BUilding a gaming computer

[zach1301]

Hi, i'm wanting to build a new gaming computer but i really don't know much about building one, i found this site and was wondering if some of you could help me out with it.
I want to be able to play WoW on high ( i know it doesnt require all that much lol ). but i also want to be able to play more modern graphics games without problems. I only have about a 650$ budget( i could probably go up to 750 ) which i know isn't a lot. All i need is the tower and windows 7.

 

[macgreen]

Your budget is $650-750 and all you need is the case and Windows 7?

I think you could get almost any case and a copy of Windows 7 for that budget. If you need an actual system to go with it, that's different. Do you need a keyboard, mouse, or monitor as well? What about speakers?

This one adds a monitor, but no other peripherals, and has all the parts you'd need. Now, I'm fairly new here and I don't know all the best parts for the buck, so hopefully someone else will come by and make some alterations or offer another system build that can help you out as well. I'd hate to steer you in the wrong direction.

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/

It's also a little over your $750 max, but I'm sure there's a few ways to cut some costs in a few components.

 

[inzone]

LG DVD Burner 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model GH24NS90 - OEM
$16.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136247

GIGABYTE GZ-F5HEB Black SECC Steel / ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811233073

Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I32120
$124.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115077

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-8GAO
$45.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231544

MSI Z68A-G43 (G3) LGA 1155 Intel Z68 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$94.99 and a $10 rebate makes the final price $84.99.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130621

CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
$69.99 and a $10 rebate makes the final price $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

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

XFX HD-687X-CNFC Radeon HD 6870 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
$209.99 and a $30 rebate makes the final price $179.99.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150563

The total for this build comes to $702.91 and you will get very good gaming performance from the Intel cpu and the 6870 video card.

 

[mousseng]

Your budget is $650-750 and all you need is the case and Windows 7?

I do believe what he meant by that was he needed the computer and the OS.

It's also a little over your $750 max, but I'm sure there's a few ways to cut some costs in a few components.

'A little' might be a bit of an understatement... it's about twice his budget.

If I were the OP, this is what I'd do with a $750 limit:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($99.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($45.99 @ NCIX US)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Blackbone ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.64 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $716.55
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

It comes to about $737 before any rebates apply (I try to avoid relying on rebates). The reason I decided to pick a 965BE over an i3-2120 is because the two are about on par in gaming performance when the 965 has a mild overclock. Not to mention, Gigabyte's UD3 motherboard is a phenomenal gaming board for its price: it's got a good phase regulator for overclocking, supports overclocked RAM (up to 2000MHz), supports 2-way Xfire/SLI (has 4 PCIe 2.0 x16 slots), and it's got USB3 as well. You'll also have a drop-in upgrade path for your CPU well into 2013 (Piledriver CPUs, most likely Steamroller as well).

The Sapphire Vapor-X 7770 I listed is a solid entry-level card that's capable of fantastic overclocking (it comes with a 10% factory overclock to 1100MHz - you can probably get that up to 1200MHz). If you're willing to spend a bit more or rely on rebates to pull through, you could snag something better like a GTX 560 or Radeon 6870.

Don't forget to ask us questions and do your own research as well.

 

[nekulturny]

I agree, I'd take a Phenom II over an i3 anyday. But not everyone does feel the same way. I will say though that despite benchmarks, if I put two computers in front of you with the same video card one an i3 and the other a Phenom II, you'd never be able to tell which is which by the game play and at 99.99 the 965 black edition is a hell of deal.

I will say though, that if thats your price range on the video card, I'd consider a GTX 460, its an older generation, but still a very capable video card and a little better than the 7770.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127646

Also this is a mobo thats a little cheaper:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

 

[inzone]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

The charts are for gaming cpu's and gaming video cards so that you can see for youwself when building your computer what the different rankings are for these parts and help you to make the decision as to what ou should go for.

 

[zach1301]

according to that chart the cpu's are the same correct? im so confused i don't really understand all thats been going on or what to get xP

 

[mousseng]

I agree, I'd take a Phenom II over an i3 anyday. But not everyone does feel the same way. I will say though that despite benchmarks, if I put two computers in front of you with the same video card one an i3 and the other a Phenom II, you'd never be able to tell which is which by the game play and at 99.99 the 965 black edition is a hell of deal.

My thoughts exactly.

I will say though, that if thats your price range on the video card, I'd consider a GTX 460, its an older generation, but still a very capable video card and a little better than the 7770.

This is definitely a good alternative. One thing the 7770 does have over the 460 (and almost every other competing video card) is power draw - it leaves plenty of headroom in a 520W power supply to do some serious overclocking (especially on a 125W processor).

Also this is a mobo thats a little cheaper:

This is another good alternative - Asus makes great motherboards. The only caveat with the M5A97 is that it lacks USB3 headers, so if he moves to a new case, he'll have to run pass-through cables to the rear ports to get his front-panel USB3 to work. It also has less PCIe 2.0 connectivity for SLI/Xfire. Other than that, it's a great way to save $30+ on your build.

I never came across the M5 because I thought all 970-based motherboards only had 1 PCIe 2.0 x16 slot, but I was mistaken. However, I've actually looked again and found the board I would probably pick over the UD3 - the ASRock 990FX Extreme3. It has much better multi-GPU support than the UD3 (up to quad-Xfire/SLI), and virtually every other feature the UD3 had for a little less.

There are a number of good motherboards to choose from on AMD's side, OP. If you choose something other than what we've recommended, just make sure it's a 900-series chipset (990FX, 990X, 970) and is socket AM3+.

 

[guerrero]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/353572-31-build-upgrade-advice

 

[Guest]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2300 2.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($92.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($45.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card ($154.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 370 ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.64 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($98.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $749.09
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

[flash=420,315]http://www.youtube.com/v/JgGA-hHWxtA[/flash]

 

[nekulturny]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2300 2.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($92.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($45.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card ($154.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 370 ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.64 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($98.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $749.09
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

[flash=420,315]http://www.youtube.com/v/JgGA-hHWxtA[/flash]

Pssh, I was into and over that song over 10 years ago lol.

 

[Guest]

never made it to one of the shows, eh?
i worked one as a stagehand . .all the gack (electronics) onstage . . wow.

 

[nekulturny]

Good build though. Although the i5-2300 doesn't really have much on a Phenom II @ 4.0. I forgot I had run this Cinebench on Max's computer a while back. I think I posted it in a thread back when I was arguing with some guy, turns out its an i5-2300 not a 2400 as I had thought, I gotta fix my sig.

(No, they're not fudged or photoshopped lol)
Max's i5 w/ GTX 460

Mine Phenom II 975 @4.0ghz w/ Zotac 550 TI AMP edition.

 

[nekulturny]

never made it to one of the shows, eh?
i worked one as a stagehand . .all the gack (electronics) onstage . . wow.

Nah, I never really got into prodigy that much. I had The Fat of the Land CD, mainly because I liked the song Breathe, although they seemed pretty cool, the genre really wasn't my thing per se. I'm not big on house music, but I have a few guilty pleasures here and there like My Shooter, and of course who doesn't love Sandstorm?

 

[zach1301]

So with what you've all gave me i got this http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/
Is that right?

 

[Guest]

yeah the 2300 isn't the best *cough*upgradepath*cough* and as far as quadcores *cough*lowerpower*cough*consumption*cough* it is lacking.

i really wish there as a $150 - $160 intel quad . .but considering when C2Qs came out, you didn't see one under $225 for quite awhile . .

 

[nekulturny]

So with what you've all gave me i got this http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/
Is that right?

I thought you had a $650 budget, you realize thats a 1600 dollar build? Awesome yes, but way over the budget I was under the impression you had.

Edit, err wait, thats a bad link lol. It took me to a build I did for someone else.

 

[Guest]

So with what you've all gave me i got this http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/
Is that right?

like it?
i really hoped to get you a 7850, but alas that would have been too over budget.

 

[nekulturny]

yeah the 2300 isn't the best *cough*upgradepath*cough* and as far as quadcores *cough*lowerpower*cough*consumption*cough* it is lacking.

i really wish there as a $150 - $160 intel quad . .but considering when C2Qs came out, you didn't see one under $225 for quite awhile . .

Yea, well don't hold your breath either. lol. As far as power consumption, meh. I did the math on that too, its like 20 bucks a year under the worst of circumstances.

 

[nekulturny]

like it?
i really hoped to get you a 7850, but alas that would have been too over budget.

LOL, the link he put up took me to a build I did last night for a guy, I think you saw the thread, I was scratching my head for a second til my mind clicked.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bZJk

 

[mousseng]

yeah the 2300 isn't the best *cough*upgradepath*cough* and as far as quadcores *cough*lowerpower*cough*consumption*cough* it is lacking.

While the i5 may have a slightly better upgrade path over the Phenom II, when you consider the pricing differences (of the 2500k and FX-8120) and how much of a difference you might notice, there's really nothing wrong with what AMD offers right now (other than having broken many people's hearts and hopes).

I think so, at least.

Edit: Ahaha, I don't think any of us noticed what OP's link actually was. We all thought he picked something we put together. Zach, there's a 'permalink' above the actual list that you have to use so that we can see what you picked.

 

[inzone]

So with what you've all gave me i got this http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/
Is that right?

Where did you get that from , it's no where near the build I gave you for $700 , that's more than twice you budget. I think you better take a moment and look through the posts to see what's been suggested and if your budget is $650-$750 then go with that.

 

[Guest]

While the i5 may have a slightly better upgrade path over the Phenom II, when you consider the pricing differences (of the 2500k and FX-8120) and how much of a difference you might notice, there's really nothing wrong with what AMD offers right now (other than having broken many people's hearts and hopes).

I think so, at least.

ok, i''ll play . .

slightly? what kind of upgrade path does a P II x4 have now?
quick answer; none.
what kind of upgrade path does a i5-2300 have?
well since its on a Z75 chipset . . i5 3570K. a 5-7% increase in efficiency w/o taking in to account clock speed.
that seems to be much more than slightly

i am not saying there is anything wrong with AMD for what they have at the price/points. but if you can afford better, well why drive grandma's station wagon?

 

[zach1301]

Sorry the link must not work.

CPU http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-hdz965fbgmbox

Motherboard http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-ga990fxaud3

Memory http://pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-memory-khx1600c9d3k28gx

Hard Drive http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd5000aakx

Video card http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-hd687azhfc

Power supply http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-m12ii520bronze

Case http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-blackbone

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2

Windows http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-gfc02050

 

[Guest]

^now that is just depressing.