Looking for some input on a budget build

[loki993]

Ok so I've been using a pretty nice laptop for a while now and its served me well but its starting to have trouble running games now. I got by with it because I basically just use it for the internet and CS from time to time. I just got BF3 though and its having a very hard time running it.

Thing is I don't have a ton to spend, I've been eying some stuff for a while for a new build but I just never had a need to build anything, the laptop was working fine for me.

So basically here's what I'm looking at. Im in the US and I need a Basic PC that can run the newest games decently. I don't need insanity, ultra settings or anything like that. I do FPS mostly, BF3. Im looking at that Hawken game, the new Mechwarrior and maybe the Star Wars MMO. Things like that.

If I decide on doing this it will probably be over the next couple months and the bulk will come in say February.

Id love to stay around 500 for the lot. CPU, mobo, ram and graphics card. That's doable it seems I think, but definitely under 500 for the mobo, CPU and ram.

Don't know what a good power supply runs these days but Ill need that too. We don't need to count that in the 500 but keeping that under a hundred itself would be fantastic.

the rest I can piece together. I have the drives, I have hard drives.

I don't need to run anything on ultra or anything, I just need to be able to have a smooth playable experience at a decent resolution.

I prefer intel over AMD for sure. Comparable AMD processors just seem to have too high a TDP and use too much power.

I really like the core i5, in fact microcenter here has a deal right now on a 3570k for 170. They always have something like this going before it was the 750 I think.

I suppose I could get by with a cheaper processor in the hundred dollar range, but I don't know if giving up that much performance is with the 70 bucks.

so there's that.

As for the rest, I always use Nvidia cards, but that's just because they were always better in the price range I was in.

For the monitor I have a 19 inch Dell right now, I think the resolutions is 1280x1024 @60. Keep in mind it will eventually be upgraded but probably not for a while. When I upgrade it will be something with HDMI and high resolution.

Hard drives Im pretty die hard WD.

The mobo is what Im really struggling with, they seem to be harder to keep up with. There are quite a few 1155 mobos and the price ranges are pretty wide. I see ones with ram you can OC to 3000 and things like that and I don't know if I need all that. SATA 6Gbs I would say I probably need, USB 3.0 would be nice too. Other then that I don't know what other essentials I need on a motherboard. Id say SLI maybe just to have, even though I wont be using it off the bat. I made the mistake of not spending up a little to get an SLI board and I ended up regretted it down the road.

That's about all I can think of right now. I like basically squeezing as much performance per dollar I can out of stuff.

I have windows 7 already

 

[Torn Mind]

Motherboards with the Z77 chipset are the ones that allows you to increase the multiplier freely. They also do not need a BIOS update to be compatible with 3rd gen Core CPUs; just drop the Ivy Bridge CPU in and it will work.

Every Z77 motherboard supports 2 SATA III ports and 4 USB 3.0 ports. 1600 MHz RAM is usually the sweet spot in terms of performance/price. Faster RAM nets you diminishing returns in performance gains.

The following are the cheapest ATX Z77 mobos that also support SLI I could find. I'm counting in Micro Center's $40 discount on any mobo compatible with an i5-3570K or an i3-3225.
http://www.microcenter.com/product/386359/GA-Z77X-UD5H_LGA_1155_Z77_ATX_Motherboard
http://www.microcenter.com/product/401766/Z77A-GD65_Socket_LGA_1155_ATX_Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ID=3938566&SID=

If you're interested in a cheaper Micro ATX, here are a couple:

Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H
MSI Z77MA-G45

So, the bare minimum is $270 for Mobo+CPU as of now.

You can expect to pay about 50-70 dollars on a quality PSU rated around 500W to 600W.

 

[loki993]

Ok. so that leaves roughly 200 for memory and a graphics card. Say 50 for the memory and 150 for a graphics card. That's doable if I went with 8 gigs. I don't know how much graphics card I can get for 150 though. It usually seems like this is something you have to spend on.

What about if I didn't go SLI? Would it be worth it to give up or would I not be saving that much? If I used SLI it would be down the road when whatever graphics card I had was older and I could pick up a second to thrown in for not a ton of money. Like I said my last build it became something that would have been nice to have and the SLI board, IIRC was only 30 or 40 dollars more I think.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Ok. so that leaves roughly 200 for memory and a graphics card. Say 50 for the memory and 150 for a graphics card. That's doable if I went with 8 gigs. I don't know how much graphics card I can get for 150 though. It usually seems like this is something you have to spend on.

What about if I didn't go SLI? Would it be worth it to give up or would I not be saving that much? If I used SLI it would be down the road when whatever graphics card I had was older and I could pick up a second to thrown in for not a ton of money. Like I said my last build it became something that would have been nice to have and the SLI board, IIRC was only 30 or 40 dollars more I think.

Forget about SLI/Crossfire. By the time you'd want to upgrade there will almost certainly be a faster single GPU card available.

I'd rather throw those $30-$40 at a graphics card, then an SLI/Crossfire MB. Don't pay for features you are not certain that you will use...

 

[Ken g6]

To put this in [thread=80121]stickied[/thread] form:

1. I need a Basic PC that can run the newest games decently. I don't need insanity, ultra settings or anything like that. I do FPS mostly, BF3. I'm looking at that Hawken game, the new Mechwarrior and maybe the Star Wars MMO. Things like that.

2. [$600 max?]

3. I'm in the US

5. I prefer intel over AMD for sure. As for the rest, I always use Nvidia cards, but that's just because they were always better in the price range I was in.

6. I have the drives, I have hard drives. [Got a case too?]

7. I like basically squeezing as much performance per dollar I can out of stuff. [I'll take that as a yes to OCing if possible.]

8. For the monitor I have a 19 inch Dell right now, I think the resolutions is 1280x1024 @60. Keep in mind it will eventually be upgraded but probably not for a while. When I upgrade it will be something with HDMI and high resolution.

9. If I decide on doing this it will probably be over the next couple months and the bulk will come in say February.

X. I have windows 7 already


I agree with Insert_Nickname about SLI. Just to make sure, you do have a full-ATX case with 7 slots, right?

If the bulk comes in February, then February would be the best time to ask about this. (Generally stores have new sales every month.)

Do you happen to live near a Micro Center?

 

[loki993]

To put this in [thread=80121]stickied[/thread] form:

1. I need a Basic PC that can run the newest games decently. I don't need insanity, ultra settings or anything like that. I do FPS mostly, BF3. I'm looking at that Hawken game, the new Mechwarrior and maybe the Star Wars MMO. Things like that.

2. [$600 max?]

3. I'm in the US

5. I prefer intel over AMD for sure. As for the rest, I always use Nvidia cards, but that's just because they were always better in the price range I was in.

6. I have the drives, I have hard drives. [Got a case too?]

7. I like basically squeezing as much performance per dollar I can out of stuff. [I'll take that as a yes to OCing if possible.]

8. For the monitor I have a 19 inch Dell right now, I think the resolutions is 1280x1024 @60. Keep in mind it will eventually be upgraded but probably not for a while. When I upgrade it will be something with HDMI and high resolution.

9. If I decide on doing this it will probably be over the next couple months and the bulk will come in say February.

X. I have windows 7 already


I agree with Insert_Nickname about SLI. Just to make sure, you do have a full-ATX case with 7 slots, right?

If the bulk comes in February, then February would be the best time to ask about this. (Generally stores have new sales every month.)

Do you happen to live near a Micro Center?

That about covers it yeah, sorry I dint put it in format.

Yes Im close to a Microcenter and that's probably where Ill buy must of my stuff. Newegg does have more graphics cards it seems though so I may get one from them.

I also agree looking the cards I'm looking at pricewise arent even SLI capable, so IF I every wanted to upgrade id have to get 2 cards, probably not going to happen.

Yes I have cases, thats not a problem.

Also looking at graphics cards it seem, especially in my price range, that the Radeon cards are the way to go for now. So it looks like I could pony up a little extra for a 2 gig 7850 or maybe even really splurge for a 7870 but that would be pushing it a bit.

As for waiting yeah I can see that. If everything looks good though I may just slap it on the credit card and pay that off in February though.

Im basically just trying to see whats out there as its been a long time since Ive paid any attention to a lot of this stuff.

 

[Torn Mind]

Ok. so that leaves roughly 200 for memory and a graphics card. Say 50 for the memory and 150 for a graphics card. That's doable if I went with 8 gigs. I don't know how much graphics card I can get for 150 though. It usually seems like this is something you have to spend on.

What about if I didn't go SLI? Would it be worth it to give up or would I not be saving that much? If I used SLI it would be down the road when whatever graphics card I had was older and I could pick up a second to thrown in for not a ton of money. Like I said my last build it became something that would have been nice to have and the SLI board, IIRC was only 30 or 40 dollars more I think.

The best card I could find for 150 is a Radeon 6850 going for $156 at Amazon. Everything else are weaker mainstream level cards like the GTX 650 Ti or the Radeon 7770.

Dump the SLI, as others have said. You can get a ASRock Z77 Pro3 for $89.99 at Amazon. So, after tax, you'd have around $235 to work with for RAM and a graphics card. $40 can net you this low-voltage Samsung RAM. With the $195 remaining, you can get a Radeon HD 7850 or you can go slightly over budget and get a GTX 660.

 

[riversend]

OP, since you have access to a Microcenter get the 3570k ($170 in store as you mentioned) and either an AsRock z77 Pro3 ($55 in store with the 3570k purchase) or AsRock z77 Pro4 ($70). That is a solid start for only $225-240. Then take a look at mfenn's midrange build stickied at the top of this forum's topic list for the PSU and RAM and CPU cooler ($120ish). That comes to ~$345-360. The rest of the money should go to a 7850 2gb or GTX 660 if you do upgrade tthe monitor to 1080p. If that is not going to happen in the near future then go with a 7770 or 7750 at that lower res.

As stated however, if you do not build for another month or so then come back and do this again. You should buy your parts as close together as possible so you have time to troubleshoot the build and make returns inside the rma window if it should come to that.

 

[mfenn]

OP, since you have access to a Microcenter get the 3570k ($170 in store as you mentioned) and either an AsRock z77 Pro3 ($55 in store with the 3570k purchase) or AsRock z77 Pro4 ($70). That is a solid start for only $225-240. Then take a look at mfenn's midrange build stickied at the top of this forum's topic list for the PSU and RAM and CPU cooler ($120ish). That comes to ~$345-360. The rest of the money should go to a 7850 2gb or GTX 660 if you do upgrade tthe monitor to 1080p. If that is not going to happen in the near future then go with a 7770 or 7750 at that lower res.

As stated however, if you do not build for another month or so then come back and do this again. You should buy your parts as close together as possible so you have time to troubleshoot the build and make returns inside the rma window if it should come to that.

:thumbsup: Agree with this.

I would personally get the more powerful graphics card no matter what, but I don't know your overall situation. If the $100 would be better used elsewhere in your life and you will be playing at 1280x1024 for the foreseeable, then the weaker card is fine.

 

[loki993]

OP, since you have access to a Microcenter get the 3570k ($170 in store as you mentioned) and either an AsRock z77 Pro3 ($55 in store with the 3570k purchase) or AsRock z77 Pro4 ($70). That is a solid start for only $225-240. Then take a look at mfenn's midrange build stickied at the top of this forum's topic list for the PSU and RAM and CPU cooler ($120ish). That comes to ~$345-360. The rest of the money should go to a 7850 2gb or GTX 660 if you do upgrade tthe monitor to 1080p. If that is not going to happen in the near future then go with a 7770 or 7750 at that lower res.

As stated however, if you do not build for another month or so then come back and do this again. You should buy your parts as close together as possible so you have time to troubleshoot the build and make returns inside the rma window if it should come to that.

:thumbsup: Agree with this.

I would personally get the more powerful graphics card no matter what, but I don't know your overall situation. If the $100 would be better used elsewhere in your life and you will be playing at 1280x1024 for the foreseeable, then the weaker card is fine.

For sure I definitely agree. I was going to get the 3570k deal from Microcenter anyway plus the Asrock is even better. A decent Z77 motherboard for 55 is a steal.

I'm definitely going to spend up on the graphics card and I may even squeeze it out for the 7870, its only 40 dollars more and 60 more for the HIS iceq card. The extra money is worth the extra performance. If not for the 7870 the definitely the 7850. I was planning on 100 ish, at least, for the motherboard anyway.