New Build budget $800-$900

[Nevar]

PCs need to last for several years.

Approximate Purchase Date: Want to order parts this week – probably later today if possible. So parts need to be in stock.

Budget Range: $800-$950.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (Diablo III), Everquest, Skyrim and Internet

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Planning on ordering parts through newegg.com (I do have both a Fry’s and Microcenter local if I need to get some parts there)

Country: Texas (USA)

Parts Preferences: Leaning towards Intel CPU.

Overclocking: I usually do not over clock and will not do so on this computer.

SLI or Crossfire: probably not.

Monitor Resolution: (e.g.: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200) Monitor supports all of the above resolutions (Has a 23 inch Samsung LCD)

Additional Comments: Need this computer to last a couple of years (upgrading parts as needed). I have built several PCs over the years so assembly not a problem.

I am looking to build 2 PCs. One for my brother and one for my mom. My brother wants to be able to play Diablo 3 and surf the internet. (brother is a PS3 user.) My mom plays Everquest and surfs the net. At some point my mom will probably want to play Skyrim.

I have been in the IT industry for over 15 years and have built plenty of PCs but have not been keeping update on latest processors or video cards, etc so I need advice to make sure I am thinking correctly.


My house is hardwired so LAN connection is available.


After doing some research this is the build I have come up with. Please make suggestions or comments. I need this computer to be as reliable as possible.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=14096449


Thanks in advance for any advice given =).

 

[genghiskron]

there are many psu's that are cheaper and just as, if not more reliable than OCZ:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035
500w is PLENTY.

i5-2500k and z68 mobo is meant for overclocking, so youre paying for features you dont need. an i5-2400 and h61 mobo will give you essentially the same performance (a negligable clock speed difference) for alot less:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157236

id recommend a graphics upgrade, as $40 here really counts in terms of performance. id say the hd6870 is the best value available, especially with a ram combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.851281
heres some skyrim benchmarks showing that even the hd6870's little brother, the hd6850, significantly outperforms the gtx 550 ti:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/skyrim-performance-benchmark,3074-5.html

im not familiar with that case, but keep in mind that neither the asrock extreme3, nor the mobo i linked have internal usb 3.0 headers, so you may not be able to use the usb 3.0 front ports.

 

[Guest]

to get a general feel for the components before getting into specific models and before a dozen gaming builders come in here and start insisting on a Z68 motherboard with a i5 2500K to overclock:

if both builds are just general gaming with browsing the internet a i3 2120 for a CPU will suffice esp since you are not going to overclock. a quad core processor would be better if using software for video encoding or compressing large rar or zip files. if you want a little comfort room than an i5 2300 would be that.

a H67 chipset motherboard is an sufficient and economic choice if you are not overclocking. it has a onboard video out that comes in handy to trouble shoot any problems with a discreet graphic card and depending on the model has enough bell and whistles as any other chipset. btw, just about any mobo has an onboard ethernet LAN.

4 Gbs of DDR3 1333 RAM is more than enough for gaming and general purpose use.

for the games you have listed, a mid level graphics card will work like a Nvidia 550ti or a Radoen HD 6850; the 6850 is a little cheaper and better performing.

a 1 Tb sata III with 65 Mb cache is fast enough for a storage solution.

considering all the above parts a quality PSU of 450 watts would suffice. with not over clocking and using a lower power graphics solution there isn't a need for more than a 16 amp 12 volt rail. Antec, Corsair, XFX, and Silerstone are a few good manufacturers.

 

[Zero_]

Check the $800 build in my sig. Should suit your need perfectly.

 

[Guest]

Check the $800 build in my sig. Should suit your need perfectly.

why do i only see the comments?

 

[Zero_]

why do i only see the comments?

Adblock on? Sorry, the components of each build are direct links from Amazon. They are identified as ads :-/

 

[Nevar]

there are many psu's that are cheaper and just as, if not more reliable than OCZ:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035
500w is PLENTY.

i5-2500k and z68 mobo is meant for overclocking, so youre paying for features you dont need. an i5-2400 and h61 mobo will give you essentially the same performance (a negligable clock speed difference) for alot less:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157236

id recommend a graphics upgrade, as $40 here really counts in terms of performance. id say the hd6870 is the best value available, especially with a ram combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.851281
heres some skyrim benchmarks showing that even the hd6870's little brother, the hd6850, significantly outperforms the gtx 550 ti:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/skyrim-performance-benchmark,3074-5.html

im not familiar with that case, but keep in mind that neither the asrock extreme3, nor the mobo i linked have internal usb 3.0 headers, so you may not be able to use the usb 3.0 front ports.

Thank you for replying.

I like the antec power supply you recommend. I have had good luck with Antec in the past and the price is nice.

I would really llike to have USB connected on the front of the PC. It will be hard to reach the back of the PC where they will be sitting. Is there another mobo you recommend?

 

[Nevar]

to get a general feel for the components before getting into specific models and before a dozen gaming builders come in here and start insisting on a Z68 motherboard with a i5 2500K to overclock:

if both builds are just general gaming with browsing the internet a i3 2120 for a CPU will suffice esp since you are not going to overclock. a quad core processor would be better if using software for video encoding or compressing large rar or zip files. if you want a little comfort room than an i5 2300 would be that.

a H67 chipset motherboard is an sufficient and economic choice if you are not overclocking. it has a onboard video out that comes in handy to trouble shoot any problems with a discreet graphic card and depending on the model has enough bell and whistles as any other chipset. btw, just about any mobo has an onboard ethernet LAN.

4 Gbs of DDR3 1333 RAM is more than enough for gaming and general purpose use.

for the games you have listed, a mid level graphics card will work like a Nvidia 550ti or a Radoen HD 6850; the 6850 is a little cheaper and better performing.

a 1 Tb sata III with 65 Mb cache is fast enough for a storage solution.

considering all the above parts a quality PSU of 450 watts would suffice. with not over clocking and using a lower power graphics solution there isn't a need for more than a 16 amp 12 volt rail. Antec, Corsair, XFX, and Silerstone are a few good manufacturers.

Thank you for replying. Your advice makes sense to me.

Your reply was helpful. If the PC where for me then gamers would be the ones I need, but since its for my mom and brothers PC they will probably never need a PC on the high end.

It figures that I would be over buying on the power supply.

 

[genghiskron]

after further examining that cougar case, it looks like you wont actually need an internal usb 3.0 header, because the front usb 3.0 port will connect to a rear usb 3.0 port on the mobo using a cable that passes through an opening in the back of the case.

i didnt notice that you lived near a microcenter. they currently offer $50 off a z68 mobo and i5-2500k (add both to your cart and see).
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0375352
imo, that deal is far too good to turn down, but i agree that an i3-2120 would suffice for current needs.

i think its absurd to get only 4gb of ram when you consider the current price of 8gb ram kits. remember when you only needed 512mb? me too.