~700$ gaming pc build critique please

[inner universe]

I am missing a graphics card from this build and it is currently at $586.

Friend asked me to put together a gaming PC for his little brother, budget is 700$. This is what I came up with but I'd like some opinions before recommending it to him. That leaves about 114$ for the card, but it can probably be slightly more as long as it doesn't go too far over. I'd say maybe 20$ leeway. Please check compatibility for the parts I've already listed, also if you think any of the components I've already picked out should be replaced by something better that is similar price or cheaper please feel free to make a suggestion.

Approximate Purchase Date: in a week or so.

Budget Range: 700$ before rebates/shipping.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Video games first and foremost, then browsing, watching movies, etc..

Are you buying a monitor: no

Parts to Upgrade: none

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg

Location: Texas, United States. Not sure what city he is in but it is irrelevant he will be ordering online.

Parts Preferences: None other than including an intel 2500k cpu.

Overclocking: maybe in the future, not an immediate concern.

SLI or Crossfire: maybe in the future, not an immediate concern.

Your Monitor Resolution: Not sure what monitor he already has, not a big concern here though.

Additional Comments: none

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: It's my friend's little brother's first gaming computer.


Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

ASRock Z68 PRO3 GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular High Performance Power Supply

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

Western Digital WD Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM

 

[Opaz1ka]

A 3570k would be better, even though it overclocks hotter it is 10% more powerful per gigahertz and has pcie 3 support which the 2500k doesnt.

 

[wanderer11]

Is there a microcenter nearby? They will let you save about ~$75.

 

[larrym]

The 2500k is a last gen CPU and is overclockable. You dont have a cooler or a gpu listed. This build would game pretty good. Can't OC though, but hard with a $700 budget.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/t5wM
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/t5wM/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/t5wM/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($217.86 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec Three Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case ($51.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Silverstone Strider Essential 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($56.69 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On IHAS324-98 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $658.49
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-18 13:19 EST-0500)

 

[jkhoward]

I would drop the i5-2500K and get the latest i3-3220 or i3-3240 depending on the budget and drop it into the Asrock H77M motherboard and get the Antec 500W power supply. With the money saved I would then purchase a AMD 7850 1GB GPU and call it a day. If you are just going to be gaming the i3 will work perfectly and with the Asrock H77M motherboard you are able to overclock the CPU 200MHz and get some more juice out of the CPU. If you have anymore questions for me please respond to my post!

Have fun!!

EDIT: New hardware will last longer than going with the older architecture

 

[masterman467]

drop the i5 to a i3, and spend the extra on a HD 7850 1gb.
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=20997012

 

[jkhoward]

Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 55W Dual-Core Desktop Processor ...
Model #:BX80637i33220
Item #:N82E16819116775

ASRock H77M LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Model #:H77M
Item #:N82E16813157303

Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT4G3D1339DS1S00
Model #:BLS2KIT4G3D1339DS1S0
Item #:N82E16820148543

GIGABYTE GV-R785OC-1GD Radeon HD 7850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
Model #:GV-R785OC-1GD
Item #:N82E16814125451

Seagate Momentus XT ST750LX003 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache 2.5" SATA 6.0Gb/s Solid State Hybrid Drive -Bare Drive
Model #:ST750LX003
Item #:N82E16822148837

Antec Three Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Upgraded 2 x USB 3.0
Model #:Three Hundred Two
Item #:N82E16811129180

Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Model #:BP550 Plus
Item #:N82E16817371016


If you do not need as much storage you can opt out for a 128GB SSD

Do some shopping around on these components and you will have a solid build.