$700 Gaming PC

[misterbread]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to build a gaming PC for the first time and I've been doing my research for the past few months and I need some advice on my prospective build.

I have a budget of about $700 and I can't stretch it too much. The PC is going to be mainly used for gaming.

Also, I only want to use Newegg for the parts as I have a credit card through them. Makes it easier to pay off if all the parts are from one place.

Parts I don't need: Monitor and OS disc


PC Part Picker link to my build: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/haUT

Here's my build so far:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor $109.99

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler $19.99 (w/ promo)

Motherboard: Asus M5A99X EVO ATX AM3+ Motherboard $122.86 (w/ promo)

Memory: G.Skill Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory $33.99

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $79.99

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card $195.99 (w/ promo)

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case $59.99

Power Supply: Rosewill 630W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply $59.99

Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer $17.99

Keyboard: Rosewill RIKB-11002 Wired Slim Keyboard $9.99

Mouse: Zalman ZM-M200 Wired Optical Mouse $11.99



Thanks for your help guys!

 

[spat55]

Check my link in the sig, I have builds that suit that budget!

 

[misterbread]

I did have a question about the CPU. I was initially looking at the FX-4100 but after reading other threads on this website, they said the best processor for this price is the Phenom II X4, so that's why I chose it for my build.

What are the advantages/differences between the two processors? I'll be using this computer for gaming for sure, and I'm into some digital art like photoshop, so which is best?

And is this motherboard OC-able? Because if not, I definitely don't need the CPU cooler and that'd drop it to just below $700.

 

[misterbread]

And what type of graphics settings can I expect from this build?

 

[lighter17]

The FX-4100 is newer but it will lose to the 965BE in just about all cases.

That motherboard will allow you to OC, but it's on the expensive side. You can save about $50 pre-rebate if you go with:

ASRock 970 EXTREME3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $89.98 with shipping.

According to Tom's Best Graphic Cards guide a 7850 provides "Excellent 1920x1200 performance, Good 2560x1600 performance in most games with lowered detail".

 

[misterbread]

The FX-4100 is newer but it will lose to the 965BE in just about all cases.

That motherboard will allow you to OC, but it's on the expensive side. You can save about $50 pre-rebate if you go with:

ASRock 970 EXTREME3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $89.98 with shipping.

According to Tom's Best Graphic Cards guide a 7850 provides "Excellent 1920x1200 performance, Good 2560x1600 performance in most games with lowered detail".

Thanks for the quick response.

After searching the forums again, I found another build with a 7870 that would be even more affordable... Let me know what you think. (This one doesn't include any accessories, just the tower)

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hieh

CPU
Intel Core i3-2130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor
$129.99

Motherboard
ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard
$84.99

Memory
G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
$38.99

Storage
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
$74.99

Video Card
HIS Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card
$204.99 (w/ rebate)

Case
Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case
$49.99

Power Supply
Cooler Master 550W ATX12V Power Supply
$44.99 (w/ rebate)

Optical Drive
Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer
$16.99

Total after rebate: $672.90 thru Newegg after rebates

 

[lighter17]

That video card is a great deal if you can get one. It's been going OOS within hours of Newegg getting a new shipment. One word of caution is that it's a very long card (~11.5 inches). You'll need to do some research to make sure it fits in whatever case you decide to go with.

A couple of thoughts about that build:

You'll want to switch to the new Ivy Bridge i3-3220

CoolerMaster PSUs don't have the best reputation. Something by Corsair, XFX or Seasonic would probably be a better option.

 

[misterbread]

That video card is a great deal if you can get one. It's been going OOS within hours of Newegg getting a new shipment. One word of caution is that it's a very long card (~11.5 inches). You'll need to do some research to make sure it fits in whatever case you decide to go with.

A couple of thoughts about that build:

You'll want to switch to the new Ivy Bridge i3-3220

CoolerMaster PSUs don't have the best reputation. Something by Corsair, XFX or Seasonic would probably be a better option.

How about a Rosewell PSU?

 

[lighter17]

Rosewill has many different lines of PSUs, some of which are seen as decent, but others are viewed as junk.

TBH Newegg doesn't seem to have any PSU deals at the moment that really jump out at me. This Corsair PSU is probably the best buy at the moment.

 

[misterbread]

Rosewill has many different lines of PSUs, some of which are seen as decent, but others are viewed as junk.

TBH Newegg doesn't seem to have any PSU deals at the moment that really jump out at me. This Corsair PSU is probably the best buy at the moment.

Is 500w sufficient for the i3 build with a 7870? Or should I up it to 600w to be safe?

 

[lighter17]

A good 500W PSU is more than sufficient for a system with just about any current generation video card.

An i3-3220/Radeon HD7870 system will not draw more than 300W under load. You will want to get a PSU with two 6 pin PCIe power connectors and that usually requires at least 450W.

 

[misterbread]

Alright, I think I'm happy with this build, so let me know what you guys think.

All parts are purchased through Newegg, so they're not the cheapest buy but they're convenient for me.



CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor $129.99

Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard $84.99

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory $42.99

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $79.99

Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card $204.99

Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case $49.99

Power Supply: Corsair 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply $41.98

Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer $24.97

Total (8 / 8 Items):

$659.89


Again, this build does not include any extra accessories. I'm only planning to build a tower.

I've looked at AMD processor builds and for some reason I keep going back to the i3/i5 processors.

Let me know what you think about this build.

 

[misterbread]

A good 500W PSU is more than sufficient for a system with just about any current generation video card.

An i3-3220/Radeon HD7870 system will not draw more than 300W under load. You will want to get a PSU with two 6 pin PCIe power connectors and that usually requires at least 450W.

And thank you for your input, by the way!

 

[lighter17]

I'm not sure what HIS video card you're looking at. I see a 7850 that is $204.99 AR and a 7870 that is $199.99 AR but currently OOS.

If you're planning to order very soon you might want to take advantage of Newegg's free memory deal.

GIGABYTE GA-Z77-D3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

You don't need a Z77 motherboard for an i3 processor, but at $109.99 it's cheaper than buying the Z75 motherboard and memory.

 

[misterbread]

I'm not sure what HIS video card you're looking at. I see a 7850 that is $204.99 AR and a 7870 that is $199.99 AR but currently OOS.

If you're planning to order very soon you might want to take advantage of Newegg's free memory deal.

GIGABYTE GA-Z77-D3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

You don't need a Z77 motherboard for an i3 processor, but at $109.99 it's cheaper than buying the Z75 motherboard and memory.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161404&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

That's the GPU I've been looking at.

 

[lighter17]

That's what I initially thought but you've been listing it at $204.99 so I was getting confused.

If you do manage to pick it up when Newegg gets it back in stock I would suggest changing the case to COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case . That card will fit in this case (although the upper drive bay will have to be removed). I couldn't find any spec info on maximum card size for the Rosewill Challenger.

 

[misterbread]

I just looked at the listing for the GPU and yes, it's OOS. I didn't notice this when I initially started the build.

Is there another 7870 that'll fit my original case or should I look for a different case and GPU?

 

[misterbread]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121624

How about the ASUS 7870?

 

[lighter17]

The next cheapest 7870 Newegg has is the ASUS HD7870-DC2-2GD5 Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $237.86 AR. It should fit in any gaming case.

FYI: The reason that the HIS 7870 IceQ is so long is that it uses the same cooler that is used on the 7950 and 7970. So it has one of the best temp performances of all 7870s.

The HIS 7870 was last in stock on 9/6 when it sold out in a few hours. I would expect Newegg to get a new shipment in soon, so you may want to use the auto-notify feature to find out ASAP.


edit: You beat me to it. At Asus 7870 obviously isn't as good a deal, but it's still a good value. The Radeon 7870 is probably the best value at the moment. Check out what Tom's Best Graphics Card guide says about it.

 

[misterbread]

Alright. Here's my final build. Thank you lighter17 for helping me out with the build.

PC Part Picker:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hJWS


CPU AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor $89.98
http://pcpartpicker.com/mr/ncixus/amd-cpu-hdz965fbgmbox

Motherboard ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard $84.99
http://pcpartpicker.com/mr/newegg/asrock-motherboard-970extreme3

Memory G.Skill Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory $33.99
http://pcpartpicker.com/mr/newegg/gskill-memory-f310666cl9d8gbnt

Storage Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $60.96
http://pcpartpicker.com/mr/amazon/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd5000aakx

Video Card Asus Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card $209.99
http://pcpartpicker.com/mr/newegg/asus-video-card-hd7870dc22gd5

Case Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case $49.49
http://pcpartpicker.com/mr/superbiiz/cooler-master-case-rc912kkn1

Power Supply Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply $49.98
http://pcpartpicker.com/mr/ncixus/corsair-power-supply-cmpsu600cxv2

Optical Drive Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer $17.99
http://pcpartpicker.com/mr/newegg/sony-optical-drive-ad7280s0b



Granted some of the items are sold out and they're not all through Newegg as I initially intended, but this is the final build I'm going for give or take a few pieces that I'll have to adjust due to prices and companies.

Let me know what you guys think.

 

[stun effect]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to build a gaming PC for the first time and I've been doing my research for the past few months and I need some advice on my prospective build.

I have a budget of about $700 and I can't stretch it too much. The PC is going to be mainly used for gaming.

Also, I only want to use Newegg for the parts as I have a credit card through them. Makes it easier to pay off if all the parts are from one place.

Parts I don't need: Monitor and OS disc


PC Part Picker link to my build: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/haUT

Here's my build so far:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor $109.99

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler $19.99 (w/ promo)

Motherboard: Asus M5A99X EVO ATX AM3+ Motherboard $122.86 (w/ promo)

Memory: G.Skill Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory $33.99

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $79.99

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card $195.99 (w/ promo)

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case $59.99

Power Supply: Rosewill 630W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply $59.99

Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer $17.99

Keyboard: Rosewill RIKB-11002 Wired Slim Keyboard $9.99

Mouse: Zalman ZM-M200 Wired Optical Mouse $11.99



Thanks for your help guys!

I have a sub $500 build that you might be interested in. The build below would allow you to get a decent keyboard, mouse, and monitor for under $700.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hKuv

Let me know if you interested and i could do some more research for you.

 

[misterbread]

I have a sub $500 build that you might be interested in. The build below would allow you to get a decent keyboard, mouse, and monitor for under $700.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hKuv

Let me know if you interested and i could do some more research for you.

I want something a little more powerful than a 7750. If I went with that build I'd go for a 6870.

 

[stun effect]

I want something a little more powerful than a 7750. If I went with that build I'd go for a 6870.

No problem. It's hard to find the right balance on a 700 build because if u go with too much gpu or cpu u end up just wasting money. If u wanted a better gpu then I'd drop to a phenom 2 and oc it.

 

[stun effect]

My current build from my signature block only ran me 550, and it will play anything u throw at it.

 

[misterbread]

My current build from my signature block only ran me 550, and it will play anything u throw at it.

Is that a 560ti?