Gaming rig for $651

[spunks]

CPU:Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Microcenter)

CPU Cooler:Stock

Motherboard:ASRock Z77 Pro3 1155 ATX Intel Motherboard ($55 Bundle Deal @Microcenter ($40 off motherboard if purchased together)

Memory: Kingston HyperX Blu Red Series 8GB DDR3 1600 ($30 @Newegg)

Storage: Intel 330 180GB SSD ($92 after $30 rebate @Tigerdirect)

Video Card:Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 Video Card ($200 @Tigerdirect (got it when it was on sale))

Case:Rosewill REDBONE ATX Mid Tower Case ($32 @Newegg)

Power Supply: Corsair Professional Gold 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($50 (friend got shipped 2 on accident and sold the extra to me for $50)

Optical Drive:Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)

Wireless: Encore 5db PCI-e ($13 @Newegg)

Memory Card Reader: Bytecc 52 in 1 ($7 @Newegg)


Total = $651 (probably have to add in a few bucks for tax and $20 bucks for gas to microcenter and back)

Already bought everything except stuff from microcenter. Was considering a fancier motherboard, but none have any features that will be used (unless I spend a LOT more then I get better power regulators around the CPU). Gotta say I regret the case purchase. I've never seen such flimsy steel. Any Thoughts?

 

[Despot96]

I would say pretty decent build for gaming. Love the PSU and CPU you picked. Good luck

 

[TheBigTroll]

-if the kingston ram you got is 1.65v, you void your intel warranty on the spot. anything over 1.5v is "illegal" in a intel system
-pretty decent deal for the intel
-WHOOT????? hacks. i call hacks on the power supply.
-any card reader under 40 bucks is usually crap from what i hear
-should have gotten a arc midi from fractal but yeah. too late now

id generally spring for the extreme4 since the 750w will allow you to crossfire and crossfire on a pro board is not as good as it is on a extreme4.

 

[spunks]

Good spot on the ram. Darn, can I put it with an old orginal I7? My friend tried to sell me that power supply for months. Finaly had a need for it and I bought it. OH Wait, I have an Athlon II system somewhere in the garage I can stick the memory in.... but why bother? oh well, I sure I can get rid of it for what I paid eventually. Whats a decent buy for ram for this? Oh, and all I needed was an SD card reader for a digital camera and figured all the crappy laptops with them must be the cheapest memory card readers on the planet then went on to say screw it its only 7 bucks. Will never run dual cards in this (its for a 16yr old girl who loves zombie killing games) as it will only ever push a single 1080p monitor at 60hz.

 

[spunks]

Oh, I was planning a mild overclock for this (maybe 3.8ghz-4.0ghz). Should I get a better motherboard that has more phases in the CPU power regulation? I dont plan on touching voltages and if it gets to warm for the factory cooler, I'm just going to back it off. Haven't overclocked one of these yet but I guess I just change the multiplier. I figure 3.8ghz is where it selfs overclocks (until it reaches some predetermined thermal limit) so would forcing it there all the time stress the cpu much?

 

[TheBigTroll]

if you are only using one card with the 750w, it is pretty much a waste

the CPu at stock runs at 3.9ghz. setting it to 4 does nothing

id usually switch out the stock cooler. pretty loud

 

[TheBigTroll]

there is some crucial ballistix sport ram at newegg going for 29.99 after a promo code

 

[spunks]

if you are only using one card with the 750w, it is pretty much a waste

the CPu at stock runs at 3.9ghz. setting it to 4 does nothing

id usually switch out the stock cooler. pretty loud

The power supply was a lucky buy. I figured spending $50 on a different one would be pointless. I thought the CPU @ stock ran @ 3.4 GHz and turbo'd up to 3.8ghz if only 2 cores were being used. I'm probably wrong cause I really haven't been reading much on CPUs. I would like all cores running at the 3.8ghz level, and have been considering overclocking to 3.7ghz and leaving turbo on (which I think will bump the max to 3.9ghz) . Just looking for a 10% to 15% gain. If I can't do it on the stock cooler then it goes back to stock speeds. No point in buying a cheaper I5 either cause I lose the bundle deal if I do.

 

[TheBigTroll]

nah. i5 3570k runs at 3.5ghz. most manufacturers have turbo core enhancement that makes all cores turbo to 3.9ghz

to get a 10% gain, 4.5ghz is what you need.

seriously, getting a good cooler like a hyper 212 evo will really destroy the stock fan. the i5 3570k is like useless or pointless without one

 

[spunks]

Okay, thanks for the oc advice. Probably won't do much more than making sure turbo is on then. This is a very strict budget and I dont think asking for $25 for a cooler will go very far. (the girl's parents are paying for it and I had to convince them spending $12 more dollars to go from a 128gb SSD to a 180gb SSD was a good idea.). I'm just having fun seeing how much performance I can get out of such a limited budget.

 

[TheBigTroll]

you can always add a heatsink later on.

the rig will perform miles ahead of most consumer pcs out there. dont worry

 

[spunks]

Best answer selected by spunks.