Building a Cheap Gaming PC for Bro-in-Law. Need Help

monkey194545

Honorable
Oct 22, 2012
3
0
10,510
Hello,
Thanks for the time. I have never built a PC, always have been interested, but now I have the opportunity. My brother-in-law wants a gaming PC and we decided it might be the best route to build one due to cost constraints. He is trying to stick around $800. Here is what I have come up with. Could you guys let me know if I should change anything or am missing something:

NZXT Guardian Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Case 921RB-BL - iBuyPower
$69.99

Intel Core i5-3450 Quad-Core Processor 3.1 GHz 6 MB Cache LGA 1155 - BX80637I53450 - Intel
$194.99

Gigabyte Intel Z77 LGA 1155 AMD CrossFireX/NVIDIA SLI W/HDMI, DVI Dual UEFI BIOS ATX Motherboard GA-Z77X-D3H - Gigabyte
$148.99

EVGA GeForce GTX 650 Ti 2048MB GDDR5 128bit, Dual Dual-Link DVI, Mini HDMI, Graphics Card (01G-P4-3651-KR) Graphics Cards 02G-P4-3651-KR - EVGA
$169.99

Cooler Master Elite 460W ATX +12V V2.31 SATA, PCI-E Power Supply RS460-PSARI3-US - Cooler Master USA, Inc.
$34.99

Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE 22X SATA DVDRW Internal Drive (Black), Bulk without Software - Samsung
$20.89

ASUS PCI 5.1 Channel Sound Card XONAR_DG - Asus
$24.00

Western Digital WD Scorpio Black 750 GB SATA 3 GB/s 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Internal Bulk/OEM 2.5-Inch Mobile Hard Drive - Western Digital
$81.53

TRENDnet Gigabit PCI Adapter Card TEG-PCITXR - TRENDnet
$12.29

Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2x4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
$39.99

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan (RR-212E-20PK-R2) - Cooler Master
$31.24


Total: $829

All prices are from Amazon. Other than the OS (which I already have) I think this covers it all. Thoughts?
Thanks!
 

malbluff

Honorable
Something along these lines would be suitable, and a includes better graphics card. Sound card is not needed, onboard is very good. Wireless card can be added.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($186.97 @ CompUSA)
Motherboard: Asus P8H77-V ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($115.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($229.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS224-06 DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $797.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

I've dropped the aftermarket cooler, which you don't need. Have added in an SSD, which whilst not essential, is nice to have.
 

monkey194545

Honorable
Oct 22, 2012
3
0
10,510
Thanks for the help! I have a few more questions though:
1) In order to help proof the machine, I am thinking of going to the 3750k. Will I need a cooler if I go with that processor?
2)Going with a 7850, do I need to have a stronger PSU than 500w. Im looking at a MSI 2GB 7850 for 219.00
3) I also swapped out the coolmaster psu for an Antec and the kingston ram for Corsair Vengeance. All else the same. How does this look?
 

malbluff

Honorable
To be honest, don't QUITE get the point of spending an extra $60 on a workstation processor, in a GAMING rig.
Agree could drop to an ASRock mobo to save a bit, although, if doing that, something like the ASRock Z77 Extreme 3 would at least gain full support for a possible 2nd graphics card, in the future, rather than going down, to a very basic H77M.
 

malbluff

Honorable

The board I just mentioned, the Extreme 3, would be a good, low cost one, if using i5-3570K. In order to overclock, you would need an aftermarket cooler, Suggest CoolerMaster Hyper 212Evo. If going with a HD7850, the twin fanned MSI is a good one. If overclocking, whilst 500w is still sort of OK, worth going up to 550w. Rosewill Hive is a decent modular one. XFX also is good, but not modular.
 

UGAbulldawg

Honorable
Oct 22, 2012
5
0
10,510


1. No you don't need a cooler unless you're going to overclock, the 3570k comes with a cooler.

2. No, my friend has his 7870 running on a corsair 430w psu. If it was some $20 non name brand 430w, it probaly wouldn't work. But if you're going with a coolermaster it should be fine.

3. Looks good.


4. I would change the motherboard to this asrock mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157296&name=Intel-Motherboards

Which would save you about $40

5. I would get a sata 6gb hard drive instead of a 3gb since they're faster.

6. A sound card really isn't needed.
 

malbluff

Honorable

500w is ADEQUATE for i5-3570K and HD7870, even with overclocking, but for what it costs, worth getting 550w.
The AsrockZ77 Extreme 3 overclocks better, than the Pro, and has full support for crossfire, if OP ever wants to add 2nd card (would obviously need higher PSU rating for that). If OP is getting i5-3570K, and has local Microcentre, they are give $50 off motherboard, in combo, I believe.
HDD: Seagate Barracuda IS 6Gb/s.
 

malbluff

Honorable
Just to clarify, as I'm starting to get confused. I assume this is the build, we are now talking about.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.82 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($127.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($197.55 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq Plus 550W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS224-06 DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $837.15
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

This uses the HD7850. The HD7870 could just be swapped in, for greater performance (and cost).
The cooler COULD be ommitted, til OP wants to overclock, though I reckon just as well fit, from start (less hassle changing, later)
Mobo, now, is probably best mix of performance and value, and is $50 off, if OP has local Microcentre.
Power supply could be dropped to 500w, especially if using HD7850, although as that saves very little, probably worth sticking with 550w, and have a little in hand.