$1000 - $1500 Gaming Build... First time build

Kevin9809

Distinguished
Jun 30, 2012
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Hey everyone. I'm looking to finally update my computer I bought way back in July 2005.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next month or two

Budget Range: $1,000-$1,500 Before Rebates

System Usage: Gaming, surfing the internet, working on reports for work at home

Parts Not Required: I'll probably need everything including an OS, keyboard, mouse, and monitor. I can wait for speakers to save money. As for the mouse and keyboard, I have the older purple and green connections but I know many newer computer parts either support none of these or have one universal port. With that said, I may be able to save one or the other pending your recommendations.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: No preference

Overclocking: Maybe. I've never overclocked before, but it would probably be nice to have the option available.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe. Starting out with one video card is fine for now; however, I'd like to have the option in case I decide to go this route in the future.

Monitor Resolution: (e.g.: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200) My current monitor can only go up to 1280x1024 and its older... from 2007 I think. Its time for a new one that could support my new card's capabilities. Are HD-supporting monitors expensive?

Additional Comments: My existing computer is just too old. The newest part in it is the nvidia geforce 6600 video card lol. I would like a computer that can run existing games and has the ability to last me for awhile. Other than that, as I mentioned above, I'll only use it for surfing the web and sometimes for work.
 
Solution
A little justification for my last build:

Motherboard: Very good, with all necessary features.
CPU: Best for Gaming.
CPU Cooler: Decent for standard overclock.
RAM:8GB top notch.
GPU: A beast!
SSD: 120GB for OS.
HDD: 1TB for storage.
ODD: Alright.
PSU: PSU."jonnyGURU Recommended"....
Case (Great Cooling): Decent looking with all required features.
OS:Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM
Monitor: 23" 2ms Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ Speakers, what else to say?

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Monitor Resolution: (e.g.: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200) My current monitor can only go up to 1280x1024 and its older... from 2007 I think. Its time for a new one that could support my new card's capabilities. Are HD-supporting monitors expensive?

Depends on what resolution you go with. If you get anything above 1080p it's quite expensive.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe. Starting out with one video card is fine for now; however, I'd like to have the option in case I decide to go this route in the future.

The rule of thumb is to get the single strongest card you can get as opposed to two weaker ones.

Here you go:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($132.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($45.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($409.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec Eleven Hundred ATX Full Tower Case ($109.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($198.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1435.73
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

Add whatever keyboard and mouse you want and you're good to go, I don't suggest those as they're entirely personal preference.
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator


You can always add one later - it's not necessary to start with. On a gaming system the GPU is always the most important part of the build and you don't want to skimp or compromise if you can help it.
 

raytseng

Honorable
May 15, 2012
666
0
11,060
i would recommend getting the SSD!
Sure you can add one later, but it's "work" to transfer it over. Time is money and you can get Windows/everything setup on SSD from the getgo, it's less hassle (especially if you are not already separating os/apps drive and data drive)

Depends what your priorities are. Whether you are only using your computer for games and really want those last shadows on maximum and the extra FPS so you aren't taken out of the gameplay by seeing those itsy bitsy bit of pixelation,
or you can spend a bit less on the gaming aspect of your computer to make everything else you are doing with the computer a bit faster
 
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Mushkin Chronos 60GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($81.00 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower Case ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1475.88
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
 
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Mushkin Chronos 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($81.00 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower Case ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: OCZ 650W ATX12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1497.88
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator


I hate messing with transfer software - half the time it never works. What I usually do is install the drive, set it as my primary, disconnect the secondary, and the install Windows, reconnect the secondary, then delete the Windows folder from that once the system reboots.
 
A little justification for my last build:

Motherboard: Very good, with all necessary features.
CPU: Best for Gaming.
CPU Cooler: Decent for standard overclock.
RAM:8GB top notch.
GPU: A beast!
SSD: 120GB for OS.
HDD: 1TB for storage.
ODD: Alright.
PSU: PSU."jonnyGURU Recommended"....
Case (Great Cooling): Decent looking with all required features.
OS:Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM
Monitor: 23" 2ms Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ Speakers, what else to say?
 
Solution

Kevin9809

Distinguished
Jun 30, 2012
54
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18,545
I'd like a final opinion before I start pricing and buying (putting together final build). For now, I think I will pass on the SSD just to save a little bit of money.

CPU:
Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor

Cooler:
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler

Motherboard:
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard

Memory:
G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory or G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
*I'll probably go with whichever is cheaper.

Hard Drive:
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive

Video Card:
GTX 670
*Between brands, is there any one that shines above the rest for this card?

Case:
Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower Case or Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case?
*Anyone have an opinion on which would be better for this build and why?

Power Supply:
PC Power & Cooling 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

Optical Drive:
Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer

Monitor:
Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor

Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit)
 

Kevin9809

Distinguished
Jun 30, 2012
54
1
18,545
I'd just like to say thanks again everyone! All of my parts came in today. It took me 5hrs to build this thing, but it was my first time after all. Everything seems to be working great so hopefully it continues that way for years!