June 2012 Gaming PC Builds:
Quickly jump to…
- Gaming PC Build of the Month (< $500 ): June 2012
- Gaming PC Build of the Month ($500 – $1000 ): June 2012
- Gaming PC Build of the Month ($1000 – $1500): June 2012
Gaming PC Builds of the Month Introduction:
Welcome to the wonderful month of June where I have updated each and every gaming PC build from the previous month with the June 2012 Gaming PC Builds of the month. We are into the second month since the Ivy Bridge processors were released, we are now seeing more reviews and overall impressions; seemingly so, I was right to include the Intel i5 3570K processor in both the mid-range and high-range builds last month as I will again.
This month I am going to be providing links for each build to the Newb Computer Build Gaming PC Builder to automatically add each piece of hardware to a complete build list with one click. Since all hardware is similarly linked to Amazon you could essentially add your whole build to an Amazon shopping cart in one click.
Furthermore, I have finally decided to start promoting the Newb Computer Build Facebook page. I know, what the hell was I thinking before? Anyways, I would greatly appreciate if anyone is interested to like and participate on the page! I have had it up for a while, have only had an auto posted articles on it and have never done any promotion of invites. So what do you say – get involved:
Monthly Gaming PC Build ( $529 ): June 2012
(Game at 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) to shop for these parts.| Processor: Intel Core i3-2120 Processor 3.3 GHz 3MB Cache Socket LGA1155 Price: $123.55 | Motherboard: ASUS P8H61-M LX PLUS <REV 3.0> – LGA 1155 – H61 – COM port – LPT port Price: $69.99 |
| Graphics Card: PowerColor ATI Radeon HD6850 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card AX6850 1 GBD5-DH Price: $139.99 | RAM: Corsair Dominator 8 GB PC3-10666 1333mHz (PC3 10666) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1.6v Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Kit for Intel and AMD 8 Dual Channel Kit CMP8GX3M2B1333C9 Price: $36.98 |
| Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD5000AAKX Price: $74.99 | Power Supply: Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus Series 500W ATX12V V2.3 Power Supply (RS500-PCARD3-US) Price $34.99 |
| Computer Case: Hercules ATX Mid Tower PC Computer Case, Black [HRC-26-05] Price: $31.47 | Optical Drive: Asus 24xDVD-RW Serial ATA Internal OEM Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black) Price: $17.99 |
| Estimated Price: $ 529 (Over budget to accommodate plus fluctuations, but well worth it!) |
Overview: Gaming PC Build ( < $500 )
After re-checking any of the price fluctuations from last months $500 build, I had to revise the hardware since prices for some of the hardware went up resulting in a build totalling about $538, a tad overbudget. However, I still was not able to squeeze the $500 build to below the budget and it came out to $529. This is because I did not believe in decreasing the quality of any of the hardware and if I did squeeze the price any lower this month, I would have had to do this. One of my goals when making these builds is to try to not create a situation where anyone is disappointed and wished they had not purchased a specific part just because of a few dollars difference.
Even though I had to increase the price of the build a tad this month, you do get tons for it. Such as I was able to swap the graphics card to a one upgrade from the previous Radeon HD 6790 to the Radeon HD 6850 since they are at this moment, the very same price from PowerColor (Take advantage of this!). As well this month, a swap fro a very nice 8GB pair of Corsair RAM, slight swap for a different Asus motherboard, switch to ASUS optical drive from the previous Sony, and a nice budget case swap to a Hercules ATX Black case.
As the trend seems to be, I am keeping the Intel 2120 processor in the budget CPU spot as it is still holding in there very strongly as Intel has yet to release the Ivy Bridge versions of any dual core i3 processors that are planned for release later this year. If anyone is concerned whether or to go for the budget build or splurge for the higher end ones, you do not have to worry much if you goal is to buy a PC on a tight budget, plan to game on any game, but do not necessarily expect extreme settings on the most FPS demanding games.
This gaming PC will still be able to play most game at medium to high settings (depending on the type of game) at resolutions of 1920X1080 (recommended).
Upgrade suggestions for the < $500 Gaming PC Build:
Trying to keep within the idea that we want to stay below budget from the next build, these hardware upgrade suggestions are based on the fact that you want a little more than just what is included in the above hardware. Generally each piece of hardware could be considered as sort of a “one up” from any of the previous hardware.
For example: The Intel i5-2310 processor would be considered the next step in line after the Intel i3 2120 in terms of a price per performance perspective.
- Processor: Intel Core i5 Processor i5-2310 2.9GHz 6MB LGA1155 CPU (BX80623I52310)
- Motherboard: Gigabyte Intel Z68 ATX DDR3 2133 LGA 1155 Motherboard GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 (Z68 BOARD)
- Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 560 1024 MB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 2DVI/Mini-HDMI SLI Ready Graphics Card, 01G-P3-1460-KR
- Hard Drive: Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD10EALX
- RAM: none (8GB is plenty for this build)
- Power Supply: Corsair Builder Series CX600 600 watt 80 Plus Certified Power Supply Compatible with Intel and AMD Platforms ATX 700 CMPSU-600CXV2
- Computer Case: GAMMA Classic Series ATX Mid Tower Interior Steel Chassis (Black)
- Optical Drive: None.
The above upgrades would be for somebody that is able to extend their budget a little. Depending on what your needs are (needing more space, play higher end games etc). will depend on what upgrades you would trade up to. Personally, If I have a little extra cash I would bump up the processor or graphics card as these two will have those most effect on gaming performance.
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 i3-2120 Processor 3.3 GHz 3MB Cache Socket LGA1155 Price: $123.55
Intel i3 2120 Processor
Used for many months, this Intel 2120 processor still stands as a strong competitor for budget CPU’s as part of the Intel Sandy bridge line of processors. Even though this processor is included in the low end build, it is quite powerful for this price range. Just compare it to other CPUs around its range in CPUbenchmark.net’s CPU benchmarks of the Intel i3-2120.
When paired with the Radeon HD 6850 graphics card below (an upgrade from last months card!) you should be able to play most games at decent settings (high graphics depending on the intensity of the game), and get decent frame rates at resolutions of 1920X1080. Want a greater boost in performance, try any of the suggested upgrades above. Keep in mind that more demanding games like Battlefield 3 may call for lower settings, but this setup should be able to play games like Skyrim at frame rates of 40-45.
| Intel Core i3-2120 | 2 cores | 3.3GHz clock speed | 4 threads |
Technical Details:
- Process Type: Intel Core i3 Processor i3-2120 Frequency: 3.3 GHz DMI: 5 GT/s
- Intel Smart Cache: 3 MB Process: 32 nm Socket: LGA1155
- Power Consumption: 65 W Max Memory Bandwidth: 21 GB/s Graphics Base Frequency: 850 MHz
- Graphics Max Dynamic Frequency: 1.1 GHz This processor is a Dual Core Processor
- This processor supports Hyper-Threading Technology This processor supports Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
- This processor supports Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology This processor supports Thermal Monitoring Technologies
- This processor supports Intel 64 This processor supports Idle States
- This processor supports Intel Fast Memory Access This processor supports Intel Flex Memory Access
ASUS P8H61-M LX PLUS <REV 3.0> – LGA 1155 – H61 – COM port – LPT port Amazon Price: $69.99
ASUS P8H61-M LX PLUS <REV 3.0> – LGA 1155 – H61 – COM port – LPT port
Supporting up to 16Gb RAM (you probably will never even upgrade to this amount in this build) and a micoATX architecture makes this a small and compact budget board. This ASUS motherboard is honestly a rock solid board for only $69.99 with everything you need and nothing more (other than perhaps a few more USB ports, but who’s complaining?)
Technical Details:
- 2 x DIMM, Max 16GB, Dual-channel DDR3 1333/1066MHz support
- 100% Solid Capacitor – High-quality conductive polymer capacitors for durability, improved lifespan and enhanced thermal capacity
- UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) BIOS
- Gb LAN featuring the latest Realtek Chipset
- 1 x COM port1 x LPT port
- ASUS Anti-Surge Protection – Safeguard your device by providing voltage protection to all major onboard components
- EPU – System Level Energy Saving & Real-time Power Management for Superb Platform Power Efficiency
- Low EMI – ASUS innovative design for 50% less radiation
PowerColor ATI Radeon HD6850 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card AX6850 1 GBD5-DH Price: $139.99
PowerColor ATI Radeon HD6850 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card AX6850 1 GBD5-DH
For the last couple of months I was proud to include the Radeon HD 6790 graphics card, however prices seemed to go weary and I was actually able to choose a Radeon HD 6850 (a bump up!) graphics card for the exact same price of $139.99!! This card will offer a good performance in any game at resolutions of 1920×1080, so who said buying a budget build wasn’t worth it?!
Technical Details:
- Chipset: Radeon HD6850 Engine Clock: 775 MHz Video Memory: 1GB DDR5
- Memory Clock: 1000 MHz (4.0 Gbps) Memory Interface: 256-bit Bus: PCI-Express 2.1 x16
- RAMDAC: 400 MHz Stream Processors: 960 Max. Resolution: 2560 x 1600
- Connectors: Dual DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort Thermal: Fansink
- Support Microsoft Windows 7/ Vista/ XP Support ATI CrossFireX Technology
Corsair Dominator 8 GB PC3-10666 1333mHz (PC3 10666) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1.6v Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Kit for Intel and AMD 8 Dual Channel Kit CMP8GX3M2B1333C9 Price: $36.98
Corsair Dominator 8 GB PC3-10666 1333mHz (PC3 10666) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM
I was getting worried with some of the price increases of whether or not I would have to drop from 8GB of RAM to 4GB, but then I came across this gorgeous set of RAM for about $6-7 more than the usual price of a 4GB RAM kit. Not only that, but this RAM kit looks solid as it comes with the nice Dominator style heat shield. People seem to be having quite positive impressions over these ones.
Technical Details
- Ultra-high performance 8GB ( 2 x 4GB ) DOMINATOR kit for Dual Channel processors.
- Speed: PC3-10666 1333mhz
- Timing: 9-9-9-24 Latency
- Voltage: 1.6v
- Pin Out: 240-pin
- Dominator Heat Spreader
- Lifetime Warranty
- Memory Type: DDR3
Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD5000AAKX Price: $74.99
Western Digital 500 GB Caviar Blue
As said per last month when I first included a 500GB hard drive in the budget $500 builds –
“Many of the months previous I have had to put a 250GB hard drive included in the lower $500 build. This may have been for many reasons, the most prominent being the past hard drive shortage. Seeing as prices seemed to have stabilized some the 500GB Western Digital Caviar Blue seems to be the most price smart hard drive.”
Performance Details From Western Digitals’ Website:
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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
Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus Series 500W ATX12V V2.3 Power Supply (RS500-PCARD3-US) Price: $34.99
Cooler Master eXtreme Power Supply
Still a very affordable Cooler Master eXtreme 500W Power Supply Unit! Its a very basic PSU and does the job for this build. The only thing with this PSU is that if you plan to re-use it for say a next build, I would advise to get the other PSU in the other hardware suggestions as outlined above. This is a nothing more, nothing less sort of choice of a power supply unit, and for a phenomenal price.
Technical Details:
- Maximum Power: 500 W
- Type: ATX from factor 12V V2.01
- PFC (Power Factor Correction): Active PFC
- Fan: 120mm Sleeve bearing fan
- Connectors: 1x 20+4 pin Motherboard Connector; 1x 4+4pin 12V CPU Connector; 2x 6+2pin PCI-Express Connectors; 6x SATA Connectors; 3x 4pin Peripheral Connectors; 1x 4pin Floppy Connectors
- Compliance with the newest Intel std ATX 12V V2.3
- Green power design to meet with energy star
- More than 70% efficiency
- Multiple protection design
- Protection: OVP/ OPP/ Short Circuit Protection
- Super silent operation with intelligent fan speed control
Hercules ATX Mid Tower PC Computer Case, Black [HRC-26-05] Price $31.47
Hercules ATX Mid Tower PC Computer Case, Black [HRC-26-05
Technical Details:
- Side air guide moves hot hot air directly outside to keep components cool
- Six card slots for increased expandability
- High strength lightweight steel construction
- Front I/O for easy access
- Four 5.25″ & seven 3.5″ drive bays
Asus 24xDVD-RW Serial ATA Internal OEM Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black) Price: $17.99
Asus 24xDVD-RW Serial ATA Internal OEM Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black)
I had to finally give in and change the optical drive brand, a big deal? No its not a big deal, but the prices on the previous Sony drive went up by about $5 so I decided to go with this basic ASUS $17.99 optical drive, which actually used to be my older recommendation. Used by many, and the usual not so special DVD/CD reader/writer. You can read the READ and WRITE speeds below –
Product Features
Monthly Gaming PC Build ( $988 ): June 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) to shop for these parts.| Processor: Intel Core i5 3570K Processor 3.4 4 BX80637I53570K Price: $227.98 | Motherboard: MSI Z77A-GD65 Z77 DDR3 1600 LGA 1155 Motherboards Price: $179.99 |
| Graphics Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 OC 2 GB DDR5 HDMI/DVI-I/Dual Mini DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 11200-01-20G Price: $259.99 | RAM: Corsair Dominator 8 GB PC3-10666 1333mHz (PC3 10666) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1.6v Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Kit for Intel and AMD 8 Dual Channel Kit CMP8GX3M2B1333C9 Price: $36.98 |
| Hard Drive: Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD10EALX Price: $97.53 | Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast Series 750-Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified Power Supply Compatible with Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and AMD platforms – CMPSU-750TXV2 Price: $106.98 |
| Computer Case: Corsair Carbide Series 300R Mid-Tower Gaming Case – CC-9011014-WW Price: $60.80 | Optical Drive: Asus 24xDVD-RW Serial ATA Internal OEM Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black) Price: $17.99 |
| Estimated Price: $988 (Price per performance here is phenomenal!) |
Overview: Gaming PC Build ( $500 – $1000 )
In the mid range $1000 (priced currently at $998) gaming pc build this month, there have not been ay extreme changes, but you do get a solid build that will play any game really well and with no sweat at 1920X1080 resolutions, overclocks very simply with a higher quality motherboard and a change in graphics card brand to the Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 graphics card. All for less than last the cost of last months build!
Again I have included the new Intel Ivy Bridge 3570K processor (just about $10 more than the Intel 2500K). Other than that most other things have remained static other than minor brand changes (optical drive, and RAM).
Looking for a gaming PC in the $1000 price range, then you really can not go wrong with this one! Want to know more about the individual hardware components, then read further:
Overview: The Gaming PC Hardware
Intel Core i5 3570K Processor 3.4 4 BX80637I53570K Price: $227.98
Intel Core i5 3570K Processor
A fresh face to the mid and high range gaming PC builds processor spots, the Intel 3570K is the new avenger for a new Gaming PC Build. Pair this with a new Z77 motherboard and a Radeon HD 7850 graphics card and you will kick graphical but in any game you throw at it.
Check out some of the early reviews and benchmarks on the Intel 3570K Processor: cpubenchmark.net | bit-tech.net | hexus.net
| Intel Core i5-3570K | 4 cores | 3.4 GHz clock speed (3.8GHz Turbo) | LGA 1155 Socket |
Product Details: *From Intel
| Essentials | |
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Status
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Launched |
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Launch Date
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Q2’12 |
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Processor Number
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i5-3570K |
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# of Cores
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4 |
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# of Threads
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4 |
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Clock Speed
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3.4 GHz |
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Max Turbo Frequency
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3.8 GHz |
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Intel® Smart Cache
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6 MB |
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Bus/Core Ratio
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34 |
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DMI
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5 GT/s |
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Instruction Set
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64-bit |
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Instruction Set Extensions
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SSE4.1/4.2, AVX |
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Embedded Options Available
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No |
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Lithography
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22 nm |
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Max TDP
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77 W |
MSI Z77A-GD65 Z77 DDR3 1600 LGA 1155 Motherboards Price: $179.99
MSI Z77A-GD65 Z77 DDR3 1600 LGA 1155 Motherboards
A very high quality MSI Z77 motherboard that will make overclocking your Intel 3570K processor a breeze. Also it has enough features to make it future proof for years and enough room that this motherboard can fit any peripherals without anything getting in the way. Check out the fine print details below –
Product Details:
Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 OC 2 GB DDR5 HDMI/DVI-I/Dual Mini DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 11200-01-20G Price: $259.99
Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 OC 2 GB DDR5 HDMI/DVI-I/Dual Mini DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 11200-01-20G
This is an overclocked version of the 7850 for a great price. The reviews for this card have spoken for themselves. Read the neoseeker review for a complete overview and official ‘neoseeker’ recommended approval of this graphics card.
The Radeon HD 7850 has the same performance to even the GTX 570, however this Radeon HD 7850 holds its spot strong at a much lower price.
Technical Details:
- 1 x Dual-Link DVI
- 1 x HDMI (with 3D)
- 2 x Mini-DisplayPort
- DisplayPort 1.2
- AMD HD3D Technology
- AMD Eyefinity 2.0
- Enhanced Multi-GPU Capabilities
- PCI Express 3.0
| Output | 1 x Dual-Link DVI 1 x HDMI (with 3D) 2 x Mini-DisplayPort DisplayPort 1.2 |
| GPU | 920 MHz Core Clock 28 nm Chip 1024 x Stream Processors |
| Memory | 2048 MB Size 256 -bit GDDR5 5000 MHz Effective |
| Dimension | 210(L)x105(W)x35(H) mm Size. |
| Software | Driver CD |
| Accessory | CrossFire™ Bridge Interconnect Cable Mini-DP to DP Cable 6 PIN to 4 PIN Power Cable HDMI to SL-DVI Adapter(Full Retail SKU only) HDMI 1.4a high speed 1.8 meter cable(Full Retail SKU only) |
Corsair Dominator 8 GB PC3-10666 1333mHz (PC3 10666) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1.6v Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Kit for Intel and AMD 8 Dual Channel Kit CMP8GX3M2B1333C9 Price: $36.98
- The same RAM kit as used in the $500 build above, but with good reason. I chose this newer RAM kit for the reviews soming in as well as its price being much lower than other 8GB RAM kits.
Technical Details
- Ultra-high performance 8GB ( 2 x 4GB ) DOMINATOR kit for Dual Channel processors.
- Speed: PC3-10666 1333mhz
- Timing: 9-9-9-24 Latency
- Voltage: 1.6v
- Pin Out: 240-pin
- Dominator Heat Spreader
- Lifetime Warranty
- Memory Type: DDR3
Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD10EALX Price: $97.53
Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache Desktop Hard Drive – WD10EALX
1 TB Western Digital Caviar Blue hard drives, need I say more? This is a quality hard drive from a quality company and 1TB for a Gaming PC is plenty! This is why I have used this hard drive ever since the prices have dropped. You cannot go wrong here, just check out the performance details below –
Performance Details From Western Digitals’ Website:
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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 750-Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified Power Supply Compatible with Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and AMD platforms – CMPSU-750TXV2 Price: $106.98
Corsair Enthusiast Series 750-Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified Power Supply Compatible with Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and AMD platforms – CMPSU-750TXV2
As said previously – “plenty of wattage to spare and a quality PSU all in one for a great price. Yes, I am re-using the Corsair Enthusiast series PSU, because it just plain and simple a good PSU choice.”
Product Details:
- Conforms to the latest ATX12V v2.31 and EPS 2.92 standards, and is backward compatible with the ATX12V 2.2 and ATX12V 2.01 standards
- A dedicated single +12V rail offers simple configuration and maximum compatibility with the latest graphics cards and other components
- An ultra-quiet, 140mm double ball-bearing fan delivers excellent airflow with exceptionally low noise levels by varying fan speed in response to temperature
- Complies with the European Union ErP Directive (2009/125/EC) so the power consumption of the whole system, in either standby or off mode, can be less than 1W when used with a properly configured, ErP-compliant motherboard
- 80 PLUS® Bronze certified, delivering up to 85% energy efficiency under real-world load conditions
- Active Power Factor Correction (PFC) with PF value of 0.99
- Universal AC input from 90~264V
- Over-voltage, under-voltage, over-current, and short circuit protection provide maximum safety for your critical system components
- High-quality Japanese capacitors provide uncompromised performance and reliability
- A five year warranty and lifetime access to Corsair’s legendary technical support and customer service
- Safety Approvals: cTUVus, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TÜV, CCC, C-tick
Corsair Carbide Series 300R Mid-Tower Gaming Case – CC-9011014-WW Price: $60.80
Corsair Carbide Series 300R Mid-Tower Gaming Case – CC-9011014-WW
I hardly ever re-use computer cases in builds, but I thought I would re-use the Corsair Carbide 300R case simply because of it being featured in the recent Toms Hardware article “Five Gaming Cases Between $80 And $120, Reviewed” that concluded that the relative efficiency versus the relative price of this case to be the highest out of all five cases reviewed.
Furthermore, the Corsair Carbide 300R case is in fact not between $80 – $120 right now, but currently is being sold for $60.80! So to me, this is a true reflection of a great price per value purchase.
The Corsair Carbide 300R case has great cooling, there is tons of room for any expansion, you can install up to five side fans plus two side 120mm fans. By using this case you can be guaranteed that you can keep everything as cool as ca be not only now, but with plenty of room for multi graphics card (in case you decide crossfire later on), then you can be assured they will fit and keep cool.
Product Details:
- WarrantyTwo years
- Dimension19.1” x 8.3” x 17.7”
- MB SupportATX, mATX
- Expansion Slots7
- Form FactorMid-tower
- MaterialSteel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces
- Drive Bays(x3) 5.25″, (x4) 3.5″/2.5″ Drive Caddies
- Cooling(x6) 120mm/140mm fan mounts, (x1) 120mm fan mounts, Includes (x1) front-mounted 120mm fans and (x1) rear 120mm fan
- Front I/O(x2) USB 3.0, (x1) Headphone, (x1) MIC, Power, Reset
- Power SupplyATX (not included)
- Room for graphics cards up to 450mm long
- USB 3.0 front panel connectors
- Built-in compatibility for SSDs in the four hard drive bays
- Keep your system cool with up to 7 fan mount locations
- Easily accessible dust filters keep the cool air flowing over your valuable components
- Compatible with ATX and mATX motherboards
- Install or upgrade your CPU heatsink quickly with the easy-access backplate cutout
- Optimize airflow and keep your system neat and tidy using the intelligent cable management system.
Ports and Connectivity
- USB Ports: 2
Cases and Expandability
- Size (LWH): 19.1 inches, 17.7 inches, 8.3 inches
- Weight: 15.9 pounds
Asus 24xDVD-RW Serial ATA Internal OEM Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black) Price: $17.99
I had to finally give in and change the optical drive brand, a big deal? No its not a big deal, but the prices on the previous Sony drive went up by about $5 so I decided to go with this basic ASUS $17.99 optical drive, which actually used to be my older recommendation. Used by many, and the usual not so special DVD/CD reader/writer. You can read the READ and WRITE speeds below –
Product Features
$500 – $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: Kingston HyperX 3K 90 GB SATA III 2.5-Inch 6.0 Gb/s Solid State Drive SH103S3/90G = + $109
– Can be used for installing OS to boot quick on this 90GB SSD
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Better CPU Cooler (To Overclock
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 Do CROSSFIRE with another Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 OC 2 GB DDR5 HDMI/DVI-I/Dual Mini DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 11200-01-20G = + $259
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Additions / Part Swaps Overview
The additions and part swaps section is to give those interested, an idea of what other hardware they could add / swap if they wanted to upgrade in the future of have some extra cash to spend right now.
Above there is a nice Kingston SSD 90GB drive that could be used as an operating system drive to boot up your computer faster as well as a few games. The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo cooler as an affordable CPU cooler that can help keep your CPU cooler while trying to overclock, this in turn can increase the potential overclocking frequencies. You could add an LG Electronics Blu-Ray drive if you have a collection of Blu-Ray movies or want to “back-up” anything onto Blu-Ray disks. OR another suggestion above is to add a second Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 graphics in Crossfire (a great thing to keep in mind for future upgrading potential).
Monthly Gaming PC Build ( $1448 ): June 2012
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) to shop for these parts.| Estimated Price: $1448 (Gaming for years to come!) |
Overview: Gaming PC Build ( $1000 – $1500 )
Looking back at the hardware from last months $1500 build, the prices for the hardware overall has actually gone down to $1433 from the previous $1473. Since there have not been any hardware releases over the past month that would take precedence over any of the base hardware, this is the point now where I look at the previous hardware and decide what I can improve from.
So far from the hardware from May, we have a top of the line build where it can be hard to think of anything of benefit – such as we already have what I would think to be the top gaming processor the Intel 3570K, a quality high end Gigabyte motherboard, a high end Raden HD 7970 graphics card, more than plenty of RAM at 16GB, an upgraded computer case from the $1000 build – the Corsair 400R and even a modular quality power supply unit. Also, there is also a Cooler Master Evo 212 CPU cooler and a Crucial 64GB Solid State Drive included in the base build!!
The conclusion here? Well everything is pretty much staying the same for this build as it is still running strong. One exception may be the switch of the graphics card for a minor performance increase on the GTX 680 graphics card, but supplies on these seem to be slim and I have decided it is not worth it yet., so maybe next month.
What I did decide to do with the saved cash this month was upgrade the motherboard to a nice ASUS P8Z77-V-PRO that includes a wifi adapter and I also swapped the computer case for a NZXT Phantom Black & White (you can choose the color – Black and White + Gunmetal are the new colors).
In the end, the June 2012 $1500 build still costs less than last months and you can be sure that it will last you and keep you gaming for years to come.
Overview: The Gaming PC Hardware
Intel Core i5 3570K Processor 3.4 4 BX80637I53570K Price: $227.99
Intel Core i5 3570K Processor
“A fresh face to the mid and high range gaming PC builds processor spots, the Intel 3570K is the new avenger for a new Gaming PC Build. Pair this with a new Z77 motherboard and a Radeon HD 7850 graphics card and you will kick graphical but in any game you throw at it.” – As per stated in the above build.
Check out some of the early reviews and benchmarks on the Intel 3570K Processor: cpubenchmark.net | bit-tech.net | hexus.net
| 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: $33.87
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler
CPU coolers do not change too often until there are changes to CPU socket sizes, so this Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU cooler is one of the higher rated and affordably so CPU coolers you can purchase. Sure, the Intel 3570K processor comes with a stock cooler, but that cooler may not be able to match the cooling needs of overclocking if you decide to do so. If you are not planning to overclock, then you do not really need this cooler, but at only $30 it might be a worthwhile addition to keep your CPU as cool as possible, which in turn increases your overclocking speed potential.
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.
ASUS Intel Z77 ATX DDR3 2400 LGA 1155 Motherboard P8Z77-V PRO Price: $209.99
ASUS Intel Z77 ATX DDR3 2400 LGA 1155 Motherboard P8Z77-V PRO
As quoted from Tech Radars review article the Asus P8Z77-V-Pro is – “An update to our favourite Z68 board in Z77 flavours. Mmm, tasty”.
There is much to be said about this premium ASUS motherboard. For one, it has Wi-Fi GO, which prvoides onboard wifi. Fan Xpert 2, which is an auto tune function for optimizing fan speeds for each individual fan and much more, just check out the product details below –
Product Details:
Diamond AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCIE 3G GDDR5 Video Graphics Card 7970PE53G Price: $459.99
Diamond AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCIE 3G GDDR5 Video Graphics Card
Used again as it is still in the running on the top of the heap of graphics cards. That is with the exception of the new GTX 680, which at the moment is kind of hard to get and slightly more expensive. This Radeon HD 7970 graphics card will provide game play at extreme settings in any game at resolutions easily up to 2560×1600 resolutions. Read the full review of the AMD Radeon HD 7950 graphics card brought to you by Tom’s Hardware. What we have here specifically is the Diamond branded version of the AMD Radeon HD 7950 graphics card. This card should last a long while in the gaming market and this build most certainly leaves you with the ability to add crossfire to later on by adding another one of these into the mix.
Product Details:
| Performance | |
| GPU : | 7950 |
| ASIC Core : | Tahiti PRO |
| Core Clock : | 800 MHz |
| BUS : | PCI Express 3.0 x16 |
| Ports : | 1 Dual Link DVI, 1 Single Link DVI, HDMI and 2 Mini Display Port |
| Cooling : | Active – FanCooler |
| MFG Process : | 28nm process technology |
| Stream Processors : | 2048 |
| Video Quality | |
| CrossFire : | CrossFire X |
| Direct-X : | DirectX® 11.1 capable graphics |
| Open GL : | OpenGL 4.2 |
| Max Resolution Analog : | VGA Max resolution 2048×1536 |
| Max Resolution Digital : | HDMI 1.4a Max resolution: 4096×3112 |
| HDR F.Point Rendering : | 128 |
| HDR Integer : | |
| Standard Slot Solution : | DOUBLE |
| Anti Aliasing Modes : | Up to 24x multi-sample and super-sample anti-aliasing modes |
| Antisotropic Modes : | 16x angle independent anisotropic texture filtering |
| Texture Support : | HDR texture compression |
| Memory | |
| Memory Clock : | 1250 MHz |
| Memory Configuration : | 64Mx32 |
| Memory Type : | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth : | 5.0 Gbps |
| Memory Size : | 3072MB |
| Memory Interface : | 384-bit interface |
| RAMDAC : | 400 |
| Display Support | |
| HDMI : | HDMI 1.4a with support for stereoscopic 3D |
| HDMI MODE : | 1.4a |
| Native Display Support : | DisplayPort 1.2 Max resolution: 4096×2160 per display |
| Dual Display support : | YES |
Corsair Vengeance Blue 16 GB DDR3 SDRAM Dual Channel Memory Kit CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9B Price: $97.98
Corsair Vengeance Blue 16 GB DDR3 SDRAM Dual Channel Memory Kit CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9B
People keep telling me 16GB is too much! But come on this is a $1500 gaming PC build that will last you years. This is a package of four sticks of 4GB RAM in a package to total 16GB of RAM. An excessive amount of RAM? Yes it is, but you can assure the future proofness of this to go with the other fantastic hardware included in this $1500 build. If you can find a package of RAM with two 8GB stick to total the 16Gb at a reasonable price, that would be even better, but you just cannot beat this price for 16GB.
If you feel you do not need 16GB, then you could save about $40 and get the 8Gb kits included in the above $500 & $1000 builds and you will do just fine!
Product Features:
- Designed for Sandy Bridge Platform and AMD Platforms
- 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3 for AMD, Intel Dual Channel processors and Sandy Bridge 2nd Generation Intel Core platforms
- Intel XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) Support
- Speed: 1600mhz
- Timing: 9-9-9-24
- Lifetime Warranty
- Pin Out: 240-pin
- Voltage: 1.5v
Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD10EALX Price: $97.53
Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache Bulk:OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD10EALX
When comparing all of the available 1 TB drives, this one seems to stick out the most for me in terms of its overall quality and price. For a gaming PC, this Western Digital Caviar Blue 7200 RPM 1Tb drive. Do you need more or less space? Well, this is a question that ultimately comes down to you. Do you just game? Store movies? Music? Don’t know how much space you need? Well starting at 1TB is by far not skimping on space and keep in mind upgrading and adding a hard drive later is as simple as plugging it in (for the most part).
Performance Details From Western Digital’s Website:
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Mushkin Chronos 60 GB SATA 6.0 Gb-s 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive (MKNSSDCR60GB) Price: $67.99
Mushkin Chronos 60 GB SATA 6.0 Gb-s 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive (MKNSSDCR60GB)
I have switch the Solid State Hard drive this month to include this Mushkin Enhanced Chromos 60Gb SSD. This SSD offers a great value per GB and comes with quality. Use this drive for your Operating System and you will get super fast boot times!
| Mushkin Enhanced Chronos | 90 GB |
|---|---|
| Sequential Read | 560 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 510 MB/s |
| Power Consumption (Active) | 3 W |
| Power Consumption (Idle) | 1 W |
Product Details:
- Max Sequential Read Up to 525MB/s and Max Sequential Write Up to 495MB/s
- Up to 85,000 IOPS Random 4KB Write
- SATA 3.0 (6Gb/s) interface (backwards compatible with SATA 3Gb/s and 1.5Gb/s)
- TRIM support (OS/driver support required)
- 3.5″ desktop adapter bracket included
- Access Time <0.1ms
- Asynchronous MLC NAND
- Built-in BCH ECC (Up to 55 bits correctable per 512 byte sector)
Technical Details
- Brand Name: Mushkin
- Model: MKNSSDCR60GB
- Warranty: 3-year warranty
- Form Factor: 2.5-Inch
Corsair HX Professional Series 750-Watt 80 Plus Certified Power Supply Compatible with Core i7 and Core i5 – CMPSU-750HX Price: $134.99
Corsair HX Professional Series 750-Watt 80 Plus Certified Power Supply Compatible with Core i7 and Core i5 – CMPSU-750HX
For only $134.99, this PSU is both a quality brand and modular. You could use the same Corsair Enthusiast PSU as used in the $1000 build above and be just fine, however you cannot beat the finesse of a modular PSU. Clearing cables both looks nice and clears space for more efficient air flow to keep your gaming PC cooler. The only downside is that a modular PSU does come at a price premium, so if you feel just as good purchasing the same 750 Watt PSU as seen in the $1000 build you could save a few bucks and do just fine.
Product Details:
- Modular Cable design allows you to use only those cables needed & saves you space inside your case
- Over Current / Voltage / Power Protection, Under Voltage and Short Circuit Protection provides Maximum Safety for your critical system components
- 80 Plus Certified for 80%+ Energy Efficiency at 20%, 50% and 100% Load Condition for less Heat Generation and Lower Energy Bill
- Dedicated Single +12V Rail Offers Maximum Compatibility with Latest Components
- High quality Japanese Capacitors provide Uncompromised Performance and Reliability
NZXT ca-ph410-b2 Phantom 410 Mid Tower USB 3.0 Gaming Case Black with White Trim Price: $99.99
NZXT Phantom 410 Toms Hardware Approved
NZXT Phantom 410 Mid Tower Gaming Case Black with White Trim
I have included the NXT Phantom cases is a couple of previous builds and this is because it keeps coming up again and again in reviews, and NZXT keeps adding new cases to this lineup! This case even won the Toms Hardware Approved stamp of approval in their recent article “Five Gaming Cases Between $80 And $120, Reviewed“. This one in particular is one of the newer colors “Black with White Trim”, there is also another one called ‘Gunmetal”, which has a very slick and smooth look to it.
Product Details:
- Clearance for top 240mm dual radiator for water cooling solutions / Wire management support up to 25mm space for easy cable management
- Adjustable interior pivot 120mm/140mm fan slot for directional air flow / Single 120mm/140mm side fan with acrylic window for interior viewing and cooling
- Removable HDD cage to allow more room for extended video cards / Screw-less 5.25″ and HDD trays that secures 2.5″ SSD
- Innovative right mounted HDD rails for easy hard drive replacement / Cooling capability of up to eight fans (2x 120mm and 1x 140mm LED fan included)
- 30W 3-step fan control for setting up your system for silence or performance / Innovative right mounted HDD rails for easy hard drive replacement
- DRIVE BAYS: 3 EXTERNAL 5.25″ DRIVE BAYS / 6 INTERNAL 3.5″ Slots / Screwless Rail Design / MATERIAL(S): Steel / EXPANSION SLOTS: 7 / WEIGHT: 9 kg / MOTHERBOARD SUPPORT: ATX, MICRO-ATX, MINI-ITX
- case type: mid tower steel / front panel material: plastic / dimensions (w x h x d): 215 x 516 x 532 mm / vga clearance maximum: 305mm (w/o fan), 280mm (installed), 230mm (full pivot)
- cooling system: front, 2x120mm or 1 x 140mm (1x120mm included) /rear, 1 x 120mm (included) /side, 1 x 120mm or 1 x 140mm /top, 2 x 120/140mm (1 x 140mm included)
Ports and Connectivity
- USB 2.0 Ports: 2
Cases and Expandability
- Size (LWH): 20.95 inches, 8.47 inches, 20.2 inches
- Weight: 19.85 pounds
Asus 24xDVD-RW Serial ATA Internal OEM Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black) Price: $17.99
- Since I have used the same optical drives for all builds this is quoted from the above builds –
- “Asus 24xDVD-RW Serial ATA Internal OEM Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black)
I had to finally give in and change the optical drive brand, a big deal? No its not a big deal, but the prices on the previous Sony drive went up by about $5 so I decided to go with this basic ASUS $17.99 optical drive, which actually used to be my older recommendation. Used by many, and the usual not so special DVD/CD reader/writer. You can read the READ and WRITE speeds below -“
Product Features
$1000 – $1500 Gaming PC Build Additions / Swap Suggestions
Note: Prices are in additional $ amounts These additions are to act as supplemental hardware the the $1000-$1500 Gaming PC Build recipe above
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 Double the Graphics Power w/ Crossfire add one more: Diamond AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCIE 3G GDDR5 Video Graphics Card 7970PE53G = + $459.99
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 Larger SSD: Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe 240 GB Solid State Drive MKNSSDCL240 GB-DX (Black)= + $299 (Excludes previously included SSD)
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Overview: Additions / Part Swaps
Looking to add a little more to an already great gaming PC build? Then I have included the above additions and part swaps to give you an idea of what else you could add to your build. You may need a ton of more hard drive space wether it be archiving stuff into another 1TB hard drive or wanting to put more onto a larger solid state drive. Perhaps you want to overkill on the graphics cards and get two!? Or you may want a liquid CPU cooler solution?
Concluding June 2012’s Gaming PC Builds:
This was an interesting month of price changes, reviews of the new Ivy Bridge and even cases! I feel that I have been able to really polish these builds and get the most price per performance. Even though the high end $1500 build is relatively similar to that of May’s builds, I have been able to upgrade to a premium motherboard, better solid state drive and did a slight change in the computer case choice.
No matter the build you choose I hope that you enjoy building it as much as you enjoy gaming on it. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask me via the comments below or through my e-mail using the contact form.
Also, as I said earlier in this article I have literally just started advertising the Newb Computer Build Facebook Page, so please if you feel ever inclined like and participate as I hope to actually use it.
Comments 29
Hi , i was just wondering for the $500 june build does it come would a sound card and network card for the internet also would it run skyrim on high~ultra in a lower resolution? Thanks Reply soon plz 🙂
Author
Hello again Sif!
Yes, the sound is integrated into the motherboard using a Realtek ALC887 audio chipset. Yes there is also a network card using the Realtek 8111E LAN chipset, however keep in mind this is not wireless. As I said below in your last comment it will run Skryim on high as is with a low FPS, however my other suggestion is using a Pentium G850 processor and a GTX 560 or GTX 560 Ti graphics card for better performance. I have included this in the new builds and the article should be out in a few hours 🙂
Thanks so much for putting this guide together! I think I’m going to go with the $1,000 build, but what would you recommend for a motherboard if I’m not planning on overclocking? And for a graphics card if I prefer NVIDIA? Also, what are your recommendations for a full SSD hard drive? (I’m using less than 100 GB of my current HD, so I’m considering that as an option instead). Thanks again!
Author
Hey Kou,
No problem and thanks for the comment. Going full SSD? I like it! First a motherboard that could suffice your basic needs, but still has enough – My recommendation would be to get a cheaper H61 motherboard and a non “K” series processor (which are meant for easy overclocking since they are unlocked). This will save you more $$! So you have extra cash or you can pump it into more graphics card juice.
Motherboard recommendation: $59.99 (Much cheaper!) – ASUS P8H61-M LE/CSM <REV 3.0> Intel H61 Chipset DDR3 1333 Micro ATX Motherboard
Processor: Intel 2400 (will perform very similarly when gaming when compared to Intel 3570K processor) – Intel Core i5-2400
Graphcis Card (NVIDIA): If it is NVIDIA you prefer: If you want a card that performs similarly to the Radeon one I recommended then go with a GTX 560 Ti or if you want a better card with the saved money go with a GTX 670
Now for going with a full SSD – Depending on how slim you want to get with your HD space I will recommend a few
A few SSD’s I am going to recommend are based on price per performance and increasing sizes depending on how close to the amount of space you currently use and are comfortable with spending –
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe 120GB – $189.99
Crucial 256 GB m4 – $204
OR
Crucial 512 GB m4 $399
I hope this helps you out and is not too late before your purchase as I have been away a few days for the weekend. Take care!
Hi again Corey!
I just finished building my first computer based on your $500 build, and it’s really awesome for such an affordable build! Haha, I’m really glad I stumbled on this site and found your builds. Thanks again! =D
Author
Hello again Carl,
That’s so wonderful to hear! I hope you enjoy and thanks for the feedback and letting me know how it went 🙂
Hi , just wondering for the $500 build , will it run skyrim on ultra on lower resolution like 1080p*720 or something like that ?
Author
Hey Sif,
I would say a yes to at 720p and probably not well at 1080p on ultra. What you could do is swap the processor for a Pentium G850 and a GTX 560 or GTX 560 Ti graphics card which may provide much better gameplay at max settings and 1080p. I am in the process of writing this months (July) gaming PC builds and this is what I have done. You can wait another few hours and I should have it posted.
Hey Corey,
Just about to place an order and wanted to double check to make sure I’m not doing anything silly. Can’t wait to plat D3..
Antec Nine Hundred Tower Gaming Case with side window Black(No PSU)
OCZ ModXstream Pro 700W modular PSU
Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3
OCZ 120G Vertex III Series SSD
Seagate SATA3 2TB 7200RPM Barracuda 64mb Cache
Sapphire HD7850 OC 2G 256Bit GDDR5 PCIE3.0 DVI HDMI 2*MiniDSP
Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H MB, Intel Z77 Chipset, Socket 1155, 4x DDR3,
Intel Core i5 3570K LGA1155 CPU 3.4Ghz 6Mb Cache Ivy Bridge
Is that motherboard and PSU ok? Also I don’t seem to be able to get the blue Ram but I’m pretty sure this is just a colour difference… Sorry to keep hassling you but a bit nervous as my first build…
This comes to $1160 in Aussie dollars.
Thanks mate
Author
Hello again Brad,
Yep, the motherboard will work just fine and the power supply will be just fine as well! Let me know how the build turns out once you get all the hardware in tact and if you have any questions along the way shoot them my way.
Good luck!
Corey,
Got home from work yesterday and the computer boxes were waiting for me. 4 hours and a couple of beers later and I was started everything up. All went well and windows installed! Love the computer.
Couple of questions:
In the Antec 900 case I ended up putting the SSD in one of the top drive bays, it doesn’t have a fan in front of it. My normal drive does. Does the SSD heat up much(no moving parts is my understanding?) and should i go to the effort of moving it to the fan intake area. Its just that the plate to fit it in the 5″ dirve bay didn’t really fit.
Also the Intel i5 3570k didn’t have a plastic cover over the thermal paste, and i just strapped the fan down straight on the processor/motherboard, there was no smearing the paste over the processor or anything like that I’ve seen in some instructions. Is this a problem? I won’t be doing overclocking… maybe in the future but I’ll probably get a different cooler
Love the case, but the fan controllers would be much better if they were outside of the case…
SSD makes everything so fast…. will never go back now.
Thanks for all the help mate
Author
Hey Brad,
I absolutely love the anticipation of waiting for hardware to arrive and love seeing you enjoy the process of building.
The SSD will be just fine where you put it since it really won’t get hot and this is because a SSD uses a fraction of the power that say a 7200RPM hard drive would. Also, there was no smearing of thermal paste because it is already pre-applied under the stock cooler. When individuals are smearing on thermal paste from a tube it is usually from purchasing a separate cpu cooler that comes with its own paste, so you will not have to worry. However, as you mentioned if you are going to overclock I would highly recommend a separate cooler.
Thanks for letting me know how your process and build went! What are you planning on playing first?
Corey,
Already been playing diablo 3 and loving it so far. I have been waiting for this game for a long time!
Also checked out starcraft 2, which I had played before but runs really well on the new computer.
Once again mate, thanks for all the help. You made it all too easy!
Hi Corey!
Awesome article you have here! I am the epitome of “newb” on PC building, and I am planning to build my very first gaming PC. I definitely want to use your guide. My problem, however, is that my budget is more around the range of $800 to $900 max. I was wondering what parts I can swap for cheaper prices without affecting performance too much. Do you have any recommendations? Also, sorry for asking a stupid question, but I am really confused with the sound device for the builds. Is there a standard audio that comes with the mother board? Or do I need to buy a separate audio card? I would greatly appreciate any recommendations.
Thanks again and keep up the awesome job! =)
Author
Hey Carl!
Sorry about a tad of a delay in response, but I have been having server problems with the site.
It made me laugh you saying that you are the “epitome” of newb on PC building. First I will answer you question about the standard audio and no not a stupid question as you used to ‘have to’ purchase a sound card, but be rest assured most motherboard come with integrated audio nowadays. In particular the motherboard I am going to suggest is the VIA VT2021 audio chipset with 8 channels.
As for you having the $800 – $900 budget I’ll see what I can do – First I will suggest this build below which comes in at $889 and keeps everything essential to the mid range $1000 build (the Intel 3570K processor and Radeon HD 7850 graphics card) Therefore I have saved money on a cheaper motherboard,downgraded to a 500GB hard drive, & chose a cheaper case, but kept everything essential to the build that would determine the gaming PCs performance.
Below is the build pasted from an Amazon shopping cart (this just makes it easier for me to share)
You save:
$10.00 ( 4%)
You save:
$10.00 ( 20%)
You save:
$35.00 ( 35%)
You save:
$15.00 ( 11%)
You save:
$8.45 ( 33%)
You save:
$40.01 ( 15%)
You save:
$33.00 ( 24%)
You save:
$83.95 ( 60%)
If this build is a tad too much such as on the brink end of your budget range and you do not feel comfortable spending that much let me know and I will let you know what I would do option wise to slim it even more. Otherwise enjoy!
Thanks for the quick response. Lol, I was having problems getting on the website earlier, too. I have decided to go with your 500$ build. My friend talked me out of putting in 800-900$ for my first build because I might mess up something, so this will be like my entry/practice build. Sorry for not saying it sooner >_<; But I will still most likely use the build that you listed for me or your 1000$ builds in the future =).
Thanks again! =D
Hello, I was curious if you had a website or video that you would recommend that would help walk you through the actual building of the desktop once all the parts have arrived, including the installation of software and drivers. I’m very interested in your $1000 build but am worried about whether or not I’ll be able to put it together once it arrives. In addition, what would you recommended as a monitor for the $1000 build?
Author
Hey Ethan,
One video that is quite good and goes through putting the hardware together is the How to Build a Computer – 2012 Version! by Gary Holzman. You can check it out on the Parts to Build a Computer article page. He also goes over the basic install of the operating system etc. I do plan on doing one of these myself, but it won’t be for a little bit. As for a monitor, depending on what size and price range you are looking in either the
or 
would be good choices. Let me know if you need any more help and keep in mind that when you are putting together the hardware and get stumped that you can always come back here and ask.
ASUS VH236H Black 23″ Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ Speakers
ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24″ 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor Built-in Speakers
Okay, thank you, I appreciate the fast response. I’ll take a look into those. Can do, thanks again.
Hi im looking to build a hardcore gaming PC, however I am new to this and would like to know if all the parts for the 1500 build are all compatible? Also it would be really cool if you could build one of these builds on your youtube channel as a guide. Thanks again
Author
Hey Daniel,
I believe you also commented on the video where I did respond as such –
You bet, the hardware is all compatible and if you like the original written article is available on the site linked in the videos description. I also agree I should do a build guide video with one of the builds as others have mentioned as well, hopefully I can clear up some budget and time in the next little while.
Thats a very good $500 build there. But i would recomend downgrading the cpu to a G840 or G860 they offer similar performance(for gaming) for a much lower price tag. Also the motherboard can be downgraded to a Gigabyte H61MA-D3V. The rest of your money can be spent on a better gpu like the 6870 or 560. Or it can be spent on a better psu?
Author
Thank you and I agree that those would also be a very good substitution(s). Prices have also already risen some on that hardware I have listed, so if someone was also looking to get dime on the $500 mark they could definitely go with a G840 and the Gigabyte H61MA-D3V or as you suggested, swap the two for a better PSU or Radeon 6870 or GTX 560.
Corey,
Me again. Been looking around a while and waiting for some cash to come up as I’m desperate to play d3 but no computer to do it.
Looking at the $1,000 build but couple of questions
-This can definitely be used for dual screens?
-The PSU is enough if I decide to get another graphics card in the future?
-Can use th Antec 900 case? love this one for some reason…
I’ll probably add the SSD boot drive (want it to feel fast) and also the cooler as would like to try OC.
In you opinion is it worth adding the RAM from the $1500 build? The reason i think this is that it is only 60 bucks more for double the ram? If i’m not too concerned here about the $60, or would that money be better spent on better graphics cards?
Great builds once again, thanks mate.
Author
Hey Brad!
Be desperate to play, the game has been great so far! To answer your first three questions –
-This can definitely be used for dual screens? You bet!
-The PSU is enough if I decide to get another graphics card in the future? More than enough
-Can I use the Antec 900 case? love this one for some reason… Great case and yes you can for sure use this. For me the case it the most fun piece of hardware to choose and should most definitely match your taste!
As for adding the RAM, this is an iffy question for a couple of reasons. For one, I would say to always put extra cash into a better graphics card, however with the Radeon HD 7850 being price at $259.99 USD, so adding $60 brings you to about $320 USD. At this price point there are really no cards I would recommend unless you went for a Radeon HD 7870, which comes in at around $350 USD. Secondly, does one really need 16GB of RAM at the moment? Most would say 16GB is way to much RAM at the moment; I agree to an extent as the benefits will be slim whilst gaming, but looking back a year and a half to two years ago 8GB was said to be “way too much”. If it were me though, and I could afford the extra $60 no problem, I would try and stretch an extra $30 on the higher graphics card keeping in mind that RAM prices deteriorate fast, so come half a year you could probably purchase at extra 8GB of RAM for much cheaper to add to your build if you liked.
Thanks Brad and Good Luck!
So just to make sure, but two 7870’s in crossfire will be fine in the future with PSU, motherboard etc? You would recommend the RADEONS? Would you consider any of the Nvidia’s? What would be comparable here?
I think i’ll stick with the better graphics card for now and know that in the future I have these upgrade options…
Author
Good choice :)As for reccomending the radeons for this price bracket, it’s just because they are dominating here. If you went as high as the radeon 7970 I would suggest the gtx 680 but they are hard to get right now and quite pricier.
Very nice build as usually. It would be really nice to see some gaming benchmarks though 🙂
Author
Thanks Mike and I agree! Just need to take some more time to do so, I have been enveloping most of mine playing DIII. I may have to start splitting my articles into three separate ones as they are tending to get longer, that way I could make room for specifics like benchmarking.