New gaming build $1200

[shiv]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc 90% gaming. BFBC2, TF2, BF3
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included? $1200
3) Where do you live? Ohio. Have a Microcenter within driving distance
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list
Case, PSU, cpu, ram, motherboard, hdd, video card, monitor, dvd
6) Will you be overclocking? Yes
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have? Would like atleast 24" 1080p. Noticed microcenter has a 25" HP onsale for $199, not sure how it is for gaming
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC? ASAP
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Would like Crossfire so if i need to down the road for BF3 comes i can use a second card if necessary
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit? Yes windows 7 64 bit

Was thinking of a xfx 6950 2gb for video card and flashing to 6970. Also any advice on a headset for sound for gaming (not in this budget would be separate) would be appreciated.

 

[Dangman]

$180 - Core i5 2500K CPU (From Microcenter)
$165 - MSI P67A-GD55 Intel P67 ATX Motherboard
$85 - G.Skill Ripjaws F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$290 - XFX HD-695A-CNFC Radeon HD 6950 2GB PCI-E Video Card
$65 - Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$25 - LG GH24NS50 DVD Burner
$140 - Corsair 850TX 850W PSU
----
Total: $950 plus tax and shipping.

Choose your own case. I recommend these:
$90 - NZXT Tempest Evo TEVO-001BK ATX Case
$90 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K56 ATX Case
$90 - Cooler Master CM690 II Advance ATX Case
$90 - Cooler Master HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$90 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B ATX Case
$106 - Lian Li PC-7B Plus II ATX Case
$110 - NZXT Whisper WHI - 001BK ATX Full Tower Case
$120 - Velocity Micro GX2-W Silver Classic Aluminum Case with Side Window
$140 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Full Tower ATX Case
$140 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Full Tower ATX Case
$140 - Cooler Master HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$165 - Corsair Graphite Series 600T ATX Case
$160 - Silverstone RV02B-W ATX case
$220 - Corsair Obsidian Series 650D ATX Case
$220 - Cooler Master ATCS 840 RC-840-KKN1-GP Full Tower ATX Case
$230 - Silverstone FT02B ATX Case
$220 - Lian Li PC-A71F Black ATX Case
$290 - Corsair Obsidian Series 800D CC800DW Full Tower ATX Case
$330 - Silverstone Temjin SST-TJ07B Full Tower ATX Case

 

[tiraides]

Grab the following from Micro Center:

$180 - Intel Core i5 2500k
$28 - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus CPU cooler
$190 - Asus P8P67 Pro P67 ATX motherboard
$60 - Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s HDD
$18 - Sony AD-7260S SATA DVD Burner
$53 - Cooler Master CM 690 (1st gen.) ATX mid-tower case

Get the rest from NewEgg:

$275 - XFX HD-695X-CNFC Radeon HD 6950 2GB
$40 - G.Skill NS F3-10666CL9D-4GBNS 2x2GB DDR3 1333
$90 - Antec TruePower New TP-750 750W PSU
$180 - Asus VH242H 23.6" 1920x1080 LCD monitor

$1142 - Subtotal of above parts (not including shipping, taxes, or rebates)

I don't know much about the HP monitor that's on sale at MC, so you'll have to do a bit of research yourself on it.

There's no reason not to go with Intel's new Sandy Bridge setup. The board chosen is based on the new B3 revision, but if you choose a different brand/model, make sure that you grab one that uses the P67 chipset. P67 enables overclocking, while the H67 chipset allows you to use the onboard GPU that's part of every SB processor.

Since the monitor is part of this build, the SSD was omitted from this system. An SSD (like the oft-recommended Crucial C300) would shorten loading times but doesn't improve on frame rates. Additionally, new SSDs are starting to arrive, so now may not be the best time to grab one (assuming that you want one).

Micro Center offers price-matching (against NewEgg's prices) and a discount if you buy all of your parts in-store. (Whether or not your local MC offers both depends on the store, so call ahead. You'll definitely want to have MC price-match the video card, as it's about $50 more there than from NewEgg.) If you decide to buy everything in-store, ensure that the RAM you pick runs at 1.5V. For example, MC sells plenty of Corsair RAM at both 1.5V and 1.65V; but 1.65V is the limit for safe operation with the Intel processors.

Additionally, buy a power supply from a recommended vendor, like Corsair, Antec (but avoid the Basiq line), XFX, Enermax, or Seasonic. The majority of the PSUs sold by the MC B&M store aren't really good.

 

[shiv]

Wow Thanks guys! Ill post pics when its all done.

 

[tiraides]

Hold on... tell us what you're getting before you go and get it.

Danny and I went two different route with our recommendations, and for all that we know, you may decide to go your own way. At least let us make sure that you aren't getting any garbage parts -- those will cost you more in the long run.

 

[shiv]

Gonna mull it over for the next few days but the 2500 CPU and 6950 see to be certain. Was thinking in a few months I could always add in a ssd. I coupons for microcenter also so probably get most parts there except maybe the ram, video card, and possibly psu from the egg. Appreciate all the insight!

 

[I3eyond]

Danny Bui knows how to build a great rig, mine in the sig is built based mostly on his recommendation. Just giving him props & thanks again

 

[jeremyshaw]

Danny Bui knows how to build a great rig, mine in the sig is built based mostly on his recommendation. Just giving him props & thanks again

he's really on the ball in any build help thread I don't know why he is now a mod, but it's definately well deserved through all the time, energy, intelligence, patience, and effort he has but into [H]