Need Advice on BUDGET PC. First time Build.

[SystemicChaos]

Approximate Purchase Date: This month or the next, need to wait for paycheck.


Budget Range: 200 - ? ( Do not know how much I am working. I mainly just want options for when I do get the money. Budget will most likely not go over 700$.)


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, 3D design, internet browsing


Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, speakers


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: nVidia for GPU. Full size tower


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments: Would like a tower with a window, that be sweet.

Mainly I just want opinions and choices for a complete build when I get the money. I wish I could do this by myself, but I am so OCD its not funny. Also my funds are not limitless. :/

Much help appreciated, thanks guys!

 

[008Rohit]

Well, an Core i3 2100 is just fine for gaming, 3D Video editing and normal internet browsing etc and that would save you some money too so that you can get a better GPU for that price. However, you cannot overclock the i3 2100 as it's multiplier is locked. My suggestions :

Processor : Intel Core i3 2100 3.1Ghz - $124.99 - 32nm Sandy Bridge - 2 Cores / 4 Threads.
Motherboard : Intel DH67GDB3 - $104.99 - 4 DDR3 Slots, SATA 6GB/s, USB 3.0
RAM : 8GB (2x4) Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600Mhz - $74.99 - Specially designed for sandy bridge processors
HDD : Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS - $59.99 - 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5"
Case : CoolerMaster Elite 341 - $44.99 - MicroATX Case
Case Fan : CoolerMaster R4 120mm Blue LED fan - $9.99
Power Supply : CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W - $67.99
GPU : Asus GeForce GTX 560 GDDR5 1GB - $194.99

Total : $682.92 (newegg)

 

[manu 11]

i5 2500k 3.3ghz quad core 220$
cooler master haf 912 mid tower case 55$
antec earthwatts green 650w 60$
Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive 40$
Crucial Ballistix sport 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT25664BA1339 30$
GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard 100$
ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM 21$
XFX HD-687A-ZNFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity 180$
total: 706$

 

[wintermint]

Intel Core i3 2100 $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

Stock CPU Cooler

MSI H67MA-E35 $85 [$75 after MIR]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130569

G.Skill Sniper 2x4GB DDR3 1600MHz F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

EVGA Superclocked 01G-P3-1463-KR $210 [$190 after MIR]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168141306645

Cooler Master Elite Mid Tower RC-310-BWN1-GP $40
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Elite-Tower-RC-310-BWN1-GP/dp/B0028ACYMC

XFX Core Edition PRO550W $75 after shipping [$55 after MIR and shipping]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013

Lite-On iHAS123-04 $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

$675 before MIR -> $625 after MIR

I would aim for the i5-2400 if you're still on a strict budget. It's a quad core and has a better L3 cache. This will give the i5-2400 an edge over the i3-2100 in 3D design. The i3-2100 is on par with the i5-2400 in games as no games really utilize more than two cores. I think the i3-2100 will work fine for you overall since gaming comes first. If you find some extra money, go for the i5-2500k along with a $100 Z68 board [P67 works fine]. Amazing overclocking capability, simply a beast. Motherboard is pretty standard, I wouldn't go Intel for motherboards. MSI is a good brand along with Asus and Gigabyte. I will also count ASRock as a good brand. G.SKILL offers quality ram at low prices. Samsung Spinpoint F3 has good performance at low prices. You wanted a tower case with side panel windows but that will probably cut into your budget too much. The Cooler Master Mid Tower I found is blue and has a good side view. There's $25 before $700 that you can invest in shiny LED lighting. The XFX is actually built from Seasonic [Super reliable, no doubt about it].

The last recommendation I would make is to spend a little more and get the 560 ti instead. MSI has a better overclocked one but EVGA offers lifetime warranty. It has better performanc along with good noise and temperature level. Check out this review: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-gtx-560-ti-gf114,2845-16.html

 

[008Rohit]

ahh.. I myself have made a big mistake by buying an Intel DH61WW board.
I didn't know that MSI H67 boards costs only a few dollars more than that. and the shopkeepers in India are well-known for misguiding buyers.

 

[manu 11]

yes rohit, i m also from india, they are total scam, if you have enough knowledge about hardware and prices, they cant misguide.