Yet another Timewalking loot post ( As directed by GM)
Opened timewalking Cache before hotfix
Embrace Two New Races in Cataclysm Classic
MMO-Champion
So I'm not computer illiterate, but I've never really educated myself in hardware or in things like tuning BIOS/overclocking and all that. My budget will be around 1000. Basically my 2 priorities are the ability to be able to play a game like GTA V on PC with no lag, in addition to my hardware lasting for a few years so I am able to play any newer games on good settings. And I also am going to want to be able to plug up a MIDI keyboard and do some music recording/editing on it.
Really all I'm looking for is someone to point me in the right direction as I'm not sure where to start. Any guides or websites or anything like that would be good.
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2015-01-17, 11:03 AM #1I am Murloc!
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Building a PC - Point me in the right direction
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2015-01-17, 11:22 AM #2Herald of the Titans
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For your budget I would prioritize a good graphics card over a fast processor. If you spend money on an expensive Intel CPU, you won't have much left for other hardware. You could get a Geforce GTX780 or a R9 290X and then a AMD or a cheap Intel CPU. Also, don't spend too much money on faster RAM, it makes very little/no difference in games.
Check Tomshardware for reviews http://www.tomshardware.com/
You can check Futuremark.com for general performance/price http://www.futuremark.com/hardware
You can build a virtual computer before buying http://pcpartpicker.com/
Here's an example of a build that's $1000: http://pcpartpicker.com/guide/tYgXsY/great-gaming-buildLast edited by CptEgo; 2015-01-17 at 11:30 AM.
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2015-01-18, 06:05 AM #3Dreadlord
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As CptEgo said, focus on a good GPU rather than the best CPU. I would recommend an i5 2nd gen or 3rd gen and an R9 280 or R9 290 for your GPU. 8GB of DDR3 RAM should be plenty. I'd definitely throw in an after market heatsink too, the Cooler Master Hyper line have some great affordable ones; specifically the 212 Evo and, the one I use: the Hyper D92. As for a motherboard, a micro ATX should be enough; they're cheaper than ATX and have everything you need.
Also, I would HIGHLY recommend the NZXT Phantom 240 for your case; the bang-for-your-buck on that thing is amazing.
Before purchasing anything, learn about each individual part of the PC and how it fits in with the rest. If you understand each part it'll be much easier figuring out what specific parts to get.
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2015-01-18, 10:50 AM #4Deleted
would help if you could fill this in.
But as a starting pointInclude the following information when posting a request.
Budget
Resolution
Games / Settings Desired
Any other intensive software or special things you do (Frequent video encoding, 3D modeling, etc)
Country
Parts that can be reused
Do you need an OS?
Do you need peripherals (e.g. monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc)?
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($116.75 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill NS Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.97 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($341.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1000.53
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-18 05:57 EST-0500
For your keyboard you will need a special audio card. Which will probably cost around 100-150 dollars. I will try to find one, a friend had a similar request a while ago for his guitar.
The build also assumes you do not need an OS or any peripherals.
Edit:
You could get this for your keyboard for example. There are others as well, but I have no idea how they perform etc.Last edited by mmoc24391763c2; 2015-01-18 at 11:15 AM.
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2015-01-18, 02:28 PM #5I am Murloc!
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How does this look to you? Keep in mind that since I don't entirely know what I'm looking at, I chose a lot based on rating.
Originally Posted by Zeara
[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Db7MD3) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Db7MD3/by_merchant/)
Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU: [Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54690k) | $219.88 @ OutletPC
CPU Cooler: | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-...r-rr212e20pkr2) | $28.75 @ OutletPC
Motherboard: | [Asus Sabertooth Z87 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-mo...-sabertoothz87) | $167.99 @ SuperBiiz
Memory: | [G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-...14900cl8d8gbxm) | $74.98 @ OutletPC
Storage: | [Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung...ive-mz7pd128bw) | $108.98 @ OutletPC
Storage: | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western...drive-wd10ezex) | $53.97 @ OutletPC
Video Card: | [MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-vid...gtx970gaming4g) | $343.99 @ B&H
Power Supply: | [EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-po...ly-220g20850xr) | $89.99 @ Newegg
Optical Drive: | [Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-op...rw24b1stblkbas) | $18.75 @ OutletPC
Operating System: | [Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-gfc02050) | $88.98 @ OutletPC
Case Fan: | [Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nff12pwm) | $20.08 @ Amazon
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $1216.34
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-18 09:28 EST-0500 |Last edited by Dormie; 2015-01-18 at 02:32 PM.
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2015-01-18, 02:49 PM #6Field Marshal
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Not bad, but personally I'd go with a z97 MoBo. Also, the PSU is way overkill unless youre planning to SLI GPU's. Originally Posted by Brandon138
I'd also go with Win 8.1 because overall I think it's just a better OS and it's possible you'd get a free upgrade to 10 when it releases.
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2015-01-18, 02:54 PM #7I am Murloc!
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Is there anything I'm overlooking other than stuff like case/monitor? Like anything for cooling or anything like that. And yea I just chose that power supply because I wasn't 100% sure what I'd need and I knew more was better, plus there isn't a huge price difference between that one and a lower one from what I'm seeing.
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2015-01-18, 03:43 PM #8Deleted1. You forgot to add a case Originally Posted by Brandon138
2. No point in getting a z87 board, stick with Z97
3. 840 pro ssd is not needed. Stick with the MX100. Also 128gb will be full in no time, you will be better of with a 256GB one
4. Overkill on the PSU. 550 is enough for 1 gpu, 650 is more then enough to SLI 970 if you would want to in the future.
5. Get windows 8.1, no point in taking 7.
You can just add the cooler and windows to my build and you will be fine.
Also when linking something from pcpartpicker, put it on BBcode. That looks better
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2015-01-18, 11:33 PM #9Deleted
Zeara's proposal is spot on for the budget, go for it
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2015-01-19, 12:01 AM #10I am Murloc!
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My budget is something like 1000-~1400. So if there's some significant upgrades I could get for that extra bit of money I'd like to go for it. Basically I want to be able to play games, GTA V and such, on max settings and be able to handle some programs smoothly. Sometimes when using some recording softwares things can get pretty taxing on the PC when it all gets going.
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2015-01-19, 07:39 AM #11Deleted
I would only change little things and i would just get an i7 cause budget permits so i didn't have to get into overclocks. Maybe a little better case, an aftermarket cpu cooler, a little better things etc something like the following:
(included o/s, you didn't mention if you need one)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($317.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Shadow Rock 2 87.0 CFM Rifle Bearing CPU Cooler ($49.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Directron)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($343.99 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Arc Mini R2 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($92.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($67.00 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1325.68
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-19 02:38 EST-0500
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2015-01-20, 11:16 AM #12I am Murloc!
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How come you suggest that motherboard over the Asus?
Also, what all do I need cooling wise? I assume I need a CPU cooler and...? On my list I just picked out a CPU cooler and a 'case fan'. Is that all I need?
Also, I know the power supply is overkill, but it won't hurt anything right? It's not really overly expensive relative to my other options.Last edited by Dormie; 2015-01-20 at 05:48 PM.
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2015-01-20, 11:23 AM #13Epic!
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2015-01-20, 05:52 PM #14DeletedAs Zeara said you had a Z87 mobo not a Z97. The mobo i linked has everything and is "cheap", also the build is a micro one if you didn't notice. An aftermarket cpu cooler is all you need to start with. When you get a decent case you don't need aftermarket fans unles you go for weird setups or later on when those case fans start making noice. The case i linked has 2-3 fans that are silent, the case also has a fan controller lettign you set the voltage/speed. Originally Posted by Brandon138
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2015-01-20, 06:26 PM #15I am Murloc!
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See like I don't even know what the difference between z87/z97 is. How about http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyt...d-gaz97xud3hbk or http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyt...-gaz97xgaming7 ?
The second has a combo option for the CPU I'm planning on getting. Though if I get that combo IDK if I'd still get the rebate on the CPU. If not then I'm better off buying separately.
Ugh idk which to pick. Just tell, what's the best Motherboard for under ~$190?
Also, idk what you mean by 'micro'.Last edited by Dormie; 2015-01-20 at 06:38 PM.
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2015-01-20, 06:50 PM #16Epic!
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Also, you don't need a separate CPU cooler if you're not going to overclock. The standard one that comes along with your CPU is really good (not as in ''good enough'', no, it's ''really good''). So don't bother buying a separate CPU cooler unless you're living in an oven or unless you're planning to use your PC as an oven. Separate CPU coolers are overrated and many people use them as a ''status'' thing to make your PC get better inside-looks 90% of the time. (Just like like using chrome engine-parts for your car; they don't make your car perform any better at all, it's only there to make it look better.) Just saying because you mentioned a budget. Don't waste your budget on aftermarket coolers unless you're building an oven.
I know there are plenty of folks on here who will disagree, but go and Google ''do I need an aftermarket cooler'' and see whether you truly need one or not, before you're wasting cash.Last edited by Tisane; 2015-01-20 at 06:53 PM.
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2015-01-20, 07:04 PM #17I am Murloc!
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I'll keep that in mind. I just want to be sure I don't have cooling problems. I don't want heat to hinder performance at all. Maybe I'll just get a cheaper one.
Here's my updated list so far: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sBW6Lk
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($317.75 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($208.09 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.97 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($343.99 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Titanium Grey) ATX Mid Tower Case ($112.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($18.75 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($38.75 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm Fan ($19.68 @ Amazon)
Total: $1581.90
If I go with that ram(2x4g), would it hurt anything if I decided to buy that same one later to make it 16g? I've heard they won't get along sometimes. Which seems weird if it's the same kind.
I'm also confused on the difference between SSDs. The one I have picked out is 256gb for $105. But I see some 128g for $125 (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung...ive-mz7pd128bw). I don't understand what could be so different in something like that.Last edited by Dormie; 2015-01-20 at 08:27 PM.
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2015-01-20, 08:33 PM #18Mechagnome
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@OP- I know you’re trying to learn, and I can honestly applaud the effort to get into building your first custom PC. It is an incredibly rewarding exercise, and one that more computer enthusiasts should explore. That said, you are getting a lot of advice on here and not taking it… There are reasons for the choices a lot of people are making, and without an hour explanation, a newer builder will not be able to understand. Here is my recommendation, and I’ll give my reasons for each choice. Others will have differing opinions of course, and it’s always valuable to take advice from a lot of sources. At the end of the day, you need to understand the reason you’re choosing one item over another, and that will take research. Without any further ado…
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 93.3 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($89.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($136.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.97 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($339.99 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($112.75 @ OutletPC)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($18.75 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($104.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1351.17
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-20 14:38 EST-0500
CPU: There is no real reason to go with an i7 unless your budget is so large to justify the “Why not?” argument. Your budget is not. There are plenty of quality of life improvements that can be made that are worth far more than the minor performance increases you’ll get. If you were doing very heavy video encoding / graphical design, then you could justify the increase.
Cooler: Most of the comments here are correct; the stock cooler is fine in most cases. When you have a little budget to play with, one of the best quality of life improvements you can make to a computer is the noise level, and the cpu cooler is one of the biggest culprits. If you have money to play with, this is a great quality of life improvement.
Motherboard: You seem to be pretty set on an Asus motherboard, but I’m not sure why you decided on the MAXIMUS Pro. Unless you are planning extremely high overclocks that require exact stability, you’re not going to use 10% of that motherboard. The Asus Z97A will already have more features than you will ever use, and will more than likely be easier for you to work with once you decide to dabble. Please don’t buy a $200 motherboard unless you have a very specific reason to do so.
Memory: 8GB DDR3-1600 is perfectly fine for your application. No need to splurge here…
Storage: One of the quality of life improvements you can make is getting a larger system drive along with a solid storage drive. I think the Crucial MX100 + WD Caviar Blue are the best value you’re going to get for your money right now.
GPU: The 4Gb GTX970 will handle anything you’re going to throw at it @1080p. It should also be able to comfortably handle dual monitors for gaming on one, video on the other. If you decide to go to three monitor / 1440p / 4K in the future, you’ll have the motherboard and PSU to go SLI.
Case: The Define R4 is a DiY staple. Very user friendly, very spacious, and sleek. You’ll like this case
PSU: Seasonic makes excellent PSUs, and for a new builder I always recommend going with either semi or full modular. It makes cable management much, much easier. Also, this size should be able to support SLI if you decided in the future.'
Last thoughts: If you really need a wireless adapter, by all means go for it. It's my opinion that you should always stay hard wired, and if you need to go wireless, a solid external adapter is fine. Also, Win 7 is rapidly losing support from Microsoft. You should be getting 8.1.CPU: Intel i7 3770K Mobo: Asus P8Z77-V PRO GPU: 2X Asus GTX 770 OC SLI Heatsink: Hyper 212 EVO RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2x8GB 1600mhz SSD: 120Gb Samsung 840 EVO HDD: WD 2tb Caviar Black PSU: Corsair HX850 Case: CM HAF 932 Advanced
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2015-01-20, 09:07 PM #19Elemental Lord
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I would not call them really good. Good, ok, but not really good. Even a cheap $30 cooler like the Hyper 212 EVO easily outperforms stock coolers. Most people do not buy coolers to make them look cool or for status, they buy the to OC. If you are not going to OC, you are correct, you do not need one. Originally Posted by Tisane
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2015-01-20, 10:31 PM #20I am Murloc!
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(just quoting this instead of your longer post) Originally Posted by Lathais
First of all, don't worry TOO much about my budget. I'm more concerned on getting quality pieces that will last me a bit and won't limit anything I want to do on my PC. Like I said I'll be doing audio recording/editing in addition to gaming and anything I may need for classes.
Also, what are the main reasons for getting Windows 8.1 over 7?
Which RAM would you guys suggest?
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-...32400c10d16gtx
G.Skill Trident X Series DDR3-2400 240-pin DIMM CAS10 2x8GB 16GB
or
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-...14900cl8d8gbxm
G.Skill Ripjaws X Series DDR3-1866 240-pin DIMM CAS8 2x4GB 8GB
I mean as far as the quality of the pieces, not having 16g over 8. Cause I could always buy 2 of the second one.Last edited by Dormie; 2015-01-21 at 12:09 AM.
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