Gaming PC Builds of the Month: January 2013

January 2013 Gaming PC Builds:

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January 2013 Gaming PC Builds of the Month - newbcomputerbuildIntroduction:

A fresh new year for fresh new beginnings, so how about a new shiny PC build this 2013? I have been running the Gaming PC Builds of the Month column here on Newb Computer Build for now for over a year and a half and I have enjoyed doing it every month, so I will continue to do so!

In the last year or so we have also added in an additional PC Builds section thanks to a new individual here at Newb Computer Build – Obit’s AMD Builds. We have not created an official landing page for his builds yet, hence why I didn’t link anything here, but you can keep checking back monthly for his builds as well this year for all of you AMD enthusiasts.

I have also had several requests to do more, such as a gaming laptops column, or a peripherals column. I believe these are great ideas and will try my hardest to try and fit some time in to start doing this, however it may take a couple of months, but keep your eyes peeled. Perhaps there is a reader out there who would be interested in contributing to such a column? If there is I would love to hear from you.

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$500 Gaming PC Build - Newb Computer Build

Monthly Gaming PC Build ( $513 ): January 2013

(Game at Smoothly with Medium – High settings at 1920X1080 resolutions)

Gaming PC Build Recipe:

All hardware is linked to Amazon.com – You Can also try   Amazon.ca (CANADA) • Amazon.co.uk (UK) Newegg.com (US) • Newegg.ca (CANADA)  Scorptec.com.au(AUS)  pccasegear.com (AUS) to shop for these parts.
 
Processor: Intel Core i3-3220 Dual-Core Processor 3.3 Ghz 3 MB Cache LGA 1155 – BX80637i33220
Price: $119.99
Motherboard: MSI LGA1155/Intel B75/DDR3/SATA3 and USB 3.0/A and GbE/MicroATX Motherboard B75MA-E33
Price: $59.99
Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1024MB GDDR5 128bit, Dual Dual-Link DVI, Mini HDMI, Graphics Card (01G-P4-3650-KR) Graphics Cards 01G-P4-3650-KR
Price: $139.99
RAM: Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2×4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
Price: $41.98
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD5000AAKX
Price: $60.28
Power Supply: Antec VP-450 450 Watt Energy Star Certified Power Supply Price: $38.24
Computer Case: GAMMA Classic Series ATX Mid Tower Interior Steel Chassis (Black)
Price: $35.75
Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $16.99
Estimated Price: $ 513.21

Overview: $500 Gaming PC Build

The same build – a lower price point. The $500 pc build is pretty solid and the same as it was previous with hardly any hardware releases and minimal price drops or increases between December and now. You still get a wonderful Intel i3 3220 processor, a GTX 650 Ti and a full 8GB of memory; really one cannot complain getting all of this in a $500 budget range.

You will be able to play most of all games and get pretty decent performance playing Medium to Higher settings at a resolution of 1920X1080.

$500 Build Performance –

Here are the 3D Mark 7 benchmarks using the Intel i3-3220 processor and the GTX 650 Ti graphics card – http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/5104887

GTX 650 Ti and Intel i3 3220

Upgrade suggestions for the $500 Gaming PC Build:

The hardware below are all moderate increases from the hardware listed in the main $500 build and they can all be considered compatible with one another.

If you are ever stumped or have any questions as to the compatibility of any hardware please get in contact with me or leave a comment below and I will try to respond as soon as I can.

Want other suggestions? Then leave a comment and I will try to get back to you as soon as I can.

Overview: The Gaming PC Hardware

Intel Core i3-3220 Dual-Core Processor 3.3 Ghz 3 MB Cache LGA 1155 – BX80637i33220 Price: $119.99

This Intel Core i3-3220 is the perfect choice for a budget gaming PC build and when paired with the GTX 650 Ti graphics card this month, you may be surprised at the amount of performance this gaming PC will be willing to squeeze out. The best in its class in my opinion, especially if you are not into overclocking. A second recommendation here could be the AMD route, where you can purchase an AMD FX-4170 for the same price, and overclock the heck out of it.

Intel i3-3220 2 cores 3.3GHz clock speed 4 threads

Technical Details:

  • L3 Cache
  • Ivy Bridge
  • Socket 1155

MSI LGA1155/Intel B75/DDR3/SATA3 and USB 3.0/A and GbE/MicroATX Motherboard B75MA-E33 Price: $59.99

A very affordable motherboard perfect for the Intel i3 3220 processor and has nothing more then what you need. At a price point of only $59.99 it has pretty much anything you will need in a build at this price – a couple of RAM slots with enough room to double the amount of RAM included in this build (8GB), 1x PCI Express 3.0 port for your graphics card, and some USB 3.0 ports.

Technical Details:

  • CPU: LGA1155; Supports 3rd Generation Intel Core i7/i5/i3/Pentium/Celeron Processors
  • Chipset: Intel B75
  • Memory: 2x DDR3-1600/1333/1066 DIMM Slots, Dual Channel, Max Capacity?of?16 GB
  • Slots: 1x PCI-Express 3.0 x16 Slot; 1x PCI-Express 2.0 x1 Slot; 1x PCI slot
  • SATA: 1x SATA3 Port; 3x SATA2 Ports
  • Ports: 8x USB 2.0 Ports (4 rear,?4via headers); 4x USB 3.0 Ports (2 rear,?2via headers); 1x PS/2 Mouse Port; 1x PS/2 Keyboard Port; 1x VGA Port;?1x HDMI Port; 1x RJ45 LAN Port; Audio I/O Jacks
  • Power Connector: 1x 24pin ATX Power Connector, 1x 4pin ATX 12VPower Connector

EVGA GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1024MB GDDR5 128bit, Dual Dual-Link DVI, Mini HDMI, Graphics Card (01G-P4-3650-KR) Graphics Cards 01G-P4-3650-KR Price: $139.99

New from last month the GeForce GTX 650 Ti graphics card is as good as it gets for around $150. With its low power demands and amazing performance its the perfect card for a $500 builds to keep performance up and power demands down.

Technical Details:

  • Core Clock: 1071
  • Memory Clock: 5400 MHz
  • Cuda Cores: 768
  • PCI-Express 3.0
  • 1024MB GDDR5 128 Bit
  • Microsoft DirectX 11, NVIDIA PhysX Technology, NVIDIA 3D Vision Ready, NVIDIA CUDA Technology, PCI-Express 3.0 Support, OpenGL 4.3 Support
  • Nvidia SMX Engine, NVidia Adaptive Verticle Sync, Nvidia Surround, Support for Concurrent Displays, Nvidia PhysX, Nvidia 3D Vision Ready, Nvidia SLI Ready, Nvidia CUDA Technology

Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2×4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX Price: $41.98

The usual well priced 2X4Gb 8GB package of RAM and I have decided to go with the very well priced Kingston Technology HyperX RAM for yet another month.

Technical Details

  • 8GB Kit including two 4GB modules of 1600MHz Class 9 DDR3 Desktop Memory
  • Utilizes HyperX module with faster latency timing for higher performance and speed
  • Specifically designed and tested for compatibility in various makes and models of desktop computers
  • From the industry leader in PC memory
  • Non-ECC Low-Latency 240-pin unbuffered DIMM type
  • Model: KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
  • Item Package Quantity: 1
  • RAM Memory Technology: DDR3 SDRAM
  • Memory Storage Capacity: 8.0 GB
  • Memory Speed: 1600 MHz
  • Warranty: Lifetime

Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD5000AAKX Price: $60.28

Western Digital 250 GB Caviar Blue

Western Digital 500 GB Caviar Blue

500GB for a budget build seems to be a good amount of space. Need more later because you hoard tons of music, movies and other sorts of media? Then by all means, just connect another hard drive later on, or find one that goes spontaneously on sale, but for now a nice solid 500GB hard drive should do the trick.

Performance Details From Western Digital’s Website:

Performance Specifications
Rotational Speed 7,200 RPM (nominal)
Buffer Size 16 MB
Load/unload Cycles 300,000 minimum
Transfer Rates
Transfer Rate (Buffer To Disk) 126 MB/s (Max)
Physical Specifications
Formatted Capacity 500,107 MB
Capacity 500 GB
Interface SATA 6 Gb/s
User Sectors Per Drive 976,773,168
Metric
Height 26.1 mm
Depth 147 mm
Width 101.6 mm
Weight 0.69 kg
Temperature (English)
Operating 32° F to 140° F
Non-operating -40° F to 158° F
Temperature (Metric)
Operating -0° C to 60° C
Non-operating -40° C to 70° C
Electrical Specifications
Current Requirements
Power Dissipation
Read/Write 6.80 Watts
Idle 6.10 Watts
Standby 0.70 Watts
Sleep 0.70 Watts

Product Details

  • WD Caviar Blue hard drives have a multitude of features to deliver rock solid performance and ultra-cool and quiet operation.
  • 3rd generation SATA interface for 6 GB/s maximum data transfer rates.
  • WhisperDrive technology minimizes noise to levels near the threshold of human hearing.
  • 500 GB capacity holds up to 100,000 digital photos, 125,000 MP3 files, and 60 hours of HD video.
  • Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
  • 3rd generation SATA interface for 6 GB/s maximum data transfer rates
  • 500 GB capacity holds up to 100,000 digital photos, 125,000 MP3 files, and 60 hours of HD video
  • WD Caviar Blue hard drives have a multitude of features to deliver rock solid performance and ultra-cool and quiet operation
  • WhisperDrive technology minimizes noise to levels near the threshold of human hearing

Antec VP-450 450 Watt Energy Star Certified Power Supply Price: $38.24

This Antec power supply proves a continuous power of 450W with many positive reviews and a price point of about $35 bucks for a PSU there was no reason not to include it. Also to note, this PSU has a continuous power rating of 450W, which means that it will always give out a continuous amount of 450 watts – in other words this power supply unit is a fantastic deal and will run all of the required hardware in this build perfectly.

Technical Details:

  • 450W of continuous Power!
  • Dual +12V rails ensure greater system stability
  • ATX 12V version 2.3 compliant
  • 120mm fan delivers quiet, reliable cooling
  • Black exterior complements any system

NZXT Technologies Source 210 Computer Case (Black) Price $35.75

One of the most possible budget cases and with good reason. The NZXT Source 210 PC case looks good and is quite affordable.

Technical Details:

  • 6 fan capability ( one rear 120mm included )
  • Black Interior
  • Wire routing: motherboard punched holes allows for quick CPU bracket removable and optimal wire routing, turned HDD also helps with managing cables
  • High end graphics card support, the Gamma features space that is especially designed to fit longer 10.5-Inch cards
  • Brand Name: Nzxt
  • Model: GAMMA Black
  • Item Package Quantity: 1
  • Color Name: Black
  • Warranty: All NZXT cases comes in 1-year top to bottom Warranty, please email your request to RMA@NZXT.COM

Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $16.99

The usual not so special optical drive at a decent price. Generally all I use my DVD optical drives for these days is to install my OS and maybe backup a few older CDs and games. So there really is no reason to go all out here and the Lite-On drives have yet to disappoint me.

Technical Details

  • Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS124-04 BLACK/BULK (Black)
  • 6.7 x 5.8 x 1.6 inches ; 2 pounds
  • Interface: SATA; Buffer Memory: 2 MB

$1000 Gaming PC Build - Newb Computer BuildMonthly Gaming PC Build ( $938): January 2013

Gaming PC Build Recipe:

Capability: Game with Extreme settings at 1920X1080 resolutions and even High Settings in some games at 2560×1600

All hardware is linked to Amazon.com – You Can also try   Amazon.ca (CANADA) • Amazon.co.uk (UK) Newegg.com (US) • Newegg.ca (CANADA)  Scorptec.com.au(AUS)  pccasegear.com (AUS) to shop for these parts.
 
Processor: Intel Core i5 3570K Processor 3.4 4 BX80637I53570K
Price: $219.99
 
CPU Cooler (For OverClocking): Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R1) Price: $29.98
Motherboard: AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME4 $127.99
Graphics Card: Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7870 2 GB GDDR5 DVI-I/HDMI/2x Mini-Displayport PCI-Express 3.0 Graphic Card GV-R787OC-2GD
Price: $239.99
RAM: Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2×4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
Price: $41.98
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive
Price: $76.99
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 750 Watt ATX/EPS 80 PLUS Bronze (TX750)
Price: $89.99
Computer Case: Cooler Master HAF XB – LAN Box and Test Bench Mid Tower Computer Case with ATX Motherboard Support (RC-902XB-KKN1)
Price: $99.99
Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $16.99
Estimated Price: $938

Overview: Gaming PC Build ( $1000 )

Another pretty static build this month – The $1000 gaming pc build is built to the nines, with the very overclockable Intel i5 3570K, a solid Radeon HD 7870 Graphics Card and the new Cooler Master HAF 922 Mid Tower case.

Also, the price for the overall build has lowered to a very affordable $944 US! So there it a little wiggle room to upgrade what you like, such a up to 16GB RAM, or a 1.5TB hard drive?

$1000 Build Performance –

Here are the 3D Mark 7 benchmarks using the Intel i5-3570K processor and the Radeon HD 7870 graphics card –  http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/4093212

 

3570K and Radeon HD 7870

Overview: The Gaming PC Hardware

Intel Core i5 3570K Processor 3.4 4 BX80637I53570K Price: $219.99

Intel 3570K Prcoessor

Like most processors this month, the Intel 3570K processor still holds strong as the processor of choice for Medium to High end gaming PC builds.

This is the current mainstream high end gamer processor. The Intel 35070K is included in both the higher end and mid range gaming pc builds of the month. This processor is easily overclocked and perfect for all hardware enthusiasts and gamers alike.

The Intel Core i5-3570K has four cores and an unlocked multiplier that allows you to freely adjust the frequency – overclocking made easy! Note: if you plan on overclocking please consider buying an after market CPU cooler such as the Cooler Master Evo 212 included in the Hardware Suggestions section for this $1000 build.

Intel Core i5-3570K 4 cores 3.4 GHz clock speed (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 Socket

Product Details: *From Intel

Essentials
Status
Launched
Launch Date
Q2’12
Processor Number
i5-3570K
# of Cores
4
# of Threads
4
Clock Speed
3.4 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency
3.8 GHz
Intel® Smart Cache
6 MB
Bus/Core Ratio
34
DMI
5 GT/s
Instruction Set
64-bit
Instruction Set Extensions
SSE4.1/4.2, AVX
Embedded Options Available
No
Lithography
22 nm
Max TDP
77 W

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R1) Price: $29.98

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R2
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler

I have used the Cooler Master 212 EVO CPU cooler for months because it is still a basic well rated and performance CPU cooler that is priced very cheap when compared to others of its caliber. Yet another month with a slight price drop in the Cooler Master hyper 212 Evo CPU cooler!

Product Details:

CPU Socket Intel Socket:LGA 2011 / 1366 / 1156 / 1155 / 775 *AMD Socket:FM1 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2
CPU Support Intel:Core™ i7 Extreme / Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 / Core™2 Extreme / Core™2 Quad / Core™2 Duo / Pentium / CeleronAMD:FX-Series / A-Series / Phenom™ II X4 / Phenom™ II X3 / Phenom™ II X2 / Phenom™ X4 / Phenom™ X3 / Athlon™ II X4 / Athlon™ II X3 / Athlon™ II X2 / Athlon™ X2 / Athlon™ / Sempron™
Dimension 120 x 80 x 159 mm (4.7 x 3.1 x 6.3 in)
Heat Sink Dimensions 116 x 51 x 159 mm (4.6 x 2.0 x 6.3 in)
Heat Sink Material 4 Direct Contact Heat Pipes / Aluminum Fins
Heat Sink Weight 465g (1.03 lb)
Heat Pipes Dimensions ø6mm
Fan Dimension 120 x 120 x 25 mm (4.7 x 4.7 x 1 in)
Fan Speed 600 – 2,000 RPM (PWM) ± 10%600 – 1,600 RPM (PWM) ± 10% (EU Version)
Fan Airflow 24.9 – 82.9 CFM ± 10%24.9 – 66.3 CFM ± 10% (EU Version)
Fan Air Pressure 0.3 – 2.7mm H2O ± 10%0.3 – 1.7mm H2O ± 10% (EU Version)
Fan Life Expectancy 40,000hrs
Fan Noise Level (dB-A) 9 – 36 dBA9 – 31 dBA (EU Version)
Bearing Type Long Life Sleeve Bearing
Connector 4-Pin
Fan Rated Voltage 12 VDC
Fan Rated Current 0.22A0.19A (EU Version)
Power Consumption 2.64W2.28W (EU Version)
Fan Weight 104g (0.23 lb)
  • Well-balanced cooling performance provides fin optimizations with perfect balance between high and low speed operations.
  • Wide-range PWM fan with unique wave-shaped blade design for excellent airflow.
  • 4 Direct Contact heat pipes with the patented (Continuous Direct Contact) technology – creating a perfect, sleek surface for heat conduction.
  • Versatile all-in-one mounting solution supporting the latest Intel LGA 1366 /1155 and AMD FM1 / AM3+. Includes the LGA 2011 mounting bracket.

AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME4 Price: $127.99

The AsRock EXTREME 4 motherboard is being used for both of the $1000 & $1500 PC builds. This is because this motherboard will easily overclock your Intel 3570K and comes with all the features you will most likely need. By including this very affordable AsRock Motherboard, I am able to allocate more money towards the graphics cards to further gaming performance potential.

Interested in reading a nice review – Check out the overclockersclub review

Product Details:

  1. Premium Gold Caps
  2. Digi Power Design, 8 + 4 Power Phase Design
  3. Supports Dual Channel DDR3 2800+(OC)
  4. 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 Slots, Supports AMD Quad CrossFireX™, CrossFireX™ and NVIDIA®Quad SLI™, SLI™
  5. PCIE Gigabit LAN
  6. Supports Intel® HD Graphics with Built-in Visuals
  7. Multi VGA Output options : DVI-D, D-Sub, HDMI
  8. Combo Cooler Option (C.C.O.)
  9. 7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC898 Audio Codec), Supports THX TruStudio™
  10. Supports ASRock XFast RAM, XFast LAN, XFast USB, OMG, Internet Flash, No-K OC, Dehumidifier, UEFI System Browser
  11. Supports Intel® Smart Connect, Intel® Rapid Start, Lucid Virtu Universal MVP
  12. Free Bundle : CyberLink MediaEspresso 6.5 Trial, ASRock MAGIX Multimedia Suite

Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7870 2 GB GDDR5 DVI-I/HDMI/2x Mini-Displayport PCI-Express 3.0 Graphic Card GV-R787OC-2GD Price: $239.99

This Gigabyte card in particular comes with a great array of connection ports too – 2 mini display – HDMI and a DVI port.

You will be able to play most if not all games at max settings at 1920×1080 resolutions and will even play well if you have a super high resolution monitor at 2560×1600.

Technical Details:

  • Ultra Durable VGA Components – GPU Temperature 5%-10% Down – Overclocing Capability 10%-30% Up – Power Switching Loss 10%-30% Down
  • WINDFORCE 3X Anti-Turbulence Cooling with New Triangle Cool Technology
  • Gold Plated HDMI for optimum signal transfer between connections
  • Features DVI-I/HDMI/2x mini-Display port outputs with HDCP protection
  • Supports AMD Eyefinity/Eyespeed/CrossFire/Avivo HD Technologies
  • Minimum Recommended Power Supply 500W or greater with 2x 6-pin VGA power connectors

Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2×4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX Price: $41.98

The same as used in the $500 build both this and last month, but 8GB is a good fit for the $1000 build as well. This package of Kingston 8GB RAM still holds this spot because it is still at the exact same price as last month – holding at $39.99. Last month his package was chosen for its strong Kingston brand name as well as the most affordable price point for a package of 8GB RAM – so here it is again!
Technical Details
  • 8GB Kit including two 4GB modules of 1600MHz Class 9 DDR3 Desktop Memory
  • Utilizes HyperX module with faster latency timing for higher performance and speed
  • Specifically designed and tested for compatibility in various makes and models of desktop computers
  • From the industry leader in PC memory
  • Non-ECC Low-Latency 240-pin unbuffered DIMM type
  • Model: KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
  • Item Package Quantity: 1
  • RAM Memory Technology: DDR3 SDRAM
  • Memory Storage Capacity: 8.0 GB
  • Memory Speed: 1600 MHz
  • Warranty: Lifetime

Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive Price: $76.99

1TB of hard drive space is a good amount of hard drive space for a $1000 build and the newer line of Western Digital hard drives is a quality drive to takes this place.

Product Details

  • WD Caviar Blue hard drives have a multitude of features to deliver rock solid performance and ultra-cool and quiet operation.
  • 3rd generation SATA interface for 6 GB/s maximum data transfer rates.
  • WhisperDrive technology minimizes noise to levels near the threshold of human hearing.
  • 1 TB capacity holds up to 200,000 digital photos, 250,000 MP3 files, and 120 hours of HD video.
  • Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging

Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 750 Watt ATX/EPS 80 PLUS Bronze (TX750) Price: $89.99

Swapping this Corsair Enthusiast PSU for the previous Modular Series this month since you save about $40, which is pretty significant. You may go back to December’s builds and purchase the 750W Modular version if you like, but it’s up to you. In my opinion this is far more worth the cash for what you get.

Product Details:

According to Corsair.com –

  • The Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 power supply delivers 750W of clean, stable, continuous power, making it a great choice when you need an affordable, premium quality, and energy-efficient power supply for your high-end gaming rig or workstation. For systems with even higher power needs, there is also an 850W (Model TX850V2) version available.

Cooler Master HAF XB – LAN Box and Test Bench Mid Tower Computer Case with ATX Motherboard Support (RC-902XB-KKN1)Price: $99.99

I chose this new Cooler Master HAF XB – Lan Box this month because it looks pure awesome – and the reviews having been coming in pretty positively, especially for great airflow. Plus, you can put it right on your desk and still have everything fit very nicely.

And yes – this will fit the Hyper 212 Evo CPU Cooler as it supports heights of coolers up to 180mm.

Technical Details

  • Direct front to back airflow over CPU and mainboard for extreme cooling performance
  • Supports 240mm radiators with extra clearance for thick, high performance radiators or push-pull fan configurations
  • Supports tower CPU coolers with a height up to 180mm and up to 334mm long high-end graphics cards
  • Motherboard tray can be removed to install, remove, or swap components
  • The first case that quickly and easily transforms into a Test Bench – ideal for enthusiasts and overclockers
  • Dual USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports and X-Dock slots at the front panel for lightning fast plug-n-play I/O
  • Rigid carrying handles on the side panels

    The Cooler Master Haf XB (http://www.guru3d.com/)

Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $16.99

The usual not so special optical drive at a decent price. Generally all I use my DVD optical drives for these days is to install my OS and maybe backup a few older CDs and games. So there really is no reason to go all out here and the Lite-On drives have yet to disappoint me.

Technical Details

  • Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS124-04 BLACK/BULK (Black)
  • 6.7 x 5.8 x 1.6 inches ; 2 pounds
  • Interface: SATA; Buffer Memory: 2 MB

$1000 Gaming PC Build Additions / Swap Suggestions

Note: Prices are in additional $ amounts… These additions are to act as additional or supplemental hardware the the Gaming PC Build Recipe Above

Add a SSD Boot Drive: OCZ Technology 128GB Vertex 4 Series SATA 6.0 GB/s 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive (SSD) With Industry’s Highest 120K IOPS And 5-Year Warranty – VTX4-25SAT3-128G = + $109
Add a Blu-Ray Optical Drive: LG Electronics WH12LS30 12X Blu-ray SATA Writer Drive = + $79 – Perhaps you are a movie buff?  or need to Backup Media etc. Then swap this for the optical drive and you can add blu-ray burn / read functionality!LG Electronics WH12LS30 12X Blu-ray SATA Writer Drive - WH12LS30K
 Do CROSSFIRE with another Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7870 2 GB GDDR5 DVI-I/HDMI/2x Mini-Displayport PCI-Express 3.0 Graphic Card GV-R787OC-2GD = + $239.99  Liquid CPU cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 120M – Liquid CPU Water Cooling Kit with Pre-filled Coolant and Copper Heatsink = + $69.99 A small adaptable liquid CPU cooler should do the trick!

Additions / Part Swaps Overview

If you are thinking of upgrading your system beyond the basic $1000 build, then the recommendations above may be for you. If you have any further questions regarding upgrades or suggestions please leave a comment below the article.

$1500 Gaming PC Build - Newb Computer BuildMonthly Gaming PC Build ( $1478 ): January 2013

Gaming PC Build Recipe:

Game with Extreme settings at resolutions of 2560×1600 – How perfect is that!?

All hardware is linked to Amazon.com – You Can also try   Amazon.ca (CANADA) • Amazon.co.uk (UK) Newegg.com (US) • Newegg.ca (CANADA)  Scorptec.com.au(AUS)  pccasegear.com (AUS) to shop for these parts.
 
Processor: Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 – BX80637I53570K
Price: $219.99
 
CPU Cooler (For OverClocking): Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R1)
Price: $29.98
Motherboard: AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME6
Price: $159.99
Graphics Card: Diamond AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCIE 3G GDDR5 Video Graphics Card 7970PE53G
Price: $456.99
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory F3-12800CL10D-16GBXL
Price: $79.00
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive
Price: $76.99
SSD Hard Drive: Samsung Electronics Samsung 840 Series Solid State Drive (SSD) 250 sata_6_0_gb 2.5-Inch MZ-7TD250BW
Price: $178.46
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 750 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Bronze (TX750M)
Price: $119.98
Computer Case: Corsair Obsidian Series Black 550D Mid Tower Computer Case (CC-9011015-WW)
Price: $138.98
Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $16.99
Estimated Price: $1478

Overview: Gaming PC Build ( $1500 )

A slight upgrade in motherboard to help afford upgrades in the future and a nice change in case to a sleek Corsair Obsidian Black. The $1500 will be able to rock any game out there and give you the confidence of doing so for quite some time. One suggestion would be to also always do a quick search for other Radeon HD 7970 cards since you can probably get its price down to about $400 saving you an easy $20 or so.

$1500 Build Performance –

Here are the 3D Mark 7 benchmarks using the Intel i5-3570K processor and the Radeon HD 7970 graphics card –  http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/4792768

Intel i5 3570k and Radeon HD 7970

 

Overview: The Gaming PC Hardware

Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 – BX80637I53570K Price: $219.99

Intel Core i5 3570K Processor

It has been said that the Intel 3570K is the best price per core performance gaming cpu with the ability to overclock unsurpassed in this range. Want to read some benchmarks on the Intel 3570K? – Then check out some of techradars benchmarks.

I have included an aftermarket CPU cooler – the Cooler Master EVO, which will make overclocking a simple feat while keeping temperatures under control. I dare you to try overclocking up to an easy 4.8GHz!

Intel Core i5-3570K 4 cores 3.4 GHz clock speed (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 Socket

Product Details: *From Intel

Essentials
Status Launched
Launch Date Q2’12
Processor Number i5-3570K
# of Cores 4
# of Threads 4
Clock Speed 3.4 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency 3.8 GHz
Intel® Smart Cache 6 MB
Bus/Core Ratio 34
DMI 5 GT/s
Instruction Set 64-bit
Instruction Set Extensions SSE4.1/4.2, AVX
Embedded Options Available
No
Lithography 22 nm
Max TDP 77 W

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R1) Price: $29.98

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R2

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler

I have used the Cooler Master 212 EVO CPU cooler for months because it is still a basic well rated and performance CPU cooler that is priced very cheap when compared to others of its caliber. Yet another month with a slight price drop in the Cooler Master hyper 212 Evo CPU cooler!

Product Details:

CPU Socket Intel Socket:LGA 2011 / 1366 / 1156 / 1155 / 775 *AMD Socket:FM1 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2
CPU Support Intel:Core™ i7 Extreme / Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 / Core™2 Extreme / Core™2 Quad / Core™2 Duo / Pentium / CeleronAMD:FX-Series / A-Series / Phenom™ II X4 / Phenom™ II X3 / Phenom™ II X2 / Phenom™ X4 / Phenom™ X3 / Athlon™ II X4 / Athlon™ II X3 / Athlon™ II X2 / Athlon™ X2 / Athlon™ / Sempron™
Dimension 120 x 80 x 159 mm (4.7 x 3.1 x 6.3 in)
Heat Sink Dimensions 116 x 51 x 159 mm (4.6 x 2.0 x 6.3 in)
Heat Sink Material 4 Direct Contact Heat Pipes / Aluminum Fins
Heat Sink Weight 465g (1.03 lb)
Heat Pipes Dimensions ø6mm
Fan Dimension 120 x 120 x 25 mm (4.7 x 4.7 x 1 in)
Fan Speed 600 – 2,000 RPM (PWM) ± 10%600 – 1,600 RPM (PWM) ± 10% (EU Version)
Fan Airflow 24.9 – 82.9 CFM ± 10%24.9 – 66.3 CFM ± 10% (EU Version)
Fan Air Pressure 0.3 – 2.7mm H2O ± 10%0.3 – 1.7mm H2O ± 10% (EU Version)
Fan Life Expectancy 40,000hrs
Fan Noise Level (dB-A) 9 – 36 dBA9 – 31 dBA (EU Version)
Bearing Type Long Life Sleeve Bearing
Connector 4-Pin
Fan Rated Voltage 12 VDC
Fan Rated Current 0.22A0.19A (EU Version)
Power Consumption 2.64W2.28W (EU Version)
Fan Weight 104g (0.23 lb)
  • Well-balanced cooling performance provides fin optimizations with perfect balance between high and low speed operations.
  • Wide-range PWM fan with unique wave-shaped blade design for excellent airflow.
  • 4 Direct Contact heat pipes with the patented (Continuous Direct Contact) technology – creating a perfect, sleek surface for heat conduction.
  • Versatile all-in-one mounting solution supporting the latest Intel LGA 1366 /1155 and AMD FM1 / AM3+. Includes the LGA 2011 mounting bracket.

AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME6 Price: $159.99

Tons of expansion capability for more graphics, ram, peripherals and more.

Product Details:

  • CPU: LGA1155; Supports 2nd/3rd Generation Intel Core i7/ i5/ i3 Processor; Supports Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology; Supports Hyper-Threading Technology
  • Chipset: Intel Z77
  • Memory: 4X DDR3-2800+(OC)/2400(OC)/2133(OC)/1866(OC)/1600/1333/1066 DIMM Slots, Non-ECC, Unbuffered, Dual Channel, Maxi Capacity up to 32GB
  • Slots: 2X PCI-Express 3.0 X16 Slots (single at X16/X8 or dual at X8/X8), 1X PCI-Express 2.0 X16 Slot (runs at X4), 1X PCI Express 2.0 X1 Slot, 1X mini-PCI Express Slot, 2 X PCI Slots
  • SATA:?4X SATA3 Ports (one shared with eSATA3 port),?Two Support RAID 0, 1, 5, 10; 4X SATA2, Supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 10
  • Power Connector: 1X 24-Pin ATX Main Power Connector, 1X 8-Pin 12V Power Connector

Diamond AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCIE 3G GDDR5 Video Graphics Card 7970PE53G Price: $456.99

Even the main models of the Radeon 7970’s have the capacity to be pretty overclocked easily, which makes the value of the Radeon HD 7970 comparable to any of the $500 graphics cards; such as the GTX 680. This card will have you playing any game without any problems at Max Settings with resolutions soaring up to 2560X1600 easily.

Product Details:

  • Play the latest PC games supporting DirectX 11.1
  • Work and Productivity Application
  • Video playback and editing
  • HD video playback (Blu-ray and HD DVD) and editing
  • Everyday home computing applications with Windows7
  • GCN Architecture

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory F3-12800CL10D-16GBXL Price: $79.00

I have switched the RAM package to a G Skill one this month due to price fluctuations on generally all RAM in the 16GB realm. G Skill just happened to be the most affordable quality package. Have used it in the past and have been very pleased.

Product Features:

  • Type: 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM
  • Capacity: 16GB (2 x 8GB)
  • Speed: DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
  • Cas Latency: 10
  • Buffered/Registered: Unbuffered

Technical Details

  • Model: F3-12800CL10D-16GBXL
  • Item Package Quantity: 1
  • Form Factor: Desktop
  • Memory Speed: 1600 MHz

Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive Price: $76.99

The newer version of the Western Digital Blue series of hard drives, this 1TB drive will have plenty of room to store a ton of gaming media.

Performance Details:

  • WD Blue hard drives have a multitude of features including third generation SATA interface with 6 GB/s transfer rate, plus rock solid performance and ultra-cool and quiet operation.
  • WhisperDrive technology minimizes noise to levels near the threshold of human hearing.
  • SoftSeek technology streamlines read/write seeking algorithms, resulting in more efficient operation.
  • 1 TB capacity holds up to 200,000 digital photos, 250,000 MP3 files, and 120 hours of HD video.
  • 2 year limited warranty.

Samsung Electronics Samsung 840 Series Solid State Drive (SSD) 250 sata_6_0_gb 2.5-Inch MZ-7TD250BWPrice: $178.46

This Samsung 840 SSD is a great deal for only $175 – 250GB space is amazing at this price point with the following Reading / Write speeds and power consumption –

Sequential Read: 540 MB/s
Sequential Write: 250 MB/s

Power Consumption (Active): 0.071 W
Power Consumption (Idle): 0.046 W

Technical Details

  • Optimized to improve everyday PC productivity, including web-browsing, email, multimedia and gaming
  • Enables you to boot up your computer in as little as 15 seconds
  • Energy efficient – improves battery life by up to 50 minutes
  • Solid-state design provides greater shock protection for data and brushed metal case blocks dust and corrosion
  • Worry-free data security with AES 256-bit full-disk encryption
  • 100-percent genuine Samsung components from the #1 memory manufacturer in the world
  • Backed by a three-year limited warranty
  • Superior multi-tasking performance with 4th-generation 3-Core Samsung MDX Controller

Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 750 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Bronze (TX750M) Price: $119.98

The Corsair Enthusiast Series Modular Power Supplies are at similar prices as the non-modular versions, so pick it up quick. 850 Watts is plenty of wattage for this hardware with so much more to spare for additions of hardware in the future (or now if you choose too!).

Product Details:

  • 80PLUS Bronze certified, delivering up to 85% energy efficiency at real world load conditions.
  • A dedicated single +12V rail offers maximum compatibility with the latest components.
  • An ultra-quiet double ball-bearing fan delivers excellent airflow at an exceptionally low noise level by varying fan speed in response to temperature.
  • Over-voltage and over-current protection,
  • Universal AC input from 90~264V. No more hassle of flipping that tiny red switch to select the voltage input!
  • A five year warranty and lifetime access to Corsair’s legendary technical support and customer service.
  • The latest ATX12V v2.31 and EPS 2.92 standards and it is backward compatible with ATX12V 2.2 and ATX12V 2.01 systems.
  • Under-voltage protection, and short circuit protection provide maximum safety to your critical system components.

Corsair Obsidian Series Black 550D Mid Tower Computer Case (CC-9011015-WW) Price: $138.98

A sleek case with soft silicon sound dampening ready to fit everything you throw at it. There is great airflow, and you can easily hide your cables without any hassle.

Product Details

  • Six tool-free hard drive trays with integral SSD support and soft silicon sound dampening
  • Four tool-free optical drive bays
  • Front panel USB 3.0 connectors and audio connectors
  • Cable routing cutouts with rubber grommets
  • Removable, reversible front panel
  • Eight expansion slots for multi-GPU compatibility
  • Three 120mm fans
  • Top panel is compatible with 240mm radiators for dual-radiator Hydro Series CPU coolers and liquid cooling systems

Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $`16.99

The usual not so special optical drive at a decent price. Generally all I use my DVD optical drives for these days is to install my OS and maybe backup a few older CDs and games. So there really is no reason to go all out here and the Lite-On drives have yet to disappoint me.

Technical Details

  • Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS124-04 BLACK/BULK (Black)
  • 6.7 x 5.8 x 1.6 inches ; 2 pounds
  • Interface: SATA; Buffer Memory: 2 MB

$1500 Gaming PC Build Additions / Swap Suggestions

Note: Prices are in additional $ amounts – These additions are to act as supplemental or swaps for the hardware in the $1000-$1500 Gaming PC Build recipe above

Swap the Processor for an i7 –

Intel Core i7-3770K Quad-Core Processor 3.5 GHz 6 MB Cache LGA 1155 – BX80637I73770K=  $324.98

Double the Graphics Power w/ Crossfire and add one more: 
Diamond AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCIE 3G GDDR5 Video Graphics Card 7970PE53G = + $457
Better CPU Cooler (To Overclock Intel 3570K): Corsair Hydro Series Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler H100i = + $119.99
Larger SSD: Crucial 512 GB m4 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive SATA 6Gb/s CT512M4SSD2 = + $399 (512 GB of pure Solid State Drive – You may even be able to skip and go with just this if you do not need the extra room!)

Overview: Additions / Part Swaps

If you have some extra cash to spend or want ideas of what else you could add /swap in place of what is already included in the $1500 gaming PC build, then you may be interest in the above ideas. The Intel i7-3770K may be of interest to someone wanting to splurge a tad more on an i7 processor; this may be good for someone that does much more than gaming. Or perhaps you want to really get the most graphics power you can, then perhaps going CrossFire and purchasing two 7970 cards (great idea for future upgrade perhaps?). Or, perhaps you want to go with just a Solid State Drive so purchasing a 512GB SSD would make sense as to utilize its as a main drive.

$2000 PC Build 2013

Ultimate Gaming PC Build ( $2002 ): January 2013

Gaming PC Build Recipe:

Game with Extreme settings at resolutions of 2560×1600 and HIGHER – How perfect is that!?

All hardware is linked to Amazon.com – You Can also try   Amazon.ca (CANADA) • Amazon.co.uk (UK) Newegg.com (US) • Newegg.ca (CANADA)  Scorptec.com.au(AUS)  pccasegear.com (AUS) to shop for these parts.
 
Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K Quad-Core Processor 3.5 GHz 8 MB Cache LGA 1155 – BX80637I73770K
Price: $324.98
 
 
 
 
 
 
CPU Cooler (For OverClocking): Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R1)
Price: $29.98
Motherboard: AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME6
Price: $159.99
Graphics Card: Diamond AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCIE 3G GDDR5 Video Graphics Card 7970PE53G
Price: $456.99 X 2 = $914 (Two Cards in CROSSFIRE)
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory F3-12800CL10D-16GBXL
Price: $79.00
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Internal Desktop Hard Drive Bulk/OEM – WD1002FAEX
Price: $91.33
 
 
 
 
 
 
SSD Hard Drive: OCZ Technology 128GB Vertex 4 Series SATA 6.0 GB/s 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive (SSD) With Industry’s Highest 120K IOPS And 5-Year Warranty – VTX4-25SAT3-128G
Price: $108.58
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 850 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Bronze (TX850M)
Price: $114.99
Computer Case: Cooler Master HAF X – Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 Ports and Windowed Side Panel (RC-942-KKN1)
Price: $162.98
Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $16.99
Estimated Price: $2002

Overview: Ultimate Gaming PC Build ( $2000 )

Ok, so I did say the $2000 build was primarily for December, however due to a couple requests I have included one again with a couple of fine tunes upgrades – such as a 1.5 TB Hard Drive, an AsRock EXTREME6 motherboard and a Full Tower Cooler Master HAF X PC Case. I will try to do the $2000 build once in a while depending on time restraints and demand, so please let me know what you guys want as it really helps with the direction of these articles.

$2000 Build Performance –

Here are the 3D Mark 7 benchmarks using the Intel i7-3770K processor and the (2X) Radeon HD 7970 graphics cards –  http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/4303530

Intel 3770K and two Radeon HD 7970's


Concluding January 2013’s Gaming PC Builds:

The end to the first Gaming PC Builds of the Month

January 2013’s Gaming PC Hardware Overview Video:

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Comments 32

  1. This page was VERY helpful in helping me make my build. I took most of the suggestions, changed only a couple of things. Thanks so much!

    1. Post
      Author
  2. Yeah i got more into the reading and it seems SLI more for those triple Monitor setups and what not. I Really appriciate the list above, and for you taking your time and looking it up for me I couldnt figure it out. Althought I guess if I ever want to SLI later with the 680 It would be alot better for future proof eh? Thanks again Ill def, give you a link to pic when finished. I like the builds you make by the way can’t wait for next months. You should shot me your email so i can send some pics when im done.

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      Author

      No problem and you are right about the multiple monitor setup etc. Also, having the potential for SLI is most def. a future proof opportunity. You may also contact me via the contact form page at the top right menu under “contact me” and that will shoot straight to my e-mail

    1. Post
      Author

      Hey William,

      Bit of a tough one but you can do it (and no need for financial Kudos haha). And depends on the monitor size you like, is 23″ ok? Also I have attached a build similar to the as per usual $1500 build, however without the Solid State Drive and a nice NZXT Phantom Case. As the recommended parts do slightly go over $1700 you could also skip the cooler for now, or leave out the optical drive if you are hard on cash and still get the same baseline performance.

      However, one caveat to this build and an opinion of mine. You might be better sticking to the one GTX 680 you have in your previous build as I think you may find you will get amazing performance on a nice 1920×1080 monitor with just that card as opposed to SLI GTX 670’s. So if that saved on you money in the end and you were ok with just the GTX 60, I would opt for that (plus your last build was quite good).

      Case: NZXT Crafted Series ATX Full Tower Steel Chassis – Phantom White

      Monitor: ASUS VH236H 23-Inch Full-HD 2ms LCD Monitor

      Graphics: 2x EVGA GeForce GTX670 2048MB GDDR5 256bit, 2x Dual-Link DVI, HDMI, DP, 4-Way SLI Ready Graphics Card (02G-P4-2670-KR)

      PSU: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 850 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Bronze (TX850M)

      Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (CMZ16GX3M2A1600C10)

      Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) –

      Hard Drive: WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA III, 64 MB Cache – WD10EZEX

      Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO – CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan (RR-212E-20PK-R2)

      Processor: Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 – BX80637I53570K

  3. My Idea For my build any suggestions of a case that will fit the h80i or h100i?
    And is this all compatible with each other? First time building soo… Thanks for help Corey
    Think this will be a good build as well if it is all compatible?
    Plus for the case I’m going for blue/Black look so blue LED or what not.

    CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 – BX80637I53570K

    GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 680 2048MB GDDR5, DVI, DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort, 4-way SLI Ready Graphics Card Graphics Cards 02G-P4-2680-KR

    RAM: Corsair Vengeance Blue 16 GB DDR3 SDRAM Dual Channel Memory Kit CMZ16GX3M4A1600​C9B

    Motherboard: Gigabyte Intel Z77 LGA 1155 AMD CrossFireX/NVID​IA SLI W/ HDMI,DVI,Dispay​Port Dual UEFI BIOS ATX Motherboard GA-Z77X-UD3H

    CPU FAN/HEATSINK:Corsair Hydro Series Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler H100i/H80i

    HD: WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA III, 64 MB Cache – WD10EZEX

    SSD: Crucial m4 128GB 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive SATA 6Gb/s CT128M4SSD2

    PS: Corsair Professional Series HX 750 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Gold (HX750)

    BR/CD: ASUS BW-12B1ST/BLK/G​/AS 12X Blu-ray Internal Burner Drive with Disc Encryption – Black – Retail Box

    ACCESSORIES:
    NZXT SENTRY 2 Accessories 5.25-Inch Touch Screen Fan Controller (Black)
    NZXT Sleeved LED Case Light Kit (Blue) 2 Meter CB-LED20-BU

    1. Post
      Author

      Hey William,

      Looks like you’re going all out, I like it! I am curious as to how it looks after with the fan controller / the LED lighting. Everything you chose is perfectly compatible and all great choices.

      For a case to go with the Corsair H100i or H80i, you should not have to worry too much about space since most Mid Towers should be able to fit them. I would however like to recommend an NZXT case, which could favor the theme / feel you are trying to achieve.

      You will want a case where the front 5.25″ drive spaces are visible so that you can easily see that stylish NZXT Sentry 2 display (at least I would). Something like the NZXT SWITCH 810 case may look really nice when paired with your accessories. It would have a nice front area for the fan controller, sleek look, comes in white or black etc. (Take a look at the produce gallery here: http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/crafted_series/switch_810 )

      I am not sure how much you were willing to extend your budget, so if the above case is too expensive you can ask for a few other recommendation as well. I find some nice sleek cases that look good with blue LED as well are Zalman.

      1. Thanks for the Quick Response Corey.
        I appreciate the feedback and yes, I want a machine that can run pretty much everything.
        And I added a few things like the Hyper x Blue Ram Fan for looks basically and you cant argue with more fans I Suppose lol. WIll need it for my Fan Controller anyways lol.
        Well all ports are ordered when built and set up ill post you a pic mate Good day!

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          Author
  4. ACK! My comments actually went through. Oh well. More questions if you aren’t sick of me yet.

    Between the jump from 7870 and the 7970, why the switch to Diamond over Gigabyte. Purely a price consideration at the time?

    1. Post
      Author

      Indeed it did! You are correct as it is mostly based on price considerations here. They are both reputable and in the end will boil down to a supply / demand price comparison, however I will also compare against others recommendations and reviews Although, it does look like the similar Gigabyte one has gone down in price recently.

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      Author

      Hey Aedan! How nice of you to stop by for a quick hello haha 🙂 I am quite well, how have you been lately? Obit has actually been off vacationing this month hence why there was no January AMD builds, but he has said he’s back for next months!

      1. No problem man.. 😀 I am doing good too.. 😀 You see, I am a college student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Comp. Sc.. & this is one of the reasons I am really into computers and tech.
        It was by mere chance that I was searching for websites that did monthly builds of gaming computers coz I read a lot of tech mags and the builds they prescribe always lack in the graphics dept. Some mags even after the launch of Nvidia 600- series still recommend the older 500- series cards. While they certainly have more vfm rating I believe the performance diff doesn’t justify that aspect.. 🙂
        It was then that I stumbled onto your website and fell in love with it coz this is what I was searching for.. Builds that make sense and give you a computer that will easily last 3 yrs without an upgrade.. 😉 🙂
        All I wanna say man, is you are doing a great job! Keep it up.. 😀 Maybe one day, I could help you guys out.. 🙂

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          Author

          Good to hear! And awesome, respect for you doing Comp Sci 🙂 I should have done a Comp Sc. degree, although got my B.Sc in Psychology haha. And I agree the tech mags are usually lagging and perhaps this may be due to the hardware technology industry accelerating faster and fast; the mags just cant keep up!! My biggest two concerns when trying to keep the builds up to date is to try and provide recommendations that are supposed to last the longest possible and at the best cost, so I am glad you appreciate this. And you can definitely help out sometime if you find the time and have a suitable idea.

          (PS. Sorry for the comment system – saw your double post I am seriously getting frazzled over the comment system I have in place, I need to seriously find a fix for how its been acting; yikes!).

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              Author

              We’ll wait and see if it holds! I actually just finished the article and going to post in a bit. Was just thinking over some ideas for a video this month as I wanted to do a voice over one, however not exactly video savy and am low on time. We’ll see!

      2. Yeah no problem man.. 😉 Its nice to hear from you too.. You see, I am a college undergrad pursuing a degree in Comp Sc. Everything about computers gets me excited and it was my good luck that I stumbled upon your awesome website.. 😀 😀 The builds offered by many tech mags that I read never satisfied me enough but when I saw your builds I said to myself man, THIS is the computer I would loooove to own.. 😀

  5. Thanks for this site Corey. I really can’t gush enough about it.

    The GPU’s page says it requires 500 watts. If I wanted to Crossfire the $1000 as suggested, would I need a beefier PSU?

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      Author
  6. Hi Corey. Like everyone else, I have to thank you so much for this website so we can more easily traverse the name and number games when we don’t live and breathe bus and socket specs. I’ve got questions, if you’ve got time.

    I’m researching your build for $1000, and I love the sexy case. Do I need to purchase additional fans, or does that lan box come with sufficient fans? TigerDirect claims a single 120mm comes with.

    I was considering maxing out the RAM eventually. Is anything over 8GB really overkill? Does it make a difference if I go with 2x4GB or 1x8GB? Should I just get out of the kitchen and let the cooks do the cooking 😉 ?

    Also, since I haven’t done a cooling tower before, the question is somewhat moot since I’d use the horizontal lan box but still… do those things cause a lot of stress on the mobo if they have to travel sideways? Is the tower only really necessary for overlockers and otherwise I should use the stock cooler?

    Do you really get bang for your buck doing Crossfire/SLI?

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      Author

      Hey Jason!

      Just got your e-mail I believe? And as per before I am still having trouble receiving comments properly on the site, which I apologize for since I appreciate when someone takes the time to comment only to have the system ‘eat it up’.

      I am with you, I love that case too and you should be fine with the fan it comes with. I generally advise that fans are such an easy purchase, so if you find later on you want to add one you can spend the few bucks and do so, but I wouldn’t worry about it

      lol @ the get out of the kitchen comment. You will want to do the RAM in pairs, which is best for dual channel. So yes a 2x4GB is best, or a 2x8GB etc. The motherboard has 4 slots of up to 32GB so there will always be room for more. Is 16GB overkill? Well, some may say so, however you may find it useful come a year or so as has always been the trend with memory. 8GB right now though is just fine though.

      As per the last comment on the cooling, did you mean is the Cooler Master Evo cooler only necessary for overclocking? If so, yes I would advise so. Would a horizontal cooler case stress on the CPU – I have never came across this question, but I wouldn’t think so.

      And “Do you get bang for your buck doing crossfire / SLI? Yes! as some combinations of cards can sometimes output more juice then say a really high end card etc. Although is it always useful? Well if you are going to game at super high resolutions like 2560×1600 or on three monitors at a time then a Crossfire 7970 might be worth it.

      Let me know if this helps!

  7. Hey Corey,

    Could you link me the detailed scores for the upgraded processor and graphics card for the $500 build. The i5 processor and the 7850 IceQ. Thanks so much for these builds its really making an easier time for my first PC build

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      Author

      Hey Nick,

      No problem and sorry if you had any troubles posting a comment, the systems been a little messed up. Here are the comparisons of the Upgrades to the $500 build (Intel i5 3450 + AMD HD 7850) with the original build (Intel i3 3220 + GTX 650 Ti) – http://www.3dmark.com/compare/3dm11/3563555/3dm11/5104887

      The first score are the upgrades and the second being the original build. Let me know of any more questions you may have 🙂

    1. Post
      Author

      Hey Richard,

      Hey no problem, it was posted twice. I also apologize as the comment system has been flaky on the site lately (others have ao been double posting). Is it because it takes a while to post? I am also not getting notifications when a new comments come through either hence why I am a few days late responding, sorry!

      That combo package is not too bad with the biggest difference being the graphics cards (My radeon 7970 recommendation vs the GTX 660 in your package). The GTX 660 is not a bad card, but not better then the Radeon 7970. That being said it also depends on what your needs are, such as you may get a better frame rate in Battlefield with a Radeon 7970 on ultra settings, however the GTX 660 will still allow you to play pretty well.

      PS. If you go with the combo package, remember to still purchase a hard drive and if you need it a DVD drive.

      Let me know if you have anymore questions!

  8. Awesome site! I used to keep up with the new tech coming out but I don’t have the interest or time for it anymore. But, I still like to build my own PC to save money. Your website helped me build a computer that fit my daughter’s needs (GW2 and Minecraft) and saved me a lot of time since I didn’t have to do a lot of research.

    You should have a paypal option available btw.

    Thanks and keep it up!

    1. Post
      Author

      Hello Jeff,

      Thanks for such a positive comment and for taking the time to show your appreciation. I hope your daughter enjoys her new PC. I have never thought about putting up a donation option, but thank you very much for the notion.

      Best of luck!

  9. An awesome start to the new year! 😀
    Once again a solid job across the builds, Corey.. Really good ones. Infact, I was just reading up on the HAF XB yesterday and felt like this could earn a recommendation in your builds.. But lo, you already added it to your $1000 build.. 😀 😀
    Kudos man! 😀
    Looking forward to Obit’s builds too.. 😀

    1. Post
      Author

      Hey Aedan 🙂

      Thank you so much again. I was rather impressed after reading on the HAF XB as well and am more then tempted to get one to use myself, so glad I’m on the right track 🙂 Obit has said that his builds will be ready for mid January this month, so keep an eye out then. Once again, thanks!!

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