Looking to Build My First PC - Not a huge budget

[Zayrinoke]

Hi there,

I'm looking to build my first PC. My budget is realistically close to 800 dollars. Going to be buying the parts over a period of about 3 weeks as the money comes in. I really don't have anything salvageable off of my current build, its ancient junk. My goals are to be able to play WoW on Ultra, stream on twitch reliably, and do some non-intensive video editing (nothing fancy, just for youtube). Also planning to run a dual-monitor setup. I would like something that will be easy to upgrade and hopefully last me a few years without falling behind. If these goals aren't possible with this budget please let me know what kind of price range I would be looking at.

Thank you very much for your help and if you need any more information let me know!

[Deleted]

I would suggest following build as a minimum:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA SD1283 56.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($72.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 2GB Video Card ($159.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.03 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($48.00 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $696.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-15 21:51 EDT-0400)

If possible look to add an SSD (then you can change the storage drive to a WD Caviar Blue)

Samsung 840 Series 120GB $95
Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB ~$60

Next step up performance wise would be a better GPU like a 7870 XT:

PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB $210

The build with all the changes would look like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA SD1283 56.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($72.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.03 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($48.00 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $826.95
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-15 21:59 EDT-0400)

[Zayrinoke]

Thanks for the suggestions! If I were to increase the budget to closer to 1000 dollars, where would you recommend I spend the extra ~200 dollars?

[Toffie]

Get the GTX 770 then.

[Zayrinoke]

Get the GTX 770 then.

Alright thanks!

Edit: If I wanted to go a different direction with the case what parameters do I need to keep in mind? Like what size for this setup etc.

[n0cturnal]

Alright thanks!

Edit: If I wanted to go a different direction with the case what parameters do I need to keep in mind? Like what size for this setup etc.

Any ATX case that can take a 10.5" GPU(7870XT) should do.

[yurano]

Edit: If I wanted to go a different direction with the case what parameters do I need to keep in mind? Like what size for this setup etc.

The features to look for in a case besides compatibility (motherboard and GPU sizes) is dust filters and number/size of included fans. For windowed cases, I would also look for a painted interior and grommets. Fan controllers are also nice.

[Deleted]

Here are a few I'd recommend depending on how much you're willing to pay, included both white and black themed ones, windowed etc.:

Fractal Design Arc Midi R2
Corsair 400R
Corsair Carbide Series 300R Windowed
Corsair C70 Gunmetal Black
Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window
Corsair 500R White
Corsair Vengeance C70 (White)
Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl)

There are obviously more and different options... Start looking and reading reviews. Look for thing yurano mentioned, maybe USB 3.0 front ports as well.

[yurano]

Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 is on sale @ NCIX for $60

As I understand it, NCIX offers free shipping for purchase totals over $100.

Its a great case at an excellent price, I'd jump on it before the deal gets taken down. Its supposed to have already ended with Father's Day.

There's also another promotion from NCIX where the price is $65 which can be accessed from PCPartPicker's link or via direct link. That promotion ends 6/19.

[Deleted]

There's not much point in buying stuff over a period of 3 weeks, the only part of the setup you could buy later is the storage drive and the extra monitor. Everything else is pretty much required before all the other parts will work.

[Zayrinoke]

There's not much point in buying stuff over a period of 3 weeks, the only part of the setup you could buy later is the storage drive and the extra monitor. Everything else is pretty much required before all the other parts will work.

I have a working pc. I wouldn't assemble this until I have all of the parts. I'd be buying them over s few weeks to spread out the expense

[n0cturnal]

I have a working pc. I wouldn't assemble this until I have all of the parts. I'd be buying them over s few weeks to spread out the expense

It is better to save the money and buy it all at once so you don't end up with having a DOA part laying around for weeks without being able to try it.

[Zayrinoke]

It is better to save the money and buy it all at once so you don't end up with having a DOA part laying around for weeks without being able to try it.

a good point actually. I'll keep that in mind.

[yurano]

I have a working pc. I wouldn't assemble this until I have all of the parts. I'd be buying them over s few weeks to spread out the expense

If you have a working PC, you can test the components as they come in.

The case, HDD, SSD, DVD drive, and GPU are all easy to test. The PSU and RAM (assuming compatibility) is a little more difficult to test, but still doable. A new CPU can only be tested with a compatible motherboard and must be purchased together.

The Arc Midi R2 case deal for $60 ends today. I recommend going for it now if you're interested.

[Deleted]

any coolermaster case or antec. yes they maybe slighty more expensive but imho they are worth it for the air circulation

[n0cturnal]

any coolermaster case or antec. yes they maybe slighty more expensive but imho they are worth it for the air circulation

Personally I would take a $60 Fractal Design Arc R2 over any Antec or Cooler Master case, yes even $350 Cooler Master Cosmos II.

[Deleted]

Personally I would take a $60 Fractal Design Arc R2 over any Antec or Cooler Master case, yes even $350 Cooler Master Cosmos II.

each to their own. some like the fractal, some like thermaltake, some swear by CM or antec. tho if i ever see anyone with that brutal ugly lan boy case i will personally slap them until they take it back. it is the most hideous and brutal looking case ive ever seen