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Gaming PC Builds of the Month: December 2012

Corey

December 2012 Gaming PC Builds:

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Introduction:

Welcome to the last set of gaming PC builds of the month for 2012! It has been an exciting year and we will be back for the 2013 edition of the Gaming PC Builds of the Month. This month I decided to include a little treat with the inclusion of a $2000 build just as an end of the year treat and due to a small request made.

Next year, Intel is supposed to release their new Haswell processors which are supposed to slash power consumption and are based on the current line of Intel’s Ivy bridge processors. Other then that keep checking back in the new year if you are wanting to build a new gaming PC or just keep up to date with the latest builds.

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Monthly Gaming PC Build ( $528 ): December 2012

(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: $125.49
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 SSC 1024MB GDDR5 128bit, Dual Dual-Link DVI, Mini HDMI, Graphics Card (01G-P4-3652-KR) Graphics Cards 01G-P4-3652-KR
Price: $143.99
RAM: Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2×4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
Price: $38.32
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD5000AAKX
Price: $59.99
Power Supply: Antec VP-450 450 Watt Energy Star Certified Power Supply Price: $40.59
Computer Case: NZXT Technologies Source 210 Computer Case (Black)
Price: $39.99
Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99
Estimated Price: $ 528.15 

Overview: $500 Gaming PC Build

The $500 build for December is actually priced at $528 as of December 1st, 2012. I have it a little higher this month to accommodate a few changes that if I were to build a $500 gaming PC this month, I would personally consider important. This month we have the addition of the new GTX 650 Ti graphics cards which took place of the previous Radeon 7770, which should warrant a considerable performance increase all while using much less power; as you can see below in the “$500 Build Performance” when compared to last months $500 build, there is a significant increase in performance when using the GTX 650 Ti.

As for the rest, we have included the Intel Core i3-3220 processor again as the $500 build processor, and get kept everything else except for the PC case the same. The NZXT PC case was chosen since its reputation precedes last months case and it was only about $3 more in December.

$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

 

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: $125.49

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.

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

This motherboard was chosen last month for its affordability and to accommodate the new Ivy Bridge i3-3220 processor. 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:

EVGA GeForce GTX 650 Ti SSC 1024MB GDDR5 128bit, Dual Dual-Link DVI, Mini HDMI, Graphics Card (01G-P4-3652-KR) Graphics Cards 01G-P4-3652-KR Price: $143.99

The very new GTX 650 Ti graphics card is a significant jump from the previous Radeon 7770, and you will notice the performance increases! The only downfall is that I had to push the total price for the $500 build to around $528 to fit this bad boy in – but I would not have done it if it was not worth it.

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: $38.32

A well priced package of 8GB RAM, you cannot go wrong and this will probably be the maximum amount of RAM you will ever need for this $500 build, so no worries here. And if you ever want more in the future, you can get up to 16GB.

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: $59.99

Western Digital 500 GB Caviar Blue

I keep the $500 with a 500Gb hard drive, because I believe it is a nice sweet spot for a gamer looking to purchase a PC on a budget. 500Gb is plenty of space for many many a game. So without overshooting too much, I have again included the 500Gb Western Digital Caviar Blue hard drive.

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

Antec VP-450 450 Watt Energy Star Certified Power Supply Price: $40.59

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:

NZXT Technologies Source 210 Computer Case (Black) Price $39.99

Last month I used more of a generic Apex PC case, which is actually priced great for what you get, however this month I thought since this reputable NZXT case was only $4 higher in price to just go for this one. That way you can be further assured you will have a nice safe house to store all that hardware in based on a reputable brand.

Technical Details:

 

Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99

Optical drives have now dropped back down in price by $8 or $7 which is good. The Lite-On series of optical drives is never a bad choice and a current drive I use myself without any troubles.

Technical Details

Monthly Gaming PC Build ( $999): December 2012

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: $214.99
 
CPU Cooler (For OverClocking): Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R1) Price: $31.19
Motherboard: AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME4 $155.82
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: $38.32
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive
Price: $77.95
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 750 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Bronze (TX750M)
Price: $112.51
Computer Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 – Mid Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 Ports (RC-922M-KKN3-GP)
Price: $99.99
Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99
Estimated Price: $999

Overview: Gaming PC Build ( $1000 )

Not too many notable changes for the $1000 build once again, but I did make a couple of changes to take in account for price changes. I have switched to a Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870 graphics card , added in the popular Cooler Master HAF 922 PC case and with an extra $30 or so to spend, I have now included the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU cooler in both the $1000 and the $1500 build this month.

$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

 

Overview: The Gaming PC Hardware

Intel Core i5 3570K Processor 3.4 4 BX80637I53570K Price: $214.99

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: $31.19

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)

AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME4 Price: $155.82

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

I have switched to the Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870 graphics card this month due to some price increases. This card is the number one purchased and best value graphics card in the $200 – $300 price ranges. 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:

Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2×4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX Price: $38.32

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: $77.95

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 Modular 80 PLUS Bronze (TX750M) Price: $112.51

This 750 watt solid PSU is a great choice for this $1000 gaming pc build. It will support all of the hardware no problem and allows plenty of room for adding hardware later on.

Product Details:

Cooler Master HAF 922 – Mid Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 Ports (RC-922M-KKN3-GP) Price: $99.99

The Cooler Master HAF 922 Mid Tower PC case is one of the most purchased and popular cases for a long time now. This is most likely due to its reputation of being a quality material and built case as well as the case have a great gaming PC case look. Plenty of room for all the hardware included in this build, great cooling and more.

Technical Details

Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99

Optical drives have now dropped back down in price by $8 or $7 which is good. The Lite-On series of optical drives is never a bad choice and a current drive I use myself without any troubles.

Technical Details

$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 = + $107
 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!
 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 = + $259.99  Better CPU Cooler (To Overclock Intel 3570K): EVGA Superclock CPU Cooler M020-00-000234 = + $51.99 This cooler is rated to perform slightly better then the cooler master hyper 212 evo.

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.

Monthly Gaming PC Build ( $1431 ): December 2012

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: $214.99
 
CPU Cooler (For OverClocking): Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R1)
Price: $31.19
Motherboard: AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME4
Price: $155.82
Graphics Card: Diamond AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCIE 3G GDDR5 Video Graphics Card 7970PE53G
Price: $414.99
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16 GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600MHz PC3 240 Pin DIMM Memory CMZ16GX3M2A1600C10
Price: $67.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive
Price: $77.95
SSD Hard Drive: Mushkin Chronos Deluxe 240 GB SATA 6.0 Gb-s 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive (MKNSSDCR240GB-DX)
Price: $179.99
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 850 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Bronze (TX850M)
Price: $130.32
Computer Case: Rosewill White Edition Gaming ATX Full Tower Case for Computer THOR V2-W
Price: $139.95
Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99
Estimated Price: $1431

Overview: Gaming PC Build ( $1500 )

The least changed build of the month is the $1500 one. There have been no notable hardware releases in the higher end of hardware and prices have been pretty stable. I did however switch the case up to a Corsair Carbide Series White 500R

$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

 

Overview: The Gaming PC Hardware

Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 – BX80637I53570K Price: $214.99

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: $31.19

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)

AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME4 Price: $155.82

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:

Diamond AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCIE 3G GDDR5 Video Graphics Card 7970PE53G Price: $414.99

Used again this month and even a nice drop in price by about $10. 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 (ex: GTX 680 used last month for the $1500 pc build). This card will have you playing any game without any problems at Max Settings with resolutions soaring up to 2560X1600 easily.

Product Details:

Corsair Vengeance 16 GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600MHz PC3 240 Pin DIMM Memory CMZ16GX3M2A1600C10 Price: $67.99

2x 8GB = 16GB RAM kits have been dropping in price month to month and are becoming so increasingly affordable there really is no reason not to get 16GB of RAM in a build in this price range.

Product Features:

Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive Price: $77.95

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:

Mushkin Chronos Deluxe 240 GB SATA 6.0 Gb-s 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive (MKNSSDCR240GB-DX) Price: $179.99

Solid States drives are so much affordable now and with 240GB of space sto store your operating system and a bunch of most played games is perfect. This is a well performance Muchkin Chronis SSD that will have you loading your OS and games amazingly fast!

Technical Details

Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 850 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Bronze (TX850M) Price: $130.32

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.
  • Brand Name: Corsair
  • Model: CP-9020003-NA

Rosewill White Edition Gaming ATX Full Tower Case for Computer THOR V2-WPrice: $139.95

This is one of the first Rosewill cases I have included in the monthly builds. The THOR V2 case is very pleasing on the eyes, built solid and comes with all the extras one could possible want (screw less design, dist filters, USB 3.0 connectors etc).

Product Details

Named after a powerful but arrogant warrior, the Rosewill THOR V2-W gaming ATX full tower computer case has a stately aesthetics and functional design for enthusiasts and hard-core gamers. Spacious interior with E-ATX / XL-ATX motherboard support, tremendous air flow and rock solid construction are the main appealing features. Also included are other advanced features such as advanced cable management, screw-less design for 3.5-Inch/5.25-Inch drives, bottom-placed PSU design with dust filter, water cooling support making the Rosewill THOR V2-W a second to none choice for your next PC. Two USB 3.0 connectors and one eSATA port at top of the chassis enable blazing fast data exchange with the latest digital devices.

Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $`17.99

Optical drives have now dropped back down in price by $8 or $7 which is good. The Lite-On series of optical drives is never a bad choice and a current drive I use myself without any troubles.

Technical Details

$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=  $314.99 (this price has dropped for October)
Double the Graphics Power w/ Crossfire and add one more: 
Diamond AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCIE 3G GDDR5 Video Graphics Card 7970PE53G = + $415
Better CPU Cooler (To Overclock Intel 3570K): Corsair Hydro Series H80 High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler (CWCH80) = + $86.67
Larger SSD: Crucial 512 GB m4 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive SATA 6Gb/s CT512M4SSD2 = + $398 ($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.


 (A $2000 PC Build as an additional special build treat for December!)

Ultimate Gaming PC Build ( $2000 ): December 2012

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: $314.99
 
 
 
 
 
 
CPU Cooler (For OverClocking): Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R1)
Price: $31.19
Motherboard: AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME4
Price: $155.82
Graphics Card: Diamond AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCIE 3G GDDR5 Video Graphics Card 7970PE53G
Price: $414.99 X 2 = $829.98 (Two Cards in CROSSFIRE)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16 GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600MHz PC3 240 Pin DIMM Memory CMZ16GX3M2A1600C10
Price: $67.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive
Price: $77.95
 
 
 
 
 
 
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: $108.94
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 850 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Bronze (TX850M)
Price: $130.32
Computer Case: Corsair Obsidian Series Black 650D Mid Tower Computer Case (CC650DW-1)
Price: $189.49
Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99
Estimated Price: $2007

Overview: Ultimate Gaming PC Build ( $2000 )

The first month ever to include a $2000 build of which I am assigning the Ultimate Build title. I thought that as a special end of the year treat I would include this $2000 build for anyone wanting to go all out. What you may notice is that allot of the hardware used is similar to that of the other builds and this is only because I like to recommend hardware that I would personally use, so there is not much point in switching up things like hard drives or RAM if there is no reason to increase their sizes etc.

First off, I have included an Intel i7-3770K. Some may debate me on why I would do this in a gaming PC build – to which I would respond – why wouldn’t you if you are spending $2000 plus on a PC. Some may still opt for an Intel i5 3570K and pump the rest of the cash into perhaps a GTX 690 (priced at about a $1000), but in the end you are probably going to geta  nice solid over all performance out of two already great graphics card – The Radeon 7970 and an i7 3770K.

All I had in mind when thinking of what I would put into a $2000 build was what would create the most powerful PC possible – not how can I afford the most expensive PC case, how much can I spend on higher inflated SSD’s, or even splurging on 32Gb of memory, which would warrant no performance gains in comparison.

Have questions on a specific peice of hardware that you would change or add, then please leave a comment below.

$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

Concluding December 2012’s Gaming PC Builds:

A great end to the 2012 year of monthly gaming pc builds and I look forward to continuing them throughout the 2013 year, so please keep checking back.

I hope you enjoyed what has been done so far and I hope to further increase the site in any way possible, so if you have any input on any types of articles or features you would like to see on Newb Computer Build, then please let me know!!

Happy holidays,

Corey @ Newb Computer Build

December 2012’s Gaming PC Hardware Overview Video:

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