Need some advice on a new gaming computer!

[Krescent]

Hello MMO!

As the title states, I need a new gaming computer! I always see other people asking for advice and I see that the community is willing help, so I figure I'd give it a shot.

This is just me going off of the format:

Upgrade or New Computer:
New Computer.

Willing to Self Build or a Pre-Built:
Definitely self-build, but pre-built is up there.

How much you want/can to spend:
I'd probably say somewhere around the $500 to $700 USD range.
Perhaps somewhere in the middle? The $700~ish range tends to put me past the nagging girlfriend threshold, but I'm not afraid to go a bit extra.

What all you plan to use it for:
Mostly gaming.

What Operating system you want to use & Bit:
I'd love to give Windows 8 x64 a try.

What Resolution you hope to be in:
I'm not looking for a massive monitor, perhaps something in the medium+ sized range? So whatever resolution that converts too.
I believe my last laptop had a 1366 x 768 resolution if that helps. Something around that range or higher.

What Settings do you Want & how much FPS:
I'd really like to run games on high/ultra (Doesn't everyone?) and maybe 40-50 FPS? I wouldn't trust my judgement here, I ran WoW on low for the 4-5 years I played.

What Country are you from:
USA

What can you re-use:
I was a college student, so pretty much laptops for awhile. I don't think there's anything salvageable from there.
But even if there was, I'd rather not. A fresh start if you will.

Network will be wired or wireless:
Might be moving to a new apartment soon, so I'm not quite sure what the house layout will be.
I know wired is preferred, but please include an option for wireless if possible.

Any Additional Info Here:
Since I'm starting from scratch, I'll basically need everything cept for a keyboard and mouse.
Case, Motherboard, CPU, Graphics card, Ram, Hard drive, optical drive, and a power supply. (pretty sure that's everything)
If possible please include what you're recommendation on a decent monitor would be, but don't factor it into the overall price.
I'd rather not sacrifice specs for a monitor.
Also, I'm always paranoid that my computer will overheat. Is that just me?

Let me know if you guys need anything else.
Thanks.

[Deleted]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-DGS Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($58.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($203.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Enermax 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($50.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $690.86
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-28 19:11 EDT-0400)

Asus PB238Q 23.0" $200 (after MIR) IPS
Dell U2312HM 23.0" $230 IPS
Asus VE247H 23.6" $180 ($160 after MIR)

[Krescent]

Thank you sir.

[jholdaway]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-DGS Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($58.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($203.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Enermax 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($50.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $690.86
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-28 19:11 EDT-0400)

Asus PB238Q 23.0" $200 (after MIR) IPS
Dell U2312HM 23.0" $230 IPS
Asus VE247H 23.6" $180 ($160 after MIR)

looks good but I would use a different psu. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3938566&SID= I think would be a better bet

[Deleted]

looks good but I would use a different psu. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3938566&SID= I think would be a better bet

Seasonic OEM. Solid choice. Not sure who makes the Enermax, couldn't easily find an oem.

[Xs]

Asus PB238Q 23.0" $200 (after MIR) IPS
Dell U2312HM 23.0" $230 IPS
Asus VE247H 23.6" $180 ($160 after MIR)

Solid choices, stick with the better brands and keep an eye on their return policies for dead pixels, you can usually pick these kind of things up on sale though and get a better deal since you're not too worried, if you're in Walmart or other stores that sell them just swing by and keep an eye on them, Amazon also do some good sales now and again

Important things to look at: Brand, Size (inches), Resolution (1920x1080 all you'll really want) and of course price, if you wanna be cheap as well you can use a TV for it, but they tend to be awkward

[slimj091]

Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
[

who uses an optical drive anymore?

[chazus]

For such little cost, it's useful to have for testing, making isos, or whatever.

[jholdaway]

I use mine to burn cds and videos to dvd.

[slimj091]

i get that.. but an optical drive is not as much a necessity anymore than it was a few years ago i just ended up using my 5.25 drive cage to mount another fan. if there is a rare case that i need to use an optical drive for anything i just dust off, and hook up ye olde external drive. but.. to each their own.

[chazus]

External CD drives are 1) More expensive and 2) A lot more cumbersome than simply having it already in there

[Deleted]

who uses an optical drive anymore?

Guess what? If they don't need one they just don't buy it and they've now spent $17 less.

[slimj091]

External CD drives are 1) More expensive and 2) A lot more cumbersome than simply having it already in there

hence why i said "dust off" as in the external drive is nine years old. i already said i get it. my original post was meant as a joke, but you guy's gotta get all serious'd up over a dvd drive.