new build for my son

[samduhman]

My son is getting about $600 for X-mas and wants my help upgrading his system to a micro atx case. I have some ideas but would like some confirmation on if this is the best I can do for a gaming build.

So here we go.

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Mainly web/email. Frequent HD viewing from online sources. Light gaming (WOW).

Heavy gaming

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$600 everything

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
U.S.

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc.
MB/CPU/RAM/video/case

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
500w OCZ
2 500gig hard drives sata
dvd burner

6) Will you be overclocking?
no

7) 7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
24" Samsung

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?in the next 2 weeks

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)? etc. be nice to have usb 3.0 and sata 6gb

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Yes, Windows 7 64bit


What I'm considering so far. He said he is willing to hold off on the case if it hampers a good fast gaming build and get it later. Basically mount the new microatx in his current mid tower case.

Thermaltake Armor A30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133187

Saphhire 6870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

MSI MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130582

kingston 8gig memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104173

intel i3-2100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

think that covers it all... If I can do a faster AMD build that is fine to. Basically the best bang for the buck.

thanks

 

[Berkahh]

Intel i5-2500K = http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

if you are doing any fresh new build no matter if its for light gaming.. everyone would prefer i5-2500k since you can overclock it

 

[Tsuyoi]

Intel i5-2500K = http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

if you are doing any fresh new build no matter if its for light gaming.. everyone would prefer i5-2500k since you can overclock it

Untrue. The i5-2500k is only a good choice for heavy gamers who plan on overclocking.

Since he doesn't plan on overclocking, even the i5-2400 is a better choice.

However, since his budget is limited, the i3 will do him fine, especially if its for games such as WoW

There IS a problem with that MoBo/case combo, though. The case is a mini/microATX, while that MoBo is full ATX. If he wants microATX, I suggest the following board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128495 - $115

It has USB 3.0 + SATA 6GB/s

Casewise, that microATX case is pretty expensive at $130. I'm sure Danny will chime in anytime now with a list of good microATX cases for cheaper. However, if your son really likes the look of that case, by all means.

 

[Dangman]

500w OCZ

Which OCZ 550W PSU?

Thermaltake Armor A30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133187

IMO, the cooling in that case isn't that good.
I recommend these other SFF cases instead:
$100 - Silverstone TJ08B-E mATX Case
$100 - Lian Li PC-V351A Silver mATX Case
$100 - Lian Li PC-A04A Silver mATX Case
$110 - Lian Li PC-A04B Black mATX Case
$110 - Fractal Design Arc Mini mATX Case
$140 - Lian Li PC-V354B Black mATX Case
$150 - Lian Li PC-V354A Silver mATX Case

However if your son still wants to stick with that TT case, just be sure to monitor temps and keep that case in an open space.

Saphhire 6870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

Not a good choice as once you factor in shipping, that card comes out to %173 shipped. Not good considering that this longer warrantied and bettter supported XFX HD 6870 costs $3 less after shipping:
$170 - XFX HD-687A-ZHFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB PCI-E Video Card

MSI MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130582

As Tsuyoi noted, that mobo won't fit inside a mATX case. That mobo that Tsuyoi is a good choice for a mATX case

kingston 8gig memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104173

Not a good choice at since it's rated at 1.65V which means that it potentially damage the CPU. We generally recommend RAM rated at 1.5V to avoid such an issue. I recommend this RAM instead:
$35 - G.Skill Value Series F3-10600CL9D-8GBNT 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM

No, there won't be a noticeable performance difference between DDR3 1333 and DDR3 1600 RAM

intel i3-2100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115078

Go with the Core i3 2120 instead since it's clocked a little higher and costs $5 less:
$120 - Intel Core i3-2120

 

[samduhman]

Oops, totally clicked wrong on the MB type. Thanks for the feedback. I'll be using it towards our build in a few days.

Do you think we can do a little better or at least in the same ballpark (price wise) going to Microcenter? It will be more fun for me shopping in person vs online. I love looking at hardware there.

 

[Dangman]

Going to ask my question again: Which OCZ 550W PSU do you have? I ask because a lot of OCZ's 500W+ PSU are pretty crappy.

Do you think we can do a little better or at least in the same ballpark (price wise) going to Microcenter? It will be more fun for me shopping in person vs online. I love looking at hardware there.

Well you can get the Core i3 2100 at MC for $100, $20 less than the Core i3 2120. However then you have to factor in local taxes and such and it's no longer that great of a deal. Unfortunately, your budget isn't high enough to take advantage of MC's CPU + mobo deals. So yeah, really can't do any better by going with MC.

 

[samduhman]

Sorry, skipped over the ps question. I took a look and its not an OCZ like I thought. Its a Ultra. Ya, I "believe" they have a bad rap but this one has been solid. I recall now buying it because this model had decent ratings. So will it work still in a new build, linked....

http://techgage.com/article/ultra_x-finity_flexforce_500w_power_supply/

He may have to bump up his out the door price for this upgrade. I think he can do $600.

 

[Dangman]

Yeah, get a new PSU. I recommend this:
$69 - Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W PSU

Now what's the total cost for all the parts and changes now?

 

[samduhman]

Yeah, get a new PSU. I recommend this:
$69 - Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W PSU

Now what's the total cost for all the parts and changes now?

New ps, that'll hurt, but noted. PS is the most important part of the build IMHO.

Not sure on the total price yet. I want him to get the best bang for gaming. So I want to focus on the best mb/cpu/gpu for gaming I can. I may recommend that he use one of my older cases for now and buy a new case later. That will free up approx. $100

I have this cooler master barely used just sitting and gather dust. Its pretty close to what he wants. ..... total opposite. Its a monster case but has build in carry handles lol

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119122

Thanks again for the advice. I'll update once we move forward.

 

[djgizmo]

Yea. Take it from me. I just had a ocz game stream psu blow up on me after moving it to a new build. Ditch the ocz psu and get something else.

 

[Dangman]

New ps, that'll hurt, but noted. PS is the most important part of the build IMHO.

Not sure on the total price yet. I want him to get the best bang for gaming. So I want to focus on the best mb/cpu/gpu for gaming I can. I may recommend that he use one of my older cases for now and buy a new case later. That will free up approx. $100

If you can convince your son to use your old case, use that $100 towards the Core i5 2500K from Microcenter. It's usually better to start off with a strong fast CPU + slower GPU than it is with a slower CPU + faster GPU since it's cheaper and easier in the long-run to upgrade the GPU rather than the CPU.