Help with $650 - $700 Gaming Project

[Skylore]

Hey guys,

I'll be starting my first built hopefully soon, and I have been scouting the kind of set-up I wanna have. It will be for gaming, I will not OC it for now, but I wanna have the potential to do it if I desire to. I am also trying to make it somewhat future-proof. Don't wanna have to add on too much stuff just so that it can play future games too soon !

Anyway, here is what I have so far:

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz $250

MOB: BIOSTAR TZ77XE3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 $120 (Kind of new, looked promising)
Link: BIOSTAR TZ77XE3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s...

GPU: Radeon HD 6850 $140

PSU: SILVERSTONE Strider Essential series ST60F-ES 600W... $70
(I REALLY don't know anything about psus, but that one seemed good)

RAM: Ripjaws X Series DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666 - 8 GB) $42

Total: $622

Anyway, I still need a HDD (Waiting until I find one for cheap) and, obviously, a Case (lol)

So let me know what you guys think, what you would change, and what Case/HDD I should get.

Thanks !

 

[TissueBox]

$15 off with promo code EMCNENJ23 on the i5-2500K, comes to ~$695 before the $15 MIR assuming you already own Windows.

 

[mastrdrver]

If you're up for an AMD processor, you can get something with a little more graphics power for right under $700 after rebates and a $5 off on the case.

 

[D007]

buy a gtx 680 and wait for everything else..lol.. j/k.. kinda..

Well done Tissue, very nice rig that would be, for the price indeed.
That's a nice setup, he made you there.
Mastr as well. It's preference, at this point.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Dropping a line on that Bio X77. I know a bud who didn't like that board much and stuck with his Gigabyte z68x UD4P.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Dropping a line on that Bio X77. I know a bud who didn't like that board much and stuck with his Gigabyte z68x UD4P.

I think the Bio board will be fine for this guy. THe XE3 and XE4 in reviews hold their own very well against boards in the $200+ range.

 

[Skylore]

Thanks mastr, but I'm shooting for an Intel pc for the first time in my life lol

If you're up for an AMD processor, you can get something with a little more graphics power for right under $700 after rebates and a $5 off on the case.

http://img.techpowerup.org/120505/Capture.jpg

http://img.techpowerup.org/120506/Newegg.com Shopping Cart.png

$15 off with promo code EMCNENJ23 on the i5-2500K, comes to ~$695 before the $15 MIR assuming you already own Windows.

I have a couple of questions if you don't mind about your build:


Why the changes in MoBo and CPU ?
Also, is the GPU you suggested better than the one i chose ? I looked at the benchmark comparison from anandtech and they are somewhat...confusing. 6850 is better for half the test, and 7770 for the second half lol

I was thinking: Couldn't I simply the PSU to the one you chose, add the Case and maybe get a Refurbished HDD + Swap the GPU (I don't know which one is better) and come out with a little better CPU from all this ?

Last Questions: Is there something so bad with the items from my last that you guys needed to remake a whole set up lol

Either way, thanks for the input guys !

 

[JrRacinFan]

Is there something so bad with the items from my last that you guys needed to remake a whole set up lol

Again. I like your proposed build. The board is good, was again just something I thought I would mention.

 

[Skylore]

Again. I like your proposed build. The board is good, was again just something I thought I would mention.

I know lol, I was just wondering. It being my first time and all. Did your friend have a bad experience with it ? And could you maybe recommend a different MoBo for about the same price with features as great as that one seems to have ?

Thanks in advance !

 

[JrRacinFan]

Actually, unsure what his issue was with the board itself. I "think" he was expecting it be a better performer but turned out to be the same. I myself like the Z68 Extreme3 Gen3, but again you will need to look at z77 if going straight to Ivy bridge, bios limitations.

 

[Skylore]

Alright, thanks for the info

 

[TissueBox]

Why the changes in MoBo and CPU ?

Also, is the GPU you suggested better than the one i chose ? I looked at the benchmark comparison from anandtech and they are somewhat...confusing. 6850 is better for half the test, and 7770 for the second half lol

I was thinking: Couldn't I simply the PSU to the one you chose, add the Case and maybe get a Refurbished HDD + Swap the GPU (I don't know which one is better) and come out with a little better CPU from all this ?

Personally, I don't think the 3570K is worth it if it has a $50 premium over the 2500K.

The 7770 is a tad bit worse, yes, however, that was within the $700 budget. I'm positive you would be well over $700 if you add a case and a 500GB HDD to your parts list. If I didn't include the case or the 500GB HDD, and set the budget at $620 (the amount that you have in your original post), you'd have enough for a 560 Ti or a 6950.

Last Questions: Is there something so bad with the items from my last that you guys needed to remake a whole set up lol

Nothing is wrong, we system builders just rarely base our own parts list off someone else's - it's much easier for us that way

 

[Skylore]

Nothing is wrong, we system builders just rarely base our own parts list off someone else's - it's much easier for us that way

Ha alright man, good to know.

Thanks for all the assistance guys !

 

[Crap Daddy]

If you plan to use the build mainly for gaming at 1080p try and get at least a 7850, it can be had as low as this:

HIS H785F2G2M Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI...

Now imagine that this card when overclocked would be almost like 6850 crossfire.

 

[Skylore]

If you plan to use the build mainly for gaming at 1080p try and get at least a 7850, it can be had as low as this:

HIS H785F2G2M Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI...

Now imagine that this card when overclocked would be almost like 6850 crossfire.

That is a great suggestion, but I won't be doing too much 1080p playing. I still have an old 7 year old TV, but instead of buying a new one I've decided to build a PC in it's place lol.

I know a 6850 will at least play most games in Medium/High quality, will update the GPU to a better one when needed/after purchasing a new tv

 

[Skylore]

Uhm, a little of a side note:

Has anybody seen this bundle?

www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2580461&CatId=333

Seems great, specially at $500. Could then slap on a better GPU than with what I have inside my set up, and in the future upgrade then motherboard and cpus with whatever comes out in the next 2 4 years

 

[JrRacinFan]

Holy smokes! That is a kiler deal. If you want, you could probably sell the board for cheap and get one you would like, throw in a GPU and be done.

Me personally, I would get that combo and pickup this GPU.....
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150549

... then save up my pennies for the board switch, getting the Biostar z77, and sell the Gigabyte.

 

[Skylore]

Holy smokes! That is a kiler deal. If you want, you could probably sell the board for cheap and get one you would like, throw in a GPU and be done.

Me personally, I would get that combo and pickup this GPU.....
XFX Double D HD-695X-CDFC Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-b...

... then save up my pennies for the board switch, getting the Biostar z77, and sell the Gigabyte.

Would it we a better idea to keep that board, and wait until next year to see what Intel's next "Tock" brings us ? I'm sure that with a cpu built like that, I could last at least a year

I'm also a little concerned about the psu unit, do you know if it's a good and reliable one by any chance ?

 

[JrRacinFan]

That Ultra... Think of it as a 500w and don't overdo it. Good enough for single card. Intel's Tocj would need a new board anyways. Might as well get something you like now.