Extreme Build Challenge

[keane]

Your Task: To build the best possible gaming desktop for under $1100 (no peripherals)

Your tools: www.newegg.com www.ibuypower.com www.tigerdirect.com

Rules: The PC can be either Pre-built or parts for home assembly.

Be sure to include links to your build, and reasons for certain choices.

 

[casper1973]

Do you need a copy of Windows included and if so, which one? 7/8 home/pro etc

 

[keane]

Do you need a copy of Windows included and if so, which one? 7/8 home/pro etc

An operating system is not necessary.

 

[TheBigTroll]

tigerdirect always has the worst prices and newegg 75% of the time doesnt have the best prices. ibuy power is just out of the question

 

[cball1311]

Is a monitor part of the peripherals?

 

[SHORYUKEN]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($80.49 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Microcenter)
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)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($102.97 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill Stallion 500W ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1073.37
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-14 20:28 EST-0500)

Just $7 above your budget...

Reasons:

CPU: Amazing gaming CPU by intel. Great overclocker.
CPU Cooler: Helps overclock to a good extent.
MoBo: All around get MoBo and a good amount of basic, but good features.
RAM: Love it. Nice gaming RAM. Although it is high profile...
HDD: Media friendly storage.
SSD: Nice fast SSD.
Card: Awesome card. Nice benchmarks too.
Tower: Cool case and is recommended by a lot of people.
PSU: Very snazzy looking, cheap and powerful.

 

[casper1973]

Well I made this build the other week and it came to just under 1100 but restricting it to those websites brings it about $50 over

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($227.28 @ TigerDirect)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($132.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vector Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($304.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($88.89 @ TigerDirect)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($80.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1157.63
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)


Parts Breakdown

- i5-3570k is what most people will suggest to you. Many games can't utilise more than 4 cores so an i7 provides very little benefit.

- Not sure if you plan to overclock? But if so the Hyper 212 EVO is cheap and effective. If you plan to go 4.5GHz+ then you need something better.

- Asus always make good motherboards. Has everything you need... SLI, Crossfire, USB3, SATA 6GB ports etc

- 8GB RAM is generally the standard for a gaming machine. Any more provides little benefit.

- SSD doesn't benefit gaming much but they are great for everything else. OCZ Vector 4 is reliable, fast and well priced.

- GPU... 50:50 with the 660ti really. Similar price, similar performance.

- Case imo is something you have to pick yourself. I personally love the Corsair Carbide series so threw that in just to make up the numbers.

- A good power supply is essential. And by good I don't just mean high wattage... I mean quality.

 

[realchaos]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

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 ($32.97 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($295.66 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1106.54
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-15 14:56 EST-0500)

$60 over since it's restricted to newegg and tigerdirect, but this is pretty solid.
CPU: Most popular cpu on the market
CPU Cooler: Best cooler for price
Motherboard: Has everything you'll need
Memory: Standard 8gb for gaming
HDD: 1tb cavier black is one of the best 1tb
SSD: Fast booting, good price, Samsung has one of the best SSDs
GPU: 7950 will max out every game on ultra with decent frames. Sapphire is a good brand and easily overclockable
Case: Good cable management, comes with nice fans with LED on/off for the front 200m fan
PSU: Corsair is a trustable brand, 650w is enough unless your planning to crossfire in the future
Optical Drive: Cheapest one

 

[cball1311]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data XPG SX900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($384.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Line ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1097.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-16 11:56 EST-0500)

Looks like the only one with a 7970 and under budget.