PC Build Guide – March 2013
Welcome to the March version of our PC build guides. As with before, we have implemented hard price limits ($500, $800, $1300, $1800) on ourselves and have had to make tough decisions with each build. Your personal budget will likely be flexible, but we hope this article will give you a baseline. You can of course spend more or spend less, but you run into a case of diminishing returns at either end. Please keep in mind that pricing information is immediate and may not necessarily reflect real prices by the time you have read this article.
The build guides are back after a brief hiatus for the month of February. While we saw prices decreasing pretty consistently each month toward the end of 2012, the first quarter of 2013 has seen prices on some components rebounding and putting heavy pressure on our price ceilings. This month, the two lower builds have taken a slight step back compared to recent months, but we still think they’re the best current options you’ll find. Check out our recommendations for this month below!
The Starter ($500 maximum)
Part list permalink: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/I0Bk
- CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 ($122.98 @ SuperBiiz)
- Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G41 ATX LGA1155 ($83.98 @ SuperBiiz)
- Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600 ($47.99 @ Amazon)
- Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5″ 7200RPM ($72.04 @ Outlet PC)
- Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB ($109.98 @ Newegg)
- Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.21 @ Amazon)
- Power Supply: Thermaltake TR2 500W ($27.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $499.17
The Sweet Spot ($800 maximum)
Part list permalink: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/HCzZ
- CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K ($226.98 @ SuperBiiz)
- CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus ($24.98 @ Outlet PC)
- Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45 ATX LGA1155 ($116.99 @ Amazon)
- Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1866 ($49.30 @ Newegg)
- Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5″ 7200RPM ($72.04 @ Outlet PC)
- Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB ($224.99 @ Newegg)
- Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
- Power Supply: Thermaltake TR2 600W ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $799.95
The Enthusiast ($1300 maximum)
Part list permalink: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/HCI8
- CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K ($314.99 @ Newegg)
- CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus ($24.98 @ Outlet PC)
- Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 ($134.99 @ Amazon)
- Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1866 ($49.30 @ Newegg)
- Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5″ 7200RPM ($72.04 @ Outlet PC)
- Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5″ SSD ($92.99 @ Adorama)
- Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB ($389.99 @ Newegg)
- Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower Case ($95.98 @ Newegg)
- Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1278.94
The Professional ($1800 maximum)
Part list permalink: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/I0Qp
- CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K ($314.99 @ Newegg)
- CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus ($24.98 @ Outlet PC)
- Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 ($134.99 @ Amazon)
- Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3-1866 ($99.99 @ Newegg)
- Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5″ 7200RPM($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
- Storage: Samsung 830 Series 256GB 2.5″ SSD ($159.99 @ Newegg)
- Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB – 2-Way SLI ($369.99 @ Newegg)
- Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB – 2-Way SLI ($369.99 @ Newegg)
- Case: Antec Eleven Hundred ATX Full Tower Case ($111.98 @ Newegg)
- Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1796.87
Have a suggestion? Leave it in the comments!
vol1tion
BrandonBrandon started his PC gaming days playing Doom II (IDDQD/IDKFA for life) and has been hooked on online gaming since the original Starsiege: Tribes. The way to his heart is through proper grammar, corn dogs, and cookie cake.
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