820 max gaming build

helisis · Jul 22, 2012

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

Budget Range: 750-820 After Rebates; After Shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: movies, gaming, surfing, work

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Parts to Upgrade: all

Do you need to buy OS: Not in this part of the budget, but if anyone can point me to a cheap reliable seller on amazon would be helpful

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Microcenter, Minneapolis, Newegg... etc

Location: City, State/Region, Country - Minneapolis, MN, US

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: does not matter- bang for buck

Overclocking: Maybe if its cost effective

SLI or Crossfire: Not currently

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pref
Additional Comments: I am close to the Microcenter in minneapolis. Also need a monitor, optical drive to load OS, and wireless adapter (usb, access point, pci etc.. whatever is cheapest and reliable), Games running: Skyrim, JC2, bad company 2, League of Legends, Counter Strike Source

First build also. Do I need any special tools other than miniature screwdriver and a static grounding band for assembly?

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: My 5 year old laptop just died.

JefferyD90 · Jul 22, 2012

bigcyco1 · Jul 22, 2012

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($102.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($45.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($246.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($41.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $775.45
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-07-21 22:40 EDT-0400)

bigcyco1 · Jul 22, 2012

helisis · Jul 22, 2012

Are all these mother boards built in wireless capable? Thanks for the quick replies guys. Jeffrey I already have speakers a keyboard and mouse I just need the monitor so you can take those out and reallocate.

BigCyco thanks for the two builds, but I need to fit a monitor into the price. Additionally I noticed some of the components come with coupons etc. that may be factored into your cost breakdown for the second build. If you could add some more info on the prices and breakdown that would be sweet.

How would I go about installing a preview version of windows 8 onto the pc?

I also noticed none of you guys posted any microcenter parts which I've read around here typically has some of the cheapest parts. Just curious why.

azeem40 · Jul 22, 2012

Yeah, get the i5-3570k from MC and the Z77 Pro3 Gen3 (it is $60). That should leave you with the $ for a 1080p monitor.

helisis · Jul 22, 2012

azeem40 :

With which build? I assume your talking about bigcycos second build just to keep invidia with intel stuff. The MC also has http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0378160 gtx 570 for 5 bucks cheaper after rebate but like I said above Im not sure if cyco has coupons built into the price or if the different brands make a big difference on the card performance. His may run cooler, im not sure.

Could you recommend a decent monitor?

azeem40 · Jul 22, 2012

Any 60Hz 22-23" monitor will work.

bigcyco1 · Jul 23, 2012

Go ahead and let azeem40 help i am not sure how to fit a i5 and a 570 or 7850 with a monitor into your budget

helisis · Jul 23, 2012

So heres the list of what I have so far.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388577
Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Processor $189.99

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0387627
z77 pro3 gen 3 $94.99

RAM: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB @1600mhz CL9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 148544#top
$43.99
GPU:MSI N570GTX Twin Frozr II GeForce GTX 570
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 127682#top
$249.99 + 7.87 shipping
HDD: 500GB Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 152181#top
$69.99
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0364538
22X DVD±RW Burner with Dual Layer Support - OEM
$14.39 requires a sata port
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6&SID=#top
$49.99
PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139028
$59.99 after mail in rebate
CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 103065#top
$19.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824262021
HANNspree HF Series HF235DPB Black 23" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 X-Contrast: 50,000:1 (1000:1) Built-in Speakers
$129.99

total = 924.17

If I cheap out I can save 20 bucks by getting this monitor instead
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0384753
but Im still over by about 80 bucks.

Where can I shave off the extra 80 bucks?

azeem40 · Jul 23, 2012

The only way I can see you can take off $80 is by going with a 6870. Also, bigcyco, it is impossible.

bigcyco1 · Jul 23, 2012

^ lol i agree

helisis · Jul 23, 2012

If I switched to the 2500 or 3450 it would save 20 or 40 bucks right there. If I bought the zotac gtx 570 it would save 12 ish. If I grabbed a cheaper cooler Maybe save ~8-10 ish. Swapping the hd to http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0375256 would save me 5 bucks. Would it bottleneck at the cpu with a 3450? Which would leave me only to lose ~15 ish, maybe the case could be changed? Also the reviews on the z77 sad people were getting it for around 60 bucks with the purchase of an ivy bridge processor but I could not seem to find this deal anywhere. If I could save that 35 bucks i could go with the 2500 and still hit the budget and the gtx 570. thoughts?

bigcyco1 · Jul 23, 2012

It wouldn't bottleneck the drive switch would be fine the 3450 is a little better than 2500 but neither can be overclocked so you could ditch the aftermarket cooler and use the stock one that comes with the cpu other than that i have no idea about any such deal half to wait for azeem40 to tell you the details i guess

azeem40 · Jul 23, 2012

The problem is, if you're considering the i5-2500, for $10 more, you can get an i5-2500k and OC it. I say, either get the i5-2400 or the i5-3450. That way, you could afford the 7850.

bigcyco1 · Jul 23, 2012

helisis :

here the deals from microcenter http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j357/russwood8814/Capture-35.png

helisis · Jul 23, 2012

http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0388577
Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Processor $189.99

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0387627
z77 ASrock 1155 atx intell mobo
$45.99 with 3570

RAM: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB @1600mhz CL9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 148544#top
$43.99
GPU:Zotac ZT-50203-10M NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 1280MB GDDR5 PCIe 2.0 x16 Video Card
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0378160
$244.99 or 015-P3-1480-KR NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 1536MB GDDR5 384-bit PCIe 2.0 x16 Video Card
$209.99 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0386227 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129230VisionTek 900505 Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $219.99
HDD: Deskstar 7K1000.D 500GB 7,200RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEMhttp://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0375256
$64.99
http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0364538
22X DVD±RW Burner with Dual Layer Support - OEM
$14.39 requires a sata port
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6&SID=#top
$49.99
PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139028
$59.99 after mail in rebate
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
$19.99
Extra fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200048
$4.99
Monitor $109.99 EQ226L 22" Widescreen LED Monitor
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0384753

total with 570 gtx total: $848.32 with 480 gtx / or 7850: $824.31 assuming 600 watts is enough power for increased power needs. I may also get some extra fans for the case cuz this card supposedly runs hot.

torn between the 3 different cards

helisis · Jul 24, 2012

Sorry if this is considered a bump but I am going to be purchasing parts tomorrow or the following day and still need a few things answered. Are all these parts compatible? With the cpu cooler what are the average overclock rates for the i-3570k and motherboard? Should I use the extra fan for the side of the case or for the cpu cooler to create a push pull scenario if I am going to do a mild overclock on both the i-3570k and the 7850? Does 600 watts give me enough overhead for a mild overclock?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0388577
Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Processor $189.99

http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0387627
z77 ASrock 1155 atx intell mobo
$45.99 with 3570

RAM: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB @1600mhz CL9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 148544#top
$43.99
GPU:VisionTek 900505 Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
$219.99
HDD: Deskstar 7K1000.D 500GB 7,200RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEMhttp://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0375256
$64.99
http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0364538
22X DVD±RW Burner with Dual Layer Support - OEM
$14.39 requires a sata port
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6&SID=#top
$49.99
PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139028
$59.99 after mail in rebate
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
$19.99
Extra fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835200048
$4.99
Monitor $109.99 EQ226L 22" Widescreen LED Monitor
http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0384753

$824.31

bigcyco1 · Jul 24, 2012

All the parts are compatible

helisis · Aug 1, 2012

I just finished my build after receiving all the parts today. I know you guys give a lot of advice and dont get much in return or ever see a lot of pcs built. Here are some pics:

I have never built a pc before. Sorry if my cable management sucks. This case doesnt have a whole lot of places to hide wires. It did start on the first power button press which was nice.

One final question: Is it normal to have core temps that are very different from each other at idle? Core 0 seems to run 5-10 degrees hotter at idle than the others. About 40 degrees. Just wondering if I did not correctly apply my thermal paste.

Spicy_benie · Aug 1, 2012

nope perfectly fine, thats kinda how mine looks but try tucking wires by the hard drive cages...

helisis · Aug 1, 2012

Ya I woulda tucked them but I need a molex to run a side fan. Is 40sih idle cpu temp ok before the thermal paste has a real chance to set?

Spicy_benie · Aug 1, 2012

yea thats good i guess i have stock and i idle around there too... similar build

bigcyco1 · Aug 1, 2012

looks nice

820 max gaming build

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