Around a $1200 Budget for Gaming PC

anbu7elite

Honorable
Mar 6, 2013
42
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10,535
I have around a $1200 Budget for a new Gaming PC, what should I build for the best bang for my buck?
I developed this build but it is far too expensive,
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/HWNH
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/HWNH/by_mercha…
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/HWNH/benchmark…

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: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.48 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($229.89 @ Mac Mall)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($389.99 @ Newegg)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DGX 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card ($39.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 300R Windowed ATX Mid Tower Case ($98.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($18.98 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Asus VS248H-P 24.0" Monitor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm QuickFire TK Wired Gaming Keyboard ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Wired Optical Mouse ($59.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1592.23
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-06 14:30 EST-0500)

I do not need speakers and I like the blue LED for gaming keyboard and mice
 

properbuilds

Honorable
Jan 13, 2013
432
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10,810
Hi, sorry, didn't see it was for 1200$.

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 ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($47.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($70.90 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($339.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: AOC e2351F 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($137.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($64.98 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G400 Wired Optical Mouse ($34.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1189.75
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

If you don't plan to overclock the cpu or just mildly, the i5-3470 can go up to 4 ghz.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($84.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($47.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($70.90 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($369.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($68.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: AOC e2351F 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($137.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($64.98 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G400 Wired Optical Mouse ($34.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1106.31
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
 
Solution

CaptainTom

Honorable
May 3, 2012
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11,960


Get a 7970 instead. It is stronger, comes with free games, and has an extra GB of Vram for future use...
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator


Drop the sound card - you don't need that either. Make sure the RAM is low profile. And I would recommend skipping the expensive peripherals if you don't need them right away - you can always get good ones later.

Also the Gigabyte Windforce 3X is a better cooling solution than the EVGA card. Otherwise that's a really solid build there.
 

phx08

Honorable
Feb 23, 2013
140
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10,690
I agree with the above, drop the sound card (don't really need it). You can get a motherboard like the Asus V Formula that has some pretty rockin' sound qualities (but it is a lot more than the one you have listed).

I would also go for the gigabyte 670 2g instead of the EVGA one (if you're looking for a quieter card)
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator


But really why pay that kind of money for a motherboard if you're going to swap it out in 2 - 3 years? Makes no sense to me.