$1500 new gaming build

[stillmatix]

Looking to finally get a new desktop with my Tax refund money.

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: this week (the closer the better)

Budget Range: $1500 Before Shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, creating home movies

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: Yes, Should I go OEM, I want to use an ASUS sabertooth so I won't be upgrading my mobo

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com or TigerDirect

Location: City, State/Region, Country - Bay Area, California USA

Parts Preferences: Intel, Nvidia

Overclocking: no at the start, after a few months if things are steady with no hiccups then yes.

SLI or Crossfire: No until I can afford it.

Your Monitor Resolution: Not sure yet.

Additional Comments: Looking to get a mid/high end build that can play games on max/ultra for atleast 4-5 years if possible. Even Crysis 3 in combat with a GTX 680 only gets 48 fps will future games continue on that path of high requirements?

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Last computer died which was 10 years old.

Current parts: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/EMz1

 

[drunkducki]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($223.79 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($62.99 @ Compuvest)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Mac Mall)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($363.48 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($363.48 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($67.41 @ Mac Connection)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($98.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1479.07
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-20 16:49 EST-0500)

 

[dish_moose]

^ My b-day is soon - get me one just like it.
-Bruce

 

[bryonhowley]

The Asus Z77 Sabertooth is a very good motherboard I am using it with a i5 3570K in my rig now and it is running very good. As for your GPU if it were me I would get a Gigabyte GTX 670 this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125438 is the one I got. And then later on add a second if you need to. That would save you some money now as the GTX 670 is only $379 instead of $569 for the GTX 680. I do not think the performance difference is that great for the large price increase.

A friend of mine built his new rig and used the ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 and I can say I really like my Asus Z77 Sabertooth much better. Over all it seems to be a better motherboard even with the price difference.

 

[stillmatix]

Thank you very much for all the suggestions. I think I am going to stick with the Sabertooth especially since I probably will get win 7 OEM. As for SLI 670's I new to SLI and do not know much about it which is why I prefferred a single 680 just to start with and maybe later addon and replace my psu. I just liked the simplicity of having 1 card (even if its preformance to price wasn't the best).


BTW any monitor suggestions?
Also forgot to mention I heard Skyrim with alot of mods eats up 3gb of Vram.

 

[bigcyco1]

Gaming Monitors

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VS239H-P-23-Inch-Full-HD-Monitor/dp/B008DWITHI/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_1_71ZB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824260055&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10487648&PID=1800524&SID=#top
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006HIKIG0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=gamingsquid-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006HIKIG0

 

[boulbox]

I think there are much better boards than the sabertooth because the sabertooth is pretty much ASUS's mid range board(v-pro i think) included with the thermal armor that actually traps heat inside instead of cooling it

Also if you want to save some cash/want a cheap 1440p go drive to orange county

far as hell from where i live(san jose) but if you do stop by LA or something go and grab the i5 3570k+asrock extreme 4 for around $290

saving around $64 but not worth it for 300+ miles really

reason why i am saying this is because they have $300 1440p monitors which sell for around $600-$700

now for the build

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($223.79 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek AEGIR SD128264 89.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 EG 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.88 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Plextor M5S Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($379.99 @ TigerDirect)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Kingwin Lazer Platinum 850W 80 PLUS Platinum Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($143.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($79.20 @ Newegg)
Total: $1348.78
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-21 03:18 EST-0500)

opt for the 7970 instead because it is stronger than the 670/680(maybe not in crysis 3) but they are focusing a lot on the drivers now(where AMD really lacks)