$1000 Gaming Build

[kazthedark]

Approximate Purchase Date: About a month


Budget Range: $1000 before rebates


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, everything else


Are you buying a monitor: No


Parts to Upgrade: Everything but keyboard and mouse


Do you need to buy OS: Yes


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com


Location: Indianapolis, IN USA


Parts Preferences: No preference


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe


Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments: I'd like to be able to play ARMA II/ Day Z, Battlefield 3, Planetside 2, games like that.


And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I've finally gotten tired of not being able to play any game made in the past year.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[Soda-88]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Toshiba 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($117.85 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($244.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $921.77
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-10 15:52 EST-0500)

Pick your own case. Also I'd suggest getting cheapest 120/128GB SSD to have OS and most frequently used applications/played games on - any SSD would do a hell of a lot better than a HDD, especially if it's just a single HDD.

 

[Praxeology]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Inwin Fanqua ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ 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) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1027.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-10 16:25 EST-0500)

This will play much better on the games you mentioned. You definitely want an nvidia gpu for your games.

Build Options:

Drop down to a MSI 660 vs the 660 Ti, fps difference 5-20 depending on the game; Get a much cheaper case with bad cooling, that case is best bang for buck with a 4 fan system, and a 660 to try and fit an SSD; My recommendation is leave as is, and splurge for an SSD now, or at a later date.

 

[boulbox]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99X EVO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data XPG SX900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Toshiba 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($78.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Level 10 GTS Snow Edition (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1025.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-10 16:35 EST-0500)

i added an SSD for faster booting of course you can take it out to get a aftermarket cooler but you do not need it unless you want to get past 4.0GHz(stock can actually make it go to 4GHz fairly easy)

reason with going with AMD build instead of intel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4et7kDGSRfc

and AMD getting much better performance on Arma 2 at 1080p and 1440p resolutions

 

[EzioAs]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($53.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($70.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1029.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-11 00:02 EST-0500)

 

[TimeLass]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/CQhz

 

[cball1311]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($132.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.48 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($65.99 @ Compuvest)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Raidmax Super Hurricane (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($30.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1033.34
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-11 11:08 EST-0500)

This is an overclocking setup with future SLI capability.

 

[boulbox]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($132.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.48 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($65.99 @ Compuvest)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Raidmax Super Hurricane (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($30.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1033.34
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-11 11:08 EST-0500)

This is an overclocking setup with future SLI capability.

found out that the hyper 212 evo is not much of an upgrade over the AMD stock cooler because the AMD stock cooler is much better than intels. Get this one instead
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-cpu-cooler-cnps9900maxb
or
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xigmatek-cpu-cooler-darkknightiisd1283nighthawkedition

 

[cball1311]

I think that it is great for moderate overclocks. Easily can reach 4.5GHz (probably higher). Can't do that with stock cooler.

 

[burritobob]

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.66 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($244.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $981.55
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Fastest possible for gaming @ that price point.

EDIT: Forgot the Optical Drive
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $997.53

 

[masterman467]

Has toms gone insane? not one i5/670 in here?

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.29 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($349.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $930.20

 

[EzioAs]

I sometimes question people's choices to put higher wattage CX series in the build. Personally, I would only go as high as the CX500. There's a reason why they're so cheap, they are low-end units after all (but people will buy cheap 600/750w units, especially with the corsair name on it.)