Help with Building a New Computer

[Dan525]

Hello all,

I've decided to get a new computer. From what I've seen/read, building is generally better bang for your buck overall. I really just use it to play WoW, so I would prefer it to be able to run at Ultra settings or close too it. I don't really do anything else outside the occasional word, excel or PowerPoint document. I do have a fairly new SSD (180 GB that I got in December), that will be the only piece that I will be carrying over. I don't really know too much about computers, would it be worth it to just buy a prebuilt machine and put my hard drive in? Any help would be appreciated!

Upgrade or New Computer: New Computer

Upgrade on what (you hope): All new parts except for a hard drive which I have already

Willing to Self Build or a Pre-Built: Either or, whichever will give me a better bang for my buck

How much you want to spend: Realistically I'd like to spend $600-700, open to going a little higher if you guys think it would be worth it overall (or less if I can get some good performance out of something)

How much you can spend: Probably about $800

What all you plan to use it for: World of Warcraft, that's about it.

What Operating system you want to use & Bit: I have a SSD that has Windows on it already, so I'm good here

What Resolution you hope to be in: Not entirely sure to be honest, not exactly sure what this entices.

What Settings do you Want & how much FPS: The higher the better! FPS I'd like to hopefully be able to run around 35 at least (I run at about 9-10 in 25 man raids with my settings set around 'Fair')

What Country are you from: USA

What can you re-use: Hard Drive (180 GB SSD)

Network will be wired or wireless: Wired

Any Additional Info Here: Nothing that I can think of. Let me know if there is anything else that would help. Thanks for any/all help!

[Deleted]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock B75 PRO3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($238.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.13 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: CoolMax 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $746.00
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-15 17:34 EDT-0400)

Should be a decent enough base. Sadly, you're really struggling to get a 3570k and Z77 chipset Mobo in there if there's no Microcenter near you. IF you have a microcenter near you, then you can get the 3570k with a Z77 mobo.

[chazus]

Another option, if you want to push the CPU. This is for all intents and purposes my current setup. 3570K, 212 EVO, 8gb ram, 660. Only thing different is brands. It runs wow more or less perfectly. In 25s it usually sticks around 55-60fps (on Tortos) with everything on Ultra except Shadows and SSAO. If you can spring for the 7870XT, go for it, however I don't think it will benefit WoW much. Other games it may, but it also exceeds budget, too.

PCPartPicker part list
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($187.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.13 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $761.00

[Vermicious]

I was able to get my i5 3570k processor instead of the 3470 because Microcenter had a $40 discount (the difference between the price of the 3470 and 3570k) if you bought the 3570k with a Mobo (one of which happened to be the one I wanted)... so MicroCenter is great for some things