[Solved] Help with a black friday ~700USD budget build

[dkjedi]

hi, i'm trying to put together a decent black friday build to build on later.
Thank You For your time.


Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: Black friday (12/23/2012)

Budget Range: 800 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, everyday use(web surfing, netflix, office)

Are you buying a monitor: Not now will be later intended resolution will be 1920x1080

Parts to Upgrade: everything, only thing i will keep is my old dvd burner.

Do you need to buy OS: No will be dual booting linux and maybe XP if i transfer my license from my laptop. (yes XP is full retail)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts:newegg.com

Location: Seattle, W.A., USA - no microcenter

Parts Preferences: intel and nvidia, always had better luck in linux with nvidia, but that could be changed. but must be a intel cpu

Overclocking: not now but in the future, once i learn

SLI or Crossfire: not now but in the future most maybe

Your Monitor Resolution:1600x1200 currently, after i buy monitor 1920x1080 or1920x1200

Additional Comments: main purpose is to run skyrim better a.k.a with HD textures. The texures i want require a video card with more than 1GB VRAM.

Why Are You Upgrading: i'm upgrading from a 4 or 5 year old laptop that struggles with Skyrim. The laptop i have has a 8700m geforce in it. Considering getting a pc without a video card and using onboard till i can get more money for better graphics card. I want a good starting platform i can add to later(more memory, better video, new monitor).

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($127.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti 2GB Video Card ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $676.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-23 00:52 EST-0500)

 

[cutebeans]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G41 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($45.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $654.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-23 01:04 EST-0500)

Better by a mile. The 1600 x 1200 is a pretty decent monitor. Stick with it.

 

[dkjedi]

thanks for the response. just a few questions.

Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G41 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)

can only do crossfire at x16+x4 will that really mater? not sure if i will even crossfire, just want build to last as long as possable.
is the 650W enough to CF 2x7870 if i go that route?
again thank you for your time.

 

[cutebeans]

I doubt you would need to go to a CF route especially since the 7870 is really nice on its own.

Don't worry about it. The 7870 will last a long time. You would need to go dual monitors just so that the CF will make sense.

err back to the original question though.
An Asrock z77 Extreme3 would be better since it is 8x/8x. The board I chose is not for CF.

650w can handle the 7870 CF btw.

 

[dkjedi]

great i will most likely order your first build, in the morning. Your most likely right about the CF so i think i will save the $40 and get the MSI motherboard.
the 1600x1200 is a old huge CRT that is the only reason i was thinking of getting a new monitor.
Thanks again

 

[cutebeans]

OMG CRT?!

Buy a good old 1920 x 1080 monitor!

$110 21.5 Samsung LED monitor at newegg.

 

[cutebeans]

Omg, we have to makes on your build to fit a Flat monitor screen. I doubt the CRT can support your new build.

 

[dkjedi]

Omg, we have to makes on your build to fit a Flat monitor screen. I doubt the CRT can support your new build.

lol, i haven't had a desktop in a long time, so yeah its a CRT but i'm pretty sure it has DVI, if not i will order that monitor too(i'll just go over my budget a little), thanks.

 

[cutebeans]

Great!

Best get the LED monitor, It's a world of differences.

 

[dkjedi]

lol, yeah i know. my laptop has one (1920x1200) which is hillarious considering the GPU. The diffrence is amazing. I just have to try and justify spending more to myself, lol.

 

[dkjedi]

Best answer selected by dkjedi.