- Dec 12, 2012
- 6
- 0
- 10,510
With a new system in the works, I can't afford a graphics card at the moment and I'm going to use the integrated Intel 4000 HD for a couple months until I can get afford a Video Card. Assuming I'm only spending around $150 on it, what would be best to upgrade to with a configuration like this:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI Z77MA-G45 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($37.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Apex PCV-588 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.89 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $550.81
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
If any improvements can be made that keep it within the same price range of below $600, preferably something to make it cost less than what it already does. Reasoning behind the i5-3570k, not just for later gaming, is that the power consumption is significantly lower while under load and idle than comparable AMDs and I'm aiming for the "splurge a little now to save more later" approach. I was originally going to go with AMD for gaming, a crime, because I could get an all around more "cost effective" system, until I looked into the Power Consumption.
Games I plan on playing include, but are by no means limited to: TES5: Skyrim, TES3: Morrowind, Minecraft, Portal 1&2, ARMA II: Operation Arrowhead (DayZ), and Maybe Battlefield 3. Anything else will more than likely be an indie game. I'm not looking for the best card, just something that'll run these at a decent pace with about 40~70 FPS on Medium-High settings or better. For an idea of what I'm coming off of, Toshiba Satellite l505D-ES5025. She can chug along in DayZ at about 15FPS, Minecraft at about 45 when I'm not using my second monitor to play on, and Portal 2 played fairly well if I turned down a few settings to medium or low.
Again, any input would be much appreciated. If changes can be made, please share what can or should be done. I plan to OC at a late date, maybe a little bit after I purchase a discrete graphics card. And it'll probably be around February when I actually build the computer, so any future oriented insight is welcome as well.
P.S.: The closest Microcenter is about 200 miles away, so any savings from there would be outweighed by a 400 mile round trip.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI Z77MA-G45 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($37.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Apex PCV-588 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.89 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $550.81
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
If any improvements can be made that keep it within the same price range of below $600, preferably something to make it cost less than what it already does. Reasoning behind the i5-3570k, not just for later gaming, is that the power consumption is significantly lower while under load and idle than comparable AMDs and I'm aiming for the "splurge a little now to save more later" approach. I was originally going to go with AMD for gaming, a crime, because I could get an all around more "cost effective" system, until I looked into the Power Consumption.
Games I plan on playing include, but are by no means limited to: TES5: Skyrim, TES3: Morrowind, Minecraft, Portal 1&2, ARMA II: Operation Arrowhead (DayZ), and Maybe Battlefield 3. Anything else will more than likely be an indie game. I'm not looking for the best card, just something that'll run these at a decent pace with about 40~70 FPS on Medium-High settings or better. For an idea of what I'm coming off of, Toshiba Satellite l505D-ES5025. She can chug along in DayZ at about 15FPS, Minecraft at about 45 when I'm not using my second monitor to play on, and Portal 2 played fairly well if I turned down a few settings to medium or low.
Again, any input would be much appreciated. If changes can be made, please share what can or should be done. I plan to OC at a late date, maybe a little bit after I purchase a discrete graphics card. And it'll probably be around February when I actually build the computer, so any future oriented insight is welcome as well.
P.S.: The closest Microcenter is about 200 miles away, so any savings from there would be outweighed by a 400 mile round trip.
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