Budget PC build.

[.Nik]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing. Gaming. Playing games like BF3.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread. $550-$600

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from. USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc. Noone.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are. 120GB SSD 350GB HDD

*

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds. I might. I'm not sure.

8. What resolution will you be using? Not sure.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it. September

*

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software? No.

Any help is appreciated! Thank you.

 

[DSF]

So just to confirm, you do not have a monitor yet, but you do have a copy of Windows that you can use?

 

[.Nik]

So just to confirm, you do not have a monitor yet, but you do have a copy of Windows that you can use?

I do have a monitor. Sorry it is 1920x1080. Yes I do have a copy of windows.

 

[lehtv]

$600 without peripherals, OS and HDD - easy. Pretty much a mid-range PC, especially considering how cheap 7850's go for. You'll have to forget about overclocking though unless you go AMD which would be a bad idea for gaming performance and power consumption - a stock clocked Ivy Bridge i5 is all you need for a long while.

CPU i5-3570 $200 AP (expires 3/9)
Mobo Asrock H77M $70
RAM G.Skill Ripjaws X 1600MHz 2x4GB $39 AP (expires 3/9)
GPU HIS 7850 IceQ X $200
SSD Reuse $0
HDD Reuse $0
DVD Asus DVD-RW $17
Case NZXT Tempest 210 $44 AP (expires 3/9)
PSU Antec VP450 $30 @amazon

= $600 AP + shipping

If you're building later in september, it will obviously make sense to delay any purchases until about 1 week before you plan to build. Use that week to hunt for deals via sites like Slickdeals. PSUs often have temporary rebates and promos on them so keep an eye out for quality 450-550W units from Seasonic, Antec, Corsair, PC Power & Cooling and a few others.

Spend less on the motherboard or buy only one 4GB RAM module if you want to get closer to the lower end of your budget.

 

[.Nik]

$600 witho

Thanks so much! I was either gonna go with that build or I made this one up last night. Could you check it out an tell me if it's a decent build? Here it is: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fY7i thanks again!

 

[Ken g6]

Lehtv's build is way better.

...AMD...would be a bad idea for gaming performance and power consumption - a stock clocked Ivy Bridge i5 is all you need for a long while.

 

[lehtv]

Not to mention that 7850 is way better than GTX 560 Ti, much less power hungry and more overclockable with double the VRAM. And the 400W PSU is barely enough for X4+OC + 560 Ti; it doesn't even have the connectors for a 560 Ti. And the memory, motherboard and case are more expensive than needed. Especially the motherboard; you should think of a motherboard as being 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of your CPU and you're looking at good bang for buck.

 

[.Nik]

Not to mention that 7850 is way better than GTX 560 Ti, much less power hungry and more overclockable with double the VRAM. And the 400W PSU is barely enough for X4+OC + 560 Ti; it doesn't even have the connectors for a 560 Ti. And the memory, motherboard and case are more expensive than needed. Especially the motherboard; you should think of a motherboard as being 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of your CPU and you're looking at good bang for buck.

Ok, thanks again. I can't wait to build this PC.