New PC Build Need Help

[Ven0xis]

Good afternoon folks, so iv decided to sell my alienware x51 desktop because its just not cutting it for me

So I now have a lets say 800$ budget to build a new desktop

I play WoW, SC2, Dota 2, CS:GO, Rift, SWTOR

Not hugely intensive games, I have all of the peripherals, mouse, keyboard, speakers, monitor

Just need the tower. Two things that is a MUST HAVE, a nice looking tower, not full ATX, and a 5.1 Surround Sound Card

Please advise.

[n0cturnal]

Esthetics can be very personal so it would be easier if you found a case you like and then people can work out a build around that.

[Ven0xis]

Lets say the NZXT Phantom 410 in red

[n0cturnal]

Lets say the NZXT Phantom 410 in red

That is an ATX case though, you said you didn't want that.

[Ven0xis]

Not full ATX

The 410 is the smaller one, the full ATX is the NZXT Phantom

[Toffie]

I did try to fit in the 410 in the budget, but you end up sacrificing performance you need which I wont suggest you do.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Pro3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Expansys US)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 1GB Video Card ($143.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($48.00 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $799.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-25 14:41 EDT-0400)

Bah, didn't notice you wanted a sound card :/

[Ven0xis]

@Toffie, how much would I need to add on top for the power you suggest?


I dont need an OS btw, I have a copy

[Toffie]

For the games you play the suggested build is more than enough to run maxed with a slight overclock on the CPU. The final build :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Pro3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Expansys US)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 1GB Video Card ($143.98 @ Newegg)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card ($27.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($48.00 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $789.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-25 14:47 EDT-0400)

[Ven0xis]

My only concern is the 650 TI, is it not worth dumping an extra 100 for the 660 boost?

[n0cturnal]

Not full ATX

The 410 is the smaller one, the full ATX is the NZXT Phantom

ATX is full ATX, then you have micro-ATX, XL-ATX and E-ATX, I think you are confusing the motherboard standards with case sizes.

[Deleted]

My only concern is the 650 TI, is it not worth dumping an extra 100 for the 660 boost?

You are than better of getting a 760.

[Deleted]

Or at least get the 2GB version of the 650ti Boost.

Also note if you don't have a Microcenter near you the system is slightly more expensive.

I suggest this instead, changed the HDD to a WD Black drive (better performance) since you're not using an SSD

EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB would indeed be nice but it's an extra $100

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.98 @ Outlet PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($76.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 2GB Video Card ($159.98 @ Newegg)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card ($27.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: BitFenix Shinobi Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($48.00 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $772.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-25 16:26 EDT-0400)

Or $862 ($25 MIR) with the above mentioned GTX 760

There is a white version of the case as well:

BitFenix Shinobi Window (White)

[yurano]

5.1 Surround Sound Card

Is a 5.1 sound card mandatory? On recent motherboards, onboard sound can handle 7.1 or 8.1.

[Ven0xis]

Im told a dedicated sound card takes off unnecessary strain off the CPU (and i want an optical output)

[Uggorthaholy]

Im told a dedicated sound card takes off unnecessary strain off the CPU (and i want an optical output)

Most Z77 mobos have an optical, and it doesn't use much of anything off of the CPU to run a 5.1 system off of the motherboard.

[Ven0xis]

So whats the point of dedicated cards then?

[Uggorthaholy]

So whats the point of dedicated cards then?

Built in amplifiers for high grade headsets, better level controls, other than that, I'm not sure, as I don't use one.

[chazus]

So whats the point of dedicated cards then?

Slightly better sound. Some people can hear the difference. Is it mandatory? definitely not. A sound card is usually the very last thing you upgrade in a system when all else has been paid for, unless you actually do audio work.

[lockblock]

Assuming you go with Notargets build swap motherboards to the ASRock Z77 Extreme3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($130.91 @ Newegg) which comes with Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 for free.
By doing the above the op no longer needs the additional sound card as the extreme3 comes with optical and saves a little bit on ram as well.