New build around $800

[stanley1234]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next couple of weeks

Budget Range: $700-800 after rebates and shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: internet browsing and some gaming (Strategy and RPG/FPS [e.g. Total War, CIV, Fallout New Vegas, Skyrim, Borderlands 2 etc])

Are you buying a monitor: No, I have a 1920x1080

Do you need to buy OS: Yes (I plan to get Windows 8 unless there is some reason to get 7)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, Newegg, or any other reputable online retailer

Location: City, State/Region, Country - Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Parts Preferences: Intel quad-core

Overclocking: Maybe but not essential

SLI or Crossfire: No (I'll get a newer card if need be in the future)

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Don't need a flashy computer as it is just there to run my monitor. Simpler case would be better

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: my 4 year old laptop is ... well ... getting old

Here is what I was thinking. I used pcpartspicker (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pYeE)

i5-3570k
ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX
Gskill Ripjaw X 8 GB
Samsung 840 120 GB
Diamond 7850 2GB
NZXT Gamma Classic
OCZ Fatality 550W 80 Plus
DVD Burner
Windows 8


About $800.

I have an old 320 gb hard drive to use for internal storage and an external for backups. Also can I scrounge up any old Sata DVD burner (ie. out of an old dell) and have it work?

Any comments are appreciated as I have only install video cards, RAM, and Harddrives in the past.

 

[jmsellars1]

Looks fine to me and yeah any 5.25'' SATA internal optical drive should be fine.

Personally I'd get Windows 7 on the basis that it is designed for PC's and it's tried and tested. Windows 8 seems to be aimed towards the touch screen/tablet market and is still young so may suffer from incompatibility issues.

 

[CaptainTom]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next couple of weeks

Budget Range: $700-800 after rebates and shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: internet browsing and some gaming (Strategy and RPG/FPS [e.g. Total War, CIV, Fallout New Vegas, Skyrim, Borderlands 2 etc])

Are you buying a monitor: No, I have a 1920x1080

Do you need to buy OS: Yes (I plan to get Windows 8 unless there is some reason to get 7)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, Newegg, or any other reputable online retailer

Location: City, State/Region, Country - Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Parts Preferences: Intel quad-core

Overclocking: Maybe but not essential

SLI or Crossfire: No (I'll get a newer card if need be in the future)

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Don't need a flashy computer as it is just there to run my monitor. Simpler case would be better

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: my 4 year old laptop is ... well ... getting old

Here is what I was thinking. I used pcpartspicker (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pYeE)

i5-3570k
ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX
Gskill Ripjaw X 8 GB
Samsung 840 120 GB
Diamond 7850 2GB
NZXT Gamma Classic
OCZ Fatality 550W 80 Plus
DVD Burner
Windows 8


About $800.

I have an old 320 gb hard drive to use for internal storage and an external for backups. Also can I scrounge up any old Sata DVD burner (ie. out of an old dell) and have it work?

Any comments are appreciated as I have only install video cards, RAM, and Harddrives in the past.

I recomend you get a cheaper (But still good 500w psu), a cheaper case, and get a 7870. The 7870 is only about $30 more and gives a substantial performance increase.

 

[sktittles]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pZys
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pZys/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pZys/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.70 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8B75-V ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($214.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Tempest 210 ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 520W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($58.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($79.99 @ CompUSA)
Total: $859.58
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-28 16:08 EST-0500)

I wouldn't get a SSD right now. If you were spending 900-1000 I would recommend one. This is a good build, but it hits 900 with a SSD and the combination of an OS.

I would get rid of the SSD for right now unless the 900 is acceptable. I would get a 7950 honestly instead of a SSD. You will get better FPS in games, your loading times will be a little longer, but gameplay overall the SSD wont affect FPS.

 

[boulbox]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($28.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Sandisk Extreme 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($66.27 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($20.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $781.19
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-28 16:36 EST-0500)