final run at i5/HP makeover - minecraft, mid-gaming & image management

[bluegrass dude]

This build will be used mostly by my son (hence the case and lights) for minecraft with recording and uploading video and some mid-level gaming. I will use it mostly for internet surfing and MS Office and still and video image editing and management. Anything excessive or lacking? Hope to get 3-4 good years or more before a full build for him to go to college. All critiques welcome. Do I need thermal paste when I put it all back together since I'm not replacing the CPU cooler?

Retained parts are from a 2012 HP Pavilion that the mother board died so taking the opportunity to upgrade a bit. Final budget needs to be about $600 for listed components. Will upgrade RAM later unless not compatible.
Thanks for all comments.

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/j7xtLk) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/j7xtLk/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-3330 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i53330) | Purchased For $0.00
**Motherboard** | [Asus P8H77-V ATX LGA1155 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-p8h77v) | $84.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st31000528as) | Purchased For $0.00
**Video Card** | [Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx750tioc2gd5) | $119.99 @ NCIX US
**Case** | [Zalman ZM-Z9 U3 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-case-zmz9u3) | $67.81 @ Mwave
**Power Supply** | [Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx500m) | $59.99 @ Amazon
**Optical Drive** | [HP 447328-B21 DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/hp-optical-drive-447328b21) | Purchased For $0.00
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-gfc02050) | $84.98 @ OutletPC
**Monitor** | [BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/benq-monitor-gl2460hm) | $129.99 @ Amazon
**Case Fan** | [Cooler Master R4-L4S-10AB-GP 60.9 CFM 140mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-fan-r4l4s10abgp) | $9.98 @ OutletPC
**Keyboard** | [Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-keyboard-sgb3010kkmf1us) | $27.75 @ NCIX US
**Other**| Logisys 12" Cold Cathode Case Lights - 2 Piece (Blue)| $9.89
**Other**| WD MyBook 3 TB| Purchased For $0.00
**Other**| Generic made in china RAM 6GB (4+2)| Purchased For $0.00
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $595.37
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-18 08:57 EDT-0400 |

 

[tiny voices]

Change the PSU. the CX units are not the best quality. Get an XFX550.

I would recommend a cheaper case and no lights. Use the saved money for a better GPU if he wants to record other AAA games. A 750ti is good, but it isn't going to be running most games at high settings while recording.

You will have to remove the cooler from the cPU to install it in the new motherboard so yes you must properly clean the CPU and cooler and then re apply thermal paste correctly when you install it on the new board.

 

[Joseph DeGarmo]

You'll need a better PSU than the CX500. This one is a better quality unit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013

 

[bluegrass dude]

Change the PSU. the CX units are not the best quality. Get an XFX550.

I would recommend a cheaper case and no lights. Use the saved money for a better GPU if he wants to record other AAA games. A 750ti is good, but it isn't going to be running most games at high settings while recording.

Thanks! I'm not a fan of the case but he is putting his money in for that.
Would this GPU be better?
SAPPHIRE DUAL-X 100365L Radeon R9 270 2GB 256-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 Video Card With BOOST & OC http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=Radeon+r270&N=-1&isNodeId=1

 

[tiny voices]

Yes that GPU will be much better. Get that and the XFX PSU and it will be a great mid-level gaming computer.

 

[bluegrass dude]

Yes that GPU will be much better. Get that and the XFX PSU and it will be a great mid-level gaming computer.

Thanks!