New gaming build

[tdots]

My 3.5 year old machine just decided to kick the bucket on me, so I figure it's time to build/look into a new rig. Since I haven't kept up with new hardware for the past couple years, thought it would be best to get a few ideas first.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.

Music/Gaming/Internet.

2. What YOUR budget is.

Around $1250 USD. A little less or over depending would be okay

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

The US of A.

5. IF YOU have a brand preference.

Would prefer an Intel CPU with Nvidia GPU (also please no MSI motherboards)

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Only thing I might reuse is an Asus Xonar DG sound card (PCI) if possible

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

No plans to overclock

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?

1600x900. Wouldn't worry much about this, as I'll be upgrading to a 23+ inch in the year or so

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

2-3 weeks max. The sooner the better.

Thanks for any help and recommendations.

 

[ElFenix]

the current mid range system build in the sticky at the top, sub an nvidia card for the amd card, and it'll leave you enough money to get the new monitor too

 

[Termie]

Welcome to the forums, tdots!

That's a significant budget for a system like this to play at 1080p or below, so you can probably come in below budget and put some of the money to the monitor you plan on buying.

Here's what I suggest:

(1) Processor: Intel i5-3570k ($220) - www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16819116504

(2) Cooler: optional due to no overclocking, but you can get a CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus for $20AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&Tpk=hyper 212 plus&IsVirtualParent=1

(3) Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ($135 - $15 rebate - 10% code EMCXSXV236) - www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16813131837

(4) Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD7970 OC 3GB w/ 2 Free Games ($409 - $20 rebate) - www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-DVI-I-SL-...apphire+hd7970
OR
Gigabyte GTX670 OC 2GB ($380): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125423
The HD7970 is slightly faster and comes with two games, but you have expressed a preference for Nvidia.

(5) Memory: Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB DDR3-1600 cas 9 1.5v ($52 after code on site) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145345

(6) Solid-State Drive: Samsung 840 250GB ($169) - www.amazon.com/Samsung-MZ-7TD250BW-S...s=seasonic+840

(7) Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200rpm ($97) - http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barrac...TBD2000101+2TB

(8) Case: Antec 1100 - http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Eleven-H...rds=antec+1100

(9) Power Supply: Corsair HX650 Gold Modular ($120 - $10 rebate) - www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16817139012

(10) Optical Drive: Samsung 24x DVD Burner ($18) - www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16827151256

Comes in just under $1,200.

Do you need an operating system? If so, add another $100 for Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 8.

 

[Essence_of_War]

First thing, check out the mid-range system buyer's guide:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2192841

3/31/2013 update:
i5 3570K + GA-Z77-HD3 combo $302
Mushkin DDR3 1600 8GB $55
PowerColor 7970 3GB $380 AR
Sandisk Ultra Plus 120GB $97
WD Blue 1TB $65 AP
Lite-ON DVD Burner $18
Corsair TX650 V2 $60 AR AP
NZXT Source 220 $50
Total: $1027 AR AP

Sadly it looks like the mobo/cpu combo is no longer available, but you can grab the i5-3570K + AsRock Pro 3 + 8gb of RAM for ~375 USD.

And you'll have the option to overclock later if you'd like.

 

[Ken g6]

If you're getting a 3570k anywhere but Micro Center, look for bundles on Newegg. They very frequently have at least RAM bundles like this one. Plus the CPU has a "$10 promotional gift card w/ purchase".

 

[tdots]

Thanks for the help so far guys, definitely appreciated. So it looks like the GeForce 700 series is coming out in the next month or so.

Do you think it would be worth waiting if I have a Radeon 5770 I can use in the meantime? Probably don't want to spend anymore than $400 on the GPU.

 

[Essence_of_War]

If you CAN wait, and you don't MIND waiting, it's almost always a good idea to do so.

The 5770 is a fine card, and depending on the games that you're playing, it should put up respectable frame rates at 1600x900.

 

[Termie]

Thanks for the help so far guys, definitely appreciated. So it looks like the GeForce 700 series is coming out in the next month or so.

Do you think it would be worth waiting if I have a Radeon 5770 I can use in the meantime? Probably don't want to spend anymore than $400 on the GPU.

I don't think that's correct. You might have seen reference to a lower-end Titan, which will be in the $800 price range, but a full GTX700 series is probably at least 6 months away.

You could get by on an HD5770, but with a new system, you'll probably want to upgrade it, because it's likely to already be your limiting factor.

 

[mfenn]

Welcome to the forums, tdots!

That's a significant budget for a system like this to play at 1080p or below, so you can probably come in below budget and put some of the money to the monitor you plan on buying.

Here's what I suggest:

(1) Processor: Intel i5-3570k ($220) - www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16819116504

(2) Cooler: optional due to no overclocking, but you can get a CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus for $20AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...irtualParent=1

(3) Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ($135 - $15 rebate - 10% code EMCXSXV236) - www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16813131837

(4) Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD7970 OC 3GB w/ 2 Free Games ($409 - $20 rebate) - www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-DVI-I-SL-...apphire+hd7970
OR
Gigabyte GTX670 OC 2GB ($380): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125423
The HD7970 is slightly faster and comes with two games, but you have expressed a preference for Nvidia.

(5) Memory: Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB DDR3-1600 cas 9 1.5v ($52 after code on site) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145345

(6) Solid-State Drive: Samsung 840 250GB ($169) - www.amazon.com/Samsung-MZ-7TD250BW-S...s=seasonic+840

(7) Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200rpm ($97) - http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barrac...TBD2000101+2TB

(8) Case: Antec 1100 - http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Eleven-H...rds=antec+1100

(9) Power Supply: Corsair HX650 Gold Modular ($120 - $10 rebate) - www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16817139012

(10) Optical Drive: Samsung 24x DVD Burner ($18) - www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16827151256

Comes in just under $1,200.

Do you need an operating system? If so, add another $100 for Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 8.

The main problem I see with this build is that it has a 7970/GTX 670, but the OP only has a 1600x900 monitor. I would get something a little less expensive (like my midrange build that has been linked) and upgrade the monitor as well. Something like this $200 LG IPS would be good.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for the help so far guys, definitely appreciated. So it looks like the GeForce 700 series is coming out in the next month or so.

Do you think it would be worth waiting if I have a Radeon 5770 I can use in the meantime? Probably don't want to spend anymore than $400 on the GPU.

The latest NVIDIA doesn't put Maxwell until 2014, so any new GPUs this year won't be a huge architectural jump. It's probably not worth waiting for given that you already have the budget for a top-end chip.

 

[tdots]

Thanks for all the help guys. My final rig went a bit...a lot over what I originally wanted to spend but I thought it was worth it. Microcenter had a few decent deals/packages so I bought the parts from there.

Specs:

Intel i5 3570k 3.4 GHz
Asus P8Z77-V LK
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670
Crucial Ballistix Sport 16 GB (2x8 GB)
Samsung 840 500 GB SSD
Western Digital 7200 320 GB HDD (already had)
Asus Xonar DG sound card
Corsair TX750M PSU
Antec One Hundred Case

Picture of completed build: http://imgur.com/9wiGxem

Also couldn't help myself and picked up a Dell UltraSharp 24".

Had my tax return...and it's gone.

 

[Termie]

Congrats!

Wow, did you buy and build that today? You didn't waste any time. Looks great.

 

[riversend]

Very nice rig, but certainly way more than needed which explains the budget overage. Bigger GPU than needed by far (although I am sure you will love it), 2x the RAM, bigger PSU, and a much larger SSD. It will work great, just realize that cost-wise you could have done better.

 

[tdots]

Very nice rig, but certainly way more than needed which explains the budget overage. Bigger GPU than needed by far (although I am sure you will love it), 2x the RAM, bigger PSU, and a much larger SSD. It will work great, just realize that cost-wise you could have done better.

I hear ya and appreciate the input. The TX750 PSU was actually cheaper than the 650 because of a mail-in-rebate, so it made sense to do that. After weighing all my options, I could have bought a smaller SSD and a GTX 660 Ti and saved about $200. I think double the SSD and better GPU is a good investment.

 

[aarontpx]

If you CAN wait, and you don't MIND waiting, it's almost always a good idea to do so. The 5770 is a fine card, and depending on the games that you're playing, it should put up respectable frame rates at 1600x900.

^^

 

[mfenn]

Looks very nice! Good job on the build.

 

[riversend]

Definitely enjoy, it will do you some good work for some time to come. Now go get that bigger monitor!

 

[Essence_of_War]

Nice work! How are you liking the ultrasharp so far? I just switched to the same monitor recently and I'm very much enjoying it.