new build - under $900

[dhaus]

Like I said in the laptop for wife ack thread, I'm looking to build a computer.  To be honest, the only game I play is Aces High, the rest is personal documents, email and websurfing.  Would like to be able to use hi res pack and get most of the eye candy AH has to offer. I have no interest in overclocking.  Don't need a keyboard, mouse or moniter.  Just ordered windows 8 from Worst Buy for $69, so the OS is taken care of (don't know if it is better than 7, but this was cheaper than any OS except the free ones).  The following is my current shopping list from newegg.  I am not partial to any particular part.  I went on best reviews for the price point in choosing these.  If any of this seems overkill for what I need and I could get by with cheaper, let me know  Similarly, if any part isn't worth the price, please let me know.

case:  Coolmaster HAF 912  $59.99
cpu:    Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge $229.99
motherboard:  ASUS P877-V LK LGA 1155  $149.99
video card:    EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1461 KR GTX 560 (Fermi)
           1GB 256 GDDR5 Express 2.0x16    $169.99
power supply:  Corsair TX650M    $109.99
RAM:  Corsair Vengeance 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR 1600 CMZ8GXM2A1600C9B  $40.99
HD:    Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM    $84.99
CD/DVD Burner:  ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD BURNER - OEM   $19.99
Total:  $865.92 before shipping and rebates or combo deals which may not be available when I order.

Additional questions are whether I need an aftermarket heatsink/cooler on the cpu if I don't intend on overclocking, and will I miss the USB 3 support which the selected case does not have.  I generally use computers for at least 5 years before looking at a new one, so I try to get ones that will "work" for that long.  This will be the first one I build, although I have replaced hard drives, psu, memory, and video cards before.

[Debrody]

Is that ram contains one 8GB stick or 2 4GB ones? Its inportant cause of the dual channel mode.
I would replace the 560 Ti with a HD-7850 - an about 15% better GPU (in par with the 570), the 1GB model costs the same, the 2GB versions are around 200$. Also, the Fermi is a 2009 architecture.
A 650W PSU might be a bit overkill. A very good brand (Corsair, Seasonic?) 500W should be perfectly enough to power the i5 and the 7850, or any mid-range GPU in the future, if you upgrade it.
Otherwise it looks very well-balanced.

[dhaus]

Thanks for the reply!  Yes, the RAM is a dual channel set up - 2 x 4 GB sticks.  I will definitely look at the HD 7850.  I'm currently using nvidea, but have used radeon before with good results.

[cattb]

If you have a microcenter by you, the motherboard and cpu deals are about as cheap as you can get. Even paying taxes.

[dhaus]

Just looked up microcenter.  Have one about an hour away.  Right now, it saves $60 off the cpu and another $20 off the motherboard!  That makes the trip worth while.  Thanks!!  I just looked up the HD 7850 on newegg.  The minimum power requirement is 500w, so I think I'll stick with the 650 power supply for now.

[cattb]

At microcenter some of the deals give a extra 50.00 dollars. The MB and CPU I bought was both cheaper then Newegg, then a extra 50 for the package deal. They will check the motherboard, but that cost 20.00. I did have mine checked because otherwise I would have had to return it in person if it was bought broken. I live almost 3 hours away from the nearest store.

Overal even though I paid taxes and the 20.00 I still saved about 40.00.

Look at thier online sales flyer on thier home page website, but you have to buy at store.

[dhaus]

Any thoughts on aftermatket cooler for the Cpu?  What about lack of support for USB 3 on the case?

[Bizman]

What about lack of support for USB 3 on the case?

• USB3 devices are still quite rare, except for external drives
• USB3 is backwards compatible. You should be able to plug USB2 to USB3 and vice versa
• If your motherboard supports it, get a USB3 bracket (unless your mobo is shipped with one)
• If your mobe doesn't support them and you need them, get an add-on USB3 card

[cattb]

The newer MB's will have usb 3 on the back panel. Some motherboards come with a usb 3.0 bracket for the back. My z77x ud5h came with a bracket.

The cooler I use is large. There are many coolers. This one is one sale about once a month at newegg for 19.99.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

I am not overclocking. I like the computer to run cool.

Hope this helps.

[dhaus]

Thanks, that one gets pretty good reviews accross the net.  I'm tempted to get it as I understand the i5 3570K tends to run hot.  As of now, I have no need for USB 3, and the motherboard has usb 3 ports in the back.  Was looking at case sizes and the HAF 912 fits where I need it to go. 

[dhaus]

Now I want to throw Microsoft and Worst Buy into the lowest level of hell.  There is complete confusion of whether the $69 version of windows 8 is an upgrade or a full install.  I was assured it was a full install, as were others.  Now folks are complaining it is an upgrade and won't install on a newly formatted drive.  Is there any reason to prefer the retail version of win 7 over the oem?

[Debrody]

ouch...  sorry to hear that.
I would choose the win7 over the 8 all the way.

Also, im using the Cooler Master Hyper212 too on a 95W AMD cpu, was only 30$ and im perfectly happy with it. The only note, its a big cooler, 180mms high, make sure it fits into your case of choice.

[Bizman]

Now I want to throw Microsoft and Worst Buy into the lowest level of hell.  There is complete confusion of whether the $69 version of windows 8 is an upgrade or a full install.  I was assured it was a full install, as were others.  Now folks are complaining it is an upgrade and won't install on a newly formatted drive.  Is there any reason to prefer the retail version of win 7 over the oem?

Not sure about Win8, but an OEM should be exactly the same as the retail, the only difference being that if support would be needed, the OEM manufacturer should take care of support instead of M$.

With both Vista and Win7 there was a way to do a clean full install even with the upgrade version. The trick was to install it first without the code (as a demo), then do an upgrade install over it with the code. The feature has been widely documented for years without M$ taking it away, so it most likely is fully legal.

[dhaus]

Looked into the demo and the word is that the "demo" or trial period is not available on win8.  You must enter the code to install anything.  Sounds like I may prefer 7 anyway, although the cost is gonna hurt.  Not sure what you mean on the oem question.  Read one review that claimed he couldn't reactivate his oem win 7 after replacing the hard drive because the oem license was limited to the original computer hardwaare.  Sounds farfetched but Microsoft is evil and I wouldn't put it past them.

[cattb]

You might want to read some reviews on Winblows 8 before buying if your headed that way.