New Desktop Build

[xxlemonswagxx]

Hello everybody. I want to build a gaming desktop for myself around christmas. I want to spend around $1000-$1500. I was hoping someone could help me get the right parts I need and that all the parts are correct. It is okay to go over budget, money really isnt an concern.

Thanks everybody,

Shawn

 

[manofchalk]

Could you fill out this form? It will tell us a lot more info about your situation, any limitations or wants on the build, etc. Basically so we aren't running blind when designing it.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/353572-31-build-upgrade-advice

 

[xxlemonswagxx]

Approximate Purchase Date: Christmas 2012

Budget Range: $1000-$1500 Before rebates, but I can spend more

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, I dont really know any others to use but im up for a change

Location: Warwick, Rhode Island, United States

Parts Preferences: Intel Processor, Nvidia Graphics Card

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: If SLI is Nvidia then yes

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1200 if thats the best resolution

Additional Comments: Would like to play Minecraft, Diablo, WoW

 

[manofchalk]

CPU: i5-3570k. $230
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i5-3570K-Quad-Core-Processor/dp/B007SZ0E1K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346139534&sr=8-1&keywords=i5-3570k

Motherboard: AsRock Z77 Extreme4. $165
http://www.amazon.com/LGA1155-CrossFireX-Motherboard-Z77-EXTREME4/dp/B007KTY4A6/ref=sr_1_12?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346139745&sr=1-12&keywords=Extreme4
Somethings off with the pricing and product description. Its usually around $130 and does not support quad SLI/Crossfire. May want to check Newegg, they have better pricing on this board.

RAM: G.SKill Ares 8GB (2x4GB) 1600Mhz CL9 1.5v. $58
http://www.amazon.com/G-Skill-PC3-12800-1600MHz-Profile-Channel/dp/B007BEJ5EA/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346139935&sr=1-7&keywords=G.SKill+Ares+8gb

GPU: Gigabyte HD7950. $330
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Mini-Displayport-PCI-Express-Graphic-GV-R795WF3-3GD/dp/B007581QHG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140482&sr=1-1&keywords=HD7950

PSU: Corsair Enthusiast 750W, 80+ Bronze and semi modular. $108
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Enthusiast-Certified-Performance-CP-9020003-NA/dp/B005E98FVS/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140022&sr=1-2&keywords=Corsair+750W
This will power the rig as it stands and will support dual Crossfire/SLI if you decide to later.

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM. $83
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST1000DM003/dp/B005T3GRNW/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140202&sr=1-2&keywords=Seagate+Barracuda

SSD: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB. $100
http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-Technology-2-5-Inch-Industrys-Warranty/dp/B007R1FH3K/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140239&sr=1-1&keywords=Vertex+4+128GB

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OEM. $156
http://www.amazon.com/OEMW7SP1HP641PK-WIN-Home-Prem-SP1-Bit/dp/B004U7TU78/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140318&sr=1-8&keywords=windows+7+home+premium+OEM
Again, the pricing and description is off. Newegg has this for $100.

Case: This is largely personal, you have to like the look of it after all. Heres some good choices with various aesthetics.

Coolermaster HAF-XM. $110
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RC-922XM-KKN1-External-X-Dock/dp/B007Q7EG7I/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140571&sr=1-1&keywords=HAF-XM
My personal choice.

Corsair 500R. $108
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Carbide-White-Gaming-CC-9011013-WW/dp/B005E97ZUU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140609&sr=1-1&keywords=Corsair+500R
Also available in black.

NZXT Phantom of various colours. $120
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=NZXT+Phantom

Optical Drive: Samsung 22X. $17
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SH-222BB-BEBE-Internal-Software/dp/B006B7R9PU/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140787&sr=1-5&keywords=optical+drive

CPU cooling: Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO. $33
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-120mm-RR-212E-20PK-R2/dp/B005O65JXI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140846&sr=1-1&keywords=212+EVO

Total (with Phantom case):$1400
If you get the Extreme4 and Windows from Newegg, that will lower the price by ~$70.

So that leaves you ~$130 to buy a monitor. I don't keep up with monitors, so I dont know what seperates a decent from a great monitor. But the basics are; 1920x1080 or better, LED backlighting, 5ms or less response times and preferably VESA mounting. Make sure to read some reviews on monitors you find as well.

 

[xxlemonswagxx]

Best answer selected by xxlemonswagxx.

 

[xxlemonswagxx]

Thank you so much for all your help. I will definitely come back here if i ever need help again.

 

[xxlemonswagxx]

CPU: i5-3570k. $230
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i5-3570K-Quad-Core-Processor/dp/B007SZ0E1K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346139534&sr=8-1&keywords=i5-3570k

Motherboard: AsRock Z77 Extreme4. $165
http://www.amazon.com/LGA1155-CrossFireX-Motherboard-Z77-EXTREME4/dp/B007KTY4A6/ref=sr_1_12?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346139745&sr=1-12&keywords=Extreme4
Somethings off with the pricing and product description. Its usually around $130 and does not support quad SLI/Crossfire. May want to check Newegg, they have better pricing on this board.

RAM: G.SKill Ares 8GB (2x4GB) 1600Mhz CL9 1.5v. $58
http://www.amazon.com/G-Skill-PC3-12800-1600MHz-Profile-Channel/dp/B007BEJ5EA/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346139935&sr=1-7&keywords=G.SKill+Ares+8gb

GPU: Gigabyte HD7950. $330
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Mini-Displayport-PCI-Express-Graphic-GV-R795WF3-3GD/dp/B007581QHG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140482&sr=1-1&keywords=HD7950

PSU: Corsair Enthusiast 750W, 80+ Bronze and semi modular. $108
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Enthusiast-Certified-Performance-CP-9020003-NA/dp/B005E98FVS/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140022&sr=1-2&keywords=Corsair+750W
This will power the rig as it stands and will support dual Crossfire/SLI if you decide to later.

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM. $83
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST1000DM003/dp/B005T3GRNW/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140202&sr=1-2&keywords=Seagate+Barracuda

SSD: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB. $100
http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-Technology-2-5-Inch-Industrys-Warranty/dp/B007R1FH3K/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140239&sr=1-1&keywords=Vertex+4+128GB

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OEM. $156
http://www.amazon.com/OEMW7SP1HP641PK-WIN-Home-Prem-SP1-Bit/dp/B004U7TU78/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140318&sr=1-8&keywords=windows+7+home+premium+OEM
Again, the pricing and description is off. Newegg has this for $100.

Case: This is largely personal, you have to like the look of it after all. Heres some good choices with various aesthetics.

Coolermaster HAF-XM. $110
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RC-922XM-KKN1-External-X-Dock/dp/B007Q7EG7I/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140571&sr=1-1&keywords=HAF-XM
My personal choice.

Corsair 500R. $108
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Carbide-White-Gaming-CC-9011013-WW/dp/B005E97ZUU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140609&sr=1-1&keywords=Corsair+500R
Also available in black.

NZXT Phantom of various colours. $120
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=NZXT+Phantom

Optical Drive: Samsung 22X. $17
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SH-222BB-BEBE-Internal-Software/dp/B006B7R9PU/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140787&sr=1-5&keywords=optical+drive

CPU cooling: Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO. $33
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-120mm-RR-212E-20PK-R2/dp/B005O65JXI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346140846&sr=1-1&keywords=212+EVO

Total (with Phantom case):$1400
If you get the Extreme4 and Windows from Newegg, that will lower the price by ~$70.

So that leaves you ~$130 to buy a monitor. I don't keep up with monitors, so I dont know what seperates a decent from a great monitor. But the basics are; 1920x1080 or better, LED backlighting, 5ms or less response times and preferably VESA mounting. Make sure to read some reviews on monitors you find as well.

Would it be worth the money to upgrade from 8gb of ram to 16gb of ram?

 

[manofchalk]

If all your doing is gaming, then no. 8GB is already more than games will use.