First time build, gaming for under $900

[Chronox]

Hello all, it's my first time building a complete PC all at once (Have been for years just upgrading piece by piece). I was hoping that if anyone could put any input in, I would really appreciate it. I can't afford to be making mistakes, and I know that HardForum is full of experienced people.


1) What will you be doing with this PC?
Primarily gaming. First games to be played on it will be Heart of the Swarm, and League of Legends.
2) What's your budget?
Looking to keep it under $900 after taxes.
3) Which country do you live in?
Currently Residing in Windsor, ON, Canada.
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget?
All the parts are listed below, with what I currently am considering.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing?
No, currently have no parts to salvage.
6) Will you be overclocking?
No.
7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
1080p 23".
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
This weekend (April 26, 2013)
9) What features do you need in a motherboard?
The only thing I am looking for in a motherboard is for it to support the items listed below.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Windows 7 64 bit.

This is currently what I have planned:

Processor - i5 3750k - $230
http://www.amazon.ca/Intel-Core-i5-...ssor+3.4+GHz+4+Core+LGA+1155+-+BX80637I53570K
Graphics Card - Radeon 7850 - $180
http://www.amazon.ca/Sapphire-Radeo...ie=UTF8&qid=1366671553&sr=8-1&keywords=hd7850
Motherboard - ASUS P8B75-M - $75
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131842
RAM - Corsair 2x4gb 1600mhz, 240pin - $80
http://www.amazon.ca/Corsair-Vengea...3M2A1600C9/dp/B004CRSM4I/ref=pd_bxgy_ce_img_b
SSD - Samsung 840 128gb - $110
http://www.amazon.ca/120GB-2-5-SATA...F8&qid=1366673364&sr=8-2&keywords=SAMSUNG+840
Hard Drive - Western Digital 500gb - $60
http://www.amazon.ca/Western-Digita...&keywords=western+digital+internal+hard+drive
Power Supply - Cool Master 500W - $50
http://www.amazon.ca/Cooler-Master-...366672831&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=rosewill+500w

Total
$785
W/ Tax
$887

I would appreciate any input on mistakes/alternatives before we actually go through with anything.

Thanks.

 

[E4g1e]

Several poor or improper choices in your selection of components:

1) If you're not overclocking, why did you choose a K CPU? You see, the K CPUs are unlocked to allow overclocking on motherboards that support such a feature - but the B75 chipset motherboards do not allow any overclocking at all whatsoever. As such, you'd be better off downgrading the CPU to something like an i5-3470.

2) The PSU that you chose really cannot handle its full "500W" rating. In fact, it's more like a 400W PSU with a "500W" label on it. Worse, that PSU is crappy (quality-wise) due to it being an older design that lacks PFC and of extremely low efficiency by current standards. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to purchase a PSU that's only 70% to 75% efficient when virtually all good-quality PSUs are at least 82% efficient (80 Plus Bronze or higher certification).

 

[Chronox]

Thank you for the response!

1) If you're not overclocking, why did you choose a K CPU? You see, the K CPUs are unlocked to allow overclocking on motherboards that support such a feature

This was not something that I was actually aware of - but I did always wonder what the K stood for. I'm not looking to overclock, so as such I have changed my choice of processor to an i5-3470 like you suggested.

2) The PSU that you chose really cannot handle its full "500W" rating. In fact, it's more like a 400W PSU with a "500W" label on it. Worse, that PSU is crappy (quality-wise) due to it being an older design that lacks PFC and of extremely low efficiency by current standards. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to purchase a PSU that's only 70% to 75% efficient when virtually all good-quality PSUs are at least 82% efficient (80 Plus Bronze or higher certification).

Yeah, this is kinda what I was expecting to hear. I wasn't very confident in the power supply. Based on your suggestion, I'm looking at two different PSUs -

CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Or 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.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

Would I be able to get away with the first, or should I just go for the 650?

Again, thanks for responding. I am not pretending to be the most knowledgeable, but I'm learning.

 

[E4g1e]

Thank you for the response!


This was not something that I was actually aware of - but I did always wonder what the K stood for. I'm not looking to overclock, so as such I have changed my choice of processor to an i5-3470 like you suggested.




Yeah, this is kinda what I was expecting to hear. I wasn't very confident in the power supply. Based on your suggestion, I'm looking at two different PSUs -

CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Or 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.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

Would I be able to get away with the first, or should I just go for the 650?

Again, thanks for responding. I am not pretending to be the most knowledgeable, but I'm learning.

Either of those two PSUs would more than suffice for your planned build. However, you also need a case (unless you're planning to lay out all of the parts out in the open).

 

[Deleted member 88227]

On my phone, but a 2x4GB ddr3 kit PC ram for $80 is extremely high. Typo maybe, didn't click link on my phone but you can get a 16GB kit for that price.

 

[Chronox]

Either of those two PSUs would more than suffice for your planned build. However, you also need a case (unless you're planning to lay out all of the parts out in the open).

I was originally planning on picking one up locally, so I don't have to pay shipping for a large case, but I wrote down an option if I need it. Thank you for your help!

I also changed my RAM selection, because it was expensive as Skillz said.

Updated

Processor - i5 3750k - $205
http://www.amazon.ca/Intel-Core-i5-...e=UTF8&qid=1366692190&sr=1-2&keywords=i5-3470
Graphics Card - Radeon 7850 - $180
http://www.amazon.ca/Sapphire-Radeo...ie=UTF8&qid=1366671553&sr=8-1&keywords=hd7850
Motherboard - ASUS P8B75-M - $75
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131842
RAM - Corsair 2x4gb 1600mhz, 240pin - $55
http://www.amazon.ca/Kingston-Techn...&qid=1366737400&sr=1-1&keywords=8gb+ddr3+1600
SSD - Samsung 840 128gb - $110
http://www.amazon.ca/120GB-2-5-SATA...F8&qid=1366673364&sr=8-2&keywords=SAMSUNG+840
Hard Drive - Western Digital 500gb - $60
http://www.amazon.ca/Western-Digita...&keywords=western+digital+internal+hard+drive
Power Supply - CORSAIR 500W - $60
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
Case - Coolmaster - $45
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6430030&Sku=C283-3122

Total
$790
W/ tax
892.70

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Not a good case, mostly on account of it's poor cable management features, plus it only comes with a single 120mm fan. Check out the price on the NZXT 210 Source Elite case, should be right around the same price for better cable management + more than one 120mm fan for cooling.

 

[E4g1e]

In addition to what Skillz stated about the case (the case does have cable management slots on the motherboard tray; however, it doesn't come with all of the required ties to make this feature function properly), that case is a tad expensive for a case that lacks front USB 3.0 ports entirely (the front USB ports are only USB 2.0 compliant). And Skillz was correct that the Elite 430 comes with only one front 120mm fan standard; extra fans for that case will cost extra (I recommend three more 120mm fans for that case - but the total added cost of those three additional fans will almost always exceed the price difference between the Elite 430 and a better case).

 

[Chronox]

Not a good case, mostly on account of it's poor cable management features, plus it only comes with a single 120mm fan. Check out the price on the NZXT 210 Source Elite case, should be right around the same price for better cable management + more than one 120mm fan for cooling.

I actually did probably the most terrible thing when searching for a case - I typed "Case" in Amazon, and looked under cases on newegg.

However, upon searching, I found this http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...7&Tpk=NZXT 210 Source Elite&IsVirtualParent=1

It does look much better then the one I had picked out. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Yeah that's the one, they have a black version also (The one I have)

It's a nice little case. I use it for my file server since it has room for a ton of hard drives.

 

[Dangman]

You listed the wrong CPU: It's suppose to be the "Core i5 3470". The "i5 3750k" doesn't exist and if it did it would still be the wrong choice for you since it's an overclock capable CPU.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

You listed the wrong CPU: It's suppose to be the "Core i5 3470". The "i5 3750k" doesn't exist and if it did it would still be the wrong choice for you since it's an overclock capable CPU.

He linked the correct CPU though. I didn't even notice his label.

 

[Chronox]

You listed the wrong CPU: It's suppose to be the "Core i5 3470". The "i5 3750k" doesn't exist and if it did it would still be the wrong choice for you since it's an overclock capable CPU.

You know what, I'm using a Razer Arctosa, and it's impossible to write stuff like that on (Keys outside the usual). It's a terrible keyboard, black letters on black keys. That was a typo on 3570k, that I just forgot to change to 3470, which is what I actually have listed.