New I5 Build $700-750

[cragfin]

Okay lets get these questions out of the way.

"1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing."

Casual gaming, watching t.v, reading ebooks, writing.

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

$700, although I could go to $750.

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

Most likely U.S.

"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."

None really, although I do intend to make this a I5 750 build, and use a 4890 or equally good graphics card.

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

One raptor 160 HD (I want to add another HD if possible for storage), monitor, keyboard/mouse, Windows 7, speakers, floppy, CD/DVD burner.

"6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads."

No

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

Not sure at this time.

"8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with."

Max resolution that the system can handle for the game with decent fps.

"9. WHEN do you plan to build it?"

ASAP

 

[Nebor]

Just to piggy back on here, is an i5 a significant improvement over a C2D @ 3ghz?

 

[Jd007]

Just to piggy back on here, is an i5 a significant improvement over a C2D @ 3ghz?

Yes it is, in both single threaded apps (due to Turbo Mode) and multi threaded apps (quad core).

As for OP's build, I suggest i5 750 with these key components:

Gigabyte P55A-UD4P
G.SKILL 2x2GB DDR3 1333
XFX 5850

 

[MisterDonut]

pick up a 640gb WD Black, the three mentioned above. I would go with an Antec 300, as I've found that to be a very good case for the money, and pair that with one of the OCZ PSU's. OCZ is a reliable brand, but TBH, I've never used/worked with any of their PSUs. Pretty cheap on the egg though (get a 600-700W for like 50, 60 bucks). If you don't plan on oc'ing just yet, the Turbo mode would do you well until newer apps demand more of your cpu.

 

[cragfin]

I was hoping to stay around $700-750 (can't really afford much more).

 

[fffblackmage]

I've been seeing OCZ PSUs on the cheap lately (I got one too, the 700W ModXStream). From reviews, they seem to be pretty good PSUs. Not top of the line stuff, but not cheap crap either.

If you want something at the 4890 level, it might be worth waiting 8 more days for the release of the 5830.

 

[zacharychaos]

^cragfin I like how your price range was totally ignored by everyone

I'm building a PC with about the same basic price range. I'm probably going to get a lot of flak for my choices by opinionated "experts" on this forum, but I stand by my recommendations.

CPU: i5-750 (Really an excellent choice,btw) $200
HEC Steel MiniTower mATX Computer Case with 585W PSU $67 [free shipping!]
ASRock P55M Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $100
G. Skill Ripjaws 4GB DDR3 1600 $94
Intel X25-V 40GB Solid State Drive $130 [Extremely fast primary drive, optional]
Samsung Spinpoint 500GB 7200RPM HDD $55 [Storage, music etc, optional]

Total cost without Graphics Card: $646

At this point you can consider waiting for the little-known HD5830, or you have two good options:
Powercolor HD4850 1GB $110
HIS HD5770 1GB DDR5 $167

Other thoughts: Well, the case is not huge, but it is plenty big enough for all the things you've suggested you would do with it. The GPU "sweet spot" doesn't seem to exist yet... the aging HD4800 series has been replaced by an overpriced pretender (5700) and Nvidia seems to be sleeping at the wheel. (GTS 250 processor is what, seven years old now?). The HD5830 might just be worth waiting for, you may want to build it w/o a graphics card now and buy one if reviews come out well.

If you don't need storage, put that money into a better graphics card or SSD. You have no idea what you are missing out on if you have never used a second-generation solid state disk.

Also, you may have noticed no optical drive. Obsolete. Totally. You may be able to poach one out of an older computer, or just buy one for ~$20. I would rather put the money elsewhere, personally.

I hope this is helpful

 

[cragfin]

"cragfin I like how your price range was totally ignored by everyone"

Agree, I felt they were trying to sell me something not help me. Okay I saw what you offered and made some arrangements to fit my needs:

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3320418AS 320GB 7200 RPM - $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148469

The one you pointed out was not available.

Antec BP550 Plus 550W & Antec Three Hundred Illusion - $114.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.315680

I went with this combo as I have heard good things about antec and having a bad experience with a cheap combo case I went with a combo deal.

XFX 4890 & I5 750 Combo Deal - $379.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.313427

LITE-ON Black 24X - $23.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

Combine total after savings $763.91 (slightly above my max but close enough, I can come up with $14 more).

Same motherboard and memory you pointed out so I will not list them again, also depending on reviews I may end going 5830, I didn't really need a SSD as my HDs have always been fast enough for me, also will that 550w psu be enough for everything?

Also any comments on my plan system is welcomed.

 

[zacharychaos]

Well, I can appreciate your caution, especially with the PSU issues you've had.

I think 550 watts should cover it easily, despite what some others might say. The 4890 is really power-hungry vs newer cards, however. This is one reason I was more comfortable with a cheaper PSU.

I know you think HDDs are fast enough for you, but honestly you don't know the difference. Many people said they didn't need dual-core because a single core P4 was fast enough for them. But then again, they are expensive.

Still, I would recommend a faster HD than that seagate, maybe a $70 WD Caviar Black (640GB is sold out), because that drive will bottleneck your system in everything you do.

Another issue (and this is a biggie) is that your Antec case does not seem to compatible with the MicroATX motherboard I suggested. While I thought all mATX boards would fit in larger ATX cases, the specifications on the Antec case seem to indicate otherwise. Hmm.

I would recommend trying to find a motherboard & DDR3memory combo, maybe you can save some money. Generally ATX motherboards seem to be more expensive than their smaller cousins, but that is just my observation. Obviously you are already at the breaking point mathematically

 

[MisterDonut]

"cragfin I like how your price range was totally ignored by everyone"

Agree, I felt they were trying to sell me something not help me. Okay I saw what you offered and made some arrangements to fit my needs:

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3320418AS 320GB 7200 RPM - $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148469

The one you pointed out was not available.

Antec BP550 Plus 550W & Antec Three Hundred Illusion - $114.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.315680

I went with this combo as I have heard good things about antec and having a bad experience with a cheap combo case I went with a combo deal.

XFX 4890 & I5 750 Combo Deal - $379.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.313427

LITE-ON Black 24X - $23.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

Combine total after savings $763.91 (slightly above my max but close enough, I can come up with $14 more).

Same motherboard and memory you pointed out so I will not list them again, also depending on reviews I may end going 5830, I didn't really need a SSD as my HDs have always been fast enough for me, also will that 550w psu be enough for everything?

Also any comments on my plan system is welcomed.

Be careful with your graphics card. It's a GREAT, GREAT card, but if your "casual gaming" is going to include DX11 down the road, and unless you plan on upgrading then, a DX11 might be a better buy. If you can, I would hold out until Fermi to see the prices on DX11 cards take a drop.