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I am planning on building a computer in the near future primarily meant for gaming. As so, I want it to be able to run top of the line graphics on the most recent games without lag problems. My budget is about $800, adjustable based on deals or any parts I simply can't go without. This price estimate does not include a monitor, keyboard/mouse, speakers or software. I am located in the U.S. and I prefer to shop on Newegg, however suggestions are appreciated. I was able to get a suggested build from a friend of mine, so I was hoping to get any recommendations on whether or not anything should be changed, if I can get a better deal on a more effective product, etc., etc. Here's the list:

XFX Double D HD-687A-ZDFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814150521

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139020

Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822148697

ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827135204

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835103065

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 15000) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115072

(Questionable) Intel BOXDZ68DB LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813121527

Also, I appreciate saving money on package deals so those would be preferable over buying the parts separately (The processor and the Motherboard are a package deal right now on newegg so that's why I wasn't sure about the motherboard). As you might have noticed, this is my first build so I don't know too much about computer parts and lingo. Leyman's terms are appreciated

Thanks

I forgot to mention that I'm most interested in the Corsair Carbide Series 500R White Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811139010

However, I'm up for any suggestions or recommendations.

Welcome, to TR, you've come to the right place!

A good reference has been designed for you in the form of TR's System Guide, which was just updated.

Here's my line-by-line review:

GPU- looks good. Should run everything at 1080p fine, which I assume is your intended resolution.
PSU- Also consider Antec's 650 Earthwatts for $10 less.
HDD- Get one of these Samsung F3s while you can!
DVD- Should be fine
HSF- The 'Evo' is an upgraded version of the 212+
RAM- $5 more for slightly faster RAM is fine
CPU- A great budget CPU that can usually hit 4.6-4.8GHz with the above cooler
Motherboard- Please, no. This ASRock Z77 is about as low as I would go; I would point you to the ASUS, but it's $40 more, and probably won't do anything for you.
Enclosure- You missed this . Antec's 300 from the Econobox.

That should about do it, let us know what you think!

Valaraukar wrote:

I forgot to mention that I'm most interested in the Corsair Carbide Series 500R White Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811139010

However, I'm up for any suggestions or recommendations.

This is a nice case, but it's expensive. If anything, save your cash and get a ~120GB SSD, and if you have more leftover, upgrade the GPU.

Welcome to the Tech Report!
Have you checked out the System Guide?
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=47062


What do you think of some of these components?

$220 +fs -10 gift card Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge (quad-core 3.3 GHz unlocked) LGA1155 CPU
or $125 +fs Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge (hyper-threading dual-core 3.3 GHz) LGA1155 CPU
optional $35 +fs CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Evo cooler

$110 +7½sh ASRock Z77 Pro4-M micro-ATX LGA1155 motherboard
or $150 +7½sh Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 motherboard

$50 -10 combo +fs 2x4 GiB PC3-12800 Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B (DDR3-1600, CAS 9, 1.5 V) memory
or $55 -10 combo +fs 2x4 GiB PC3-12800 Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9G (DDR3-1600, CAS 9, 1.35 V) memory

$250 +fs XFX Radeon HD7850 2GB FX-785A-CDFC graphics card
or $210 +7½sh Zotac GeForce GTX560Ti 1GB ZT-50302-10M graphics card

$0 Integrated Realtek ALC892 audio

optional $110 +fs 128 GB Samsung 830 SSD
$75 -18 combo +fs ½ TB Western Digital WD5000AAKX Caviar Blue hard-drive
or $110 -18 combo +fs 1 TB Samsung HD103SJ SpinPoint F3 hard-drive
$18 +fs LG GH24NS90 DVD-RW
or $65 -15 code "LG15" +1sh LG UH12LS29 BD-ROM/DVD-RW

$55 -5 code "EMCNEHH29" +fs -10MIR Antec Three Hundred ATX mid-tower case
or $70 +fs Antec Three Hundred Illusion ATX mid-tower case
$55 +fs Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430 (32 A @ +12 V) power supply
or $60 +9½sh SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze (40 A @ +12 V) modular power supply
or $40 +8sh Cheap ATX case and PSU (30 A @ +12 V)

$100 +fs Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM

Would you support the idea of going to a mATX motherboard? I would not recommend ANY Intel motherboards, but if we know what form factor to shoot for we can provide better advice.

(Obligatory Microcenter plug) You can get an i5-2500K for $169 and get $50 off a motherboard of your choice.

The 6870 is a very good price/performance area to be in for $160 after MIR. If that's your target price range, you're in the right spot with that card.

I agree with Airman's $80 Samsung Spinpoint F1. I would also recommend throwing a 120GB SSD in there. It doesn't have to be the "top of the line." Get something cheaper like an Agility 3 for $95 or a Crucial m4 for $126 and you won't regret it. The performance difference between even previous-gen SSDs with SATA2 and the Samsung 830 are VERY small compared to the fastest hdd.

I think JAE has recommended some solid cases that offer very good build quality for the price. But, I believe case selection goes above "value." Make sure it's something that offers everything you need/want and will need/want in the future, including aesthetics and features. My goal is for a case to gererally last me through 2-3 builds or 5(ish) years.

JustAnEngineer wrote:

Welcome to the Tech Report!
Have you checked out the System Guide?
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=47062

This is where I would start. Nice bundles for systems without the OS, Monitor, etc., and TR's really good about explaining why they chose something for a particular setup. Also, keep an eye on the front page tomorrow, as there's usually a "Deals of the Week" post on Friday afternoons. The Shortbread each day can also have some nice deals.

Anyway, good luck with your build!

Thanks for all the help to everyone who posted. Your recommendations were great, and those coupled with the system guide made building a computer a very enjoyable experience. Just in case anyone was interested, here's the final build I came up with:

1 x ($219.99) Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K
$219.99

1 x ($189.99) XFX Double D HD-687A-ZDFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
$189.99

1 x ($114.99) Corsair Carbide Series 500R White Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$114.99

1 x ($109.99) SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - OEM
$109.99

1 x ($109.99) ASRock Z77 Pro4-M LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
$109.99

1 x ($79.99) Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
$79.99

1 x ($54.99) CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B
$54.99


1 x ($33.99) COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+
$33.99

1 x ($17.99) ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM

I just had to get that computer case haha

Thanks again for all your help!

If it's not too late and you see this in time, grab this 6870 for $116 + $5 shipping and take advantage of the $10 MIR.