First Build

[Commissar Ibram Gaunt]

Hi All
After been a long time lurker(6+ years) I have decided to finally post as I need a new computer and would like to try and make my own, I am handy with tools but have never put a computer together before.

• Budget Ideally $1000-$1200 but can stretch to $1400
• Resolution1920x1080 is my current screen size but looking to upgrade it to something better in a few months
• Games / Settings Desiredwow/diablo/new games i will buy, would like to run them smoothly at as highest setting possible(I don't know much with whats possible)
• Any other intensive software or special things you do (Frequent video encoding, 3D modeling, etc)Autodesk Maya for fun and adobe creative suite for work
• Country Australia, Sydney
• Parts that can be reused none
• Do you need an OS? yes, windows 8 or 7 is fine
• Do you need peripherals (e.g. monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc)? no

I was lloking at the same computers in Is-this-worth-it-or-a-rip-off (can't post link) thread but looks like its a ripoff. Any help would be appreciated.

[Cyrops]

Mm I think the sticky should have an option if people want to OC or not.
If you don't want to OC, this is the most recent build I suggested today:
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ TigerDirect)
Motherboard: ASRock B85M-GL Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.97 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card ($219.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master RC-361-KKN1 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.08 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Zalman 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($147.53 @ TigerDirect)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $992.48
If you want to stretch it more, I think we could fit an i7 for your maya and work.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($285.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus H87-PRO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.97 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card ($219.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master RC-361-KKN1 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.08 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Zalman 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($147.53 @ TigerDirect)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1111.49
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-03 17:02 EST-0500)
If you want more performance you can even toss a Samsung 840 EVO 250GB for around 180$

Now this is if you want to OC, plus more RAM for your Maya and Adobe CS
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($299.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-C14 CPU Cooler ($79.31 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.97 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card ($219.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master RC-361-KKN1 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.08 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Zalman 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($147.53 @ TigerDirect)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1224.81
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-03 17:06 EST-0500)
Toss in the SSD and you max out your budget, but it's worth it

Son of a reading disorder, you in AU
Is your budget in USD or AU $?

Last build for AU shops:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($388.00 @ CPL Online)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-C14 CPU Cooler ($89.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($99.00 @ PLE Computers)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card ($275.00 @ CPL Online)
Case: Cooler Master RC-361-KKN1 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Power Supply: Zalman 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($125.00 @ Scorptec)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($22.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($115.00 @ CPL Online)
Total: $1284.00
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-04 09:09 EST+1100)

[Commissar Ibram Gaunt]

Son of a reading disorder, you in AU
Is your budget in USD or AU $?

Australian Dollars,
Also last time i tried to order electronics from amazon they wouldn't ship to Australia, Thanks for the reply.


Thanks for updating with the AU price build, and this includes everything i will need? All the fans, thermal paste(i heard this is the hardest part) etc?

[Cyrops]

Thanks for updating with the AU price build, and this includes everything i will need? All the fans, thermal paste(i heard this is the hardest part) etc?

Thermal solution comes with aftermarket cooler (Noctua in this), intel cpu's come with stock coolers, that already have thermal solution applied to the radiator.
The case has no fans, as I took the cheapest case.
THe mobo comes with cables for sata (HDD).
The PSU comes with power connectors.
That's all you will need.
You can buy some extra fans to install in your case or choose a better case with fans in it already.

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/cool...ase-rc431pkwn2 has front fan to suck air in, more than enough, in my opinion, you can buy separately extra fans. But the case is 20$ more, and additional case fan can go for as low as 5$ (50$ case + 2x5$ comes at 60$, when the case with 1 fan is 62$).
If you don't care about how case looks (damn that cheap case is ugly, lol) if you do just pick a case you like and then add fans if necesary.
With Noctua NH-c14 it would be recommend to have 2 fans in case: in front sucking air in and in back blowing air out, as this particular Noctua blows air up (to the side of the case).

Alright so I did some looking around and Cooler Master RC-361-KKN1 (Black) has PSU installing in front, which is the first time I see such case (too used to standart).

You should just really pick a case you like by the looks, they are all similar as all come with optional fan instalation spots. Just for some you pay for stuff like side windows, LED's, noise canceling/dampening foam and so on.

[chazus]

Last build for AU shops:
PCPartPicker part list
Total: $1284.00

This is actually gonna come out to about just short of $1500 AUD, because for some reason the RAM isn't showing as priced (not sure why)

That said, I also got a modified build here... I don't think the 16gb ram is necessary, or the i7, unless you're doing work stuff that requires it (creative studio doesn't, I don't think. Is it photo work, or videos/rendering?)

This comes out to just short of 1200 AUD
http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/2v7Jh

[Cyrops]

This is actually gonna come out to about just short of $1500 AUD, because for some reason the RAM isn't showing as priced (not sure why)

That said, I also got a modified build here... I don't think the 16gb ram is necessary, or the i7, unless you're doing work stuff that requires it (creative studio doesn't, I don't think. Is it photo work, or videos/rendering?)

This comes out to just short of 1200 AUD
http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/2v7Jh

I'm not sure why the ram didn't get listed, only noticed it today Oo
Anyway, AdobeCS seems to include a lot of Adobe products (photoshop, etc.)
And you need i7 for Maya (3D modeling/rendering etc.) also the extra RAM is helpfull.
But yes the derp on my part with RAM price, you can't afford i7 with that budget :/

You need to decide if you want it more for work (maya etc) or for gaming and work on side.
If you want it more for work then i7 would be my recommendation over i5, and you can add RAM later on (to save money on initial build).

This is if you want it more for gaming and work on the side, modified @chazus build a little:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($268.00 @ CPL Online)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-C14 CPU Cooler ($89.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: GeIL EVO Leggara Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($179.00 @ Scorptec)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($99.00 @ PLE Computers)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card ($275.00 @ CPL Online)
Case: Cooler Master K380 ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.00 @ CPL Online)
Power Supply: Zalman 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($125.00 @ Scorptec)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($22.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($115.00 @ CPL Online)
Total: $1348.00
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-04 20:50 EST+1100)
This is with 16gigs of RAM, if you want to save some money shave ~80$ and go for 8gigs instead.
Also I swapped the case as that cheapest one had weird PSU instalation slot, which I can not recommend.
You would need to buy 2 fans to improve the air flow, not a necessity at first, you can add them later on if you feel like the system is running hotter than you want. though in Australia I think it is rather hot on average day so you might want to invest in cooling.
2 of these should do it http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/bitf...fspro12025kkrp