$1200 gaming build suggestions

[Magznutz]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming - Civ5, L4D2, Skyrim, Torchlight2
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$1200 Shipping Tax included
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
US, Henry Co GA, I do live close to a Microcenter
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
Case, memory, CPU, MB, SSD, GPU, storage drive, Power Supply, DVD
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
None
6) Will you be overclocking?
YES (please budget for a decent cooler)
7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
23" 1920x1080
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
1wk-1mnth
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
USB3 and SATA 3, Thunderbolt is nice but not required
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
already have Win7 64bit


I will be basing this build around a 3570k at MC for $169, also prob geet the MB there to save $40 on the CPU/MB combo. would love 256Gb SSD, and if the budget allows, a full tower case.

Thanks

 

[Dangman]

$270 - Intel Core i5 3570 CPU + Asus P8Z77-V LK Intel Z77 ATX Mtherboard Microcenter Combo
$35 - Samsung 2 x 4GB MV-3V4G3D/US DDR3 1600 RAM
$308 - Gigabyte GV-R795WF3-3GD Radeon HD 7950 3GB PCI-E Video Card
$220 - Plextor M5P Series PX-256M5P 2.5" 256GB SSD
$88 - Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$18 - Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD Burner
$90 - SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W Modular PSU
$30 - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus HSF for LGA 1366 and LGA 1156
----
Total: $1059 shipped plus tax on the CPU and mobo

Choose your own case. I recommend any of the following cases:
$65 - Corsair Carbide Series 300R ATX Case
$80 - Corsair Carbide Series 400R ATX Case
$100 - Antec 1100 ATX Case
$110 - Antec P280 ATX Case
$120 - Corsair Carbide Series 500R ATX Case
$120 - Lian Li PC-7HX Black Aluminum ATX Case
$120 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-002GR Black Finish w/Green Trim Full Tower ATX Case
$120 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White ATX Case
$126 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black ATX Case
$123 - Corsair Vengeance Series C70 Gunmetal Black ATX Case
$125 - Fractal Design Define R4 Arctic White ATX Case
$135 - Fractal Design Define R4 with Window Black Pearl ATX Case
$135 - Fractal Design Define R4 with Window Arctic White ATX Case
$135 - Fractal Design Define R4 with Window Titanium Grey ATX Case
$120 - Corsair Obsidian Series 550D ATX Case

 

[Magznutz]

heres what I ended up with

3570k
MSI z77a-gd65
ASUS GTX 660TI DC2
thermaltake overseer rx-1 (free 700w p/s)
samsung 4x4GB MV/3V4G3D
LG Bluray burner
noctua nh-d14
Plextor M5P 256Gb ssd
Hitachi 1Tb HDD

total: $1118.07 (inc. shipping, sales tax, and minus rebates)

I caught some decent sales on these parts and the pleasant suprise of finding a free quality p/s in the case really helped keep me under budget.


Danny, thanks for the heads up on the RAM and SSD, I would have never looked at those but your recommendation got me to research them. I'm loving both products. I have the RAM o/c'd to 2133 at 10-10-10-27, great stuff!

 

[Deleted member 88227]

What PSU was included with the case?

 

[Magznutz]

i didn't document the model number, I'll post that when I get home later. it was a TT branded p/s 700w. I had purchased anothe p/s before I opened the case and saw I had a freebie. I think tiger sold me the wrong case, there is an overseer sold with this power supply, but they charged me for the non-p/s model.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Pretty sure its going to be the Thermaltake TR2 TR-700 PSU which isn't a good PSU. The only good PSUs from Thermaltake seem to be their Thoughpower lineup.

If it were me, I'd return that case and PSU immediately and get a better case with a better PSU such as the Seasonic X650 that's on sale for $90 at Newegg.

 

[Magznutz]

i may consider a new p/s, but i really like this case. It has the HDD dock in top, which I've already used several times, and tons of room. I was choosing between this case or the MK-1. As I said I didn't expect the case to have a p/s. I had purchased a corsair 600w while at microcenter, but took it back after I found the cables not long enough for this case.

 

[Dangman]

There should not be a "may". Thats a shitty power supply. Unless you want a $1100 paperweight, replace the PSU ASAP!

Keep the case, don't return that shitty TT since it was free, but buy the Seasonic X650 Gold 650W while it's on sale for $90 from Newegg.

 

[Magznutz]

Is that power supply really so bad that I have to worry about making my machine a paperweight? I did look at a couple reviews of the p/s you suggest and it does look pretty nice. Are the cables generous in length?

What about the specs on the rest of the pc, think I put together a nice machine for a decent price?

Thanks again for the heads up on the RAM, I love it!

 

[Dangman]

Is that power supply really so bad that I have to worry about making my machine a paperweight? I did look at a couple reviews of the p/s you suggest and it does look pretty nice. Are the cables generous in length?

If it's not Thermaltake's Toughpower or Smartpower PSU line, then it's a piece of shit. Whatever reviews you read were more than likely improper PSU reviews.

What about the specs on the rest of the pc, think I put together a nice machine for a decent price?

In terms of bang for the buck, you were better off with the HD 7950 3GB.

 

[Magznutz]

If it's not Thermaltake's Toughpower or Smartpower PSU line, then it's a piece of shit. Whatever reviews you read were more than likely improper PSU reviews.

The reviews I'm speaking of were reviews on the Seasonic you recommended.

In terms of bang for the buck, you were better off with the HD 7950 3GB.

i got the GTX for $250 (free ship/no sales tax), I couldn't find a 7950 for less than $310 (plus $21 tax), I was looking hard but you had already found the cheapest one. I have the card o/c'd 20% on the GPU and the RAM.

 

[Dangman]

The reviews I'm speaking of were reviews on the Seasonic you recommended.

Wow, I definitely misread that sentence. Yeah go for that Seasonic.

i got the GTX for $250 (free ship/no sales tax), I couldn't find a 7950 for less than $310 (plus $21 tax), I was looking hard but you had already found the cheapest one. I have the card o/c'd 20% on the GPU and the RAM.

The HD 7950 is still worth the extra cash IMO.

 

[kindasmart]

If it were me, I'd return that case and PSU immediately and get a better case with a better PSU such as the Seasonic X650 that's on sale for $90 at Newegg.

Completely agree. Buy a good PSU.

Unfortunately the X-650 is out of stock. Way too good of a deal to stay around for long.