$700 Build Recommendation

[justinx01]

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: Within a week or less.

Budget Range: $700 (I MAY can stretch it a bit by like $10-$20 if there is a substantial performance boost but please do try to keep it at $700. )


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Web Surfing, Movies, etc.

Are you buying a monitor: No.


Parts to Upgrade: (e.g.: CPU, mobo, RAM) Everything except monitor, keyboard, and mouse.


Do you need to buy OS: No as I have a copy of Windows 7 Professional 64 bit.


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg. (Prefer to just get everything from one site.)

Location: City, State/Region, Country - NC, USA

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: Doesn't matter except for CPU which I want is Intel.


Overclocking: No.


SLI or Crossfire: No.


Your Monitor Resolution: 1920×1080

Additional Comments: Prefer a motherboard with integrated WI-FI as I do utilize a cable modem and a Linksys WRT54G V7 router. Although if there isn't one to recommend, it can be left off.


And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Basically just wish to have a gaming PC. Also prefer having a desktop PC overall.

 

[mikerockett]

No mobo wi-fi but i included a wireless PCI card 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 ($57.99 @ Mac Mall)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($214.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N150PCx 802.11b/g/n PCI Wi-Fi Adapter ($16.89 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($52.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($18.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $671.78
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-13 11:47 EST-0500)

 

[Onus]

While I am personally not a fan of MSI motherboards (preferring Asus or Gigabyte), really any comments I'd make about MikeRockett's build would be niggling. That will be a nice machine.
Hmmm, check the wireless adapter though, that one might be a little slow, but I'm not sure.

Here were my thoughts on the TP-Link WDN3800 I reviewed recently:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704162

Pros: Painless installation. Not in Windows 7's driver database, but the instructions are clear on installing the driver.
Very fast and comprehensive identification of wireless networks. I discovered five wireless networks I did not even know were in my area, and the houses here are NOT adjacent. Connection to mine was near instantaneous; same after reboots.
Speeds same as wired for downloads and uploads: 33.3 Mbps down, 4.68 up. USB and cheap PCI adapters range around 14.5-18Mbps down, so that's roughly double the throughput. My own connection goes through two interior walls.
Physically very small. Does not get notably hot in use.

Cons: Ping time 15ms vs. 5ms for a wired connection. I don't think this is worth knocking of an egg, because I know this varies heavily in actual use (e.g. gaming, where double-digit pings are common).

Other Thoughts: As other reviewers have suggested, this is so small that it looks like it could have included a low-profile bracket. I don't have a low-profile system to see if the antennas are close enough together to fit, but if they are, it's nothing that couldn't be modded.
Price is higher than other adapters, but you're also getting more / better so I did not list that as a con. It is definitely worth the price if you download or stream a lot; if you're looking for a good, easy adapter, get this one.
-----------
It's a $35 adapter, but if you want wireless for games, it will be money well spent.

 

[justinx01]

That's not a bad price for the adapter at all. Although, yeah, it'll be mainly used for gaming. I get 15 down/1 up so it shouldn't be a problem with it.

@mikerockett

Kinda wanted everything from Newegg and I don't live near a Microcenter.

 

[loops]

1

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Item #: N82E16827135204
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$17.99
1

NZXT Source 210 S210-001 Black “Aluminum Brush / Plastic” ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811146075
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$39.99
1

Western Digital WD Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822136769
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$20.00 Instant


$79.99
$59.99
1

Ultra Thin High Performance HDMI® Cable with RedMere® Technology 6 ft. (1.8m)
Item #: N82E16882422052
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$13.99 Saving


$13.99
$0.00
1

PowerColor PCS+ AX7870 2GBD5-2DHPPV3E Radeon HD 7870 MYST. Edition (Tahiti LE) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP ...
Item #: N82E16814131484
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy


$239.99
1

AMD Gift coupon: Bioshock Inf. + Tomb Raider
Item #: N82E16800995146
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$149.99 Saving


$149.99
$0.00
1

Rosewill Green Series RG630-S12 630W Continuous @40°C,80 PLUS Certified, Single 12V Rail, Active PFC "Compatible with Core ...
Item #: N82E16817182200
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$30.00 Instant


$89.99
$59.99
1

Kingston HyperX XMP Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 Desktop Memory Model KHX16C9B1RK2/8X
Item #: N82E16820104339
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy


$38.99
1

ASRock Z77 Pro3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813157297
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$5.00 Instant


$94.99
$89.99
1

Intel Core i5-3350P Ivy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.3GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 69W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80637i53350P
Item #: N82E16819116782
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy


$179.99
Subtotal: $726.92

I'd find a way to go wired due to lag you get from wifi. You could sell the game that come with this build and get an adapter as you need. As for this build you get an i5 and a 7950 LE gpu...

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/tahiti-le-7870-7930-benchmark,3401-3.html

 

[justinx01]

That looks good. Don't need the HDMI cable as I have a couple here that work fine.

EDIT

Sorry for double-post. Site lagged "Temporarily down."

Anyone else wanna make a recommendation?

 

[loops]

That looks good. Don't need the HDMI cable as I have a couple here that work fine.

its free so...

 

[justinx01]

Ah, i see now. A free one doesn't hurt. :lol: