July 2013 PC Builds

Gaming PC Builds for July 2013 ( $1500 $1000 and $600 Budget Builds )

Gaming PC Builds – July 2013

Choose your budget –

July 2013 PC BuildsIntroduction:

Welcome to the late but not forgotten July 2013 Gaming PC Builds of the Month. I do apologize for anyone who has been waiting for July’s post, however I have been busy with a few happenings and time has run short.

‘With out further adieu, let me introduce you to some of the highlights to this months builds. In the $600 gaming pc build this month we have boosted up the processor a tad to the six core AMD FX 6300 as its prices aligns quite nicely with the previous AMD FX 4300. Do you need all six cores for gaming, probably not; however, I say why not.

This month in the $1000 build we have finally jumped into adding the new Intel Haswell line of processors with the addition of the Intel 4670K processor. Along with this we have the addition of a newer MSI Gaming series GD-45 motherboard.

The July 2013 $1500 Build also includes the Intel Haswell 4670K processor along with the MSI GD-45 gaming series motherboard, however we also include the newer GTX 770 graphics card. Keep reading below and take in all of the gaming hardware goodness. 

$600 Gaming PC Build of the MonthMonthly Gaming PC Build ( $612 ): July 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.
 
Hardware Link
Estimated Price: $ 612
Processor AMD FX-6300 FX-Series Six-Core Processor Edition, Black AM3 FD6300WMHKBOX Price: $119.99
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
Price: $79.99
Graphics Card 
EVGA GeForce GTX650Ti Boost 2GB GDDR5 192bit, Dual-Link DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI,DP, SLI Ready Graphics Card
Price: $169.99
RAM  Corsair Vengeance Blue 8 GB (2X4 GB) PC3-12800 1600mHz DDR3 240-Pin SDRAM Dual Channel Memory Kit CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B Price: $64.99
Hard Drive Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD5000AAKXPrice: $56.98
Power Supply Corsair Builder Series CX 500 Watt ATX/EPS 80 PLUS (CX500)Price: $49.99
Computer Case  NZXT Technologies Source 210 Computer Case (White)Price: $39.99
Optical Drive Samsung 24x SATA DVD¡ARW Internal Drive without Software, Black SH-224BB/BEBEPrice: $15.98

Overview: $600 Gaming PC Build

Welcome to the $600 Gaming PC Build for July 2013. A few minor changes to the build this month, including a slightly better choice in processor and a slight change in graphics card. This brings the price down a tad to a mor substantial $612 price mark instead of pushing around $630 last month.

I have went with the Six Core AMD FX-6300 processor over the AMD FX 4300 this month. You can over clock this processor easily to 4.5Ghz from its stock 3.5GHz. For the exact same price as last month for the FX 4300, you can now get an FX 6300. So even if you will not always utilize all cores on this CPU gaming, I say why not.

The motherboard stays the same as we don’t need anything more then this budget friendlyGigabyte board and same goes for the Samsung optical drive, Western Digital 500GB hard drive and the 500 Watt Corsair Builder series PSU.

The other minor change this month was the change of the Graphics Card to a GeForce GTX 650Ti Boost 2GB card. This card performs very similarly to the Radeon HD 7850 and is priced much less at the moment making it a great choice. If you do have a few more dollars to spend though, my second recommendation lies within the previous GTX 660 for about $200.

Upgrades / Alternatives for the $600 Gaming PC Build:

Here you will find some hardware alternatives to the hardware already included in the build above. Keep in mind that these are alternatives and are all compatible with the current build. If you want some more suggestions for alternatives or additions to the current build, you just leave a comment below and I will respond back as soon as I can.

Very similar to last months alternatives. We have an upgrade in processor for about $150 to an AMD FX 8320 Eight Core processor. I have also included the EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Superclocked graphics card for those that might have a little more then the quoted $600 gaming pc budget. If I were in the situation where I had a little more then $600 and I was looking for what to put in this build, I would first look at the graphics cards, then the processor before going for the hard drive or case upgrade.

Processor Alternative: AMD FX-8320 Eight-Core Processor Black Edition AM3+ FD8320FRHKBOX ($149.99) – Price reduced from last month
Alternative PC Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 – Mid Tower Computer Case with All-Black Interior (RC-430-KWN1) ($45.81)
Graphics Card Alternative: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 SUPERCLOCKED 2048MB GDDR5 DVI HDMI DP Graphics Card 02G-P4-2662-KR ($202.99) WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache – WD10EZEX ($67.63)

 

$1000 Gaming PC Build - Newb Computer Build

Monthly Gaming PC Build ( $1013 ): July 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.
 
Hardware Link
Estimated Price: $ 1013
Processor  Intel Core i5-4670K Quad-Core Desktop Processor 3.4 GHZ 6 MB Cache – BX80646I54670KPrice: $225.49
Cooler *none – as it pushes this build over budget, however I would recommend the Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler – especially before you start overclocking the Intel 4670K processor.
Motherboard  MSI Computer Corp. Motherboard ATX DDR3 1333 LGA 1150 Motherboards Z87-GD45 GAMINGPrice: $149.94
Graphics Card

Sapphire Radeon Vapor-X HD 7950 OC

Sapphire Radeon Vapor-X HD 7950 OC with Boost 3 GB DDR5 DL-DVI-I/SL-DVI-D/HDMI/DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 11196-09-40GPrice:$299.99
RAM  Corsair Vengeance Blue 8 GB (2X4 GB) PC3-12800 1600mHz DDR3 240-Pin SDRAM Dual Channel Memory Kit CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9BPrice: $64.99
Hard Drive WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache – WD10EZEXPrice: $66.62
SSD *none – check the additions / alternatives section below for options!
Power Supply  Corsair Enthusiast Series CP-9020039-NA650W ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular High Performance Power SupplyPrice: $104.99
Computer Case  CM Storm Scout 2 Advanced – Gaming Mid Tower Computer Case with Carrying Handles, BlackPrice: $79.99
Optical Drive Samsung 24x SATA DVD¡ARW Internal Drive without Software, Black SH-224BB/BEBEPrice: $15.98

Overview: Gaming PC Build ( $1000 )

A pretty exciting switch over with the $1000 build this month as I have made it into a Haswell build, based on Intel’s new line of processors. This includes the Intel 4670K processor, which can also be easily overclocked as with all of Intel’s previous ‘K’ processors. ( Learn more about the Intel 4670K processor on Intel’s Website )

Along with that change comes the need for a new choice of motherboards with the  1150 socket size and a Z87 Chipset. I have chosen to go with the very attractive MSI Gaming series GD-45 Z87 Motherboard as they have come out with this line of motherboards preceding the previous Z77 gaming series. These boards are very spiffy and affordable. They have features that match that of higher end boards that cost more and have a great look. To read more please visit the MSI Z87 Gaming Page.

The graphics card featured is also a Radeon HD 7950 overclocked edition card, although I went with the Sapphire version due to some price changes. The RAM is a corsair vengeance blue package of 8GB ram, again changed from the previous kit due to a slight decrease in price of this kit. The power supply unit used is a Corsair Enthusiast Series 650-M PSU. This is a great PSU, especially for the price and is really reliable. 650 watts is definitely enough to power this build as the graphics card requires a minimum of 500 watts and taking into account some upgrades or the other hardware, we have plenty of power here.

Finally, the case chosen is a relatively newer case featured previously in the March 2013’s Builds around when it was released. This is a fantastic looking case for under $100 and will fit everything in the build quite nicely. A short description quoted from Toms Hardware on their page In Pictures: The Last Three Sub-$100 Gaming Cases, Previewed where you can also view some pictures of said case.  

The Scout Advanced features a side window and twin-fan side vent, adding visibility and ventilation options to a case that already includes a pair of fans behind its mesh front panel. Designed for portability, a heavy-duty handle on top completes its LAN party theme

$1000 Gaming PC Build Additions / Alternatives

The following are additions and or alternatives to pair with the $1000 PC build above; each of the hardware are compatible with the $1000 build. If you have any questions for further additions / hardware alternatives, please feel free to leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Add a SSD Boot Drive: Crucial m4 128GB 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive SATA 6Gb/s CT128M4SSD2= (+ $104.46) – Significant Price drop!
Upgrade your graphics card: EVGA GeForce GTX670 2048MB GDDR5 256bit, 2x Dual-Link DVI, HDMI, DP, 4-Way SLI Ready Graphics Card (02G-P4-2670-KR) ($329.99)
Sapphire Radeon Vapor-X HD 7950 OCCROSSFIRE with another Sapphire Radeon Vapor-X HD 7950 OC with Boost 3 GB DDR5 DL-DVI-I/SL-DVI-D/HDMI/DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 11196-09-40G Price:+$299.99 Add a CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R1) (Price: $33.32)

$1500 Gaming PC Build - Newb Computer BuildMonthly Gaming PC Build ( $1504 ): July 2013

Gaming PC Build Recipe:

Game with Extreme settings at resolutions of 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.
 
Hardware Link
Estimated Price: $ 1504
Processor Intel Core i5-4670K Quad-Core Desktop Processor 3.4 GHZ 6 MB Cache – BX80646I54670K Price: $225.49
Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO – CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan (RR-212E-20PK-R2) Price: $33.99
Motherboard MSI Computer Corp. Motherboard ATX DDR3 1333 LGA 1150 Motherboards Z87-GD45 GAMING Price: $149.94
Graphics Card MSI Computer Corp. Video Graphics Card N770 TF 2GD5/OC Price: $399.99
RAM Kingston HyperX Blu 16GB Kit (2×8 GB Modules) 1600MHz 240-pin DDR3 Non-ECC CL10 Desktop Memory KHX1600C10D3B1K2/16GPrice: $126.96
Hard Drive WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache – WD10EZEX Price: $65.26
SSD Samsung Electronics 840 Pro Series 2.5-Inch 256 GB SATA 6GB/s Solid State Drive MZ-7PD256BW Price: $236.95
Power Supply Corsair Professional Series  HX 750 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Gold (HX750) Price: $119.99
Computer Case Thermaltake Chaser MK-1 VN300M1W2N No PS Full Tower Case (Black) Price: $129.99
Optical Drive Samsung 24x SATA DVD¡ARW Internal Drive without Software, Black SH-224BB/BEBE Price: $15.98

Overview: Gaming PC Build ( $1500 )

Akin to the $1000 build this month, I have included the new Haswell Intel 4670K processor in the $1500 build.  With this change comes the need to switch up to a compatible motherboard. To this I have chosen the same version of the MSI Gaming Series board used in the $1000 build, the MSI Gaming Series GD-45. I chose the same motherboard, because I didn’t feel there was a need to bump it up as it does include a ton of features.

I have included the new GTX 770 Graphics Card this month, which has been getting a good wrap lately. Not only that, I have chosen the MSI version to match nicely with the MSI Gaming series motherboard. Also, the reason I have chosen the Thermaltake Chaser Full Tower PC case, is that not only does it look great, have great cooling capabilities, an HD dock etc., but it has a nice side viewing window. With the side window you will be able to view the plethora of amazing looking & performing hardware.

$1500 Gaming PC Build Additions / Alternatives

The following are additions and or alternatives to pair with the $1500 PC build above; each of the hardware are compatible with the $1500 build. If you have any questions for further additions / hardware alternatives, please feel free to leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Included is a new Haswell i7 4770K for anyone that wants that extra CPU boost. We also have a new GTX 780 for about $650 that can be used to substitute the included GTX 770. Also, we have a liquid CPU cooler for anyone that may prefer this (it is compatible with the Haswell socket size) and a larger Samsung PRO SSD for anyone that wants more dedicated solid state drive space.

Intel Core i7-4770K Quad-Core Desktop Processor 3.5 GHZ 8 MB Cache BX80646I74770K ($342)
Bump up that graphics card to a GTX 780 –
EVGA GeForce GTX780 3GB GDDR5 384bit, Dual-Link DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI,DP, SLI Ready Graphics Card (03G-P4-2781-KR ($650)
Get a liquid CPU cooler: Corsair Hydro Series Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler H100i ($103.99)
A Larger SSD: Samsung Electronics 840 Pro Series 2.5-Inch 512 SATA_6_0_gb Solid State Drive MZ-7PD512BW ($475)


Concluding July 2013’s Gaming PC Builds:

A pretty exciting month with out first inclusion of the new Haswell processors in the gaming pc builds of the month over here at Newb Computer Build. Not only that, but I have been able to fit in the new 700 series of GeForce graphics cards into the $1500 and it’s alternatives.

I hope you have enjoyed another round of Gaming PC Builds and if you have any questions in regards to the builds, additions or anything else you can think of please do not hesitate to leave a comment.

Until next time!

July 2013’s Gaming PC Hardware Overview Video:

Comments 21

  1. Hey Corey, me again,

    I realize you are probably (hopefully) pretty far into the August builds right now but I found a more serious typo, when browsing for mobos, I realized that you have the MSI Z87-GD45 GAMING motherboard but what the big mistakes is that the Z87-GD45 GAMING doesn’t exist… The Motherboard is correctly named Z87-G45 GAMING with no ‘D’. However, the Z87-GD65 GAMING motherboard exists and is pretty good. Maybe you meant to include that with the $1500 build.

    – Luke

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      Hey Luke!

      Good eye and you are right the GD65 does exist. I forget what my initial thinking was, but you may be right in the inclusion of the GD65…however I think I did decide to just include the G45 due to pricing at the time. Honestly, good eye though!

  2. Well, thanks to you guys I decided to build my first PC! I’m using the $600 build but instead of the NZXT case, I’m going with the alternative Cooler Master Elite 430 case (which ended up being $25 after rebates and promo codes on NewEgg) and the WD Blue 1TB drive. I also added an ASUS DVD burner and an Encore Wireless Network card. All of this after rebates ended up being around $625. Totally worth the price, judging by the specs, but I’m still waiting till the middle of next week for my parts to arrive. Thanks guys!

    1. Hey Guys,

      Can anyone recommend a mini wifi card for my mPCIe combo card 2 on my maximus 6 gene mobo, the only ones i can find are for laptops?

      Thanks,
      Joe

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  3. We would like to see high end AMD builds (using if possible the 8350), with price range >$1200

    Please dont forget the AMD users.

    Thank you.

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    1. I can support Joe with his response. He is correct, LoL doesn’t require to much graphical power so the $600 build will be able to support ultra just fine.

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  4. Hey Corey,

    Just got a quick question for you, i realize the risks of raid 0 and the speed deficits that raid 1 can cause. So, is it possible to run to samsung 120gb pro series SSDs in raid 0 and then select one drive to run RAID 1 with my WD Black Caviar 1 tb hdd. all the speed of raid 0 none of the deficits of raid 1.

    Thanks again,

    Joe.

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      Hey Joe great question.

      If I understand correctly, I don’t think I would include the Western Digital Caviar Black in the RAID array at all, since the speed of the drives may be hindered to that of the Western Digital and the rest of the Western Digital space would not be useable. At least thats what my understanding would be (never done it this way). I would also assume the performance increase of two SSD’s in RAID might not be super noticeable either – again I may be wrong. This may be a worthwhile question to post over at the Toms Hardware forums for clarification.

      I would also be interested in a proper answer

  5. Just wanted to say I love the monthly builds you write up here. For sure going to use it once I build my computer, hopefully in a couple of months.

    Keep up the good work.

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  6. Some beautiful builds this month. I have been waiting for these builds, and the addition of Haswell and GTX 700 series has definitely made the wait worth it.

    PS: Noticed a slight typo.
    When you’re describing the case in the $1000 build, you exclaim that the case is good for its sub $1000 price tag.

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