Gaming pc under $1000

[DigiKing]

A friend asked me to spec a build for him under 1000 so tell me what you think.

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor

CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler

Motherboard: ASRock B75M R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard

Memory: Corsair XMS 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card

Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply

Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer (he may not need it but I never asked)

Total: $937.84

I wanted to include an ssd but the price just wouldn't fit it.

[hiyayhi]

I think you have some wrong choices there, if he is going to get a non unlocked processor you REALLY don't need a h100i. If the rig is purely for gaming he also in most cases won't benefit from 16gigs of ram.

In my opinion you should try and get a z77 board, i53570k and a less beastly cooler and 8 gigs of ram. it will be much better in the long run.

try for the GIGABYTE GA-Z77M-D3H-MVP motherboard and go for a cooler master hyper 212 evo for the cooler (or whatever comes into your budget).

This will get you more performance for the dollar and will generally make your friend a happier guy.

[iTonyy]

For your case, you should consider the Bitfenix Shinobi which has a window and looks very clean at about the same price point

[DigiKing]

I think you have some wrong choices there, if he is going to get a non unlocked processor you REALLY don't need a h100i. If the rig is purely for gaming he also in most cases won't benefit from 16gigs of ram.

In my opinion you should try and get a z77 board, i53570k and a less beastly cooler and 8 gigs of ram. it will be much better in the long run.

try for the GIGABYTE GA-Z77M-D3H-MVP motherboard and go for a cooler master hyper 212 evo for the cooler (or whatever comes into your budget).

This will get you more performance for the dollar and will generally make your friend a happier guy.

I should clarify. I didn't notice but it would be a 3570k, that was a typo. He is an engineering student so he obviously would have use for it beyond gaming plus I personally believe that, if you have a desktop, you should have the ability if so desired, for heavier workloads. I've never seen any value to having low powered desktops, you might as well get a notebook instead. Desktops are stationary so why not make them a little beefier.

[TechNerd181]

+1 with Hiyayhi's comment.

He shouldn't need a Liquid CPU cooler if he's not going to overclock. And the same for a Z77 Board. So something like a Hyper 212 Evo will be great. Having such high ram is only really beneficial for video editors I guess. He'd be fine with 8GB's of Corsair XMS/Vengeance RAM, he could always upgrade in the future. I wouldn't recommend getting a 500W PSU with those components, you may not need more, however I'd rather have a little more than a little less, so perhaps a Seasonic 520(I know it's only 20 more Watts, but it's around the same price) or a CX 600W.

Everyone needs an Optical Drive, how else do you think you'll install the drivers and OS? :P Or I guess you could do that via some USB Drive part.. I don't know. But whatever. Can't really go wrong with anything else I guess, good case, shouldn't switch that. Could use the money left over from downgrading H100i>212 Evo for an SSD, doesn't really matter which brand with the little budget.

Hope everything goes well :)

[Blade of Grass]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)

Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($107.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.49 @ NCIX US)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Microcenter)

Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($389.99 @ Microcenter)

Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Microcenter)

Total: $967.41

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-17 21:15 EDT-0400)

That's what I would get.

[NewKID]

how do you know op is in the US?

[TechNerd181]

how do you know op is in the US?

He didn't :P

He's Canadian according to the OP's user profile.

[NewKID]

how do you know op is in the US?

therefore, the above build is invalid

[TechNerd181]

how do you know op is in the US?

I agree, wasn't mine.

[NewKID]

to OP,

this is a great build overall: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/KqsQ

you can pricematch everything to NCIX.

i chose the 2500k instead because its cheaper than the 3570k right now. i added the 212 so you can do a slight overclock to match the 3570k at stock

[TechNerd181]

to OP,

this is a great build overall: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/KqsQ

you can pricematch everything to NCIX.

i chose the 2500k instead because its cheaper than the 3570k right now. i added the 212 so you can do a slight overclock to match the 3570k at stock

Personally I'd rather stick with what the OP already listed before, as an SSD isn't a necessity.

One thing I would say about your rig is Seasonic 520/Corsair CX500 > XFX550 :)

[Guest]

to OP,

this is a great build overall: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/KqsQ

you can pricematch everything to NCIX.

i chose the 2500k instead because its cheaper than the 3570k right now. i added the 212 so you can do a slight overclock to match the 3570k at stock

Just letting you know two of those you just listed there TechNerd all come from the same manufacturer; Seasonic. The Corsair comes from CWT.

[TechNerd181]

to OP,

this is a great build overall: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/KqsQ

you can pricematch everything to NCIX.

i chose the 2500k instead because its cheaper than the 3570k right now. i added the 212 so you can do a slight overclock to match the 3570k at stock

I know, but what you're saying is invalid, it doesn't make a difference which company originally engineers them.

What I said stands, the OP should either go with a standard Seasonic 520W PSU or a CX500 to an XFX 550W.

[NewKID]

to OP,

this is a great build overall: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/KqsQ

you can pricematch everything to NCIX.

i chose the 2500k instead because its cheaper than the 3570k right now. i added the 212 so you can do a slight overclock to match the 3570k at stock

the CX have a known issue of coil whine. thats why i dont suggest it

[TechNerd181]

to OP,

this is a great build overall: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/KqsQ

you can pricematch everything to NCIX.

i chose the 2500k instead because its cheaper than the 3570k right now. i added the 212 so you can do a slight overclock to match the 3570k at stock

Oh okay :P

[NewKID]

to OP,

this is a great build overall: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/KqsQ

you can pricematch everything to NCIX.

i chose the 2500k instead because its cheaper than the 3570k right now. i added the 212 so you can do a slight overclock to match the 3570k at stock

plus the XFX is just another Seasonic