1st build advice, can I get more power for budget?

[morecoffee]

Approximate Purchase Date: This weekend

Budget Range: $700 +- $50

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Internet, Multimedia movies/music.
(Another Edit) Primary games: SC2, DotA2, Bioshock Infinite, possibly Eve online in the future.

Are you buying a monitor: Yes, but I plan on getting it from Best Buy B&M store


Parts to Upgrade: I'm wondering if there is a better CPU and/or motherboard for price.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg

Location: Mass

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU preferred

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Your Monitor Resolution: Unsure

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Sick of using a crappy school laptop. Want something upgradeable for long term.

And here is my current part list. I kind of stole this from another thread, and I am thinking that it might be possible to squeeze a little more power out of this. Am I missing something obvious like a clearly superior CPU or motherboard that costs the same? Etc.

Another link to the editable part list.


Some Comments and concerns:

Delivery: what is the general consensus on delivering to a house? Is it safe? Is there a better way? Will all the parts arrive at the same time if I order all from Newegg?

I can buy a cheaper power supply if it's modular, and a cheaper case if necessary.

SSD in the future for booting up windows and different programs. Would this be possible with this build?

video card? I might be willing to spend another $50 on the video card.


This community is great btw, I did tons of research a couple months ago and spent hours putting together a parts list...unfortunately when I checked my bookmark today it linked to a blank page.

Thanks!

p.s. I am really concerned about buying a subpar processor. Keep in mind my budget is about $200 for this part, so let me know if you have any ideas.


System Overview
Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor $179.9

MSI Z77MA-G45 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard $104.99

G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory $64.99

Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $69.99

XFX Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card $139.99

Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case $89.99

EVGA SuperNOVA 650W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply $199.99

 

[morecoffee]

One idea I had was to upgrade the video card to the 2GB version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150609

Would that be worth it?

 

[Praxeology]

One idea I had was to upgrade the video card to the 2GB version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150609

Would that be worth it?

Shocked no one has answered you yet. I would have gotten to you sooner but I pull up like 20 threads at a time and work my way through them. Your budget is tight and what you want is a 4670k on a 1150 Z87 motherboard with an adequate video card and PSU. What you can get is hopefully just that. Let the tinkering begin!

NZXT Source 210 Elite Black
SSP-550RT
MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate
CORSAIR Vengeance Pro 8GB
Intel Core i5-4670K
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Evo
Sapphire Radeon 6970
Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB

Total Price @ Newegg = $820.92 - No windows, or monitor. Your laptop has a windows key but you'd still need a disk.

The only real way to reduce this is to grab a 1GB card which will save 20 bucks but destroy performance. That 6970 deal is simply outrageous and perfect for someone in your position. The only real way to bring this down is to change out the motherboard/processor for AMD equivalents, or start skimping in places I can't recommend. You will have to save up more money, or go for an AMD build. Do you have a microcenter in your state?

- Prax

 

[morecoffee]

Thanks Prax. Fell asleep last night and didn't get a chance to reply. I am looking into your build, and I really like it. Although I am kind of attached to the HD 7870, but your video card seems comparable.

The mobo confuses me the most, the original build uses a Z77 but it seems like the Z87 is a straight upgrade for only about $10 more? Are there any compatibility issues or anything with it?

Also your CPU seems like a straight upgrade for not much more $$$.

I am open to the idea of an AMD build. Is AMD generally better for a budget build? I see they have crazy 8 core processors for cheap. better for OC?

Also I have settled on the HAF case, not that it matters much. And there is a Microcenter in the area.

Edit: If this link works, here are the 3 builds I am focusing on. Yours is the 3rd, and I like the first because I managed to squeeze in a monitor. My goal is to have a dual monitor setup.
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/dudewithapc/saved/#savedbuild_531773
Also WTF I had no idea Win7 is so expensive. What a bummer!

 

[Praxeology]

Thanks Prax. Fell asleep last night and didn't get a chance to reply. I am looking into your build, and I really like it. Although I am kind of attached to the HD 7870, but your video card seems comparable.

The mobo confuses me the most, the original build uses a Z77 but it seems like the Z87 is a straight upgrade for only about $10 more? Are there any compatibility issues or anything with it?

Also your CPU seems like a straight upgrade for not much more $$$.

I am open to the idea of an AMD build. Is AMD generally better for a budget build? I see they have crazy 8 core processors for cheap. better for OC?

Also I have settled on the HAF case, not that it matters much. And there is a Microcenter in the area.

Edit: If this link works, here are the 3 builds I am focusing on. Yours is the 3rd, and I like the first because I managed to squeeze in a monitor. My goal is to have a dual monitor setup.
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/dudewithapc/saved/#savedbuild_531773
Also WTF I had no idea Win7 is so expensive. What a bummer!

Your welcome coffee, you fell asleep even with more coffee? lol

As to your questions, the 7870 costs more money and has much less performance compared to the 6970 so I would definitely recommend you reconsider. The original motherboard uses the Z77 chipset and an 1155 CPU socket. That is for Ivy-Bridge, the 3000 series of Intel processors. The Z87 chipset uses the 1150 socket and comes with an 1150 CPU socket. This is for Haswell, the 4000 series of Intel processors. As you point out, the CPU is a major upgrade for not much money. It is also the K edition i5 which can be overclocked very well. Luckily you live next to a Microcenter because that brings down the i5 cost down by 40$, giving you a total of 780$ for my build. There is nothing wrong with an AMD build other then the fact that their single core vs core performance against until is terrible. In games however the FPS will be exactly the same UNLESS the game is CPU intensive. Luckily for AMD users very few games are, and instead rely on the GPU configuration. So is the AMD build generally better for a budget? Absolutely. They do have a crazy 8 core CPU that comes with a high stock GHZ, and can overclock compared to your 3350P. So if you CANNOT afford my i5-4670k build, and it seems you cannot, then you have 2 options as I said last night. Option 1, skimp and get a bad CPU/GPU; Option 2, go AMD. So naturally its either come up with more money, or go AMD. The HAF case is the same price so there are no issues there. Windows is indeed expensive. So all that said, here is the AMD equivalent:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1y3l5

The only thing is, the video card is not the correct one as they don't give me the option to select the GPU I want. So here is the GPU link, overall price is still correct though. I can guarantee this build's ability to play Skyrim on Ultra settings, and run all of skyrim's mods <barring the ENB lighting mods, at 40+ fps. You got windows, a 24'' monitor which is probably Acer's best monitor they've made, and a 6 core CPU that can be overclocked with the hyper 212 evo aftermarket cooler I added. This is what you want to buy for your budget, and is as good as it is going to get. The 4GB of ram is pretty limiting, but perfectly feasible. No modern game runes 4GB of ram. They get close if they have memory leaks but that's it. So a really demanding game will slow you down IF you try to minimize and go open chrome to do some browsing. That 85% memory usage due to the demanding game will be felt if you try to multi-task. But again you can do it perfectly fine you'll just notice a tiny difference because the game is sucking down all your memory. Luckily again, most games don't eat that much ram.

- Prax

 

[morecoffee]

Indeed I feel asleep, much to my dismay.

Anyway I am so happy I checked this thread before buying. This is unbelievably informative, and I can't thank you enough. Due to your sage advice I will be getting the AMD build, and I'll store away the other information in the old brain for a rainy day. $832 with a monitor AND windows? Amazing work, and it can run any modern game on ultra at an acceptable FPS? Thank you. You get all of the credit for my first build.

edit: Now I just have to decide if I should go over budget and spring for a 2nd monitor and 8gb ram...decisions decisions.

 

[Praxeology]

Indeed I feel asleep, much to my dismay.

Anyway I am so happy I checked this thread before buying. This is unbelievably informative, and I can't thank you enough. Due to your sage advice I will be getting the AMD build, and I'll store away the other information in the old brain for a rainy day. $832 with a monitor AND windows? Amazing work, and it can run any modern game on ultra at an acceptable FPS? Thank you. You get all of the credit for my first build.

I am glad you like it, enjoy! You will be even happier when you experience that computers capabilities considering its affordable price. Don't lose that windows disk / key combo or you will make the next person sacrifice 100$ on your future build for a new copy,

Prax