New Computer for $700-800

[Team Frosty]

My laptop broke after 5 years of heavy use (all this black tar stuff on the insides, screws falling out, etc,) and I need a new computer.I have a budget of $700 to $800 if necessary, and would like to play WoW on good quality with a decent frame rate with ability to play games like Starcraft, Mass Effect 3 (when it comes out,) and the ability to play some other games well. I am willing to build a desktop if a desktop is found with a good price and specs, as I would need a 21" monitor to go with it, as it'd be my first desktop. I have a keyboard and mouse, so no need to factor that into the budget. Prebuilt desktop is fine as well, since this would also be my first time building a desktop.

Also on the table is a new laptop with a preferred 17 inch screen size that could do the same things as the desktop I mentioned above.

Thanks in advance

[Uggorthaholy]

http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/879505-quot-Sweet-Spot-quot-Build

From Fuzzy's awesome post, since you need a monitor

$500 Build
Case: Thermaltake V3 Black $39.99
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts EA-380D 380W $44.99
Motherboard: AsRock H61M-VS $59.99
Processor: Intel Core i3 2100 $124.99
CPU Cooler: Stock - Free
RAM: G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) $34.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB $44.99
Optical Disc Drive: Sony Optiarc SATA DVD/CD Burner $19.99
Graphics Card: Galaxy GTS 450 $124.99
Monitor: 21" Acer - I love mine
Total: 655.00 USD

BAM!

Actually - let me know if you could manage to squeeze up to $850.00. Including monitor you could get a p-67 board, i52500k, cooler, and slightly larger PSU and really get into the nice stuff.

[naadra]

Case: Thermaltake V3 Black $39.99
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts EA-380D 380W $44.99
Motherboard: AsRock H61M-VS $59.99
Processor: Intel Core i3 2100 $124.99
CPU Cooler: Stock - Free
RAM: G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) $34.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB $44.99
Optical Disc Drive: Sony Optiarc SATA DVD/CD Burner $19.99
GTX 460 $126 after MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130649

Monitor $160 $140 after MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236051

$662 Total and will run wow on ultra


This is same link I just changed the video card and put the monitor there for you, with the extra money left in the budget you could get a better video card or even go from the I3 to a I5 if you like.

[Team Frosty]

Wow. That's really cheap.

I might be able to go up to 850 but if I could run WoW on that on Ultra, I think that price is good.

Thanks for the help

[Uggorthaholy]

Case: Thermaltake V3 Black $39.99
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts EA-380D 380W $44.99
Motherboard: AsRock H61M-VS $59.99
Processor: Intel Core i3 2100 $124.99
CPU Cooler: Stock - Free
RAM: G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) $34.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB $44.99
Optical Disc Drive: Sony Optiarc SATA DVD/CD Burner $19.99
GTX 460 $126 after MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130649

Monitor $160 $140 after MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236051

$662 Total and will run wow on ultra


This is same link I just changed the video card and put the monitor there for you, with the extra money left in the budget you could get a better video card or even go from the I3 to a I5 if you like.

I'm getting a recommended wattage of 420 watts on this. Likely due to the 460 being a power hungry bizzzzzz.

[Saithes]

I'm getting a recommended wattage of 420 watts on this. Likely due to the 460 being a power hungry bizzzzzz.

Actually the GTX 460 isn't too power hungry Not since its based on a GF104 instead of GF100.

[Uggorthaholy]

Actually the GTX 460 isn't too power hungry Not since its based on a GF104 instead of GF100.

what's the PSU recommender you guys normally use? I went with the newegg one which may have over-recommended.

[naadra]

ya I came up with 332 watts total under 90 percent load for entire system, so I did not change PSU.

[Saithes]

what's the PSU recommender you guys normally use? I went with the newegg one which may have over-recommended.

380-400 will typically work with a GTX 460 given it has solid components, but it has no headroom obviously.

[Team Frosty]

How much more would it cost if I wanted to put a i5 2500 in it? I don't think I'll want to be overclocking, but would it work with the PSU in the 662 build by naadra?

Or would it even make that big a difference?

[Uggorthaholy]

I'd be tempted to switch the psu to

This one!

Only slightly more expensive and a touch more give to it when talking about the power vs output.

---------- Post added 2011-07-22 at 10:26 PM ----------

For an i5 2500k you'd want a P67 motherboard as well, and plan to add an aftermarket cooler (if you planned on overclocking)

For just the i5 1500 (not clockable) you can keep the mobo and add about $80.00 to the price.

I'm getting a ~25w bump for the 2500 non-k model, so would def suggest a higher psu for that as well

[Team Frosty]

Alright, so I think I'm going to get an i5 2500

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115073

and the PSU you listed above, and be ready to go if it'd work ok.

Thanks for all the help everyone

[Saithes]

Could get a 4.0-4.1GHz easy on the i5 2500 with a stock heatsink

[naadra]

Ya if you bump to and i5 non k with same board it would be like Ugg said. Same on the power thing when I changed it to a I5 in my config I got a 25 bump as well. For psu I would probably go with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371035 , its antec earthwatts line but made by Seasonic.

[Team Frosty]

Alright, so I just remembered something last minute here, I need a network card.

Does anyone have any recommendations that are on the cheap side but still decent?

[Saithes]

Alright, so I just remembered something last minute here, I need a network card.

Does anyone have any recommendations that are on the cheap side but still decent?

As in for Wifi?

[naadra]

You need a another one on top of the one that is built into the motherboard?

[Team Frosty]

for WiFi yes.

[naadra]

I had a really good experience with the Belkin USB, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833314068 Not 100 percent sure if this is the exact one, but worked very well and liked the usb part cause I only need wireless from time to time so just unplug and slip in drawer.

EDIT like I said not 100 percent sure if same model but I remember spending about 50 to 60 dollars

[Uggorthaholy]

I would go with a PCI one, I've heard they get better results. However, I haven't the slightest about wireless networking preferences with desktops, sorry!