~$600 gaming rig

[SuzumiyaHaruhi]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tqOV



CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H LGA 1155 Z77 mATX Intel Moth ($79.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Samsung 4GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.42 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Diablotek EVO Mid Tower ATX Computer Case ($39.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq Plus 550W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)

TOTAL: $657.34

What do you guys think about the motherboard. I can get a $50 discount at microcenter for a MoBo if I buy the i5 3570K processor there.
Furthermore, what case do you think I should use?
Would this build work for a mid-range gaming PC?
Thank You very much

 

[butremor]

Yea good build. It's mid, close to high range. But your link is corrupted, there's some other build in there.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Pareema 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cougar Solution (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($35.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $591.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-21 07:30 EST-0500)

 

[envy14tpe]

At that budget, i5 3450. I won't even begin to say why Intel is better than AMD. Money saved can be used to upgrade GPU to a 7870.

Don't overclock your system.

 

[Kamen_BG]

If you want a gaming beast, with a very fast overclockable CPU, go with this build

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Pareema 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($214.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($30.95 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $681.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-21 10:54 EST-0500)

Otherwise go with this one

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: MSI B75MA-P45 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Pareema 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($214.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($30.95 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $621.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-21 10:57 EST-0500)

Both of them are better than the one ScrewySqrl built.

Here's why.
The both use CPU's, which are a LOT faster.
It is true that the build she made does use an overclockable CPU which when overclocked can reach Core i5 level performance.But it does so using a a lot of electricity.And since the power supply used in her build (and the ones i made) is pretty low end it just can't handle that load.
The graphics card the systems i made use is also quite a bit faster and has a very nice bundle.
They also use much more reliable hard drives which are also a bit faster.
The power supplies they use are also a bit better and so are the cases.

The only con is that the builds i made are quite a bit more expensive.

So i also made a third build which is superior to the build she made in every aspect.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Pareema 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($214.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($30.95 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $606.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-21 11:04 EST-0500)

 

[SuzumiyaHaruhi]

So if I raised my budget to $700, got a 7870 and a 600-700 watt PSU, my current build could hold? I want to overclock the i5 to 4.5Ghz so I'll probably need a better PSU. Would that configuration be acceptable?

 

[envy14tpe]

So if I raised my budget to $700, got a 7870 and a 600-700 watt PSU, my current build could hold? I want to overclock the i5 to 4.5Ghz so I'll probably need a better PSU. Would that configuration be acceptable?

You will not get to 4.5GHz on the motherboard you selected. 4.2 sure, but not 4.5
The motherboard is too cheap. You'd need a $130+ motherboard to reach 4.5

You only need a 500W PSU.

 

[SuzumiyaHaruhi]

You will not get to 4.5GHz on the motherboard you selected. 4.2 sure, but not 4.5
The motherboard is too cheap. You'd need a $130+ motherboard to reach 4.5

You only need a 500W PSU.

It is a $130+ motherboard but there's a -$50 on the motherboard if I buy an intel i5 3570K processor.

 

[envy14tpe]

It is a $130+ motherboard but there's a -$50 on the motherboard if I buy an intel i5 3570K processor.

Yes, it's a good deal. I still think 4.5 is pushing it. This board has a 4 pin 12 volt connector. A 8 pin is better for delivering a stable overclock. However, as a bundle it's great.

 

[SuzumiyaHaruhi]

Yes, it's a good deal. I still think 4.5 is pushing it. This board has a 4 pin 12 volt connector. A 8 pin is better for delivering a stable overclock. However, as a bundle it's great.

What about
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard for $94.99?
ASRock Z77 Pro4-M 1155 mATX Intel Motherboard for $69.99?
ASUS P8H77-M/CSM LGA 1155 H77 mATX Intel Motherboard for $69.99?

 

[envy14tpe]

What about
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard for $94.99?
ASRock Z77 Pro4-M 1155 mATX Intel Motherboard for $69.99?
ASUS P8H77-M/CSM LGA 1155 H77 mATX Intel Motherboard for $69.99?

Do not buy a H77 cuz it can't overclock. You must buy a Z77. At $95, the ASRock Extreme 4 is awesome. Buy that. You might reach 4.5GHz. I wish I would have bought that one.