Gaming Build $800

[greyarray]

This will be my first build, which I plan to use primarily for gaming. I'd like to be able to run games like Battlefield 3, Skyrim, Borderlands 2 on high settings and hopefully Guild Wars 2/Planetside 2 as well. I'm pretty new to this, so I'm not sure if my budget will be sufficient. Any build suggestions or advice would really be appreciated.

Approximate Purchase Date: September 2012

Budget Range: $800-$900, closer to $800, $900 is a pretty hard max

System Usage: gaming, surfing the web

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Do you need to buy OS: No, I have a copy of Windows 7.

Location: United States

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

 

[Spicy_benie]

i5 3570K 3.4GHz - 230$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

asrock z77 pro3-95

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157297

Corsair 8GB DDR3-1600 - 50$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145324

Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 7,200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5 - 70$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

Corsair Builder series 500 Watt - 55$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027


HAF912 Mid Tower ATX Computer Case- 60$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=haf%20912






Samsung 22X DVD±RW Burner - $17

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151244


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/Prod [...] 6814161389

737$ and then just add a nice monitor lets say this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009306
you will come in at about 850 or so...

 

[aznshinobi]

Check out my $650 build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore
Upgrade the 6870 to the 7870 (+80 [After rebate])
http://www.amazon.com/HD7870-DC2-2GD5-DisplayPort-Utilities-PCI-Express-Graphics/dp/B007JLFVNO%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquid1240995-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB007JLFVNO
You're pretty much set.
Total: $712

The 7870 is enough to run all the games you said at High settings on 1080P pretty much. If you don't think it's enough you can always slightly tweak your 7870, easily done in overclocking software like MSI Afterburner. Pretty easy, easier than CPU overclocking but you'll get WAY more performance! Up to the 7950/7970 level.

 

[greyarray]

Best answer selected by greyarray.