First-time builder, gaming computer for less then $1000

[nnbj92]

I am looking or a mid-range desktop to play games like civ5 on high. I have heard building a computer is cheaper then buying one, so I thought I would take the route. Would like it to be upgradeable in the future. I already picked some parts but don't know if I could do with less or if I need more. What do you guys think?

Approximate Purchase Date: around a month

Budget Range: less then $1000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, video editing, some coding, internet

Are you buying a monitor: yes

Do you need to buy OS: Yes, what is the difference between oem and the regular version of win7

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, amazon.com

Location: Midwest USA

Overclocking: maybe in the future

SLI or Crossfire: maybe in the future

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I have a 2 year laptop but it is not cutting it anymore for my gaming.



COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$59.99

ASRock Z77 Pro3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$94.99

XFX FX-785A-CNFC Radeon HD 7850 Core Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
$229.99

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power ...
$89.99

Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 $229.99

Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 996995 $46.99

LITE-ON Black Internal 12X Blu-ray Combo SATA Model ihes112-04 - OEM

 

[nnbj92]

got a link, http://pcpartpicker.com/p/e7Z9

 

[g-unit1111]

Try this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F4 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($77.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1031.91
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-08 11:41 EDT-0400)

If you don't need the SSD you can drop that and it will come out to be about $950.

 

[nnbj92]

ok I think I made up my mind. Will everything be compatible?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($142.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On ihes112-04 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VS247H-P 23.6" Monitor ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1349.74
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-08 14:04 EDT-0400)

 

[azeem40]

So your budget isn't $1000?

 

[nnbj92]

I guess not. I had to add monitor, keyboard and other things.

If you have a suggestion to lower the cost, I am all for it. I just need a computer that will be able to play modern games on high settings for the next few years.

 

[azeem40]

Do you not have a keyboard? If you do, I'd just use it for now, then buy a keyboard later. Without the keyboard, you can fit in a Radeon 7870.

 

[nnbj92]

I do have a old keyboard ,but it is a ps/2 connector. I am not sure if it would work on this motherboard.

 

[g-unit1111]

I do have a old keyboard ,but it is a ps/2 connector. I am not sure if it would work on this motherboard.

It should - my Gigabyte has a PS2 adapter, I'm not sure if the Asrock does or not.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes, what is the difference between oem and the regular version of win7

To answer this question:

Home Premium - this is the standard version of Windows, but it has a 16GB RAM ceiling.

Pro - same features as Home Premium. Adds lots of extra networking functions to connect to corporate networks, VM, XP emulation mode, remote desktop. Lifts 16GB RAM ceiling.

Ultimate - same features as Pro and Home Premium, has full XP emulation mode, adds extra security features, adds universal language support.

 

[azeem40]

It will work as the motherboard has a ps/2 port.

 

[azeem40]

It should - my Gigabyte has a PS2 adapter, I'm not sure if the Asrock does or not.

I already answered it for him.

 

[nnbj92]

Thanks, Guys.

What I meant about the different versions of win7,
Is for home premium, there are two versions- oem and full. I believe I can use the oem one but I was just making sure.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116716
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

 

[g-unit1111]

Thanks, Guys.

What I meant about the different versions of win7,
Is for home premium, there are two versions- oem and full. I believe I can use the oem one but I was just making sure.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116716
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

You can use either one - with the OEM version you're on your own for support and there's some legalities about using it, but with the full you get access to MS support forums and things like that.

 

[nnbj92]

Well, here is what I ended up with. (See pic below).

Couple bad choices but overall I am happy with it. Thanks g-unit and azeem for the help.

I do have a question which is below the pcpart list.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.13 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($96.49 @ B&H)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($237.55 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On ihes112-04 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VS247H-P 23.6" Monitor ($179.14 @ B&H)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1233.22
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-01 22:58 EDT-0400)

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313283

Overclocked to 4.2


The only problem I have run into is with the memory, the memory is DDR3 1600 but CPUID says it is only at 824, see below. How do I fix that?

BUILD PICTURE:
http://i.imgur.com/piAca.jpg