1st Gaming Build Help, $1,200 +/-

meneedhelp

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Oct 4, 2012
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10,530
Hi all, I am planing to build my first gaming/school comp... I've been buying prebuilt laptops for the past 3-4 years for my undergrad... I feel it's time to have a desktop for graduate studies.

I hope to get the most Price/Performance while having moderate reliable parts that will last 4 years so.

I have no knowledge in OC'ing or what graphics to get etc..


Description: To play current games and run programs like Photoshop/solidworks/autocad

Budget: Prefer $900-1,200, Max: $1,500 CAD

Location: Toronto, Canada (Prefer reliable websites like Newegg, tigerdirect etc)

CASE: $119 (All Black or White?) If this is bad case recomendations?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146067

Cpu: Enough to play current games (and programs like Solidworks or autocad)

Graphics: Need help

PSU: Need help

MOBO: Need Help

Cooler: Need help

Storage: Prefer SSD for windows startup and 1 TB HDD or more

Memory: 8-16 GB (Or what's recomended)

Optical Drive: I have a few laying around don't need

anything else I'm missing please feel free to add


thank you for your help!
 
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
i5 3570k, a badass cpu out of the box ( better than anything AMD has to offer and outside of a few select activities perfoms just as well as an i7) that you will be able to overclock down the road should you choose too (i would suggest SB if you were OC out of the gate but that doesnt appear to be the case so go for the IBs better stock performance and lower thermal signature)
229.99

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
Corsiar builder series 500w, a very nice PSU from a very reputable company that comes 80 + certified and has 2 6+2 pci connectors should you choose to crossfire or SLI down the road.
59.99 - 10 rebate + 1.99 shipping

MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293
Asrock z77 extreme4, a very popular mobo, comes with all the features (pci 3.0, sata 6gigs/sec etc.. ) and lets you overclock RAM, CPU, and GPU very nicely
134.99 + 7.87

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
2x4 gigs low profile vengeance, great ram, easily overclocked, and doesnt come with the ridiculous heat spreaders youll see the regular vengeance have (and anything over 8 gigs of ram offers severely diminishing returns)
41.99

SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442
128 gig Crucial m4 sata III, a very highly rated SSD with sata III for maximum performance benefit over a traditional drive and plenty of room for OS and your favorite applications
109.99

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148834
7200 rpm 2 TB Seagate Barracuda, huge amount of storage for the price, has a very large cache aswell and is SATA III too (not that it matters for a HDD). However you might be inclined to spring for a similarly priced western digital model that trades storage capacity for reliability ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136767 500 gigs for 89.99 )
99.99

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161412
HIS IceQ HD 7970, a very nice high end card that dominates high resolution gaming and comes with a custom cooler to help with the noise that the 7979 is known for. However this choice has alot to do with what resolution you are playing at. If your playing at just 720 or 1080 then go for the 670 (which runs alot cooler aswell) if you want the absolute best graphics, or to save a few dollars grab a 7950, 7870, or 7850 (if your only playing on 1080 60hz on a single monitor it really wont matter, but the 7970 will have alot more staying power regardless)
409.99 - 30 rebate

CASE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147107
Rosewill Blackhawk, id go with this for a case it comes at a great price and all the air cooling you will ever need, and usb 3.0 ports
89.99

If price was no object this is the rig i would build. This thing can run any program blazingly fast and MAX out ANY game, and go head to head with pretty much anything on the planet. Furthurmore there is TONS of room for upgradability ( more ram, crossfire gpu, i7 in place of i5 ) and overclocking should you need a boost in performance down the road.
As is...

Sub: 1176.92
Shipping : 9.86
Rebates: - 40

Grand Total: 1146.78

Again if you wanted to get that down to 900 i would swap out the 7970 for a 7850 (still a very nice and high performace card) and save 200 dollars.

hes canadian as stated. prices are irrelevant
 

meneedhelp

Honorable
Oct 4, 2012
39
0
10,530
Again if you wanted to get that down to 900 i would swap out the 7970 for a 7850 (still a very nice and high performace card) and save 200 dollars.

Apparently this is discontinued, Or sold out,

is it recomended to opt to save $200 to put towards something else?

Or Another card that isn't sold out/discontinued.

thanks!

 

meneedhelp

Honorable
Oct 4, 2012
39
0
10,530
@ Troll's Build:

Everything Looks good as well (Don't need the CD/DVD so save 30 bucks)

anywho, Are there any difference using the i7 vs. i5... I read on the forums they are similar?
 

dcointin

Distinguished
May 3, 2011
75
0
18,640
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
i5 3570k, a badass cpu out of the box ( better than anything AMD has to offer and outside of a few select activities perfoms just as well as an i7) that you will be able to overclock down the road should you choose too (i would suggest SB if you were OC out of the gate but that doesnt appear to be the case so go for the IBs better stock performance and lower thermal signature)
229.99

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
Corsiar builder series 500w, a very nice PSU from a very reputable company that comes 80 + certified and has 2 6+2 pci connectors should you choose to crossfire or SLI down the road.
59.99 - 10 rebate + 1.99 shipping

MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293
Asrock z77 extreme4, a very popular mobo, comes with all the features (pci 3.0, sata 6gigs/sec etc.. ) and lets you overclock RAM, CPU, and GPU very nicely
134.99 + 7.87

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
2x4 gigs low profile vengeance, great ram, easily overclocked, and doesnt come with the ridiculous heat spreaders youll see the regular vengeance have (and anything over 8 gigs of ram offers severely diminishing returns)
41.99

SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442
128 gig Crucial m4 sata III, a very highly rated SSD with sata III for maximum performance benefit over a traditional drive and plenty of room for OS and your favorite applications
109.99

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148834
7200 rpm 2 TB Seagate Barracuda, huge amount of storage for the price, has a very large cache aswell and is SATA III too (not that it matters for a HDD). However you might be inclined to spring for a similarly priced western digital model that trades storage capacity for reliability ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136767 500 gigs for 89.99 )
99.99

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161412
HIS IceQ HD 7970, a very nice high end card that dominates high resolution gaming and comes with a custom cooler to help with the noise that the 7979 is known for. However this choice has alot to do with what resolution you are playing at. If your playing at just 720 or 1080 then go for the 670 (which runs alot cooler aswell) if you want the absolute best graphics, or to save a few dollars grab a 7950, 7870, or 7850 (if your only playing on 1080 60hz on a single monitor it really wont matter, but the 7970 will have alot more staying power regardless)
409.99 - 30 rebate

CASE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147107
Rosewill Blackhawk, id go with this for a case it comes at a great price and all the air cooling you will ever need, and usb 3.0 ports
89.99

If price was no object this is the rig i would build. This thing can run any program blazingly fast and MAX out ANY game, and go head to head with pretty much anything on the planet. Furthurmore there is TONS of room for upgradability ( more ram, crossfire gpu, i7 in place of i5 ) and overclocking should you need a boost in performance down the road.
As is...

Sub: 1176.92
Shipping : 9.86
Rebates: - 40

Grand Total: 1146.78

Again if you wanted to get that down to 900 i would swap out the 7970 for a 7850 (still a very nice and high performace card) and save 200 dollars.

EDIT: that case you linked is solid i suppose but is a little overpriced, only has usb 2.0 ports, and slightly worse cooling that the one i listed but if you like the look of it go for it, you should have a machine you can be proud of
EDIT #2: As far as a CPU cooler goes the stock Intel fan is fine until you decide to overclock, then just grab an applicable coolermaster ( better cooling = higher overclock)

These are very good recommendations based on the research I've done. The only question I would have is if the OP would like to add a second graphics card in the future for SLI/CrossFire, in which case you might consider a more powerful power supply.
 

meneedhelp

Honorable
Oct 4, 2012
39
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10,530


I Don't know If i will be SLI/CrossFire, but Should I spend the extra money for a stronger PSU and decide later down the road?
 

dcointin

Distinguished
May 3, 2011
75
0
18,640
Again I have to completely agree with jrgong! I read an article on Tom's Hardware about power supplies that convinced me of the important of using a high quality PSU, and the dangers if you don't. You might find it an interesting read:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supply-oem-manufacturer,2913.html

I'm not familiar with Rosewill PSU's, so I'll take his word for it, especially since the other recommendations are all ones I know to be excellent. Don't go cheap on your PSU, the extra money is absolutely worth it!
 

meneedhelp

Honorable
Oct 4, 2012
39
0
10,530
Hi all I decided to go for it. So here are my questions and concerns before I start ordering parts next week or so.

Based on the two recommended builds.

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146067&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=1efymsskvyrd1






CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=xyr9p0pd7id6
+
MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=1p7nhhfoqisx5

OR
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=76818&vpn=BX80637I53570K%26Z77X-D3H&manufacture=Bundle%20Deals&promoid=1061

If both same then I will just choose whichever's cheaper for me




PSU:
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=62224&vpn=P1750BNLG9&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1061
is this good? or overpriced?




cooler: http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=64385&vpn=RR-212E-20PK-R2&manufacture=COOLERMASTER&promoid=1061


SSD: http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=69936&vpn=VTX4-25SAT3-128G&manufacture=OCZ%20Technology&promoid=1061


HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148834&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=geresne2ai7v




RAM:

2 of the following = 16GB RaM 4 slots: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=1dvnamanm4y0p

or

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=76779&vpn=PV316G160C0K&manufacture=Patriot&promoid=1061

Which is faster?


GPU: $200-300 CAD (recommendations please?)


Thanks!
 
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