Help The T Build a Pitying Machine

[TTHREAZ]

OK, so the time has come for me to build another machine as my current one is creeping up on 5 years old. I am set to receive a bonus at the end of this week and I plan on utilizing it on a build. While the final bonus total is still up in the air, I'd like to aim for the $1,000 mark.

While the games I mostly play have been out for a while (e.g. TF2, L4D2, etc.) I'd like to have something that will be able to run current and future games well. I don't need a monster of a machine but I would like to not have to upgrade in the next couple of years if I can help it.

I've been an AMD guy for years but I am open to Intel processors.

Excluding my current GPU (ATI), I've been mostly an NVIDIA guy so I'd like to stick with that if possible.

Since I will be donating my current machine to my wife, I will need the following:

Case
Mobo
CPU
RAM
PSU
GPU
HDD (non-SSD preferred)
OS

I will be salvaging my keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers and an SATA HDD from my current machine.

I will look at the Falcon Guide as well but I thought I'd throw this out there to get some opinions.

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

[Boss Llama]

Woot! Two build challenges in one day? Happiness!

Mobo: ASUS P8H77-V
CPU: Intel Core i5-3450
RAM: 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaw DDR3 1333
Hard Drive: WD Caviar Black 1TB WD1002FAEX
Video Card: EVGA GTX 660 2GB 192-bit
PSU: Corsair TX650
Case: Antec 300
OS: Win7 Home Premium 64-bit
Optical: LITE-ON DVD Burner


Didn't see an optical drive listed on things you're salvaging, so I added one of those. This load out is $995, shipping included. There are also $40 in MIR's if you're so inclined.

[Clay Pigeon]

I'd swap out the cpu for http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819116504

[The Domer]

If you are a reddit guy, I strongly recommend checking out r/buildapc. Very friendly and helpful folks over there, with lots of great, useful information.

[Mortis462]

Just a hair over 1k,

Mobo: ASRock Z77 Pro4-M
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570k
RAM: 8 GB G.Skill Ripjaw DDR3 1600
Hard Drive: WD Caviar Black 1TB WD1002FAEX
Video Card: Gigabyte GTX 660 ti 2GB
PSU: SeaSonic M12II
Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912
OS: Win7 Home Premium 64-bit

[crimsonshootingstar]

Just a hair over 1k,

Mobo: ASRock Z77 Pro4-M
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570k
RAM: 8 GB G.Skill Ripjaw DDR3 1600
Hard Drive: WD Caviar Black 1TB WD1002FAEX
Video Card: Gigabyte GTX 660 ti 2GB
PSU: SeaSonic M12II
Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912
OS: Win7 Home Premium 64-bit

I got a 660TI that things a beast. love it and highly recommend it.

[Inner]

T, I've consulted with all of Team 4, and we want to help you. Our opinion is that since the Ville Cup is upon us now, it might be best in the interest of stability to stick with your current machine. No sense upgrading and then have it go all whack on you. Slow and steady is good. In fact, slower is better for many things. We don't really know what, but we encourage you to find out.


Inner




(seriously tho: good luck!)

[TTHREAZ]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I've looked through the suggestions and came up with a combination of items from each of your suggestions:

Mobo: ASUS P8H77-V (I currently have an ASUS board and have been happy with it)
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570k
RAM: 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaw DDR3 1600 (Thought 16GB may be better and the cost increase is minimal)
Hard Drive: WD Caviar Black 1TB WD1002FAEX
Video Card: Gigabyte GTX 660 ti 2GB (I don't mind paying a little more and I can get BL2 with it for free as well )
PSU: Corsair TX650 (I currently have a Corsair PSU and have been very pleased with it. Modular would be nice but this would do the job.)
Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912 (I've heard really good things about Cooler Master cases.)
OS: Win7 Home Premium 64-bit




P.S. Nice try, Inner.

[The Domer]

16 GB of RAM is such massive overkill, it's not even funny. I have 8 gb and it's overkill.

[Mortis462]

16 GB of RAM is such massive overkill, it's not even funny. I have 8 gb and it's overkill.

Unless you work with video, photos, do dev work/coding and run mutiple VM's...

[spm97]

T,

I know you said "No SSD", but you should seriously think of getting a small SSD for the OS. While you will not get higher frame rates in games, you'll be stunned when the machine boots and launches apps.

I've got my main OS on one SSD and Steam+games on a second (both 80GB), and I'm running an old dual core CPU (X6800), and when I moved over to the SSDs, it was like getting an entirely new computer.

Think about it....at least for the boot volume.

<eVa>Spam

[Plas]

I know you said "No SSD", but you should seriously think of getting a small SSD for the OS. While you will not get higher frame rates in games, you'll be stunned when the machine boots and launches apps.

[frostdillicus]

16 GB of RAM is such massive overkill, it's not even funny. I have 8 gb and it's overkill.

Unless you work with video, photos, do dev work/coding and run mutiple VM's...

This. Being able to drop 4GB onto a Hyper-V VM and not even blink is so nice. I never do any serious changes to my base OS anymore. If there is a one off program I need to install and have no desire to clean up after it, I'll just toss it into a Win7 VM and just delete the VM when I'm done.

Yay Windows 8 and desktop Hyper-V.

It also seems XFX has completely ditched making nVidia cards. Sad day. Their warranty alone is enough to buy from them.

[Gizanked]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I've looked through the suggestions and came up with a combination of items from each of your suggestions:

Mobo: ASUS P8H77-V (I currently have an ASUS board and have been happy with it)
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570k
RAM: 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaw DDR3 1600 (Thought 16GB may be better and the cost increase is minimal)
Hard Drive: WD Caviar Black 1TB WD1002FAEX
Video Card: Gigabyte GTX 660 ti 2GB (I don't mind paying a little more and I can get BL2 with it for free as well )
PSU: Corsair TX650 (I currently have a Corsair PSU and have been very pleased with it. Modular would be nice but this would do the job.)
Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912 (I've heard really good things about Cooler Master cases.)
OS: Win7 Home Premium 64-bit




P.S. Nice try, Inner.

looks pretty respectable.. but you are right. modular would be nice.

[Cpt._Keyes]

Didn't see an optical drive listed on things you're salvaging, so I added one of those.

whoa whoa whoa...physical media?! lets break out the floppy's while we are at it!