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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Originally Posted by TissueBox

http://img.techpowerup.org/120506/Ne...pping 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]

Originally Posted by Skylore

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]

Originally Posted by JrRacinFan

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]

Originally Posted by Skylore

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.

Originally Posted by Skylore

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]

Originally Posted by TissueBox

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...0461&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/Produc...82E16814150549

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

[Skylore]

Originally Posted by 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.....
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 :P

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.