$800-900 Gaming/photo editing build

[Aznsky]

Made a few of these threads in the past but was never able to pull the trigger, however I think I'm finally ready to start ordering parts. Would really appreciate the help selecting parts to get me started. Thanks!

Approximate Purchase Date: Starting this weekend and over the next couple weeks

Budget Range: $800-$900 including monitor but not OS

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, light photo-editing (lightroom), watching movies, general all around pc

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Parts to Upgrade: Need everything except mouse

Do you need to buy OS: I think so but don't include in price

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg, ncix, (there is a Microcenter 45 min. away if needed)

Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Parts Preferences: Prefer Intel Ivy-Bridge (i5 if possible)

Overclocking: Maybe (don't know how)

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (don't know how)

Your Monitor Resolution: HD quality, 1920x1080 if possible

Misc. parts need recommendations for: Everything needed to build a pc, even the misc. items like thermal paste, wireless card etc.

Thank you very much in advance!

 

[obsama1]

You could get an i5-3570K+ASRock Pro3 combo for $235.
Get 8GB of 1600 MHz RAM.
A 7850 would be good GPU.

 

[Aznsky]

Isn't the ASRock Pro3 made more for the sandy bridge cpu's? Or would it work for Ivy Bridge as well?

I can also use sandy bridge if that keeps me within budget.

Thanks for the quick reply btw!

 

[azeem40]

ASRock Pro3 has two versions - Z68 Pro3 for Sandy Bridge and Z77 Pro3 for Ivy Bridge.

 

[Aznsky]

Thanks for the clarifcation.

Took some time this morning to review other similar threads and came up with the following build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($45.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($234.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill 630W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $822.91
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-11 09:29 EDT-0400)

Please provide any comments on the build. The total is just a tad above what I was hoping for since I still have to include the monitor, wireless card, OS, and keyboard.

So I was wondering if there was anything I could cut down on such as maybe eliminating the cooler for now. I'll probably drop down to a 500gb HD as well since I doubt I'll ever fill a 1TB

Thanks!

 

[Spicy_benie]

i5 3570K 3.4GHz - $189.99

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388577

ASRock Z77 Pro3 1155 ATX - $60 with mobo purchase

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0387627

Corsair 8GB DDR3-1600 - $58 - a $15 MIR

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0347306

Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 7,200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5 - $85

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0352164

Corsair Builder series 500 Watt - $63 - a $5 MIR

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0361422

HAF912 Mid Tower ATX Computer Case

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0343331

Windows 7 64 bit - $100

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0361170

Samsung 22X DVD±RW Burner - $16

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0382892

HIS H687FN1GD Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card 160$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161389

This build=792$ without os=692$

this is almost exactly what i have i play bf3 at 1920x1080 with high settings and 50+ average fps

 

[Aznsky]

Thanks for the microcenter suggestions! I may just have to make one big trip there.

Even with tax, is it typically cheaper to go to Microcenter vs buying online w/ free shipping?

 

[obsama1]

Well, where I live, Newegg charges tax, so Microcenter is a lot better. But, the money you save on the CPU+mobo more than makes up for the tax you pay. You could get a 2500K+Pro3 mobo for $205. That is less than the 2500K at Newegg, LOL! Only thing Microcenter lacks is GPU's. Newegg beats them in the GPU's they have available.