Need fast advice on first attempt at a gaming build! ($900.00)

neoncade4444

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Oct 18, 2012
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I have never attempted to buy or build any pc parts ever. I feel like assembling it with help from the newegg tutorials will be easy enough to at least give this a go.

My current budget is not a dollar over $900.00. If I could get something like this (or even better!) around $800.00, that would be a good idea. See, I have an extra $500.00 for this build in a few weeks, but I do not want to wait and would rather upgrade or just settle. (I don't really do or look for rebates.)

Here are the parts I have came up with; [Prices are calculated after discounts etc]

Case: ZALMAN Z11 Plus HF1 Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($64.00 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811235035

GPU: GIGABYTE GV-N670OC-2GD GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card ($360.00 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125423


----------------------
[Combo]
CPU: Intel Core i5-3330 Ivy Bridge
Mobo: MSI Z77MA-G45 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
Price of combo: $265.00 @ Newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1081365
--------------------

Ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 PC3 12800 ($40.00 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

PSU: CORSAIR CX Series CX750 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply ($90.00 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139040

Optical Drive: SAMSUNG DVD Burner 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA Model SH-224BB - OEM ($16.00 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151256

The theme of the build is entirely gaming high end. Most games ultra settings with around 50-70fps. I am still missing a good HDD (need suggestions) and am open to any revisions. I do think however the GPU is the best value for what I want right now, at least for a few more hours until the $40.00 off goes away. I also am not sure if an aftermarket fan is necessary.












Should you feel an entire revision is a better idea, then I will just post the new build form here to help out in any way possible. I seriously appreciate your guys' help.


Approximate Purchase Date: Within 12 hours.

Budget Range: $700.00-$900.00 total after shipping (not interested in rebates).

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming high end, multimedia (music, movies).

Are you buying a monitor: No thanks.



Parts to Upgrade: All.

Do you need to buy OS: No thanks.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: www.newegg.com, but open to others. I just want all parts to be from the same place for easier and lower shipping prices (assuming it works that way).

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU is my only preference.

Overclocking: If it is safe, easy, and won't be more costly.

SLI or Crossfire: No thanks.

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: Generally aiming for ultra settings @ 60~ fps for games such as WoW, Diablo 3, Dark Souls, and various steam games. In my top wall of text, I have listed a case I really like, as it looks nice and seems like a really good deal. But any case with some awesome lighting and easy enough for a noob to build in will be fine. I am very open!

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I'm quitting console gaming and becoming a man.
 
Solution
Heya, in Orem here. :)

Your build is lookin good, but agree that you don't need that much wattage. This Antec 520W is $45 with promo code CollegeSave10.

I can vouch for the Z11, it's a good case and a steal at $50.

That combo does look good, but there's another promo you could take advantage of as well that gives you 8GB of RAM free with certain motherboards, such as the Asrock Z77 Extreme4.

The i5 3470 is also on sale for $185 right now, and you can get it in a combo with this ASUS DVD Burner which is also on sale for $16.

I think all that comes out to about the same price for a slightly better CPU and a slight better motherboard.

The CPU you have picked out is not capable of overclocking, and I'd say it's...

excella1221

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Aug 23, 2012
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The CPU+mobo combo is a great deal.
Though I'd like to point out that the motherboard and 750w PSU is wasted if you don't add a 2nd card for SLI/Crossfire. You don't have to do it now, you can do it anytime in the future.

The 670 is a great card, but the 7970 outperforms it for the same price.

Everything else is actually good to go. You've done well. :)
 

neoncade4444

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Oct 18, 2012
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Thank you for your reply :). I appreciate your help.

So I don't really ever plan on doing SLI/Crossfire. Are there any ways I can scale back the price slightly? The mobo was the cheapest one to combo with the I5, so all I could really save on is the psu - I don't plan to do a major upgrade in the near future, and if so, spending a little bit on a new psu wouldn't bother me. I'm not too sure of a safe psu wattage to be at with the setup being the same (except the 7970 in place of the 670).

EDIT: Or, I could dish out the extra $40.00~ I save on the psu and move my cpu up to the 3570k? Or would that not do too much for my build/complicate anything?

EDIT2: Also remembered, would I need any extra cooling other than what is stock in my case? Thanks for your time in advance.
 

ckholt83

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Jun 27, 2012
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Heya, in Orem here. :)

Your build is lookin good, but agree that you don't need that much wattage. This Antec 520W is $45 with promo code CollegeSave10.

I can vouch for the Z11, it's a good case and a steal at $50.

That combo does look good, but there's another promo you could take advantage of as well that gives you 8GB of RAM free with certain motherboards, such as the Asrock Z77 Extreme4.

The i5 3470 is also on sale for $185 right now, and you can get it in a combo with this ASUS DVD Burner which is also on sale for $16.

I think all that comes out to about the same price for a slightly better CPU and a slight better motherboard.

The CPU you have picked out is not capable of overclocking, and I'd say it's not really necessary either. It'll run any games you can throw at it. In that light, you don't really need an aftermarket HSF, the stock cooler should be fine. If you did want to get a 3rd party HSF anyway, the Xigmatek Gaia is an inexpensive option at $20 and you can also put in a combo with the Asrock board for another $5 off.
 
Solution

ckholt83

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Jun 27, 2012
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Upgrading to the 3570k wouldn't be worth buying unless you plan to overclock it. The differences at stock speeds are negligible at best.

You shouldn't need any extra cooling than what already comes with the Z11, no worries there. :)
 

neoncade4444

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Oct 18, 2012
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Gonna take your advice and swap the PSU. I am also swapping my 670 for a 7970, since after researching, the 7970 currently is just a tad better due to drivers (plus my 10% promo wore off a few hours ago for my 670). The equivalent price I found for the 7970 was only for http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129265&name=Desktop-Graphics-Cards that one. Not sure if that is a reputable brand, along with the fact its clock is clipped off by 50hz. Do you agree with that swap of GPUs?
 

phenom90

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Jul 27, 2010
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http://www.microcenter.com/product/388579/Core_i5_3450_31GHz_LGA_1155_Processor
Core i5 3450 - $150

http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=69922&vpn=H77MA-G43&manufacture=MSI%2FMicroStar
MSI H77MA-G43 - $88

http://www.microcenter.com/product/373900/Hyper_212_EVO_Universal_CPU_Cooler
Hyper 212 EVO - $30

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186&name=Desktop-Memory
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB CML8GX3M2A1600C9 - $40

http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=67628&vpn=FD-CA-ARC-Mini-BL&manufacture=Fractal%20Design&promoid=1295
Fractal Design Arc Mini - $80

http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=65319&vpn=PPCMK3S600&manufacture=PC%20Power%20%26%20Cooling
PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 600W - $70

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-111970140g
Sapphire 11197-01-40G - $388

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Hard%20Drives-_-SAMSUNG-_-22152185&AID=10440897&PID=3938566&SID=
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ - $70


total: $916 after rebate excluding shipping.



 

excella1221

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Aug 23, 2012
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Dunno about Visiontek, but that's a cheap price for a GHz Ed.
Apparently, memory clock is under-spec'd, but it shouldn't be hard to OC.

If you're gonna get that, make sure to register the card on Visiontek's website before 30 days passes so you can avail of the lifetime warranty.