Best gaming build? $700 ish US budget. Micro ATX / ITX

[jolala]

Hey there. So not only did I wreck my car, but the desktop I was transporting in the back seat perished as well lol. I've got about $700 US to build a new one. It has to be either Micro ATX or ITX due to the fact I'm constantly transporting it. I don't care if its AMD or Intel. I know Intel has a lot more support for the smaller form factors.

I would also prefer this be done on Newegg as much as possible. Its been my experience that when I order from multiple sites at once, the reduction in cost gets negated by the shipping charges. I can get shipping 100% free on Newegg.

And I do realize that $700 is a bit of a long shot with what I'm asking be included, thats just my goal. It doesn't have to be exact.


Things I still have :

1 TB HDD ( Ideally would like to add a SDD for OS and 1-2 games )

Monitor x 2


Things I'd like :

Prefer the case be either the Silverstone PS07B if matx, or BitFenix Prodigy White if ITX (I realize ITX costs more, bonus points if anyone can pull it off)

A 7850 intake / exhaust video card that is dual monitor capable. ( I usually have a 2nd monitor hooked up for netflix and such )

16 GB ram ( I often run several virtual machines and need the extra ram )

 

[zared619]

This is the best I can do. There is no way you can get two monitors in there. 1 if you remove the SSD, but not two. I checked NewEgg's prices and it would be $779 to get everything from NewEgg.
Here it is. If you have any questions, just ask.

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

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($133.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 960GM/U3S3 FX Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($61.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($53.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $704.60
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-30 14:09 EST-0500)

 

[zeriasis]

You can drop that price about $65 cause you said you already had the HDD.

 

[jolala]

This is the best I can do. There is no way you can get two monitors in there.

I already have the two monitors lol. I just meant that the video card needs to support dual DVI.

I also already have the 1 TB storage drive so I can remove that.

I can't really use the parts builder because I do need to order this all via Newegg though to be able to pay for it all at once lol. I'll see if I can't locate some of that stuff on Newegg to check prices.

 

[zared619]

Oh, my bad.

You can click on the links I have and follow them to the NewEgg and Amazon links.

 

[cball1311]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($225.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $635.83
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-30 14:35 EST-0500)

Everything has free shipping except the video card ($7.99).

 

[jolala]

I also just realized I meant the PS07B case lol. Doesn't matter really. I'll check these things out on newegg and see how the prices compare.

It isn't just a matter of shipping costs, its that I have to use a newegg card otherwise wait about a month to get enough money to buy it all lol.

 

[cball1311]

all from newegg.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $644.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-30 14:44 EST-0500)

 

[Onus]

I like cball's last build, with one change. The Corsair V2 Builder is not a great PSU; it was made by CWT using some inferior Samxon capacitors from a line known to experience early failure. It wouldn't be that terrible, but you're going for small, and small cases typically have a harder time dealing with heat. Heat is what kills capacitors, so the PSU choice becomes more important. Check out the Seasonic G-550; in a small case, you'll appreciate that it's modular.
DEFINITELY get that HIS graphics card; it exhausts its heat, and that is a really big deal. They do have a HD7850 version of it if you need to lower the cost some when you get the better PSU.

 

[jolala]

I like cball's last build, with one change. The Corsair V2 Builder is not a great PSU; it was made by CWT using some inferior Samxon capacitors from a line known to experience early failure. It wouldn't be that terrible, but you're going for small, and small cases typically have a harder time dealing with heat. Heat is what kills capacitors, so the PSU choice becomes more important. Check out the Seasonic G-550; in a small case, you'll appreciate that it's modular.
DEFINITELY get that HIS graphics card; it exhausts its heat, and that is a really big deal. They do have a HD7850 version of it if you need to lower the cost some when you get the better PSU.

I'm actually using the Silverstone PS07B case which everyone seems to agree is great for cooling, but I did check out other power supplies just for the sake of going full modular.

My only issue with the HIS card - which I do really like - is that it only has 1 DVI port. I almost always use a 2nd monitor when I am at home. I've got 2x 23" monitors and it would be a shame to not be able to use one of them. Unless there is such a thing as an HDMI to DVI adaptor? ...actually there probably is isn't there lol.


I'm messing around with stuff using that build. I actually found a different brand of memory @ 1866 with a $20 instant rebate + $20 mail in rebate that makes it cheaper as well.


Appreciate the help and any more suggestions are welcome

 

[jolala]

Something like this will work to let me plug my second monitor in to the HIS card right??

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812270288

 

[cball1311]

I think that we should take onus' advice and change out the PSU. Here is a PC Power & Cooling PSU, even though pricier, it will be more reliable, it is modular, and you can get it from newegg. You will still be under $700.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703035

 

[jolala]

I think that we should take onus' advice and change out the PSU. Here is a PC Power & Cooling PSU, even though pricier, it will be more reliable, it is modular, and you can get it from newegg. You will still be under $700.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703035

Yea I'm checking on a few psu's. I get deals on newegg due to having the credit card also so some of the $115 power supplies are like 85 bucks. The HIS 7870 also with my card costs the same as the 7850 so I grabbed that

I had one other question though...

Since I already have the 1 TB storage drive, would I maybe be better off going with a cheaper AMD quad core and getting a SSD for the OS? Or is it not worth it for the loss in performance?


I don't really know how much the HDD speed comes into play as far as games go.


EDIT: Also, with my card the i5-3550P is only 160. Not sure what the performance difference is compared to the 3470.

 

[Onus]

In games, the SSD may decrease level load times (possibly significantly), but will not affect FPS.
How important level load times depends on the game. I've seen tales of people getting killed because they got shot during loading, before they could act, but I don't know how common that is.
If you want a SSD, get at least 120GB (111GB formatted), else you'll probably run out of space and have to waste time shuffling things around.