$600 gaming build - 1st time build

[jmac83085]

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: Within the next month

Budget Range: $600

System Usage from Most to Least Important: (e.g.: Folding@Home, gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies)

Are you buying a monitor: No



Parts to Upgrade: (e.g.: CPU, mobo, RAM) CPU, MOBO, RAM, DVD drive. I have a Corsair 450W VX PSU & Rosewill Challenger Black gaming ATX Mid tower Computer case.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes / No
YES,I plan to buy WINDOWS 7 Professional - Student Price of $64

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Anywhere, I also live near a Microcenter.

Location: Chicago, IL

Parts Preferences: by brand or type Best bang for my buck, but also upgradeable

Overclocking: NO

SLI or Crossfire: NO

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Additional Comments: This will mostly be used for gaming and web surfing - I would like to run BF3 on High settings if possible. Also D3

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I am building my first computer for gaming.

 

[jmac83085]

Honestly, I just need some ideas on the best I can do. I have looked at I3 2120 & I5, plus AMD as well and am kind of lost as far as the best I can do. I was hoping you guys can give me some ideas. Thanks!

 

[stickg1]

With microcenter if you buy an i5-2500K you get $50 off on a Z77 motherboard. My advice is to get a $100 board for $50 like this one http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388327

And that would be $230 total before tax, in store pickup only.

Then get yourself 8GB of RAM ($45)
HD7850 ($230)
And a 500GB HDD ($60)

This is what I would do if I lived near a MC. It might push you over your budget though so you could go with a cheaper GPU. I would definately go for the i5 and board for $230 though because people like me that live nowhere near a MC have to pay $230 for just the i5!!!

 

[moornix]

Consider these.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/cCZ9

Total: $637.51 After MIR - $50 (Microcenter offers $50 off for buying i5 3570k with a z77 mobo in a combo deal.)

New total: $587.51

Notes: 450W will leave very little wiggle room for OCing. I'm pretty sure the Win 7 student deal is upgrade only. During installation it may say your key isn't valid for a fresh install. You may want to verify that.

 

[jmac83085]

I'm not really worried about OCing at this point. With that said, will the 450W do the trick for the set up you recommended.

Thanks!

 

[moornix]

Yes it will.

 

[jmac83085]

You think I should go with the 3570k from MC or the 2500K or even the I5 3450. It looks like that may save me a few bucks.

http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.phtml?N=4294966995+39

 

[moornix]

The mobo combo savings does not apply to the i5-3450.

I also recommend the i5-3570k over the 2500k, because the 3570k is faster at the same clock speed. It really depends on if you think that $20 savings is worth it.

 

[jmac83085]

Best answer selected by jmac83085.

 

[jmac83085]

Thanks, Bro!