Need your opinions/assistance

[eyeage]

Hey guys,

First, let me say that I'm a complete amateur when it comes to "building" a computer. I was considering buying from dell.com/outlet due to the ease of not having to assemble (and potentially ruin) a bunch of computer parts. That said, I'm not afraid of the challenge, so I've done some research. I have two builds I've worked on, and I'd like you guys to look them over. I want to know if the performance would justify the price jump (about $200 between the two), and if there is anything you would change/substitute. Also, I'll need to know what other things I'll need to buy (such as cable packs, tools, etc). I watched a video some time ago that I will re-watch that basically said I just need a screwdriver. I just want to make sure I am calculating everything into the price.

My budget is about $600-$1000 (I'd really rather be closer to the $600, but I'm trying to be flexible as my wife has said $1000 would be fine) These two are $800 and $1000 respectively...

The use of this machine will be to play games, watch videos, type papers, browse the internet (obviously building it for the former). The games I play on PC are primarily MMO types: WoW, FFXI, FFXIV (when 2.0 is released), etc. I generally use my PS3 for FPS.

Also, having a hard time deciding which GPU is better for my purposes so I listed 2 for each, which would you get and why?
On top of all that.. I couldn't even really tell you that all these components would work together... So, a little reassurence there would help!

So here goes nothing, prices are rounded for ease:
$800~

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor $150

MOBO: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard $88

RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory $48

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $70

GPU option 1: PNY GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card $243
GPU option 2: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card $215

Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case $50 (Comes with 3 fans)

PSU: Antec Basiq Plus 550W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply $55

Optical: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer $17

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) $91


$1000~

CPU: Core I5 3570K $219

MOBO: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 $124

RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB $63

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $70

SDD: Crucial V4 128GB 2.5" $70

GPU option 1: XFX 7950 3GB $280
GPU option 2: PNY GTX 670 2GB $280

Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case $50 (Comes with 3 fans)

PSU: Antec Basiq Plus 550W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply $55

Optical: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer $17

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) $91

Thanks for taking the time to help me out.

 

[gussrtk]

I think your second set up is very nice for 1000

I know.. i know choosing more expensive, Just looks a lot better.

But even the 660ti cards are very good for todays games... when you go with 670 it's a little bit more towards future, the prices arnt too bad.. i would take the 670 since core clock is 915mhz


in your second set up you chose an unlocked i5 cpu.. but you did not chose a cooler, (unlocked would allow overclocking, but with stock cooler it aint gonna go over well)
bare minimum for some light~moderate overclocks get the 212 Evo from cooler master someone said it should reach overclock to 4.2ghz with i5 (possible more if lucky) but to get to 4.5ghz you will need a 60$+ cooler






you should take what you can while she allows you xD.......
i did

 

[eyeage]

Woah.. price already changed on the PNY 670... bump the price another $50.. crap