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$600-$700 First time build

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Hi Everybody,

First of all I want to thank everyone who offers their time and expertise on this forum. I've spent many hours in the last few weeks in here and has helped me a ton!!

I'm looking into putting together my first build and am looking for a little advice. Such as: is everything compatible? If so do you think the parts are a smart fit? Are there any other parts you'd recommend? Also, right now I'm a little over budget ($767 including shipping, without tax) so I'll need some advice on where to cut back a little.

Here is the "new build advice formula", and below that is what I've got sitting in my shopping cart right now. Thanks in advance for any comments/suggestions you post.


Approximate Purchase Date: Preferably in the near future, but if it's smarter to wait for any reason I can.

Budget Range: $600-$700 before tax and after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Browsing the Internet, Watching Movies, Gaming

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: No Preference, I live near the Canada/U.S. border and can have things shipped to either country

Country: Canada, see above

Parts Preferences: Open to suggestions from people smarter than me

Overclocking: 90% sure this is a no, but sometimes I get restless and tinker with things I probably shouldn't (like this build)

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: Currently 1280x1024, but at sometime I'll switch to a 19" -21" widescreen monitor

Additional Comments: None

Shopping Cart:

NCIX

EVGA GeForce GTX 650 Ti 928MHZ 2GB 5.4GHZ GDDR5 2xDVI Minihdmi PCI-E Video Card ($149.99)
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=76884

Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB SATA 6GB/S 7200RPM 64MB Cache 3.5in Hard Drive OEM ($69.99)
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=74462

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64BIT SP1 DVD OEM ($97.99)
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=45271&promoid=1201

Newegg.com

ZALMAN Z9 Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($36.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

ASRock Z77 Pro3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard ($89.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Intel Core i5-3470 Ivy Bridge 3.2GHz (3.6GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2500 ($184.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL ($46.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply ($34.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB Port / Extra Silver Face Plate ($14.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM ($19.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Thanks again.

More about : 600 700 time build

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

CPU: Intel Core i3-2130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($124.99 @ Computer Valley)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.55 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G41 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Memory Express)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.79 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Canada Computers)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($17.06 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $687.34
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-12 17:03 EST-0500)

more than enought juice for ur gaming :) 

i would say if the gaming is probably a "no" do not get a GPU at all. Intel has decend graphics processor with HD for movies. I would go with a better CPU maybe something with HD graphics 4000(for your future monitor).I suggest do not get a CPU cooler, intel's default is ok. As for the RAM i trust Corsair and may have better manufacturing quality (nowadys RAM is cheap, no big price difference) and check the processor's speed limit for memory and how many channels needs! The best is to get what intel recommends for longer pc life, compitability and general data flow.
I would recommend Intel's MB but they are expensive. ASRock is good and MSI also. I think Z77 is the best chipset but you can live with anotherone... see intel's compitability to be sure. Also there is no need for 2 PCI-E slots (max GPUs is 1 for your build) and save money with speed (check CPU-RAM speed and choose one that is what you really need. The optical drive is a "fixed" price... and that drive with the cards i suppose you need it.. The PSU can be a GS or even TX series but i do not remember prices right now... Last one: I think the WD green series are cheaper...
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Yes, if he doesn't plan to gaming or if it's just for some low end games, he's better off with the i3-3225 without gfx card with intel 4000 and a h77 mobo with dvi and hdmi, if he plans to play some games like far cry 3, battlefield 3, assassins creed, then he need a better card(7850 or 660 gtx) or that one for lower resolutions.

Wow, thanks for the quick replies everyone.

Quote:
If your planning to switch latter to a 1080p monitor get the 7850 from AMD or 660 gtx from Nvidia, save some 20$, get the asrock h77m, which is 69.99$, that cpu is not unlocked so you just need a h77 mobo,


djangoringo, thanks for the advice. Choosing the graphics card has so far been the toughest part. I searched around for prices for the 7850 and 660 and, unless I'm mistaken, they put me even more over-budget (even if I do swap my mobo for the asrock h77m (which I did). Also, do you recommend 1 gb or 2gb vram?

Quote:
i would say if the gaming is probably a "no" do not get a GPU at all. Intel has decend graphics processor with HD for movies.


Sorry, I should have been more specific about the gaming I do. I don't play many games right now, but I'd like to build something that's going to last me a number of years and give me the option of playing some of the newer games, even if it is only at low/medium settings. Two games that come to mind are GTA V and Half Life 2 ep. 3 (if it ever comes out). Perhaps I should just wait with the graphics card until I need it?

Quote:
CPU: Intel Core i3-2130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($124.99 @ Computer Valley)


I was seriously considering going with an i3 processor, but opinion around the forums seemed to argue that it's worth paying the extra $$ for an i5 to "future-proof" the build. Any further thoughts on that?

As mentioned in my original post, I don't necessarily need to buy immediately. Do you guys think it's worth waiting to see if prices go down? Is there any new technology looming on the horizon that would bring prices for these things down?

Thanks again.

AMD FX 6300 $140
Asrock extreme3 mb $75
2 x4 gig od 1600Mhz RAM $45
HIS Radeon 7870 $230
Antec ONE gamer case , or HAF 912 , or CM 431 $55
500 watt psu $50
Hard drive $70
DVD drive $18

$683 + windows
You could use the cheaper Zalman case and save

Much better gamer . because of the 7870

Thanks for all the suggestions. Gave me a lot to think about.

For a long term use build what combination of processor, video card and motherboard would you recommend totalling $350-$400? Do I go with an i5 and a nicer mobo that may allow SLI/Xfire in the future and a cheaper 650 ti? Or, do I take Djangoringo's suggestion of the i3, asrock h77m, and the best video card I can afford with the rest? Or some other combination? Keep in mind that I'm hoping to keep this comp for 4-5 years and only do moderate gaming.

Quote:
AMD FX 6300 $140
Asrock extreme3 mb $75
2 x4 gig od 1600Mhz RAM $45
HIS Radeon 7870 $230
Antec ONE gamer case , or HAF 912 , or CM 431 $55
500 watt psu $50
Hard drive $70
DVD drive $18


I know absolutely nothing about AMD processors. Can anyone tell me how the FX 6300 would compare to the i3 or i5 (hopefully without starting an AMD vs. Intel war), and which one you would recommend?

Outlander, your build looks good but since I have to buy Windows in my $700 budget, it puts me $80 over.


Thanks again.

Best solution

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/xJ3p
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/xJ3p/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/xJ3p/benchmarks/

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/xJ4c
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/xJ4c/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/xJ4c/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Canada Computers)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS5X Performa CPU Cooler ($14.42 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($64.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.79 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($204.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Zalman Z9 ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.48 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Canada Computers)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $735.62
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-15 10:12 EST-0500)

or if u really gotta stick within ur 700$ budget:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xJ55
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xJ55/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xJ55/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS5X Performa CPU Cooler ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Zalman Z9 ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($24.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $679.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-15 10:14 EST-0500)

u mean why over an i5, i think its cost wise, if i chose an i5 for u ud get a lower quality videocard, and i wouldnt want that, and 6core fx is quite good, and alot better than the previous amd fx line,

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/p...

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6396/the-vishera-review-a...

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6396/the-vishera-review-a...

u see for the price u can beat it, :)  better with a better gpu and slightly slower cpu.

also the aftermarket cooler will allow u to overclock nicely and rival a similar intel cpu and beat it :) , also stock coolers are poor in thermal cooling capacities.

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