Advice would be appreciated.

[Carl]

Hello everyone, I regularly use various other forums and honestly hate it when people do this, but I need some help.

I want to build my own PC, however I have no idea on what kind of components would suffice. I've done a lot of research and just seem to be finding conflicting ideas, so if anyone could tell me what would roughly suit my needs it'd be much appreciated. I've looked through the stickies but I'm concerned as to whether some of their content is outdated.

I'm not looking to spend loads of money here, I already have a functional HDD, monitor, keyboard and mouse so all of those can be factored out initially. Basically, the computer should be suitable to use Photoshop, web browsing, word processing and some gaming. Ideally a PC which can last for a few years without needing upgraded would be good. Budget is reasonably flexible, but keeping it to the lower end of $450-650 would be best.

Thanks in advance guys. Again, apologies for being a leech.

[zburns]

Hi Carl and welcome to the forums,

I am going to give you the information you need to pick your own components. It is the same info I would review to pick parts for you. My point being that you will benefit, knowledge, experience, etc. wise if you do it rather than us. If you insist one of us will do it but you simply have to look at the data, read it, compare it, post it and we will critique it for you.

First, you need a Z77 chipset on your motherboard; it is Intel's latest chipset and it is for the latest intel cpu line -- Ivy Bridge. The chipset will be an integral part of any one of about 15 to 20 motherboard choices from AsRock, Asus, MSI, Gigabyte or Intel. Each manufacturer will have around 5 or 6 choices with the Z77 chipset included. Each mfg will probably have a 'micro ATX' version of a mobo with the chipset and this micro ATX version will probably be the cheapest -- but it will lack features. Some folks buy them but most do not. I am not going to include any micro ATX mobos, just standard regular size motherboards. (EDIT: There will probably be micro ATX mobos mixed in with each mfgs full size ATX mobos)
I am going to give you 'urls' (internet addresses) for everything.

First here is the url for the Intel Z77 chipset in a form that will show you the features (which you need to see or know about) included in the chipset: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/chipsets/performance-chipsets/z77-express-chipset.html

Here is a link to Newegg for a particular Ivy Bridge cpu, the i5-3570k for $ 229: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

Here is an unusual review that has a chart on its first page of all the AsRock motherboards with the Z77 chipset. The chart includes two micro ATX versions as well as four or five standard ATX versions of AsRock motherboards. The chart is on the first page of the Hardware Secrets review. You can compare all Z77 mobos for AsRock right from this chart including prices.

Here's the Hardware Secrets review url: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/1511

Here are the motherboard url's for the motherboard manufacturers:

AsRock: http://www.asrock.com/mb/index.asp Look at Z77 chipset versions only. Socket 1155 only.

Asus: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/ Once you get to this page, click on socket 1155.

MSI: http://www.msi.com/product/mb/#/?sk=Socket%201155%20%28Intel%20i3/i5/i7%29

Gigabyte: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/list.aspx?s=42&jid=2&p=2&v=24 (EDIT: Gigabyte left out initially)

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Here is a url for a page from Newegg. It list a lot (a whole lot!!) of video cards with prices: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600286742&IsNodeId=1&name=PCI%20Express%203.0%20x16&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-VideoCards-_-NA-_-NA
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Give it a try, best you can! Ask for help. All of the above is what I would look at for you!!

EDIT: 10:40 pm Reason: Corrected spelling of MSI & added comment that micro ATX mobos will probably show up in the mfgs motherboard listings.