$800 Budget Gaming Build

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DeusAres

DeusAres

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Jun 4, 2012
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What are your thoughts on the ASRock Z77 Pro3 motherboard? I plan on building a budget build sometime around February. I plan on grabbing some of the parts such as the CPU cooler, case and PSU early. This motherboard is one of my only shots at squeezing in a i5 3570k in the budget. It has all the features I need at a decent price. Otherwise, I'll be forced to go with a FX 6300 build. This is the build I'm currently looking at...

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 ($33.99 @ Mac Mall)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($279.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($53.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $825.42
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-10 18:35 EST-0500)

If anyone else has any suggestions, feel free to share them. Keep it around this price though. I'm already starting to break the budget with this build. I do not want a SSD; I'm fine with a HDD. Just trying to get my foot in the door of PC gaming. My Xbox 360 is starting to tick me off as far as the problems with freezing go and limited capabilities. I want to start experimenting with modding games such as Skyrim. I'll also be using this computer for various tasks such as typing reports, internet, research, music, movies, and occasional video editing for YouTube.

Some of the games I plan on playing: Skyrim, Battlefield 3, Planetside 2, Minecraft, GTA IV, GTA V, Crysis, Dishonored, Far Cry 3, Max Payne 3, Borderlands 2 and various other old classics.

Also, does anyone know how well I would be able to overclock the HD 7950? If so, do you know of any great guides or have any tips? Also, if I were to overclock my 3570k, can I just leave the voltages on auto at 4.2 GHz?
 
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Ah, thanks for tips. I saw a few youtube vids of someone with a HAF 912 and a Hyper 212 Evo.

The build is estimated to draw just under 400 watts. I might consider a 600w PSU.
 
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You're planning to overclock ?

If not, you can save some money, that board ain't too good for that too, the i5-3470 performs about the same, i put an easy install aftermaket cooler just to have lower temps(not necessary) and a 7950 sapphire vapor-x (the best 7950 card), the normal sapphire makes a coil whine under load.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS5X Performa CPU Cooler ($16.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($82.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($309.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($53.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $800.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-10 19:14 EST-0500)
 
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no not really the xfx 550w is a great psu it was powering my brother pc , with the z77x-d3h , 3570k , and gtx 670 ftw so i think will be fine with it.
if you want a lil bit wattage increase just for making sure that you are ok look at the seasonic 620W
 
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Really? The reviews I've read and watched say different. They generally agree that this board can easily handle a 4.6 GHz overclock on the i7 3770k. I also feel that if I'm gonna pay $185 for a processor, I may as well put another $20-30 towards a CPU that can exceed the 3470 by 1 GHz. I only plan on overclocking the 3570k to 4.2 GHz. I'm quite certain the ASRock Z77 Pro3 can handle this. Thanks for the input though. I'll take a look at that Vapor X version of the 7950. :)

[Edit]
I actually just found the Gigabyte version of the HD 7950 and I think I'm gonna go with it instead. I like its cooling system and believe I will be able to achieve a higher overclock with it.
 
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It's all good. Thanks for the links. I'll give the Vapor X a closer look. It's not that I don't like it, it's the price that turns me away.

I'll give it some more thought. Until then, I'll give this thread another day or two to gain more replies and ideas and then I'll pick a best answer. Thanks for the feedback thus far guys. It's been fairly helpful.
 
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srry for breaking the budget :/

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master CM 690 II (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $836.49
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-11 15:18 EST-0500)
 
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