Budget Gaming Build with $960 left to spare

[katsopolis]

Approximate Purchase Date: Would like all components bought within a month

Budget Range: $960 after taxes/shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming and surfing the internet

Are you buying a monitor: Already bought a new one, so no.

Parts to Upgrade: Everything besides case, power supply, keyboard and mouse will need to be new

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Willing to buy from whatever reputable website, but prefer Amazon and Newegg.

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU

Overclocking: Not right away (so I don’t need a CPU cooler now), willing to try it in the future

SLI or Crossfire: Not right away, maybe in the future, so I’d like that option available to me

Your Monitor Resolution: New monitor bought earlier recommended resolution is 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Mainly building this because my current PC is old and slow, and would like to get into PC gaming, mainly for ARMA III (would like to play this game on high settings). I have zero prior experience building a PC on my own or buying PC components. I’ve done some research and gotten some tips from friends, but am far from an expert.

I’ve already bought:

COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Asus VH236H
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

I set myself a budget of $1200 after rebates, taxes, and shipping when I started shopping, so I have $960 left to spare for the remaining components. I’d like to have all components bought within a month, so if you can recommend me a couple options of a certain component (e.g. this or that graphics card would work great for you), I’ll watch for them to hit a good price on pcpartspicker. This is what I’ve done with the monitor, power supply, and case.


Here is what I got so far:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($41.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($194.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 750W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($94.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($149.00 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1128.86
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 09:13 EST-0500)


Thanks for your help!

 

[cball1311]

Looks great to me. The only thing that I would say is that for the processor, that deal at microcenter is in-store pickup only. If you live near one, definitely take the time to go and get it. If not, expect to pay around $219 for the CPU which is still under your budget.

 

[katsopolis]

That's really the part that I'm waiting for a bit of a price drop. According to the price history, it has been $170 before. I wonder if that was at microcenter.

 

[EasyTransfer]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Constellation ES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($376.48 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($26.59 @ Compuvest)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $846.02
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 10:10 EST-0500)

 

[EasyTransfer]

now with ssd

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Constellation ES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Storage: Intel 520 Series Cherryville 60GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($81.68 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($376.48 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($26.59 @ Compuvest)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $927.70
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 10:11 EST-0500)

 

[katsopolis]

Definitely want a SSD as I've read it really helps with ARMA.

 

[cball1311]

Your original build is much better. Here is the breakdown without the parts that you already own. I did up the GPU to the 7870. Get it if you can. You can OC it to get comparable performance to that of the 7950. The 830 series is much better for the price and 128-256GB is the sweetspot for performance (usually).

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($41.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($224.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $904.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 10:21 EST-0500)

Here are some benchmarks 7870 vs 7950
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/548?vs=550

and some benchmarks using Unigine Heaven
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7850_HD_7870/23.html

 

[EasyTransfer]

Definitely want a SSD as I've read it really helps with ARMA.

trust me this is a beast of a pc.

 

[katsopolis]

Your original build is much better. Here is the breakdown without the parts that you already own. I did up the GPU to the 7870. Get it if you can. You can OC it to get comparable performance to that of the 7950. The 830 series is much better for the price and 128-256GB is the sweetspot for performance (usually).


Here are some benchmarks 7870 vs 7950
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/548?vs=550

and some benchmarks using Unigine Heaven
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7850_HD_7870/23.html

Cool. I've been thinking about upping the GPU and if I continue to find good deals, I see no reason why not to spend the money I'm saving there.

 

[cball1311]

I just noticed that you have 1333 RAM. You should just up that to 1600 for the same price. Make sure it is low profile so when you add your cooler later, it will clear the RAM. Here is what I suggest.

Memory: Kingston XMP Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($42.98 @ Outlet PC)

 

[katsopolis]

I get a compatibility error with that:

Kingston XMP Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory operating voltage of 1.65V exceeds Intel Ivy Bridge CPU recommended maximum of 1.5V.

 

[cball1311]

You are correct. Sorry about that. Don't know what's wrong with me today. This one will be good too.

Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($42.98 @ Amazon)

 

[katsopolis]

What exactly does going from 1333 to 1600 do?

 

[cball1311]

There is a little bit of a performance increase with 1600MHz (CAS 9 timing) over 1333 MHz. For the same price, why not, right?

 

[katsopolis]

What if I could get this $37?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104231&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Is 1600 worth $6 (I feel cheap saying that, lol).

EDIT: Looks like that Patriot RAM was $38 for a long time. Will wait for it to drop again.

 

[cball1311]

It is up to you, the difference would probably less than what the naked eye could determine. You would only see the performance gain in benchmarks. Usually the standard, now a days, is 1600MHz just because it is about the same price as 1333MHz.

 

[katsopolis]

Sounds good. I'll go with 1600 then.

How does this video card compare to the one you have above. It is $200 right now.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/his-video-card-h787q2g2m

 

[EasyTransfer]

Sounds good. I'll go with 1600 then.

How does this video card compare to the one you have above. It is $200 right now.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/his-video-card-h787q2g2m

7950 is worth the price increase big difference here:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/548?vs=550

 

[cball1311]

7950 is worth the price increase big difference here:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/548?vs=550

You can easily get close to the 7950 on any of those benchmarks. Save the cash and get the 7870. The biggest gap was in Crysis Warhead and that was only 20%. On that particular game, you could easily get half of that with the proper OC on the 7870. Plus, I already showed these benchmarks earlier in the post.

 

[katsopolis]

The price jump up to a 7950 is pretty significant. Let's not forget I originally wanted the 7850. I already got talked up once today,

cball, should I pull the trigger on that video card I posted above?

 

[iceclock]

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Mushkin Chronos 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: LG E2211T-BN 22.0" Monitor ($129.46 @ Compuvest)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1095.33
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 16:17 EST-0500)

Base Total: $1170.34
Promo Discounts: -$10.00
Mail-in Rebates: -$40.00
Shipping: $4.99
Total: $1125.33

 

[cball1311]

The price jump up to a 7950 is pretty significant. Let's not forget I originally wanted the 7850. I already got talked up once today,

cball, should I pull the trigger on that video card I posted above?

Sure thing. I have not had any problems with HIS cards. You will be satisfied for sure

 

[iceclock]

his has existed since a while theyve got solid products.

 

[katsopolis]

So this HIS card is almost a foot long. I'll have to remove a hard drive bay to get it to fit. Any harm in having to do that?

 

[iceclock]

nope