First Computer $850-ish budget

[willze7]

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: this week

Budget Range: 850-875
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, small server stuff, light 3d modeling

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg/amazon

Location: US

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU

Overclocking: Probably

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024

I have the keyboard/mouse/speakers/monitor. I have the computer planned out already I just wanted some input about ways to make it cheaper. Also I was deciding about the 6850 vs. 6870. I wasn't sure if the 6870 was worth the extra $20. The bundle I found saves a ton of money so I doubt I would be able to find anything cheaper that is decent quality. Here is what I have so far:

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 $69.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM $99.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO $36.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

Quad Core i5/Z77/8GB/SuperCombo $499.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1067788

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit $169.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

 

[TheBigTroll]

keep the super combo and add this

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hBMQ

 

[willze7]

I wanted to get it all from one place (Newegg) to save on shipping.

 

[jaideep1337]

You say your monitor resolution is 1280x1024 so I don't really think you would need a powerful GPU at that res. However I would say you should upgrade you monitor to a 1600x900 ATLEAST!
Trust me you will enjoy seeing the extra pixels

 

[ScrewySqrl]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Pareema 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($229.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill R218-P-BK ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Monitor: Asus ML228H 21.5" Monitor ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($90.59 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Gigabyte GK-KM5200 Wired Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($12.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $827.49
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-16 10:35 EDT-0400)

here you go, with windows, keyboard, mouse, and a 1920x1080 monitor for under $850

 

[TheBigTroll]

I wanted to get it all from one place (Newegg) to save on shipping.

ncix has free shipping. so does amazon.

to get free shipping for the cooler, just put the seagate and the hyper 212 evo in the same cart

 

[willze7]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Pareema 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($229.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill R218-P-BK ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Monitor: Asus ML228H 21.5" Monitor ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($90.59 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Gigabyte GK-KM5200 Wired Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($12.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $827.49
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-16 10:35 EDT-0400)

here you go, with windows, keyboard, mouse, and a 1920x1080 monitor for under $850

That's great but I wanted to overclock and that has no Hard Drive

 

[willze7]

Also can anyone tell me what the advantages of an ATX vs microATX motherboard?

 

[willze7]

This is another computer I just pieced together, would it be better than the current one?

 

[willze7]

Best answer selected by willze7.