Looking for an easily upgradable PC

[chaosclown17]

I was looking to buy a PC that I could purchase parts for and upgrade as I went along. It doesn't have to be any good out of the box. Just something that is going to be easy for me to upgrade.

Approximate Purchase Date: Unknown

Budget Range: 600-700

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming

Are you buying a monitor: All ready own one



Parts to Upgrade: All of them

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: None

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: I prefer Nvidia. But other than that, nothing.

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Your Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050

Additional Comments: Just something I can upgrade easily. I would really like to find something that is spacious. Hopefully something I won't have to do a whole lot physically to upgrade. Also, since I am going to be using this for gaming I would need some tips on cooling systems.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Just interested in working with hardware. Would like to see how I do.

 

[Proximon]

OK so you are looking for a strong foundation. I imagine you want some gaming ability up front

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($82.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.23 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $700.68
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-27 18:40 EDT-0400)

 

[Proximon]

Here I re-worked it a bit. Better case and no OS

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($82.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.23 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($97.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $638.69
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-27 18:50 EDT-0400)

 

[chaosclown17]

Thanks for your answer Proximon. But I was looking for something that all ready had all its components. Namely motherboard and wiring. That I could just upgrade. Wasn't looking for GPU, CPU, Hard-drive, and all that good stuff just yet.

I was also hoping it would come with a good cooling system. But that wasn't a main concern.

 

[Proximon]

I understand that what you are saying makes sense to you, but you are wrong. If you do happen to get just those parts pre-assembled, it's very likely going to be JUNK.

You want to get into hardware, so start learning. Start with the power supply. There is a good guide linked in my signature.

Assembling those three parts, motherboard, case, and PSU, is a matter of 30 minutes. Maybe 45 minutes for a beginner. You will need a screwdriver.

The listed case has good cooling. What you are looking for would not normally cost 700 dollars.

If we don't know what CPU you are going to buy, how are we supposed to choose the motherboard?

 

[chaosclown17]

I see what you are saying. But what I am saying is that I am OK with it being complete and total junk. As long as it is up-gradable. Basically something cheap that I could put good parts in.

 

[Proximon]

You can't buy a cheap computer that is upgradeable, not in the way that you mean.

You would end up replacing everything.

Perhaps a custom computer could be created....

I just configured this at Cyberpower
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/

*BASE_PRICE: [+739]
CAS: Thermaltake Commander Mid-Tower Gaming Case (Black Color)
CD: 24X Double Layer Dual Format DVD+-R/+-RW + CD-R/RW Drive (BLACK COLOR)
CPU: Intel® Core™ i3-3220 3.30 GHz 3MB Intel Smart Cache LGA1155 [-104]
FAN: Intel Certified CPU Fan & Heatsink [-20]
HDD: 500GB Western Digital Caviar Blue SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 7200 RPM HDD [-12] (Single Drive)
KEYBOARD: AZZA Multimedia USB Gaming Keyboard
MEMORY: 8GB (4GBx2) DDR3/1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (Corsair or Major Brand)
MOTHERBOARD: [CrossFireX/SLI] ASRock Z77 Extreme4 Intel Z77 Chipset DDR3 ATX Mainboard w/ IRST, Lucid Virtu MVP, XFast Technologies, 7.1 HD Audio, GbLAN, 3x PCIe x16 (2 Gen3, 1 Gen2), 2x PCIe x1 & 2 PCI (All Venom OC Certified) [+59]
MOUSE: AZZA Optical 1600dpi Gaming Mouse with Weight Adjustable Cartridge
OS: Microsoft® Windows 7 Home Premium [+0] (64-bit Edition)
POWERSUPPLY: 500 Watts - Corsair CX500 V2 80 Plus Certified Power Supply [+10]
RUSH: NO; READY TO SHIP IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
SERVICE: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
VIDEO: AMD Radeon HD 7770 1GB 16X PCIe 3.0 Video Card [+45] (Major Brand Powered by AMD)
Total $717

That gives you someplace to start. You can upgrade pretty much anything from there. The PSU might need to be replaced is you upgraded the video card a lot, but it's a good start.

 

[chaosclown17]

I was planning on upgrading everything. Just not the wiring or the cooling system. It seems that the motherboard would have to be upgraded.

 

[chaosclown17]

Bump.

 

[Proximon]

Do not bump your threads please. See the forum rules.

I thought I responded to this already... guess it got lost.

The Cyberpower build I made does everything you need.
It has a motherboard that will support any Ivy Bridge processor you want to buy later.
It has a case that will keep any future system adequately cool, and you will be able to add some fans to it.
It has a power supply that is adequate for any modest upgrade, but not for large and expensive GPUs like a GTX 680... that might need a little more power.

 

[chaosclown17]

Sorry about that. I am used to a different forum. 700-800 is really a last resort type of thing. Honestly if the computer just had ample space, a good cooling system, the wires all in place, and a good motherboard. Just something I can add on to as I go.

 

[Proximon]

If you buy a computer from Dell or HP or pretty much anyone, it will have a case and PSU and motherboard that is only barely good enough for the rest of the system. They don't sell low end systems with cases that would support a high end system... see?

So, you have to use a company that builds custom computers that will let you select the parts you want up front.

Either that, or build it yourself.

OK so here we are, the absolute cheapest you can go and still get a case and good PSU and MB. You go to the Cyberpower website and get into the configurator, and select these parts as you go.

CAS: Rosewill Blackhawk Mid Tower Gaming Case w/ Front USB 3.0, HD Dock & Side Window [+11]
CD: 24X Double Layer Dual Format DVD+-R/+-RW + CD-R/RW Drive (BLACK COLOR)
CPU: Intel® Core™ i3-3220 3.30 GHz 3MB Intel Smart Cache LGA1155 [-116]
FAN: Intel Certified CPU Fan & Heatsink [-20]
HDD: 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD [-16] (Single Hard Drive)
IUSB: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
MEMORY: 8GB (4GBx2) DDR3/1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (Corsair or Major Brand)
MOTHERBOARD: * [CrossFireX] ASUS P8Z77-V LX Intel Z77 Chipset DDR3 ATX Mainboard w/ IRST, Lucid Virtu MVP, 7.1 HD Audio, GbLAN, 2x PCIe x16 (1 Gen3, 1 Gen2), 2x PCIe x1 & 3 PCI (Extreme OC Certified) [-4]
OS: None - FORMAT HARD DRIVE ONLY
POWERSUPPLY: 600 Watts - Corsair CMPSU-600CXV2 Builder Series CX600 V2 80 Plus Certified Power Supply [+33]
RUSH: NO; READY TO SHIP IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
SERVICE: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
VIDEO: AMD Radeon HD 6450 1GB 16X PCIe Video Card (Major Brand Powered by AMD)

PRICE: $593

NOTES
-No operating system included
-Well cooled large case
-Adequate PSU for most future upgrades
-Included graphics card not good enough for most 3D gaming.