Building 2 rigs need everything on both.

[Frostshok]

Hey guys, just came into a nice bit of money from flipping some property. I am currently playing only WoW on a Dell Inspiron 2320 all in one. It is beyond unbearable. I am looking to build a computer for myself which will be the heavier of the 2 and a second one for my wife as she just started playing WoW. That is all she will be using it for so no real need to go all out. Mine is higher budget because I would like to play many other games but my current AIO struggles even looking at wow.

So here is the budget. Keep in mind I have no peripherals with the exception of 1 Steelseries Cataclysm mouse. So I will need everything for both computers including monitors. ALSO I live about 30 minutes away from a microcenter in Dallas, TX.

Both will HAVE to play WoW at max settings, I raid and would like to have minimum 60fps. She doesnt yet but would like the computer to do the same when she starts.

1st computer: trying to stay no more than $1200 including EVERYTHING, but I could flex A LITTLE. I need OS, monitor, prefer an SSD, and keyboard.

2nd computer: will only play WoW and browse the web, youtube, simple etc.'s Budget for EVERYTHING around 600-700. Needs OS, monitor, mouse and keyboard.

Also, is microcenter really that awesome? Other posts seem to say they are cheaper but not sure.

Thanks in advance

[chazus]

Microcenter is great largely for the discount on the CPU+Board.. usually it shaves a good $40 or so off, and those are both items that rarely get discounted in any way.

That said, Max settings + 1920x1080 + Raiding + minimum 60fps = ain't gonna happen. There is a build for you, for certain, but there just isn't hardware that can do that. Close, and there will be dips.

600-700 budget on the other system, including the monitor and OS, is claustrophobic budget-wise. She's likely going to be running a budget system (i3, 750ti). I'll put a build together shortly. It might even be worthwhile to sacrifice some of the budget from your system for hers... will have to see.

[Frostshok]

Ok great! And honestly 60 fps in a raid might have been overstating. Im just so used to 6-12 fps in 10 man SoO that I dont know what "good" would be. Also, with her build, she is also used to the low fps and she lovingly refers to WoW as "The Purple Blur" because of the EXTREMELY short render distance settings we are currently on. Any improvement for her system, I'm sure she will be thrilled. But the thing that we both hate is that we watch youtube videos/twitch streams, and realize that at the absolute minimum settings, we are missing so much pretty stuff in the game. I had no idea that the lake in Hyjal has sparkles all around it.

I guess we are trying to be around $2,000 total for both with a little more into mine because I play all games, would like to shift from console to PC, and mostly she likes watching me play, but just started to enjoy WoW and we would like to play at the same time.

Again, thanks in advance!

[Biernot]

The current microcenter CPU+MB bundles with i3 suck. Who on earth thought it a good idea to bundle them only with Z87 boards...


Computer for the wife:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($37.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($41.99 @ Mwave)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Dell S2240M 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($119.99 @ Micro Center)
Keyboard: Logitech MK120 Wired Slim Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($14.18 @ B&H)
Speakers: Logitech Z130 5W 2ch Speakers ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $746.06


Your Computer:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($33.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($319.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Core 3000 USB 3.0 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Dell S2240M 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($119.99 @ Micro Center)
Keyboard: Logitech MK120 Wired Slim Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($14.18 @ B&H)
Speakers: Logitech Z130 5W 2ch Speakers ($14.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1199.04


Annotations:

1. Forgot the optical drives in both computers, so add another + $15-20 to each system, if you need one.

2. The CPU+MB combo from the second build only costs $280 at microcenter, so that is actually $75 less than in the list above.

3. Graphics card from the second build can be toned down to a GTX 760 for about $70 less.

4. Peripherals are identical on both builds. If you want something better for your pc, then feel free to change that according to your budget.
As you already have a decent mouse, i suggest to get a better keyboard e.g. Microsoft Sidewinder X4 for $40 (mechanical keyboards are a bit expensive for your budget).
You might also want either a headset or better speakers. A decent but not too expensive headset would be e.g. Plantronics GameCom 380 or 780 for around $50 / $60.
I would also recommend to get a bigger monitor (23-24") which would add probably ~$50 more (but depends on the model)

[chazus]

Biernot pretty much set up what I was going to recommend, as wlel as most of the notes.

This might be another monitor option, 23.8" IPS screen for only a marginal amount more.
Monitor: Asus VN248H 23.8" Monitor ($134.99 @ Newegg)

or if $30 breaks the bank (I doubt it would) then this non-IPS is also an option but I'd take the above listed.

Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)

Also, for her system, I might recommend the i3-4330.
CPU: Intel Core i3-4330 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($133.94 @ SuperBiiz)

It's only $10 more, for 100mhz. It won't make much of a noticable difference over the 4130 @ 3.4ghz... But I think the $10 is worth it. (The i3-4340 is not worth the 10-30 bucks more @ 3.6ghz)

[Frostshok]

About the optical drives, I dont watch DVD/Blu-ray on the computer and no one buys CDs anymore. Is pretty much everything so readily available digitally now that it wouldnt really matter?

@Biernot: the partpicker list you put together has a seperate cooler as a combo with the i5...not the i5+MB. Will I need seperate cooling or do both of those cases come adequetly equipped? (Not sure how to read the specs on the cases to see fans, or if the other parts run hot enough that I need extra)

The i5+MB combo at microcenter is REALLY nice price-wise though!! I will definitely check that one!

And does the i3 not work with a z87 or is it just overkill? Not sure what you meant by "The current microcenter CPU+MB bundles with i3 suck. Who on earth thought it a good idea to bundle them only with Z87 boards..."

[chazus]

Is pretty much everything so readily available digitally now that it wouldnt really matter?

You can install windows via flash drive these days. a 4gb if you have one is fine. Or you can pick one up for like $6

the partpicker list you put together has a seperate cooler as a combo with the i5...not the i5+MB.

Both the i3 and i5 (And really, any Intel CPU) come with a 'stock' cooler. The stock cooler is fine for the i3 (and thus is not included as a separate item in the list) however the i5-4670K will require a separate aftermarket cooler for overclocking (which you inevitably will be doing. It's stupid easy), and that would be the EVO 212

[Frostshok]

You can install windows via flash drive these days. a 4gb if you have one is fine. Or you can pick one up for like $6

can I put the OEM you guys suggested into my current AIO to DL it onto the flash?

Both the i3 and i5 (And really, any Intel CPU) come with a 'stock' cooler. The stock cooler is fine for the i3 (and thus is not included as a separate item in the list) however the i5-4670K will require a separate aftermarket cooler for overclocking (which you inevitably will be doing. It's stupid easy), and that would be the EVO 212

is that aftermarket cooler fan+liquid or just fan?

[chazus]

You should be able to download windows 8.1 from microsoft's website, it will make an ISO for you, you then use the Microsoft "DVD to USB tool" and it'll put it on the flash drive... then just use the key you get from the OEM ordered

The EVO 212 is an air (non-liquid) cooler

[Frostshok]

Thanks so much for the fast replies! You have both been a ton of help!