Attempting My First Build - <$1K Gaming PC

Zeke14

Honorable
May 3, 2012
12
0
10,510
Like the title says, I'm going to attempt my first build. Picked out some components on newegg and was looking for comments on any poor selections in terms of unnecessary or inadequate specs or just plain bad choices as well as suggestions on how to save some cash (came out to be just under $1K, was hoping to be closer to$ 800). Below are my initial selections (and prices) followed by a description of my computer needs/wants.

What's in my cart:
- Mobo - ASUS Sabertooth 990FX AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS - ($185)
- CPU - AMD FX-6200 Zambezi 3.8GHz (4.1GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor FD6200FRGUBOX ($170)
- GPU - XFX Double D HD-687A-ZDFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity ($160)
- Power -Diablotek UL Series PSUL775 775W ATX 12V v2.31 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply ($70)
- Memory - GeIL Enhance CORSA 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model GEC316GB1600C9QC ($90)
- HDD - Western Digital Caviar Green WD5000AZRX 500GB IntelliPower SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($85)
- Case - COOLER MASTER Elite 430 RC-430-KWN1 Black Steel / Plastic Computer Case ($50)
- OS - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM ($100)
- DVDRW - ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM ($20)
- Other - Fans, LEDs, thermal compound, shipping, etc. ($40)

Total: ~$970

Approximate Purchase Date: This month
Budget Range: $800 - $1000 - Components I've picked out currently are at the higher side of the range, was looking to save a bit.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (D3, SC2 and CS:GO mainly) > everything else
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com
Parts Preferences: None
Overclocking: Perhaps eventually, maybe in lieu of upgrading a component
SLI or Crossfire: Same as above - go to dual cards before a replacement
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: I'd like a windowed case for some silly reason. I plan to use this rig for a prolonged period with relitively minor upgrading - I'll likely just add an additional GPU, maybe a SSD for the OS, and eventually overclock the setup - that was my rationalle for the 16GB of RAM and the option to do crossfire.
 
Solution
Do not, repeat do *NOT* buy a Diablotek PSU - they are a truly truly awful PSU manufacturer with a reputation of their PSUs blowing up in the user's faces. I would not go with the FX on any build when a $70 Pentium G620 outperforms an FX-8150.

For $1K you can do way better - the PSU is flat out junk, and the FX isn't a good choice, and the fans and extra thermal compound are a waste of money.

Here's what I would get for $1K


Case: Fractal Design Arc MIDI - $109.99
PSU: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX750 - $104.99 ($20.00 MIR)
Motherboard: Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 - $139.99
CPU: 3.4GHz Intel Core i5-3570K - $249.99
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $34.99
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB...

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Do not, repeat do *NOT* buy a Diablotek PSU - they are a truly truly awful PSU manufacturer with a reputation of their PSUs blowing up in the user's faces. I would not go with the FX on any build when a $70 Pentium G620 outperforms an FX-8150.

For $1K you can do way better - the PSU is flat out junk, and the FX isn't a good choice, and the fans and extra thermal compound are a waste of money.

Here's what I would get for $1K


Case: Fractal Design Arc MIDI - $109.99
PSU: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX750 - $104.99 ($20.00 MIR)
Motherboard: Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 - $139.99
CPU: 3.4GHz Intel Core i5-3570K - $249.99
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $34.99
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB 1333MHz - $42.99
HD: 1TB Seagate Barracuda ST - $99.99
Optical: Lite On Bulk DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 - $259.99

Total: $1,060.91 - $20.00 MIR = $1,040.91

It's a little bit over budget but I would buy the Corsair PSU over the Diablotek any day of the week - you do not want to get a junk PSU and then have it explode in your face, I've had that happen and it sucks every time. The i5 is far better than any AMD system right now and the GPU is really killer.
 
Solution