's not overclocking why not just use a B75?

 

[bmcdee123]

Best answer selected by bmcdee123.

 

[bmcdee123]

That's perfect g-unit. Thanks a ton!

 

[g-unit1111]

If he's not overclocking why not just use a B75?

I'd personally use H77 - you don't lose PCI speed and you can use RAM over 1333. Worth the extra $10 if you ask me.

 

[bmcdee123]

Two more questions. If I order today, I can get a i5 3570 and an ASUS p8h77 for the same price as my current CPU and MOBO. Worth it?

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131834&ATT=17-507-003&CMP=AFC-C8Junction&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=2138476&SID=dl-116564-s-gos - MOBO

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006676&isNodeId=1&Description=i5+3570&x=0&y=0 processor

 

[bmcdee123]

I'd personally use H77 - you don't lose PCI speed and you can use RAM over 1333. Worth the extra $10 if you ask me.

If I order today I can get an i5 3570 and an ASUS p8h77 for the same prices as the ones you showed me before. Are those worth it?

 

[g-unit1111]

If I order today I can get an i5 3570 and an ASUS p8h77 for the same prices as the ones you showed me before. Are those worth it?

There's no point in getting the 3570 unless you're getting the unlocked CPU. Stick with the 3450 and put that in upgrading the GPU to the GTX 560TI.