$1000 all in build

[JJThomp]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Mostly gaming and some school work (typing in MS word and powerpoint... nothing special)

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$1000 tax in with a monitor

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
Canada (Pricematch to NCIX)

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
Intel for processor nvidia for gfx (Plan on going SLI down the road heard AMD drivers are still hit or miss with cfx)

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Nothing

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Read tons of threads actually came up with something but it was over budget by about $100 so I'm seeing if you guys can help me

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
OC on the GPU only

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Ordering sometime between 25-30th of august

9. What resolution and settings do you use?
Settings will be the max that I can run with whatever hardware I buy and I am looking for a 1920x1080 monitor

10. Are there any specific technologies you want?
SLI compatible mobo, USB 3.0

Thanks in advance for advice.

[JJThomp]

Mobo
MSI Z77A-G41 ATX LGA1155 Z77 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI SATA3 DVI HDMI CrossFireX USB3.0 Motherboard - MSI/MicroStar - Z77A-G41
$110
$110
CPU
Intel Core i5 3550 Quad Core Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Ivy Bridge 6MB Retail - Intel - BX80637I53550
$200
$310
HDD
Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 16MB Cache 7200RPM 3.5IN SATA Internal Hard Drive OEM - Western Digital WD - WD5000AAKX
$65
$375
RAM
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory - DirectCanada
$42
$417
Case
Corsair Carbide Series 300R Black Gaming Case ATX 3X5.25 4X3.5 Front USB Audio No PSU - Corsair - CC-9011014-WW
$70
$487
PSU
Still looking
$50-70
$547
Monitor
LG E2242C-BN 21.5IN Widescreen LED Backlit LCD Monitor 1920X1080 5MS 5M:1 VGA VESA Mount Black - LG Electronics - E2242C-BN
$110
$657
GPU
MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti Hawk OC 950MHZ 1GB GDDR5 Dual DVI Mini-HDMI DX11 PCI-E Video Card - MSI/MicroStar - N560GTX-Ti HAWK
$200
$857
Total: $961.04 with tax


Having trouble finding a good PSU in that price range... I know I got my antec HCG 620w for $55 so I am looking for a deal on something in and around there. Also anywhere I can save some money? I would like a stronger GPU.

[Dzzope]

I wouldn't get a 3550.. go for an i3 for now and then drop in a 3570k when funds and performance dictate it.. also means you can have a lil more budget for PSU and GPU
OR.. go straight for a 3570k as it's only $20 more..

i3 is still pretty good for gaming and should be able to find one for $100?

Also might be worth bumping the HDD to the Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM 64MB SATA 6Gbps 3.5IN Internal Hard Drive - OEM - Seagate - ST1000DM003 as it's faster has twice the storage and only a little more expensive..

XFX 550W PRO550W Core Edition Single Rail ATX 12V 44A 24PIN ATX Power Supply 80PLUS Bronze - XFX - P1550SXXB9

Coolermaster Haf 912 Black Mid Tower ATX Case 4X5.25 1X3.5 6X3.5INT No PS Front USB Sound - COOLERMASTER - RC-912-KKN1 saves you a bit on the case

Look at bundles.. price match etc... should be able to squeeze out either a SSD or a ~ $300 GPU..

[JJThomp]

Originally Posted by Dzzope

I wouldn't get a 3550.. go for an i3 for now and then drop in a 3570k when funds and performance dictate it.. also means you can have a lil more budget for PSU and GPU
OR.. go straight for a 3570k as it's only $20 more..

i3 is still pretty good for gaming and should be able to find one for $100?

Also might be worth bumping the HDD to the Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM 64MB SATA 6Gbps 3.5IN Internal Hard Drive - OEM - Seagate - ST1000DM003 as it's faster has twice the storage and only a little more expensive..

XFX 550W PRO550W Core Edition Single Rail ATX 12V 44A 24PIN ATX Power Supply 80PLUS Bronze - XFX - P1550SXXB9

Coolermaster Haf 912 Black Mid Tower ATX Case 4X5.25 1X3.5 6X3.5INT No PS Front USB Sound - COOLERMASTER - RC-912-KKN1 saves you a bit on the case

Look at bundles.. price match etc... should be able to squeeze out either a SSD or a ~ $300 GPU..

Thats actually the PSU at the top of my list right now, the guy I am putting this together for doesn't want to overclock so there really is not point in getting the k, might as well donate the money to the GPU.

I will definately think about the seagate drive, my buddy specifically asked for 500gb so I don't know if he will be interested in paying more for more storage... Is the 500gb barracdua faster than the caviar blue?

He wants the 300r for the dust filters and the looks so this is pretty much the only thing set in stone.

Also looking at a used 580 for the GPU as per your suggestion in my other thread.

[Dzzope]

All fair points, I would try poke him to a less expensive case though..
The Haf 912 is definitely not everyone's cup of tea but it is rather good for building, fans, filters etc (and awesomely cheap)..
Personally I couldn't justify $70 on a case when the budget is so tight.. Possible to squeeze even $100 or $50 more out of him...
and remember to price-match... you'd be surprised how much you can save.. (that actually might give you the wiggle room you need)

The HDD, not too sure, the reason the seagate (specifically the 7200.14) are so fast is because of the data density.. they have 1GB per platter..
The one I suggested is between a Blue 500GB and Black 1TB in price but faster than the black. And hdd speed is important for usability when you have no SSD. and at $25? more for double the space and speed... you get the point.


I would still poke him towards the 3570k too...
It will at least give him the option of overclocking at some stage (will need a custom cooler at that point) or be worth a fair bit more than a 3550 when he goes to sell..
If he runs parts till they are totally obsolete, then it will make the rig last him much longer (get easily 4.5GHZ out of them with little effort and minimal spend on custom cooler)


I think you've chosen pretty well for the budget.. It's just that little bit more than you have to play with to get a properly top end machine (less an SSD)
Though after you price-match you may find you have enough to get the 1 GB hdd, his choice of case and the 3570k. Really need to do that and see where you stand
(maybe try memory express.. they do price-beat rather than match)

I see no mouse / keyboard there.. you'll need to budget that (even if they are bog standard)