First Gaming Rig

[fizzermech]

Hey guys just wanted to get your opinion on my build. This is my first build and I would like to keep it around $1000 but am flexible up to $1300 with everything included. I pretty much set on everything except the graphics card and the mother board especially. Any suggestions on the best chipsets for mobos? Im new to the game. Not really sure if i need a cpu cooler or not either. I appreciate any suggestions or advice.

CPU Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core
CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ball Bearing
Motherboard Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155
Memory Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600
Storage Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM
Video Card XFX Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB
Case Inwin Dragon Rider ATX Full Tower
Power Supply SeaSonic 620W ATX12V / EPS12V
Optical Drive Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer
Monitor Asus VH236H 23.0"
Operating System Microsoft Windows 8 Full (64-bit)
Mouse Mionix Naos 3200 Wired Optical

 

[butremor]

Your build could do a few changes, but i need more info from you. Thanks
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/353572-13-build-upgrade-advice

 

[fizzermech]

Thankyou for the advice and the link butremor, sorry Im pretty new to this site. Looking forward to advice on my proper post now ha. Thanks again thats a great template.


Approximate Purchase Date: This upcoming spring/summer 2013

Budget Range: 900-1300 after shipping and tax, everything included

System Usage from Most to Least Important:
- schoolwork (photoshop, illustrator, rhino, revit, vray rendering, autocad)
- gaming (far cry 3, blacklight retribution, arma II, Crysis 2 & 3, LOL)

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Parts to Upgrade: starting from scratch

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: doesnt matter, love newegg but they dont always have the lowest (www.pcpartpicker.com is great)

Location: Rochester, NY

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, In Win Case, no other preferences due to lack of knowledge

Overclocking: eventually

SLI or Crossfire: no

Your Monitor Resolution: not sure, I will be getting either a 20" or 23"

Additional Comments: Doesn't need to be an extreme gaming pc but I want something that will last me at least a few years. Pretty set on the case and the i5. Will play a couple of the top games. Right now I prefer xbox games over pc, but hoping to change that with a bomb ass pc that can run the cross platform games since steam is so good to me with sales 😉

Why Are You Upgrading: Laptop is about 2 years old and it doesnt run games well. Also dont use a laptop for its mobile purpose.

Build Current Parts List:

CPU Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i53570k

CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ball Bearing
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-cpu-cooler-cnps9500at

Motherboard Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-p8z77vlk

Memory Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cml8gx3m2a1600c9

Storage Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-hd103sj

Video Card XFX Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-fx787acdbc

Case Inwin Dragon Rider ATX Full Tower
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/inwin-case-dragonrider

Power Supply SeaSonic 620W ATX12V / EPS12V
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-m12ii620bronze

Optical Drive Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sony-optical-drive-ad7280s0b

Monitor Asus VH236H 23.0"
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-vh236h

Operating System Microsoft Windows 8 Full (64-bit)
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-885370414059

Mouse Mionix Naos 3200 Wired Optical
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/mionix-mouse-000mio3200m


Total Build Cost: $1259.57 (would like to lower but I dont know where I should make the sacrafice)

 

[butremor]

Hi, so i revised your build a bit, hope you like it
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($90.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($231.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Inwin Dragon Rider ATX Full Tower Case ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Mionix Naos 3200 Wired Optical Mouse ($47.83 @ Amazon)
Total: $1247.71
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-20 10:14 EST-0500)

 

[fizzermech]

Thanks for the response. Could you quickly explain your changes? The motherboard is what im really curious about. When I was building it, it came down to the asrock and the asus. They both use the same Z77 chipset so I was wondering why the asrock and not asus? Also is there any reason for the mushkin rather than corsair? And one reason I wanted at least 650W is in case I upgrade later on Ill never have to worry about my power supply. Maybe thats thinking too far ahead though. And windows 7? Any other reason besides personal preference why not windows 8? Also I know I said I wanted to save money but if its a matter of under $50 or $60 then Id rather just go with the better brands

 

[butremor]

The higher the price on motherboard, the more features you're paying for you most likely won't use, but price is trumper up. But your selected asus mobo is actually good( and with promo code it's the same price), i just switched to asrock to stay in budget.
Mushkin is cheaper, but quality is just as good as corsair.
With parts you're ordering i don't think you'll need an upgrade until it's time to get new pc. But to be on the safe side you can bump to 600w psu. Of course, if you want to have an option of adding second GPU later, you need at least 750w.
Win7 because win8 seems still fresh to me,to put it on gaming machine. But that your choice in the end.

 

[fizzermech]

appreciate the advice. good stuff to know. I think ill take your advice and get cheaper ram and downgrade my PSU. Any knowledge how how good PNY ram is? theyve got real low prices and they just plain look badass in metallic yellow

 

[butremor]

Sorry, no idea, but if you're using newegg or amazon, there should be some customer feedback on pny ram

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

I can't say from an overclocking perspective, but PNY has been around a while, so I would think they are reliable. I've used ram of theirs in the past without much issues.

 

[fizzermech]

ok thanks. They have almost 5 stars so I think Im gonna stick with it

 

[fizzermech]

Best answer selected by fizzermech.