New Mid-Range Build - advice needed

[afawzy316]

Got some great advice on my build last year and now looking for some advice on my latest build. I'm particularly clueless about the motherboard so any help with that would be greatly appreciated!

Use: Mostly surfing the internet, office tasks and light gaming
Buying from Microcenter unless otherwise specified
Price range < $500

Processor: Core i5 3570K ($170)

Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro4-M 1155 mATX Intel Motherboard ($70)

Video Card: None

Power Supply: Corsair CX430 ($45)

RAM: Corsair XMS3 Series 8GB DDR3-1600 ($30 AR)

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 7,200 RPM SATA 6.0 ($85)

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147167 ($20 AR)

OS: Windows 7 Pro 64-bit (institutional license)

Total Price: $420 AR, before taxes

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[lehtv]

Specify light gaming? What resolution? Because the HD 4000 isn't that good even for light gaming unless you play really old ones.

If you don't need 1TB of space, there's a 500GB Hitachi at MC for $57, that would make it easier to fit in a proper graphics card.

 

[afawzy316]

Specify light gaming? What resolution? Because the HD 4000 isn't that good even for light gaming unless you play really old ones.

If you don't need 1TB of space, there's a 500GB Hitachi at MC for $57, that would make it easier to fit in a proper graphics card.

FYI this rig is for my brother

sounds like it's games like civilization and sim city that dont really require much in the way of graphics. do you really think a vid card is necessary or is there a motherboard with better graphics I should consider?

 

[Hubb1e]

Civ5 likes graphics cards. I wouldn't count on HD4000 being much good at gaming. It does ok considering what it is, but that won't last too long.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Motherboards don't come with GPUs anymore.

Maybe get a used 6870? They're selling them here for like 70 bucks.

 

[amp1069]

I just did a similar build here

I got a good deal on a Corsair PSU at Newegg, plus I got another 10.00 off but they stopped that code. After rebate and coupon it was 29.99.

I purchased from Micro Center as well except for the GTX card and psu. I was going to go with a different case, but after trying them at Micro Center I went with the Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower. I just wanted something that was easy to open (both sides) and plenty of room without wanting to throw it out a window after 5 minutes.

 

[mfenn]

Civ 5 is a surprisingly intensive game graphically. There's a reason that Anandtech still uses it in their GPU benchmark! That being said, it can scale down a decent bit, but it really wants to run on a fully-featured GPU. I would spend your remaining $80 on a 6750 or thereabouts.

 

[lehtv]

7750 > 5750 (6750 is just rebranded 5750)
MSI 7750 $85 AR

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Civ5 likes graphics cards. I wouldn't count on HD4000 being much good at gaming. It does ok considering what it is, but that won't last too long.

Don't play Civ5 on the HD4000, just don't... (exactly the same HD4000 as found in the 3570K (650-1150MHz)...)

 

[mfenn]

7750 > 5750 (6750 is just rebranded 5750)
MSI 7750 $85 AR

Good find. I initially looked for 7750's but couldn't find any below $100 yesterday.