$1000 Gaming Build

[TheRandomWookie]

Approximate Purchase Date: Mid/Late September or early November

Budget Range: I have exactly $1000 in my budget, I could flex a bit, but no more than $100 over.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, 3D Modeling, Web Surfing, Office Work

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: Everything except a case. I already own a HAF 912.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes, I will buy and OEM version, so I want a future-proof mobo.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Location: Near Green Bay, Wisconsin

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, future-proof and dependable

Overclocking: Maybe, the $ difference between a K and non-K CPU is so small.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in the future.

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Additional Comments: Obviously, I want the best performance for my money. Battlefield 3 on High would be nice, but cost is most important.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I have never had a good computer. My current PC is a Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop, and not being able to run any games or high-end programs pisses me off.

 

[idroid]

Hello buddy, i got just what you need:

Read this: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?p=33928643#post33928643

i recommend you a modified version of the 960$ build in there, this is what you should get:

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($215.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($27.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.98 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card ($413.78 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout ATX Mid Tower Case ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Antec 550W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($56.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1033.68

Edit: get an SSD later.
Read this

 

[Why_Me]

If you get this and hold off on your storage drive you don't have to reload Windows which means no reformatting. You can pick up a 1TB storage drive for around $75. This way you don't get shorted. BF3 is pretty much coded for Nvidia and SLI. This build allows you to add another one of those cards in SLI.


http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-80PLUS-Certified-Modular-CP-9020015-NA/dp/B008RJZQSW/ref=sr_1_24?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1346646210&sr=1-24 $86.00 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Corsair CX 750 Watts 80PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V/EPS12V Power Supply CP-9020015-NA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1061098 $157.98 save: $8.00
ASRock Z77 Extreme3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT4G3D1609DS1S00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1050224 $519.98 save: $20.00 - $10.00 Mail In Rebates
Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K
MSI N660 Ti PE 2GD5/OC GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005O65JXI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A2EUTVCJXLAJ4K $33.49 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan (RR-212E-20PK-R2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204 $19.99 FREE SHIPPING
ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-2-5-Inch-Solid-SDSSDP-128G--G25/dp/B007ZW2LY4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1347126230&sr=1-1&keywords=sandisk+128+gb+ssd $89.95 + $0.00 shipping
SanDisk 128 GB 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive (SDSSDP-128G- G25)

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-64bit-System-Builder/dp/B004Q0PT3I/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_y $90.95 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder DVD 1 Pack

Total: $998.34 *not including shipping & rebates


http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_660_Ti_Power_Edition/1.html <----- review of that MSI GTX 660 ti w/benchmarks

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77%20Extreme3/ <----- another look at that Asrock board along with a link to the latest bios

 

[idroid]

If you get this and hold off on your storage drive you don't have to reload Windows which means no reformatting. You can pick up a 1TB storage drive for around $75. This way you don't get shorted. BF3 is pretty much coded for Nvidia and SLI. This build allows you to add another one of those cards in SLI.

*"reloading" windows is extremely easy, you just have to install a whole new OS on the drive you just bought and drag a few things that you need.... easy and pain free.

*BF3 may be coded for nvidia cards but that doesn't mean that the card i linked will not outperform all of them.

 

[Why_Me]

*"reloading" windows is extremely easy, you just have to install a whole new OS on the drive you just bought and drag a few things that you need.... easy and pain free.

*BF3 may be coded for nvidia cards but that doesn't mean that the card i linked will not outperform all of them.

Why reload it when you don't have to ? Get your SSD now and hold off on your storage drive. That card you posted is a good one but with BF3 and SLI the FPS are unreal.

 

[idroid]

Why reload it when you don't have to ? Get your SSD now and hold off on your storage drive. That card you posted is a good one but with BF3 and SLI the FPS are unreal.

uhm?? let me get this straight.... pick one option.

*Weaker card with fast boot times.

*Strongest card with slow boot times + the possibility of having fast boot times in a near future.

 

[Why_Me]

uhm?? let me get this straight.... pick one option.

*Weaker card with fast boot times.

*Strongest card with slow boot times + the possibility of having fast boot times in a near future.

BF3 was coded to take advantage of SLI. The OP not only can load up levels in no time flat (BF3 maps), he can also add another one of those cards later on and be looking at well over 100+ FPS. If this was any other game I would probably agree with you but not for BF3. BF3 is a SLI dream come true.

 

[idroid]

BF3 was coded to take advantage of SLI. The OP not only can load up levels in no time flat (BF3 maps), he can also add another one of those cards later on and be looking at well over 100+ FPS. If this was any other game I would probably agree with you but not for BF3. BF3 is a SLI dream come true.

What about crossfire?

 

[fire r a g e]

Crossfire is mainly for Skyrim, which is optimized for AMD cards.

 

[Why_Me]

What about crossfire?

Do you think the OP is going to run two of those cards with that Gigabyte board and 550w psu you posted?

 

[idroid]

Do you think the OP is going to run two of those cards with that Gigabyte board and 550w psu you posted?

do you think i didnt know that? do you think he will be unable to upgrade his PSU when he needs to?

 

[Why_Me]

do you think i didnt know that? do you think he will be unable to upgrade his PSU when he needs to?

psu? Does that board you posted even support dual vid cards or does it run the second card @ x4 which means it doesn't support SLI and does a crappy job of running dual cards. Now the OP is supposed to get a new PSU and board in order to run dual cards? Repost a build on here under $1,000 that supports dual cards and then get back to me. It's easy to do if you use 7870's. But even better, instead of using that noob PC Part Pcker, do it to where the OP doesn't have to use 5 different retailers in order to piece his build together.

 

[idroid]

psu? Does that board you posted even support dual vid cards or does it run the second card @ x4 which means it doesn't support SLI and does a crappy job of running dual cards. Now the OP is supposed to get a new PSU and board in order to run dual cards? Repost a build on here under $1,000 that supports dual cards and then get back to me. It's easy to do if you use 7870's. But even better, instead of using that noob PC Part Pcker, do it to where the OP doesn't have to use 5 different retailers in order to piece his build together.

no, that motherboard doesn't support SLI and there isn't a big difference between 16x/8x/4x anyways... an Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 supports both and cost the same but it is a bit small.

and i am sorry Mr. "i have too much free time so i can find better prices at a single site" ... i will try my best and spend as much time as you do looking for parts

 

[Why_Me]

no, that motherboard doesn't support SLI and there isn't a big difference between 16x/8x/4x anyways... an Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 supports both and cost the same but it is a bit small.

and i am sorry Mr. "i have too much free time so i can find better prices at a single site" ... i will try my best and spend as much time as you do looking for parts

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128543 <----- That's the board you posted in your build. It runs dual cards @ x4. It has one x16 slot and one x4 slot. The only draw back on the extreme4 other than it's small like you mentioned is it's also thinner than your full size ATX. It flexes due to not hitting the front stand offs and for the fact it's thin. But that in no way affects it's performance. That board runs dual cards @ x8. The board I posted is the Asrock z77 extreme3 which is identical to the extreme4 other than it runs a 8 + 3 phase where the extreme4 runs a 8 + 4 phase. It runs about $10 cheaper than the extreme4 also. '
Gigabyte makes a entry level board just like the two Asrock boards...same size and it's also thin and also supports SLI and so does Asus (z77 Lk) and so does MSI (G-45).