$500-$850 Budget Gaming Build

[shirukizu]

Hi.

Approximate Purchase Date: February

Budget Range: $400-$800 after shipping and rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, streaming, recording gameplay, surfing the internet

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Any canadian site on pcpartpicker.com/ca

Location: Canada, Ontario

Parts Preference: Any reliable company. Intel preferably but AMD can do. Must include HAF 922 (black interior) case.

Overclocking: Later keep it capable.

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I want PC to be quiet. This PC is mainly for a CPU demanding game, World of Warcraft. I also play fps's a little such as CoD, BF3, Planetside 2, Metro 2033 etc; and I play Skyrim. Software I use is mostly fraps, xsplit, dxtory, sony vegas pro, and photoshop.

Expectations: I expect this PC to play some games on Ultra, with about 60 fps. (WoW for example), and BF3 or CoD on atleast med-high with smooth fps.

edit: Came up with a build http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/tGYM but I want more opinions. I'd like to see what other options there are.

edit: raised budget to $900

 

[excella1221]

Here's a suggestion, this goes $10 over budget before rebates.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($167.26 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.00 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($209.88 @ Canada Computers)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.82 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $805.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-22 23:14 EST-0500)

Your demand of HDD and case causes a sacrifice on other more important components though. There's really not much difference between Caviar Blue and Black in terms of performance, the premium you're paying for is the 5-yr warranty on the latter.

Also, if the game is more CPU reliant than GPU and the game is single or not very well threaded, Intel would be a better option.

I also won't go below a 7870 in the ~$250 range. Even the 660's performance is beaten when the AMD card is on Catalyst 12.11.

 

[snakej]

CPU:Intel Core i5 3470 Quad Core Processor LGA1155 3.2GHZ Ivy Bridge 6MB Retail
$219.98 CAD

Motherboard:MSI Z77A-G45 ATX LGA1155 Z77
$114.99 CAD

RAM:Kingston KHX1600C9D3B1K2/8GX 8GB Kit 2X4GB 1600MHz
$39.99 CAD

GPU:ASUS GeForce GTX 660 OC DirectCU
$239.99 CAD
Here you got some choices you can go with AMD 7850 to save some money or a GTX 560Ti

HD:Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB
$69.98 CAD

DVDD:LG GH24NS72 24X SATA Internal DVD Writer Black OEM
$17.99 CAD

PSU:Thermaltake TR2 500W Power Supply
$39.99 CAD

CASE:Antec Three Hundred Mini Tower
$59.98 CAD

OS:Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64BIT SP1 DVD OEM
$97.99 CAD

YOUR TOTAL : $900.88
Note Mail in rebates are not factored in.
Total After MIR: $815.91
CPU deal Savings Code 72279-1285. SAVE $29.99 off our regular price of $219.98 if you buy today! Special price ends 12/24/2012.
CASE deal Savings Code 29812-1285. SAVE $9.99 off our regular price of $59.98 if you buy today! Special price ends 12/24/2012.
HD deal Savings Code 63468-1285. SAVE $9.99 off our regular price of $69.98 if you buy today! Special price ends 12/24/2012
Mobo -15 mail in rebate
GPU -20 mail in rebate

 

[shirukizu]

Here's a suggestion, this goes $10 over budget before rebates.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($167.26 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.00 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($209.88 @ Canada Computers)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.82 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $805.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-22 23:14 EST-0500)

Your demand of HDD and case causes a sacrifice on other more important components though. There's really not much difference between Caviar Blue and Black in terms of performance, the premium you're paying for is the 5-yr warranty on the latter.

Also, if the game is more CPU reliant than GPU and the game is single or not very well threaded, Intel would be a better option.

Thanks for the quick reply. Really liking that atm. Took your advice with the caviar blue. I raised budget to $900 and add a GA-Z77X-UD3H, and i5 3570k. I am getting this budget pc to start and I am going to upgrade it over time anyways. Only upgrade I will need to make is an NH-D14 and overclock the 3570k to like 4.4-4.5ghz if possible, and a 128gb SSD when I get my next pay. You think this is good to take? http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/tIRg, i'm only buying these parts with the rebates. And im addicted to the mushkin blackline ram as well.. lol 😛

 

[twelve25]

Mine's pretty similar to the one above. In your original build, you way underspec'ed the processor and spent too much on the PSU. I switched to a mid-level i5, H77 with a sale-price GTX660:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/tIV6
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/tIV6/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/tIV6/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H77-DS3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Canada Computers)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $859.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-22 23:43 EST-0500)

 

[excella1221]

Thanks for the quick reply. Really liking that atm. Took your advice with the caviar blue. I raised budget to $900 and add a GA-Z77X-UD3H, and i5 3570k. I am getting this budget pc to start and I am going to upgrade it over time anyways. Only upgrade I will need to make is an NH-D14 and overclock the 3570k to like 4.4-4.5ghz if possible, and a 128gb SSD when I get my next pay. You think this is good to take? http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/tIRg, i'm only buying these parts with the rebates. And im addicted to the mushkin blackline ram as well.. lol 😛

Looks great! Nothing really left to change there.

But here's a motherboard suggestion if you wish to save $35.
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_722&item_id=053769

Granted, it's after rebates, but hey it's still the same price as the Gigabyte even before rebates.

There's basically no difference between the two, unless you need the 2 extra PCI-E x1 slots, and the ASRock has a LAN chipset which the Gigabyte seems to lack.

Well, just see for yourself. If you still want the Gigabyte, go ahead, it's a great brand.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=-1&IsNodeId=1&Description=asrock%20z77&bop=And&CompareItemList=-1%7C13-128-544%5E13-128-544-TS%2C13-157-330%5E13-157-330-TS

 

[AMD Radeon]

this one has 2tb drive, it should serve your need for years 😉 overcloking will be nioce with this cpu, mobo and ram combo
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Canada Computers)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.03 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($209.88 @ Canada Computers)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Memory Express)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.82 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $813.67
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-23 01:47 EST-0500)

if you are not gonna overclock, you could save more
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($209.88 @ Canada Computers)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Memory Express)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.82 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $734.64
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-23 02:08 EST-0500)