1. #1

    First time builder, need help

    So I'm building a computer for the first time and could use any advice people have on the building process, the parts, all of it really.

    Budget: $1200

    Resolution: 1680 x 1050

    Games / Settings Desired: Wow and Counter Strike at Ultra settings. Possibly other Next-gen games too so just want the best i can get for my budget

    Any other intensive software or special things you do (Frequent video encoding, 3D modeling, etc): Nope

    Country: United States (California)

    Parts that can be reused: None for computer. I have my monitor already

    Do you need an OS? Yes

    Do you need peripherals (e.g. monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc)? Yes to mouse, keyboard, speakers

    Build (all prices are from newegg as of yesterday):

    Processor: Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz $220

    Motherboard: MSI B85-G41 PC Mate LGA 1150 Intel B85 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX High Performance CF Intel Motherboard $80

    RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-16GXM $150

    Graphics Card: GIGABYTE GV-N660OC-2GD GeForce GTX 660 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $190

    Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Upgraded USB 3
    $110

    Power Supply: Rosewill CAPSTONE-750 750W Continuous @ 50°C, Intel Haswell Ready, 80 PLUS GOLD, ATX12V v2.31 & EPS12V v2.92, SLI/CrossFire Ready, Active PFC Power Supply $100

    Hard Drive: Western Digital WD AV-GP WD10EURX 1TB IntelliPower 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive - OEM $80

    Optical Drive: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM $20

    Total: $950

    I'm thinking I should spend more on a nicer motherboard, but need advice on good ones out there. I still need to factor in a mouse (played with the razor naga few years back and really liked it so prolly gonna get one of those), a keyboard and speakers/headset as well as an operating system (windows). thanks for any help given in advance. It's greatly appreciated.

    - Kevin

  2. #2
    Deleted
    PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

    CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.98 @ OutletPC)
    CPU Cooler: Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler ($56.99 @ SuperBiiz)
    Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
    Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ Newegg)
    Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($98.99 @ Mac Mall)
    Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.94 @ OutletPC)
    Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($249.95 @ Amazon)
    Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
    Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($48.99 @ NCIX US)
    Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($15.00 @ Newegg)
    Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($98.98 @ OutletPC)
    Keyboard: Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($49.99 @ Newegg)
    Mouse: Corsair Vengeance M95 Wired Laser Mouse ($79.99 @ Amazon)
    Total: $1195.77
    (Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
    (Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-11 19:31 EST-0500)

    If you can push the budget a little bit I recommend a 250GB SSD (same model) so you have less micromanaging of files.

  3. #3
    Deleted
    PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

    CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.98 @ OutletPC)
    CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
    Motherboard: Asus Z87-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.99 @ SuperBiiz)
    Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ Newegg)
    Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
    Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Amazon)
    Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Microcenter)
    Power Supply: Fractal Design Integra R2 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
    Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($15.00 @ Newegg)
    Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($98.98 @ OutletPC)
    Keyboard: Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($49.99 @ Newegg)
    Mouse: Logitech G500 Wired Laser Mouse ($61.99 @ B&H)
    Total: $1207.87
    (Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
    (Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-11 19:28 EST-0500)

    note that it doesnt have a headset/speakers included.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by Notarget View Post

    If you can push the budget a little bit I recommend a 250GB SSD (same model) so you have less micromanaging of files.
    nah, he should go for a new monitor before purchasing that

  4. #4
    Deleted
    Quote Originally Posted by flens View Post
    nah, he should go for a new monitor before purchasing that
    Easier changing monitor later than starting out with 120GB SSD and then adding more later on imo.

  5. #5
    Deleted
    Quote Originally Posted by Notarget View Post
    Easier changing monitor later than starting out with 120GB SSD and then adding more later on imo.
    well i get your point but i see a ssd as a luxury part and a 1080p monitor as gaming improvement, so that would be more important imo. i didnt even go for a ssd in my suggestion, but went with better case,gpu and mobo. ssd can be added later on then if he has money to spare.

  6. #6
    Deleted
    Quote Originally Posted by flens View Post
    well i get your point but i see a ssd as a luxury part and a 1080p monitor as gaming improvement, so that would be more important imo. i didnt even go for a ssd in my suggestion, but went with better case,gpu and mobo. ssd can be added later on then if he has money to spare.
    SSD and monitor.

    The 760+SSD will will let him play at the settings he is asking for (even with a 1080p monitor) and he will have a smoother experience overall with the SSD. If anything then forget the 250GB SSD and swap the 760 with an R9 280X/7970GHz.

    Not sure the motherboard is really adding anything extra/better that's going to change anything noticeable.

  7. #7
    Deleted
    Quote Originally Posted by Notarget View Post
    SSD and monitor.
    ur saying that wrong. ssd isnt necessary at all. monitor is the important part. ssd is a nice thing to have dont get me wrong, but it will not give gaming performance except of load times. i guess we are just prioritizing differently but thats ok. and going for the 280x in your build will get him 50$ over budget, but if thats alright with op then sure, he can go for it.

  8. #8
    Deleted
    Quote Originally Posted by flens View Post
    ur saying that wrong. ssd isnt necessary at all. monitor is the important part. ssd is a nice thing to have dont get me wrong, but it will not give gaming performance except of load times. i guess we are just prioritizing differently but thats ok. and going for the 280x in your build will get him 50$ over budget, but if thats alright with op then sure, he can go for it.
    Clearly you are (just messing with you) but no in all seriousness a new monitor isn't necessary either.

    SSD is not just for load times, I thought most people interested in hardware knew that by now. Overall system feel smoother, is more responsive, certain games benefit when loading new textures/area, loading back in after a crash or disconnect, reloading after UI changes and I'm sure other benefits that I can't think of right now.

    New monitor will definitely increase the gaming experience but also the hardware requirements.

    Lets see if he can't get a little bit of everything.

    - - - Updated - - -

    PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

    CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.98 @ OutletPC)
    CPU Cooler: Enermax ETS-T40-TB 86.7 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Amazon)
    Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
    Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ Newegg)
    Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($98.99 @ Mac Mall)
    Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.94 @ OutletPC)
    Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Amazon)
    Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
    Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($48.99 @ NCIX US)
    Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($15.00 @ Newegg)
    Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($98.98 @ OutletPC)
    Keyboard: Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($49.99 @ Newegg)
    Mouse: Razer Naga Molten Wired Laser Mouse ($58.99 @ Newegg)
    Total: $1202.81
    (Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
    (Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-11 23:25 EST-0500)

    Logitech Z313 25W
    Last edited by mmocca5d152c38; 2013-11-12 at 04:41 AM.

  9. #9
    Thanks so much for the help and responses guys. I'm planning on going with that last build, so an extra thank you very much to NoTarget. Ima include those speakers you linked too, and go for a $260 video card. I plan on upgrading my monitor on Black Friday, do you guys think $200 will be enough to find a 1080p monitor on sale? Also will the $260 gpu be enough to run the games I mentioned on ultra on a 1080p monitor?

  10. #10
    Deleted
    the games u mentioned easily, newer games like bf4 you will need to turn settings down a bit.

  11. #11
    Deleted
    Yeah $200 should be fine for a monitor. I recommend an IPS, you'll get an overall better picture/color quality and better viewing angles. ~23" is probably your best bet as they're cheaper than 24".

    Example:

    Asus PB238Q this one is excellent at this price point.

    This next one, if you want something cheap, isn't all that bad really and only $140 after rebate:

    Asus VS239H-P

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