Customizing Gaming Computer Help

[Inna Rokhvarg]

I'm trying to buy new computer that can run games like Far Cry 3, Skyrim. I don't really know much about computers, but I've done some research. I customized this on IBUYPOWER and it'll run me around $880 which is about the max I'm willing to spend. I was wondering if it was a good build and a good price for the build since I'm considering maybe building a tower instead. I might get a SSD later as well. Also, is the motherboard good enough?

Intel B75 Core i5 Configurator
1 x Case ( CoolerMaster HAF 922 Gaming Case - Black )
1 x iBUYPOWER Labs - Internal Expansion ( iBUYPOWER Internal USB Expansion System + Bluetooth & Wireless N Module )
1 x Processor ( Intel® Core™ i5-3570K Processor (4x 3.40GHz/6MB L3 Cache) - Intel Core i5-3570K )
1 x Processor Cooling ( Liquid CPU Cooling System [Intel] - ARC Silent High Performance Fan Upgrade )
1 x Memory ( 8 GB [4 GB X2] DDR3-1600 Memory Module - Corsair or Major Brand )
1 x Video Card ( NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 - 2GB - EVGA Superclocked - Core: 1046MHz - Single Card )
1 x Video Card Brand ( Major Brand Powered by AMD or NVIDIA )
1 x Motherboard ( ASRock B75-DGS )
1 x Power Supply ( 650 Watt -- NZXT HALE82N-SI / 80+ Bronze )
1 x Primary Hard Drive ( 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 32M Cache, 7200 RPM, 6.0Gb/s - Single Drive )
1 x Optical Drive ( 24X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive - Black )
1 x Flash Media Reader / Writer ( 12-In-1 External USB Flash Media Card Reader/Writer )
1 x Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )
1 x Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )

 

[ksham]

Also, is the motherboard good enough?

Do you plan to OC the CPU? If so, then no. If not, I'd get a non-K series CPU.

 

[ssddx]

perhaps you may want to look into building the computer yourself. its more rewarding and you can hand pick components. you also have direct control over everything instead of relying on someone else.

Intel B75 Core i5 Configurator
1 x Case ( CoolerMaster HAF 922 Gaming Case - Black )
---fairly common case choice and should work fine. on a limited budget you could get something cheaper and put more into hardware.
1 x iBUYPOWER Labs - Internal Expansion ( iBUYPOWER Internal USB Expansion System + Bluetooth & Wireless N Module )
---do you really need extra usb ports and bluetooth? typically you will get 4-6 rear ports and at least 2 front ports from the motherboard only.
1 x Processor ( Intel® Core™ i5-3570K Processor (4x 3.40GHz/6MB L3 Cache) - Intel Core i5-3570K )
---if you dont plan on overclocking you dont need a K processor.
1 x Processor Cooling ( Liquid CPU Cooling System [Intel] - ARC Silent High Performance Fan Upgrade )
---if you do not overclock you dont need to spend extra money on this. a cpu comes with a cooler which often works adequate as is.
1 x Memory ( 8 GB [4 GB X2] DDR3-1600 Memory Module - Corsair or Major Brand )
---corsair or mushkin would be my recommendation. 8gb is sufficient.
1 x Video Card ( NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 - 2GB - EVGA Superclocked - Core: 1046MHz - Single Card )
----evga is a good brand for gpu. check your card in a gpu chart to see performance estimates
1 x Video Card Brand ( Major Brand Powered by AMD or NVIDIA )
---hate to know what they mark up these upgrade as..
1 x Motherboard ( ASRock B75-DGS )
---personally i'd suggest a brand like asus, gigabyte or intel but this could work.
1 x Power Supply ( 650 Watt -- NZXT HALE82N-SI / 80+ Bronze )
---go with a corsair or pc power & cooling psu. much more reliable.
1 x Primary Hard Drive ( 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 32M Cache, 7200 RPM, 6.0Gb/s - Single Drive )
---go with a samsung spinpoint f3, seagate barracuda or western digital caviar black.
1 x Optical Drive ( 24X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive - Black )
---anything will likely work here.
1 x Flash Media Reader / Writer ( 12-In-1 External USB Flash Media Card Reader/Writer )
---if you need this then go ahead. if you do not then its not required.
1 x Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )
---looks like this isnt an add on but integrated to your motherboard.
1 x Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )
---looks like this isnt an add on but integrated to your motherboard.


general notes:

if you want an ssd you want to buy it NOW. you will want the os installed on it and doing it later is more of a PITA than doing it first.

i'd definitely suggest posting this is the systems area of the forum for better and more input.

i'd suggest thinking about doing this yourself... but again your choice.

 

[Inna Rokhvarg]

Also, is the motherboard good enough?

Do you plan to OC the CPU? If so, then no. If not, I'd get a non-K series CPU.

Okay thanks. I'm not planning to OC the CPU right now. Also for IBUYPOWER for the computer I selected i only have 2 options in motherboards so might just get the default one they're giving me and then buy the one you recommended separately later.

 

[Inna Rokhvarg]

perhaps you may want to look into building the computer yourself. its more rewarding and you can hand pick components. you also have direct control over everything instead of relying on someone else.

Intel B75 Core i5 Configurator
1 x Case ( CoolerMaster HAF 922 Gaming Case - Black )
---fairly common case choice and should work fine. on a limited budget you could get something cheaper and put more into hardware.
1 x iBUYPOWER Labs - Internal Expansion ( iBUYPOWER Internal USB Expansion System + Bluetooth & Wireless N Module )
---do you really need extra usb ports and bluetooth? typically you will get 4-6 rear ports and at least 2 front ports from the motherboard only.
1 x Processor ( Intel® Core™ i5-3570K Processor (4x 3.40GHz/6MB L3 Cache) - Intel Core i5-3570K )
---if you dont plan on overclocking you dont need a K processor.
1 x Processor Cooling ( Liquid CPU Cooling System [Intel] - ARC Silent High Performance Fan Upgrade )
---if you do not overclock you dont need to spend extra money on this. a cpu comes with a cooler which often works adequate as is.
1 x Memory ( 8 GB [4 GB X2] DDR3-1600 Memory Module - Corsair or Major Brand )
---corsair or mushkin would be my recommendation. 8gb is sufficient.
1 x Video Card ( NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 - 2GB - EVGA Superclocked - Core: 1046MHz - Single Card )
----evga is a good brand for gpu. check your card in a gpu chart to see performance estimates
1 x Video Card Brand ( Major Brand Powered by AMD or NVIDIA )
---hate to know what they mark up these upgrade as..
1 x Motherboard ( ASRock B75-DGS )
---personally i'd suggest a brand like asus, gigabyte or intel but this could work.
1 x Power Supply ( 650 Watt -- NZXT HALE82N-SI / 80+ Bronze )
---go with a corsair or pc power & cooling psu. much more reliable.
1 x Primary Hard Drive ( 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 32M Cache, 7200 RPM, 6.0Gb/s - Single Drive )
---go with a samsung spinpoint f3, seagate barracuda or western digital caviar black.
1 x Optical Drive ( 24X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive - Black )
---anything will likely work here.
1 x Flash Media Reader / Writer ( 12-In-1 External USB Flash Media Card Reader/Writer )
---if you need this then go ahead. if you do not then its not required.
1 x Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )
---looks like this isnt an add on but integrated to your motherboard.
1 x Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )
---looks like this isnt an add on but integrated to your motherboard.


general notes:

if you want an ssd you want to buy it NOW. you will want the os installed on it and doing it later is more of a PITA than doing it first.

i'd definitely suggest posting this is the systems area of the forum for better and more input.

i'd suggest thinking about doing this yourself... but again your choice.

The only reason I might not hand buy the pieces is because I calculated how much it would be for the same components the website is offering and the computer actually becomes cheaper then buying the pieces elsewhere. But I'll get the SSD right away, I heard it increases computer performance greatly and that it's definitely worth getting. I'll repost this on the systems forum though like you said. Thanks for the help.

 

[ksham]

Okay thanks. I'm not planning to OC the CPU right now. Also for IBUYPOWER for the computer I selected i only have 2 options in motherboards so might just get the default one they're giving me and then buy the one you recommended separately later.

Then get an Intel Core i5-3470 or Intel Core i5-3350P CPU. You don't need liquid cooling if you're not going to OC. I'd recommend a H77 motherboard, but if not, B75 is will do.

 

[ssddx]

@op

the prices ......seem...... better however realize that in most cases they use lower quality products than what you would be buying yourself.

 

[Inna Rokhvarg]

I decided I'll buy the pieces so I have the ability to OC, I just have to learn more about it. So I'll go with your original suggestion. And I decided to build it myself, figured it'd be a fun project and this computer is for when Fall classes start so I have the whole summer to find everything I need.