New builder need help!

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hardock152

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Feb 25, 2013
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Hey guys,

So as the title says, i'm new to building computers (at least on my own) and i'm looking to build a pretty decent gaming rig for right about 500-600 (not including accessories or windows in the price range) and I have put together my build (getting most of it through micro center or newegg, any chance you guys can look it over and tell me how it works any compatibility issues or any ways i can improve (yes price means quite a bit to me so a small drop in performance for a large drop in price would be worthwhile)

Just for the sake of argumentas well my main uses are pretty simple, i play mostly WoW and League of legends, with some battlefield and minor shooters and would like a computer that run the first 2 on high-ultra settings pretty well, and the latter perhaps on medium settings.

So the build is:

Graphics
MSI radeon 7770:
http://www.microcenter.com/product/385422/R77702PMD1GD5OC_AMD_Radeon_HD_7770_OC_1024MB_GDDR5_PCIe_30_x16_Video_Card

CPU:

Intel i5 3470
http://www.microcenter.com/product/400664/Core_i5_3470_32GHz_LGA_1155_Boxed_Processor

RAM
Crucial balistix 8gb ram
http://www.microcenter.com/product/382101/Ballistix_Sport_8GB_DDR3-1600_(PC3-12800)_CL9_Dual_Channel_Desktop_Memory_Kit_(Two_4GB_Memory_Modules)

HDD
http://www.microcenter.com/product/375261/Deskstar_7K1000C_1TB_7,200_RPM_SATA_30Gb-s_35_Internal_Hard_Drive_0F13183_-_Bare_Drive

Power Supply
Thermaltake 600w
http://www.microcenter.com/product/365238/TR2_Series_600_Watt_ATX_Power_Supply

Motherboard
Asus F2A55
http://www.microcenter.com/product/401780/F2A55-M-CSM_FM2_mATX_AMD_Motherboard

case:
http://www.microcenter.com/product/351733/EVO_Mid_Tower_ATX_Computer_Case

Also i should say i made these choices with something in mind, I do not intend in the future to OC this pc in any way, I am not confident in my abilities in these areas. Thanks in advance for the help guys!!!
 
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Well you have some problems

You have an intel processor against a AMD motherboard. Need to change one or the other.

You have a micro ATX board with an ATX case. That will work but realize you have room for an ATX motherboard if you want.

The TT psu has had issues lately. I would go with a good 500W supply. Brands like Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, XFX, PC Power and Cooling, Enermax to name a few.

Use this link to build it. It will make sure everything is compatible and can find the lowest price (usually).
http://pcpartpicker.com/

After you use it you can post the results.
 
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Thanks for the help jnk in advance means a lot, i'm not sure if i;m completely over my head but figured i'd really like to try this (something i've always wanted) real nice to have a community to help. This website is great. So the link is:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FXGA

and the parts i've chose (yes they do stay within my budget still)

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus P8H77-M/CSM Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.D 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($96.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS/I Snow Edition (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq Plus 550W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DVDE818A7T/BLK/B/GEN CD Reader, DVD Writer ($19.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Full (32/64-bit) ($162.59 @ Amazon)
Total: $792.49
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-25 16:50 EST-0500)

it should be said that on microcenter this keeps me in the $700 area despite the sites this has chosen, so that being said will this perform well? under kill over kill, room for improvement, i admit complete foolishness in this area so any and all advice is welcome and enjoyed.

Thanks in advance!
 
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for a "pretty decent gaming rig", I'm worried about the 7770. Is there any chance of at least a 7850? You might need to drop to an i3 to manage it, but, trust me, building GPU heavy (spending more the GPU) usually makes for better gaming performance.
 
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I'm not sure you need more for the games you listed:

WoW and League of legends, with some battlefield and minor shooters and would like a computer that run the first 2 on high-ultra settings pretty well, and the latter perhaps on medium settings.


but I don't play those so I am not certain.
 
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PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FY7I
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FY7I/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FY7I/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($122.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 750GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.07 @ Compuvest)
Video Card: Diamond Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($219.00 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($18.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $720.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-25 17:19 EST-0500)

Ok, give this a try. I've opted for a cheper CPU, and reallocated the money to the GPU. I chose a Z77 motherboard so, in the future, you can drop in a cooler and an i5-3570k when finances are more permitting. After rebates, it comes in around $700 (including the OS). If you're already sorted on that front though, you could get a better HDD/SSD.
 
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Very true! Also, I suppose the OP could upgrade/xfire it in the future. I suppose it's down to personal preference of the OP.
 
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alright i tried to work in the 7850, dropped a little bit on the motherboard to swing it and switched a few things to newegg to save some money, how about this:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FYag

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.79 @ Amazon)
Storage: Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 500GB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($169.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Apevia X-Plorer2 Black/Red ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq Plus 550W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $639.27
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-25 17:23 EST-0500)

note has "minor issue" with "ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard has an onboard USB 3.0 header, but the Apevia X-Plorer2 Black/Red ATX Mid Tower Case does not have front panel USB 3.0 ports."

is this worth changing the case (anyone have any suggestions if so) i know i sound picky but a halfway decent looking case means a little to me, ultimately i am practicle obviously performance will always be better then appeal, but worth saying. Thanks again for the suggestions, does the 7850 make it look any more appealing?
 
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try this build

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FYBz

I kept your case so I didn't check for front USB 3.0 header

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 750GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS/I Snow Edition (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DVDE818A7T/BLK/B/GEN CD Reader, DVD Writer ($19.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC) [
b]Total:[/b] $758.89 (Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.) (Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-25 17:55 EST-0500)
 
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So I have looked through and been pricing out the above builds (thanks for investing the time guys) I was just curious as to one thing. As I said I am an avid WoW player which tends to be CPU intensive, is there any chance with the i3 build that i would receive a bottlekneck.

In other words is it better for me to go i5 and a 7850 or an i3 with a 7870. THanks again for the investment, and I understand I'm kind of asking for some theorycrafting hear but the benchmarks dont seem to give a definitive answer
 
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CPU: Intel i5-3570k $215

Underrated CPU, performs well in benchmarks.

Video Card: AMD Radeon HIS IceQ $200

Price approximate. Excellent GPU, make sure you case is wide enough, as this is triple wide and long. Be prepared for a case mod if necessary. Otherwise get a different 7870.

RAM: Kingston 8 GB $25

~$20 on Amazon. Good deal.

Hard Drive: Western Digital Black 500 GB $80

Power Supply: Corsair CX500 $30

MB: Cheapest FM2 you can find ~$40(?)

Case: You have $50 to play with.

*All prices after rebates and promos. I recommend you buy off Newegg, NCIX US/Canada, or Amazon. In three years upgrade the video card to something to hold you over for a year, then take out a few parts and rebuild if you wish. If you mainly play LoL and WoW though, I'd go for a $400 system. Just get a good processor, you can upgrade the video card later.
 
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That's what I was referring too when the folks said you needed to upgrade the 7770. I don't play WOW but I understand it is not that graphics intensive. I think you should stay with the i5 and 7850.
 
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Hey kwl (as well as anyone else who cares)

all my components have been ordered and are on their way, next week is spring break so i will be building it (probably around Wednesday, and i will g;ad;y come back and post my fps and settings in all of the games i mentioned so everyone can know how it worked out.

Thanks again guys,
D
 
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Hell again everybody, I am very sorry for such a late response, took a little longer for some peices to come in so i started later in the week. So as promised I have my fps on the game i mentioned below but first this is the final component list (generalized didnt want to search for links) Also I only have a 1600x900 resolution screen for now so all data will be given in respect to that resolution ( know i need a new monitor)

Motherboard:
MSI z77 ($99 model)

Processor:
i5 3470 ivy

GPU:
radeon HIS 7770

Power supply:
Cosair builder 500w

case:
MSI thermaltake commander snow edition

Ram
8gb (2X4 gb) kingston blu

Here is my experience:
League of legends ultra settings (1600x900 resolution)
-80 fps sustained
-peak 102 fps
-low 60 fps

World of warcraft Ultra settings (1600x900)
-70 fps sustained
-90 fps peak
-40 fps low (when a lot of textures are going on namely a 25 man raid still very playable)

Battlefield (high settings 1600x900)
-55 fps sustained
-65 fps peak
-40 fps low

I did want to note on battlefield three that i show almost no lag on high settings even though the recommended settings are mid for this build.

For a little additional information on this build after about a week:

-case is absolutely gorgeous and smartly made, feels sturdy, room for fans at the top is limited but not unusable as some reviews say, i would buy this case again instantly.
-The processor is working incredibly, ultra quick and the stock heat sink is very good, i run about 30 degrees c normal, about 35 under load with no issues whatsoever.
-I am running three fans total (one top, one bottom, and one top back corner) and i seem to have ample airflow
-The graphics card is probably my biggest disappointment, i feel it would have been worthwhile to save a little for the 7850 at least, while this card is working very well (runs cold and quiet) my battlefield fps is lower then i would like, but overall still a GREAT card for the cost.

If anyone wants further elaboration on anything i said here just post it here I will gladly respond with my experiences, i know how much research is involved in building and i hope by posting this info on the same thread that people will find some answers for what they are looking for
 
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