New Build Advice

[vigy]

Hi. I don't have a lot of computer building experience. I've built two in the past with assistance, but nothing in the last five years. Putting one together isn't an issue. It's picking the best parts. I used part picker to look at reviews and pricing while verifying compatability. Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within a month

Budget Range: (e.g.: 300-400) Before / After Rebates; Before / After Shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming - WoW, dvd, streaming video

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg or amazon

Location: Buffalo, NY

Parts Preferences: Intel

Overclocking: Maybe to No. No current experience. Not required, but may dabble when I have time to research.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Your Monitor Resolution: Don't know. Getting a decent free one from relatives.

Additional Comments: World of warcraft and similar titles.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Old computer is 7 years old, but will still use it as a second computer for browsing the internet.

Link to build

Spoiler

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LfsE

 

[tenaciousk]

That is a very hard budget to swing with an OS pretty much impossible for gaming, unless maybe you went with a apu build but that would be amd.

and im still not sure its going to be under 400.

 

[tenaciousk]

You could build something like this with 400 that is intel, and then add a gpu later.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G850 2.9GHz Dual-Core Processor ($74.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($30.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Apex PC-389-C ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $403.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-21 21:29 EDT-0400)

I will try to make an alternative apu build, and see how it compares.
also you would have to convert the win 7 to usb to install.

 

[tenaciousk]

This is also, about the closest you will get right now with an apu build, but with this build the integrated graphics is much stronger then the intel build. would be able to run WoW.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A8-5600K 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($108.78 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75M-DGS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Apex PC-389-C ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $443.68
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-21 21:34 EDT-0400)

 

[properbuilds]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N180UBE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($20.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ Newegg)
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: $1045.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Hi, that rosewill psu isn't that good, the xfx 550 core edition is better, the fractal case is also better for less, if you just play wow, a 660 gtx will do the trick on max settings.
I recommend getting a ssd, this includes ssd

 

[tenaciousk]

Dont you have a budget range of 300-400?

 

[properbuilds]

Hi, the parts that he listed is no way near that, did you checked his link to the build, the 300-400 is just a copy paste of the guide.

Link to build

Spoiler

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LfsE

 

[vigy]

sorry. I missed editing that. I don't have a budget of 3-400. that part was in the original copy and paste from the sticky. I have about 800 to 1100. I built this from the website. I figure this is better than the first option, which is the dell 8500 from bjs.com.

 

[tenaciousk]

Hi, the parts that he listed is no way near that, did you checked his link to the build, the 300-400 is just a copy paste of the guide.

Link to build

Spoiler

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LfsE

Yeah, i see now..my bad. lol..

 

[vigy]

Any huge difference between Asus SABERTOOTH Z77 ATX LGA1155 and Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155? Aside from expandability, would I really notice the difference in games? I'm not planning on really adding more than one additional 7200 rpm caviar black HD in the future. The build I have pretty much set on is this, but I'm debating on what to do for the mobo.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LxAY
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LxAY/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LxAY/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.51 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($295.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($63.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional Gold 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $971.40
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-23 18:20 EDT-0400)

 

[properbuilds]

Hi, any reason to get a 750W psu for that system ?
Even with two 660 ti in SLI, a quality 650W psu will do the trick, i would change the ssd, that one is rather slow with triple-level cell nand, as of it now, the corsair 300R has a better value
Also if do plan to overclock, you'll be needing an aftermarket cooler, this is what i would do :


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($47.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Plextor M5S Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($102.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($260.91 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $937.81
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

If you do plan to add another 660 ti in the future there's this -> http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-ss750am

It's more than required and it's at a good price

 

[vigy]

The 750w psu was based on a recommendation from a friend. When I was reviewing it over the last day I was debating between the 750w one listed and the 550w one you listed.

I did notice today that the 300r went on sale, but the rest of the parts increased in price a little, so I'm waiting for the price to drop down some. I wasn't planning on overclocking it right now and I'm getting mixed recommendations on whether or not the stock cooler with the cpu would be good enough even without overclocking. I figured in the future I could always upgrade to that cpu cooler or a small water cooling system like the corsair h60 along with additional case fans.

Any reason to suggest the galaxy video card over the evga one? the reviews on newegg make it seem like it's riddled with game freeze problems.

 

[properbuilds]

The galaxy is fine, it has a good cooling system with two fans and it's cheaper, though the evga is also a good one.
It's up to you if you need the aftermarket cooler, i would buy it now if you do plan to overclock, and assemble it when you'll do the rest, if you plan to add later, you'll probably need to take the motherboard out in order to install the cooler.
Also the hyper 212 evo will give about the same results in cooling performance as the h60 for less money, less noise levels and without risks of leaks.
The only thing that i see that's changed in the build that i suggested is the ssd, but not by much.