Tax-refund gamer PC?? I'll build it myself!

[mfenn]

Here's a build, you could leave it at stock for now and at a cheap cooler later if you wish to OC:

Corsair CX430 $44.99 with $20 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139017

Rosewill R101-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case $29.99 free shipping promo EMCKGGJ38
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147112

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3R 1TB 7200 RPM $99.99 -$30.00 promo HARDOCPX33XD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152238

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231425

GIGABYTE GA-P67A-D3-B3 Motherboard $114.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128487

Intel Core i5-2500K $224.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115072

GIGABYTE Radeon HD 5870 + Shogun 2 Combo $209.99 - $30 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.620409

Total: $778.93 -$30.00 (HARDOCPX33XD) -$9.99 (EMCKGGJ38)+ $20.09 (shipping) =
$760.03, $700.03 after rebates, with $39.99 Shogun 2 game coupon.


If you choose not to OC:

Intel Core i5-2400 $189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115074

ASRock H67M (B3) $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157233

Total: $695.03 - $50 rebate, with $39.99 Shogun 2 game coupon.


I know you said you didn't like rebates and not a cent under $700, but this is pretty close, I'm pretty sure you can sell the game coupon for $5

:thumbsup: Very nice build IMHO.

 

[aphelion02]

i5-2500k + BIOSTAR TP67B combo $334.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.622008

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231425

COOLER MASTER Elite 430 RC-430-KWN1 Black Steel / Plastic Computer Case $49.99 w/ $10 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119227

KINGWIN ABT-450MM 450W ATX 12V Ver.2.2 SLI Ready Power Supply $34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817121024

GIGABYTE Ultra Durable VGA Series GV-R685OC $174.99 w/ $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125353

HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM $38.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119227

Total: $678.93 + $14.51 (shipping) = $693.44, with $39.99 MIR

 

[aphelion02]

Here's another way to do it with more trustworthy PSU.

$696.03 after shipping, before rebates.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.623052
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128487
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125353
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817207012
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811154108
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145299

 

[BoomerD]

No one LIKES rebates...but it is a way to save a bit when buying computer parts...IF the rebate company ever sends the check..

I've only been burned on rebates 2-3 times in all the years I've been sending for them. IMO, those are pretty good odds.

 

[lowepg]

P.S. No rebate deals please, but thank you for the effort!

You had a bad experience with MIRs?

HUH?

What do you think your federal tax return was!?!?!?

personally, I enjoy OWING the gov't money each year so I can make them wait for it till the very end, but thats me.

 

[Steve8867]

I have NEVER had a good rebate experience!

So I avoid them like the plague.

My last PC before it burnt out was six years old!
Can you imagine what it was like to game on?

 

[Steve8867]

Some of you guys are making great suggestions, Thank you.

 

[Steve8867]

I guess we agree that CyberpowerPC is crap, I was reading alot of reviews and found much hate in them xD .

Even a handful of reports at Ripoff Report.com. . .

 

[aphelion02]

You will not get anything close to value from a boutique builder. A system like the one I put together will cost you over $1000. I highly recommend you start with one of the builds people here put together and customize it to your liking.

 

[mvbighead]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811154109 - Apex Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148395 - Seagate 7200.12 500GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130625 - eVGA GTX 550

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371045 - Antec 450w

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231445 - 8GB GSkill Memory

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128482 - Gigabyte MB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115072 - Intel i5 2500k

Comes up to 695.45 before any rebates. You can always submit the rebate, and then your build could wind up being closer to 650. Should pack quite the punch for gaming, and leave you with room for more upgrading down the road.

I always feel like the Apex cases have a solid feel to them. Not cheap or flimsy, and the price is usually right. But you definitely don't want to skimp too much on the PSU, as you've already found out it seems... thus the Antec PSU.

 

[aphelion02]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811154109 - Apex Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148395 - Seagate 7200.12 500GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130625 - eVGA GTX 550

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371045 - Antec 450w

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231445 - 8GB GSkill Memory

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128482 - Gigabyte MB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115072 - Intel i5 2500k

Comes up to 695.45 before any rebates. You can always submit the rebate, and then your build could wind up being closer to 650. Should pack quite the punch for gaming, and leave you with room for more upgrading down the road.

I always feel like the Apex cases have a solid feel to them. Not cheap or flimsy, and the price is usually right. But you definitely don't want to skimp too much on the PSU, as you've already found out it seems... thus the Antec PSU.

That mobo won't OC, unfortunately, and I think for his budget for a gaming computer he should stick with 4gb of RAM in favor of a better GPU (that gtx 550 isn't so impressive).

 

[aphelion02]

One question for OP, what is your monitor resolution? Will you upgrade monitors anytime soon I(if so, what size and resolution)? Do you intend to overclock? These are important questions and will give us quite a bit of wiggle room for a more appropraite build.

 

[mvbighead]

That mobo won't OC, unfortunately, and I think for his budget for a gaming computer he should stick with 4gb of RAM in favor of a better GPU (that gtx 550 isn't so impressive).

Considering that he will be coming from a GeForce 6200, I dunno how much it'll really matter.

Given that the rest of the specs I configured are about as future proof as you can get without spending oodles, and that video cards are constantly changing technology, buying a mid range video card such as the one listed would quite likely be replaced with the OP's next tax refund.

Just my general preference, but that's just me.

Edit - As for the RAM, it's the ShellShocker today and figured it is a good enough deal.

 

[Steve8867]

1680x1050 native.
Im keeping this monitor for a while.
Overclocking....um, I don't think Im savy enough to do that yet (And Im worried about hurting my new baby).

 

[Ninjazx]

To assist those trying to help:


1. What YOUR PC will be used for. Gaming

2. What YOUR budget is. $700 or less

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from. ?? (Newegg)

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. ??

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts. Monitor, keyboard, mouse, OS, DVD-RW

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads. No

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

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with. 1680x1050

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

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.

 

[aphelion02]

See below

 

[rob454]

Did this based on your preference and budget. I am no 'junior' at this I have been on this forum for years as well as a former mod in many other forums. This seems to give you an "all around" bang for your buck, plus it will last if built properly


Intel Core i5-2500 $209.99 Shipped (Since you said you might not need to overclock, the processor is plenty fast w/o overclocking)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-073-_-Product


BIOSTAR H67MH LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $97 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-310-_-Product

LG Black 22X DVD+R DVD-RW $25 shipped
**You will need this because your old one is probably IDE which the newer mainboards no longer carry those ports anymore**,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136216



ECS NGTX550TI-1GPI-F GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $142.55 Shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814134130


CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 CMPSU-430CX 430W ATX12V Active PFC Power Supply $45 Shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139017



Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $40 shipped (Had to scale back on the HDD a little because of your budget, this will be plenty fast and reliable though)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148697


Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $55 shipped (I built a PC with this case and it is very good)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129066


G.SKILL Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBNT $80 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231424


Total = $694.55 before rebates ( Didn't even bother with rebates but there are a few!)

 

[aphelion02]

Nice build rob, thats a very all-round desktop. I assume the OP is looking for a pure gaming desktop though, and that he won't be making too many upgrades, so I cutdown on the cpu and ram a little (those are not important for gaming) to try to provide the best possible graphics card. My build will kick yours' ass in gaming

I also forgot shipping in my last post, and I'm changing a case recommendation:

i5-2400 CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115074

Asrock H67 m-ATX mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157233

G.Skills Ripjaws X 4GB ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231427

Antech Neo ECO 520W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371030

Western Digital Caviar Blue 500tb - shamelessly stolen from rob454
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136769

Gigabyte 560Ti Factory OC (HELL YEA)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125363

APEX Vortex Mid-Tower Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811154108

Total $693.68 after shipping with optional $20 MIR,
Promocodes:EMCKFKE24, EMCKGGJ34 and HARDOCPX4X6B, EMCKFKJ33 for $23.99 off.

Made some changes, now it is under budget. This is most kickass system for pure gaming possible at this budget, and is no slouch in general workload either. OP: are you adamant about being absolutely under $700? For just $5 more you could get much better quality RAM. Also, please check if you have an IDE or SATA dvd drive, if you don't have a SATA drive we will need to spend another $15-$20 bucks on it, and at this price range that can mean a big hit in performance of everything else.

Edit 2: changed RAM to Ripjaws X with two more promocodes. This system is starting to look really good now, I almost want it!

 

[Davidh373]

The graphics card will destroy any game on your 1680x1050 resolution

That is a stretch... but it is the best card for his budget, and it will certainly PLAY any game on 1680 x 1050 well with fairly high settings. Lets not set too high of standards for the midrange cards.

You have made great builds. I don't see what the OP is waiting for.

 

[aphelion02]

That is a stretch... but it is the best card for his budget, and it will certainly PLAY any game on 1680 x 1050 well with fairly high settings. Lets not set too high of standards for the midrange cards.

You have made great builds. I don't see what the OP is waiting for.

Thanks for feedback! I see from the benches here that the GTX 560ti will play any game (except crysis, but its 43fps at 1920x1200) at at least 55fps + smoothly, most of them are over 70fps at that resolution. And thats a stock card, the one I linked to is factory OCed. Surely that qualifies as "destroy"?

 

[mnewsham]

Thanks for feedback! I see from the benches here that the GTX 560ti will play any game (except crysis, but its 43fps at 1920x1200) at at least 55fps + smoothly, most of them are over 70fps at that resolution. And thats a stock card, the one I linked to is factory OCed. Surely that qualifies as "destroy"?

Not if i have a 120hz monitor

 

[rob454]

Nice build rob, thats a very all-round desktop. I assume the OP is looking for a pure gaming desktop though, and that he won't be making too many upgrades, so I cutdown on the cpu and ram a little (those are not important for gaming) to try to provide the best possible graphics card. My build will kick yours' ass in gaming

I was thinking more along the lines of future proofing his other components. RAM is likely due for a dramatic price increase which means he might be paying 100 just for a stick of 4gb memory in the future. Then he will have a slightly slower processor that would bottleneck him next. Just like mvbighead said, he is coming from a GF 6200. The 550Ti is plenty of power without sacrificing much of the other parts plus you get 8gb of memory.

 

[aphelion02]

Yea, rob, I considered that too. However the OP strikes me as someone who doesn't have a very quick upgrade cycle, especially if he is using a computer that is 5-6 years old already. To be more future proof, I found this combo, which when paired with a gtx 460, should suit the OP's needs very well:

i-2500k+ MSI p67 mobo + 4gb ripjaws X + rosewill 630W PSU + Rosewill case + LG DVD burner - 520.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboB...t=Combo.627552

Gigabyte gtx 460 OC - $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125334

Total: $687.90 after shipping

I was suspicous of the Rosewill PSU but it got a very good review from hardware secrets. OP: I think if you want maximum gaming prowess right now and don't care to upgrade in future, go with my earlier build. If you want to have room for a little more upgradability and slightly better cpu/mobo/ram and a free dvd player with possibility of overclock in future, but at the expense some gaming graphics, go with this build. The gaming on the gtx 460OC should be still very good at your resolution though.

 

[aphelion02]

Not if i have a 120hz monitor

Please show me the gamer who plays with a 1650x1050 120Hz monitor on a $700 budget rig

 

[mnewsham]

Please show me the gamer who plays with a 1650x1050 120Hz monitor on a $700 budget rig

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824116452