Time for a new build, advice needed

[Tailback]

1. Skyrim and surfing the internet. I'm not an overclocker and don't do video/photo editing

2. $1,200 give or take.

3. USA. Probably Newegg, open to any other suggestions.

4. N/A

5. No preference

6. 1TB storage HDD, keyboard, mouse, monitor

7. Default speed.

8. Well windows says my setting is 1920x1280. In gaming I have no idea.

9. In the next two weeks.


X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

I need Windows, leaning toward 7 because of the 8 horror stories. I haven't decided whether to get a Blu-Ray player. Are there any inexpensive playback software out there?

The Mid-Range system looks good but since I have a little wiggle room with money and don't need a HDD I was thinking of what I could tweak. Perhaps get a bigger SSD or more system RAM?

Thanks for the help.

 

[fralexandr]

the stickied mid-range system build should fit your needs
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2192841

that said, skyrim isn't too demanding of a game 😉, and would probably play fine on high/ultra on a not as high end pc.

-----
bluray software:
other than cyberlink or corel, macgo seems like a nice bluray player, and they sell windows versions. It's currently on sale for $30 and they claim to offer lifetime support. I have a windows copy, and I like the UI, it's simple and the program doesn't use as much space as cyberlink powerdvd.
http://www.macblurayplayer.com/
they have volume purchase discounts too 😀.

otherwise, pioneer sells some nice drives bundled with cyberlink powerdvd bluray software (you get a slightly old version that I think won't work with windows 8) for a reasonable price. I haven't had any problems with not being able to play blurays yet (I rent blurays from netflix, so a lot of them are recent releases)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827129072

 

[Tailback]

Thanks for the reply. Do you think getting 16 gig of RAM instead of 8, and/or buying higher end RAM would make a difference? I've got a couple hundred dollars available over the mid-range stickied system.

With that price on Blu-Ray software I can see myself getting one with this system. Thanks for the advice. I'd rather get a functional Blu-Ray player than larger SSD.

the stickied mid-range system build should fit your needs
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2192841

that said, skyrim isn't too demanding of a game 😉, and would probably play fine on high/ultra on a not as high end pc.

-----
bluray software:
other than cyberlink or corel, macgo seems like a nice bluray player, and they sell windows versions. It's currently on sale for $30 and they claim to offer lifetime support. I have a windows copy, and I like the UI, it's simple and the program doesn't use as much space as cyberlink powerdvd.
http://www.macblurayplayer.com/
they have volume purchase discounts too 😀.

otherwise, pioneer sells some nice drives bundled with cyberlink powerdvd bluray software (you get a slightly old version that I think won't work with windows 8) for a reasonable price. I haven't had any problems with not being able to play blurays yet (I rent blurays from netflix, so a lot of them are recent releases)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827129072

 

[fralexandr]

for your uses 8GB should be fine. The main things that need more ram are photoshop or 3d modelling/heavy multitasking involving video encoding and such (but then you might want an i7 😛). That said, RAM is pretty cheap, so if you want 16GB, get it.

higher end RAM doesn't matter for the most part (except for integrated graphics). DDR3 1600 is pretty cheap nowadays, and the manufacturer doesn't matter too much. Heatspreaders are kind of gimmicky and don't do much. If you're working with a smaller case/mobo, try to get one without the giant fins.

 

[Termie]

Just a quick question - are you using this system in place of a TV? If so, spending $100 on a blu-ray drive and software might make sense, but if you actually have a TV, spend the $100 on an actual blu-ray player. It's so much simpler than trying to shoe-horn Windows into playing blu-rays.

As for the rest of your build, I'd get a bigger SSD before I'd get more memory. Right now RAM is expensive. 8GB costs $60, which is the difference between a 120GB SSD and a 250GB SSD. No question in my mind which I'd get if I had your uses.

This is what I'd buy:
(1) i5-3470 - $190 at Amazon
(2) ASRock B75 Pro3-M motherboard - $70
(3) 8GB of RAM - $60
(4) Samsung 840 250GB SSD - $170
(5) Corsair 200R case - $60
(6) Corsair CX430M Power Supply - $50
(7) GeForce GTX660 2GB - $175 on sale
(8) Windows 7 (yes, Windows 8 is annoying - although it can be fixed with a $5 app called Start8)

That will make quite a Skyrim/surfing system for under $900.

 

[Tailback]

Just a quick question - are you using this system in place of a TV? If so, spending $100 on a blu-ray drive and software might make sense, but if you actually have a TV, spend the $100 on an actual blu-ray player. It's so much simpler than trying to shoe-horn Windows into playing blu-rays.

As for the rest of your build, I'd get a bigger SSD before I'd get more memory. Right now RAM is expensive. 8GB costs $60, which is the difference between a 120GB SSD and a 250GB SSD. No question in my mind which I'd get if I had your uses.

This is what I'd buy:
(1) i5-3470 - $190 at Amazon
(2) ASRock B75 Pro4-M motherboard - $70
(3) 8GB of RAM - $60
(4) Samsung 840 250GB SSD - $170
(5) Corsair 200R case - $60
(6) Corsair CX430M Power Supply - $50
(7) GeForce GTX660 2GB - $175 on sale
(8) Windows 7 (yes, Windows 8 is annoying - although it can be fixed with a $5 app called Start8)

That will make quite a Skyrim/surfing system for under $900.

You bring up a good point re: the Blu-Ray player. I have a VERY nice home theater system, BUT, my wife tends to hog it somewhat and she doesn't care for many of my movie choices. She's a sweetheart otherwise and "Happy wife=Happy life".

I'm going with 8Gig of RAM for now since it's not a big deal to add on, and like you said, it's expensive right now. Same for the SSD. I may upgrade later, for now 128G will be fine. Plus, this system is replacing a system from 2008. This new one should blow my mind.

I like what I see with the Corsair 200R, I'm going to pick that up locally since many reviews mention shipping damage. I can check it outside of the box before purchasing thereby potentially saving time and money on returns.

 

[mfenn]

This is what I'd buy:
(1) i5-3470 - $190 at Amazon
(2) ASRock B75 Pro3-M motherboard - $70
(3) 8GB of RAM - $60
(4) Samsung 840 250GB SSD - $170
(5) Corsair 200R case - $60
(6) Corsair CX430M Power Supply - $50
(7) GeForce GTX660 2GB - $175 on sale
(8) Windows 7 (yes, Windows 8 is annoying - although it can be fixed with a $5 app called Start8)

That will make quite a Skyrim/surfing system for under $900.

Good alternative. Dropping the OC support from the $1000 build and stepping back to Ivy Bridge can definitely save you some money.

OP, keep in mind that the $1000 build is currently around $1030, that Windows is $100, and Blu-Ray w/ software is another $50. That's near $1200 already without changing the RAM or SSD. Stepping back a bit from the CPU and GPU gives you a lot more wiggle room.

 

[Tailback]

I went with your mid-range build on the sticky thread and added a Blu-Ray burner. I didn't increase the RAM or SSD size.

Parts should be here Monday. Do you prefer the OP to delete these threads once parts are bought?

Thanks for the time you put into this BTW.

Good alternative. Dropping the OC support from the $1000 build and stepping back to Ivy Bridge can definitely save you some money.

OP, keep in mind that the $1000 build is currently around $1030, that Windows is $100, and Blu-Ray w/ software is another $50. That's near $1200 already without changing the RAM or SSD. Stepping back a bit from the CPU and GPU gives you a lot more wiggle room.

 

[mfenn]

Let us know how the build goes!

BTW, no deleting of threads allowed! 🙂 This is good reference material for anybody who is in a similar situation.