First Real Build. $600-800. Have Rough Idea..Help?!

ifeightner

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Feb 3, 2013
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10,510
Hey everyone!
I am going to be building my first from scratch computer.
I am pretty tech savvy, but unfirtunately, have never had the funds to build my own.
Times have changed.
Here's what I know:

Build: ASAP

USE: GAMING! And using things like ProTools and Ableton Live (music production)

Budget $600-$800(TOPS, would like around 500-600)
No monitor needed
No OS needed
No keyboard/mouse needed

I would like to build this guy around the INTEL 3570 IVY BRIDGE cpu (not the K version, as I don't REALLY want to overclock it).
I was also looking at the ASRock Z77 EXTREME4 LGA1155 mobo, as this seems to be very popular on these forums.

My primary Goal is to make a pc that CAN BE UPGRADED in the future. I don't need a HUGE, EXPENSIVE GPU right now; that can be upgraded in the future. But maybe a cheap one that can play some games from the last ten years decently would be nice.
Once again, I plan to UPGRADE THIS PC OVER TIME.
Apart from that, I I WILL NEED an HDD, I have a laptop one but I think I would like something around 1tb.

Any suggestions on cool cases? I just want something with good airflow really.
And the PSU, I don't need to be blowing tons of money on my electric bill, as I already have 2 monitors.

Hey, guys and gals, thanks for looking.
And any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again!
 

mikerockett

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Jan 16, 2012
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If you're not going to overclock you can drop to the 3470 with hardly any performance difference. You also don't need the Z77 mobo if not over clocking. Here's a build for you.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: MSI B75MA-E33 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($207.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($57.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $640.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-03 15:50 EST-0500)
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator


Yeah the 3570K alone would take up 1/2 the budget. On the above build - the sound card is a wasted purchase, you don't need one.

Realistically you're looking at something like this on a $700 budget:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($188.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $686.45
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-03 15:33 EST-0500)

 

ifeightner

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Feb 3, 2013
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10,510
Awesome! I had the 3570 in mind only because people seemed to be raving about it. Like I said, I don't want to overclock, so if I don't need it AND can save some money, schweeet! Thanks for the replies so far!
And I am a big fan of that Corsair Carbide 200 case..
 

mikerockett

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Jan 16, 2012
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For the majority of cases i'd agree with you, but as the OP has said he does music production a sound card is useful in this build.
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator


OK point taken there but a sound card that low end isn't really better than the built in audio, if the OP wants any decent one they would have to pay a bit more.
 

mikerockett

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Jan 16, 2012
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To be honest im mostly with you on this one, i can't tell the difference between on board and the highest end of sound cards but i've been told by lots of audiophiles there is noticeable difference, even on a relatively cheap sound card like this.

Just thought it would be handy to include, if the OP is used to music production he can let us know if a sound card is necessary and the quality hes after?

Edit: Looks like i was beaten to it :)
 

ifeightner

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Feb 3, 2013
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10,510
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. As far the soundcard is concerned; that can come later. I plan on buying a SBZ card in a month or two. I have about 700 I can spend RIGHT NOW, but in the coming months will have more. However, I NEED THIS PC NOW, as my current one is KAPUT!
Thanks again everyone
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator


I can tell the difference between like a $10 tin can set of speakers and a $2000 top of the line model, but yeah for the most part it's all about the output rather than the input.

I think I am aiming at this mobo: ASRock H77M LGA 1155, only because the ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX seems to have quite a few DOA reports....I don't wanna risk it.

Store reviews are mostly to be taken with a large grain of salt - if you look at the DOA reports, 1/2 the ones never tell you what they were returned for and the other half could easily be prevented with a few precautions prior to installation. There's no perfect motherboard out there - even the highest end ones aren't immune to DOAs.
 

ifeightner

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Feb 3, 2013
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As far as the sound and speakers go; to the average human ear, by the time you are in your late 30's to mid 40s, you would not be able to discern the minute details that someone around their mid 20's would, due to damage being done to the ear over time (I'm not saying that every 40 year old is deaf, but you may be surprised by how much damage one's ears take over the years).
Digital is always best (though I love the analog sound provided by my turntable and vinyl records!), but a decent sound card and nice studio monitors (speakers in this case, not displays) will almost always be a major improvement over just plugging a 3.5mm cable into your motherboard output (I am going off of my ancient Dell E1505).
I don't know what modern day motherboard audio sounds like, and am excited to get into this!
 

mikerockett

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Jan 16, 2012
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Well im 25 and my hearings that of a 70 year old i think :lol:

I would say lately on board sound is of excellent quality, most mobo's will have at least 5.1 output and a digital toslink or coaxial, sometimes both.

On my rig i use a toslink digital out into my home cinema system and i think the sound is great.
 

ifeightner

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Feb 3, 2013
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That is awesome! I can't wait to put it all together. I am 24 and I would agree, my hearing is for s##t as well!