$1,500 Budget First Timer

[thelordgaben]

Extremely close to buying an Alienware X51, but I feel I have the capacity and patience to build my own PC. Hopefully, it will be a good learning experience.

Approximate Purchase Date: Dec 26, 2012

Budget Range: $1,500

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Watching Movies, Internet

Are you buying a monitor: No, already have the BenQ RL2450HT http://www.benq.us/product/monitor/rl2450ht/

Do you need to buy OS: Yes, I heard Windows 8 is horrible so I guess I'll be using Windows 7.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg and Amazon

Location: NY

Parts Preferences: Intel

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: If you could please include a good internal wireless card in the build that would be fantastic! This will be my first attempt at building my own PC! I would love to play games like DayZ, Natural Selection, L4D1/2, Portal1/2, and future Valve games! Thank you for your help!

EDIT: I do not need a keyboard/mouse/sound card.

 

[djangoringo]

Here you have :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77 MPOWER ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($101.97 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($394.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($110.50 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($20.95 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1408.33
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)


The mobo has wifi.


Or if you prefer AMD cards(i don't know) :


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77 MPOWER ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card ($424.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($110.50 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($20.95 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1406.36
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-19 21:52 EST-0500)

 

[TheBigTroll]

windows 8 is not horrible, just that it wouldnt let me boot right into classic desktop mode and that crappy metro thing

something like this would be good for your usage
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tj8P

should max out every valve game there is. and max out most modern games like bf3

 

[TheBigTroll]

another way of putting the partslist down

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tj8P
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tj8P/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tj8P/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 612 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($132.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Sandisk Extreme 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($149.00 @ Adorama)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($359.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 750W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($24.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1236.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-19 21:49 EST-0500)

 

[thelordgaben]

another way of putting the partslist down

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tj8P
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tj8P/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tj8P/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 612 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($132.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Sandisk Extreme 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($149.00 @ Adorama)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($359.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 750W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($24.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1236.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-19 21:49 EST-0500)

Does the MoBo have wifi built in or would I have to find one?

 

[TheBigTroll]

i wouldnt touch wifi for gaming unless you have a really good router or a really good internet provider with very fast speeds. latency is a issue with cheap routers

yes you would have to find a adaptor if you want one. a usb one is good enough

 

[thelordgaben]

I do have a very good router with FioS. A USB Adaptor would be fine? No need for an internal one?

 

[Cerunnos]

Here is a sample build, including price quotes for quality mid-range keyboard/mouse (find what you like). The sound card is optional, but included just in case you feel like you want everything in one go. You may wish to opt in for a larger SSD too. The Blu-ray drive was included because of your "watching movies" criteria. If you do not use disk based media, feel free to remove that (or replace it with a DVD only option).

As ^, wifi is not recommended for gaming. But if you must, the motherboard comes with wifi (2.4ghz only).

If you have questions or need help on your build, post on the forums and someone (or alot) will help you out.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master V6 GT 93.7 CFM CPU Cooler ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($184.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($91.33 @ Amazon)
Storage: Sandisk Extreme 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($110.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($339.99 @ Newegg)
Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 600T (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional Gold 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($144.49 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($56.23 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Logitech G110 Wired Standard Keyboard ($49.98 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G500 Wired Laser Mouse ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Other: MX-4 TIM ($6.75)
Total: $1690.68
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-19 22:26 EST-0500)

 

[thelordgaben]

Would this be a perfectly good solution for WiFi? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162032

 

[Cerunnos]

Would this be a perfectly good solution for WiFi? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162032

Most ~$20 USB wifi sticks are the same. That, Medialink, TP-Link, ASUS, are all fairly similar (you might want something that comes with a base so you can move it around to find the best spot). What is the model of your router? Also, how far away from the router will you be? Are there many walls in between? If you are using a laptop, what kind of signal and speeds do you get? Is there an option for ethernet cables?

 

[thelordgaben]

This is the router I use: http://usa.asus.com/Networks/Wireless_Routers/RTN56U/

I am in the second floor. The router is downstairs in the living room. Ethernet is not an option.

 

[TheBigTroll]

might want one that does 300mbps. just gives you a bit more headroom

to avoid wires, you can setup powerline in your house

 

[TheBigTroll]

powerline is your other option. basically involves sending internet through household electrical system. you use adaptors to put out and recieve internet

 

[thelordgaben]

I see. Thank you all so far for the help!

 

[TheBigTroll]

no problem

 

[Cerunnos]

powerline is your other option. basically involves sending internet through household electrical system. you use adaptors to put out and recieve internet

There are some problems with powerline adaptors though. Some household wiring won't work or will have terrible results.

@ OP, I guess you can give wifi a try, if the result is bad, you can then maybe try some powerline adaptors, if not... Move the router? Or we can come up with more solutions after everything prior is exhausted.

 

[thelordgaben]

Best answer selected by thelordgaben.