New i5 build ~$700 w 2 monitor capability

[cjlandman]

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: this week

Budget Range: (~700) After Rebates & Shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Applications w 2 monitors

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: ALL

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: no preference

Location: New Orleans

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe later

Your Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024 or better

Additional Comments:

This is my first build in YEARS, (since Pentium II days) but I have some help. Am looking for a rig that will be OK for about 2 years. I dont play the latest games and only play shooters on the big screen so I'm not worried about Crysis. Want to play SCII at ultra and need 2 monitors for my work. Would like to be able to upgrade later without scrapping everything.

Already have a large external drive, so just need a SSD ONLY capable of Windows and a few games.

Prefer 8GB ram.

Would like to go i5 for upgrade reasons if possible.

Can this be done within reason for this budget without gaping holes?

Thx

 

[g-unit1111]

Here ya go:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($195.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($24.97 @ Newegg)
Total: $749.44
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-13 17:41 EDT-0400)

I didn't include SSD because it's not worth it on a build of this budget - sure they're fast but the space is very limited and will fill up quickly.

 

[cjlandman]

Here ya go:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($195.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($24.97 @ Newegg)
Total: $749.44
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-13 17:41 EDT-0400)

I didn't include SSD because it's not worth it on a build of this budget - sure they're fast but the space is very limited and will fill up quickly.

thanks for the reply -

If I was set on the SSD - say a 128MB crucial or samsumg which would add $30 to your build, and i wanted to back the cost down to below $700, where would you take the $80 back?

Is the 3450 that much better than the 2500?

CJ

 

[azeem40]

It is better clock for clock, and is cheaper.

 

[g-unit1111]

thanks for the reply -

If I was set on the SSD - say a 128MB crucial or samsumg which would add $30 to your build, and i wanted to back the cost down to below $700, where would you take the $80 back?

Is the 3450 that much better than the 2500?

CJ

In all honesty? If you wanted something really high performance for not a lot of money this is the way to go. There's not a lot I could scale back without cutting corners on the parts that really matter (CPU, GPU). As far as the SSD goes you can always add one later on, you don't have to purchase one initially.

As far as clock speeds go - the 3450 is way better than the 2500. Do not purchase the 2500 or 3570 if you're not planning to overclock. There's literally no difference in performance between 3.1GHz and 3.5GHz. The cores are utilized the same. The threads are utilized the same. The only step up would be an i7-3770.

 

[cjlandman]

In all honesty? If you wanted something really high performance for not a lot of money this is the way to go. There's not a lot I could scale back without cutting corners on the parts that really matter (CPU, GPU). As far as the SSD goes you can always add one later on, you don't have to purchase one initially.

As far as clock speeds go - the 3450 is way better than the 2500. Do not purchase the 2500 or 3570 if you're not planning to overclock. There's literally no difference in performance between 3.1GHz and 3.5GHz. The cores are utilized the same. The threads are utilized the same. The only step up would be an i7-3770.

After some more thought I have to agree with you. I dont see any way to push the cost down and this build is WAY more than I was expecting to be able to do for the money.

As to the upgrade path in a year or two - Is this rig a candidate for doing a drop in CPU upgrade and adding a second HD7850? That's kinda what had in mind.

Thanks for the help btw - great build

CJ

 

[g-unit1111]

After some more thought I have to agree with you. I dont see any way to push the cost down and this build is WAY more than I was expecting to be able to do for the money.

As to the upgrade path in a year or two - Is this rig a candidate for doing a drop in CPU upgrade and adding a second HD7850? That's kinda what had in mind.

Thanks for the help btw - great build

CJ

H77 will allow you to add up to i7-3770 but you probably won't need more than the CPU I listed. If you want to overclock go with a low end Z77 board like the Asrock Pro 4, and then you can drop in a 3570K later on and overclock it.

 

[cjlandman]

Best answer selected by cjlandman.

 

[cjlandman]

H77 will allow you to add up to i7-3770 but you probably won't need more than the CPU I listed. If you want to overclock go with a low end Z77 board like the Asrock Pro 4, and then you can drop in a 3570K later on and overclock it.

Sounds like you got me good to go then! I think Im gonna increase my budget and just add the SSD to your build.

THanks again

CJ