Building My FIRST computer (Need Help/Suggestions)

[sirbackstab]

So I am beginning the path that most of you have probably already gone down. But just for reference lets state my limitations. I am a high school student who works part time so my budget is around $520 or less. I like to game but the normal laptop that I have just barely does what i want to do gaming wise. Im not to picky with graphic quality obviously sense i have used a craptop to game on, which means i use the lowest settings possible, so maxed settings is not that important to me. I mostly play TF2 (Main Game), borderlands 2, Batman Arkham Series, but the frames in tf2 are very low in the 20-30 fps range, along with constant updates keeping it in that range and sometimes it dips lower. So I have decided I want to build a desktop. As stated above I have a $520 budget and the case i plan to use is a HAF 912 and I am looking for the most bang for my buck. Also just because my budget is $520 that doesnt mean I am not open to good cheaper builds under $500 (like $430-$500). I am mainly looking for performance, like smooth high fps, in my main game (TF2) with maxed settings if possible. I have done some research like using Logical Increments to help me learn a little but i need personal assistance to help sort all possibilities.


Notes:
Have a case : HAF 912

Have a mouse : Razer Deathadder 2013

Have a keyboard : Nothing special just your basic USB keyboard, if your have good suggestions on good perforance/price keyboards post them please.

Have a monitor : Nothing really special however but it has good resolution.

 

[Rugnir_Viking]

So I am beginning the path that most of you have probably already gone down. But just for reference lets state my limitations. I am a high school student who works part time so my budget is around $520 or less. I like to game but the normal laptop that I have just barely does what i want to do gaming wise. Im not to picky with graphic quality obviously sense i have used a craptop to game on, which means i use the lowest settings possible, so maxed settings is not that important to me. I mostly play TF2 (Main Game), borderlands 2, Batman Arkham Series, but the frames in tf2 are very low in the 20-30 fps range, along with constant updates keeping it in that range and sometimes it dips lower. So I have decided I want to build a desktop. As stated above I have a $520 budget and the case i plan to use is a HAF 912 and I am looking for the most bang for my buck. Also just because my budget is $520 that doesnt mean I am not open to good cheaper builds under $500 (like $430-$500). I am mainly looking for performance, like smooth high fps, in my main game (TF2) with maxed settings if possible. I have done some research like using Logical Increments to help me learn a little but i need personal assistance to help sort all possibilities.


Notes:
Have a case : HAF 912

Have a mouse : Razer Deathadder 2013

Have a keyboard : Nothing special just your basic USB keyboard, if your have good suggestions on good perforance/price keyboards post them please.

Have a monitor : Nothing really special however but it has good resolution.

Okay i will try to think of a build for you. It would be useful to know exactly what resolution monitor you will be using as this greatly affects graphics performance.

 

[Rugnir_Viking]

Okay sorry it took me a little while:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-2120 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($107.94 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: A-Data XPG Gaming Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($48.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $509.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-05 15:34 EST-0500)

 

[Rugnir_Viking]

As you can see that build comes in a little under your price budget. I understand alot of first time builders place alot of faith in how much ram but 4gb should be plenty for such games. even the highest top-end games will only use about 4gb ram when on the best details, but that wouldnt leave much room for the operating system so most of the best gaming pcs go with 8gb. however i thought you might want a better graphics card so i chose 4gb which is still plenty.

Here is a video recorded by somebody with the same graphics card as the one i suggested getting 60fps while reccording and he claims 300fps while not recording:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vDFNGwoSf4

I left the small price gap for you to choose a keyboard as its mostly about personal choice:
Do you like thick keys or thin
Do you want glowing lights
Do you want macro keys
Do you want a squared blocky keyboard or a smooth curved one
etc...

Also i am based in england so mostly i do not know about good deals in the US

 

[sirbackstab]

So I am beginning the path that most of you have probably already gone down. But just for reference lets state my limitations. I am a high school student who works part time so my budget is around $520 or less. I like to game but the normal laptop that I have just barely does what i want to do gaming wise. Im not to picky with graphic quality obviously sense i have used a craptop to game on, which means i use the lowest settings possible, so maxed settings is not that important to me. I mostly play TF2 (Main Game), borderlands 2, Batman Arkham Series, but the frames in tf2 are very low in the 20-30 fps range, along with constant updates keeping it in that range and sometimes it dips lower. So I have decided I want to build a desktop. As stated above I have a $520 budget and the case i plan to use is a HAF 912 and I am looking for the most bang for my buck. Also just because my budget is $520 that doesnt mean I am not open to good cheaper builds under $500 (like $430-$500). I am mainly looking for performance, like smooth high fps, in my main game (TF2) with maxed settings if possible. I have done some research like using Logical Increments to help me learn a little but i need personal assistance to help sort all possibilities.


Notes:
Have a case : HAF 912

Have a mouse : Razer Deathadder 2013

Have a keyboard : Nothing special just your basic USB keyboard, if your have good suggestions on good perforance/price keyboards post them please.

Have a monitor : Nothing really special however but it has good resolution.

Okay i will try to think of a build for you. It would be useful to know exactly what resolution monitor you will be using as this greatly affects graphics performance.

As you can see that build comes in a little under your price budget. I understand alot of first time builders place alot of faith in how much ram but 4gb should be plenty for such games. even the highest top-end games will only use about 4gb ram when on the best details, but that wouldnt leave much room for the operating system so most of the best gaming pcs go with 8gb. however i thought you might want a better graphics card so i chose 4gb which is still plenty.

Here is a video recorded by somebody with the same graphics card as the one i suggested getting 60fps while reccording and he claims 300fps while not recording:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vDFNGwoSf4

I left the small price gap for you to choose a keyboard as its mostly about personal choice:
Do you like thick keys or thin
Do you want glowing lights
Do you want macro keys
Do you want a squared blocky keyboard or a smooth curved one
etc...

Also i am based in england so mostly i do not know about good deals in the US

So my monitor resolution is 1440x900

 

[Rugnir_Viking]

Yeah that setup should run alot of of older games like tf2 very very well at that resolution, and alot of newer games pretty well if you teak with the settings. generally 1920x1080 is the 'standard' resolution for gaming nowadays so at 1440x900 that gpu should balst along very nicely. Good luck with it!

 

[sora]

Okay sorry it took me a little while:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-2120 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($107.94 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: A-Data XPG Gaming Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($48.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $509.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-05 15:34 EST-0500)

Go with this build. It will definitely run all the games you are going to play on high settings.

 

[sirbackstab]

Hey im thinking of getting a new monitor you wouldnt happen to have any suggestions?