I Have No Idea What I'm Doing.gif

[Sykol]

So I'm looking to build my first computer for my wife's birthday, since she's put up with crappy hand-me-downs and replacement "in-between" computers for too long. I'm looking for something that can play WoW on Ultra, as well as handle other things like Overwatch or GTA and the such on medium to high. I'm not after a beast, because my budget is gonna top out around $1400 Canadian, which is like $300 American, but I would like it to be fairly powerful and fast, and preferably long-lasting. As long as it doesn't look like a slideshow in raids, and can capably run a present-gen game with few difficulties, I'd be ecstatic.

I went on Partpicker, but I literally have no idea what I'm doing and just Frankensteined a PC together out of the cheapest parts I could with the highest ratings. I'm probably missing parts I need, and have parts I don't.

But yeah, I'm just looking for a solid gaming computer that might be able to multitask with having Skype open or something. She'd also like it to look cool, hence the case, but I'm open to suggestions.


CPU: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/P...-fd6300wmhkbox

CPU Cooler: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/h...r-rr212e20pkr2

Motherboard: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/y...-m5a99fxpror20

Memory: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/q...800cl10d16gbxl

Storage: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/y...ct240bx200ssd1 + http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/K...ve-st2000dm001

Video Card: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/Z...gtx960gaming4g

Case: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/H...case-caph530w1

Power Supply: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/R...ly-cp9020103na

Optical Drive: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/2...rw24b1stblkbas

OS: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/w...ft-os-kw900140

Sound Card: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/z...-card-xonardgx

Case Fan: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/Y...-co9050017rled

UPS: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/K...apc-ups-be550g

Base Total: $1418.13
Promo Discounts: -$15.00
Mail-in Rebates: -$55.00
Shipping: $9.99
Total: $1358.12

[Parrin]

Just a few points:

-If you're going to use an AMD processor, go with a liquid cooler. They get really hot under load, even before overclocking.
-You shouldn't need more than 8GB of RAM. Go with one stick, and add another later if needed.
-If this is your first build, don't worry about how cool the case looks until after you've filtered the reviews for cable management.
-Also important for first builds, spend a little extra for a fully modular power supply.
-Why the sound card? Please let us know what kind of speaker system you'll be using.
-I'm a fan of fans. But the case has a nice airflow, front to back, already.
-UPS might be another area for savings. How often do you lose power?

Here's a link to another build that might interest you: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/DRRsYr

Also, I only started building PC's a little over 5 years ago, and I've built about a dozen computers since then, so I'm excited for you. But please wait for the real experts to chime in.

[Shadow Fox]

-Why the sound card? Please let us know what kind of speaker system you'll be using.

Sound Cards are not nearly as amazing as DAC's, and can be a cheaper solution depending what audio setup your using. But Soundcards were largely being used, because motherboard makers were not making any solutions to improve audio quality.

Anymore, atleast I know MSI and ASUS do, they isolate parts of the motherboard from the sound inputs that do a really good job at removing the static.

[kail]

Maybe wait a bit for AMD's RX 480, which will retail for $199 (in the U.S. that is). Going to bet that for price per dollar, the RX will outperform the 960 in most regards. I at least have my eye on the card but still waiting for benchmarks, and I'm coming from a single 960.

[Deleted]

Here's a micro build, gtx 970 is something that is mostly a placeholder if you can wait like Kail suggested above:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($304.98 @ DirectCanada)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! PURE ROCK 51.7 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ BestDirect)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($144.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($74.98 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($112.98 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($379.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($79.88 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($94.99 @ Canada Computers)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($116.76 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1419.53
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-08 02:42 EDT-0400


edit: if you want to have any sort of serious gaming forget amd cpu's( they are like 10yo tec). You don't want your wife asking you why she can't get higher than 20fps during raiding while she is on a new pc.

edid2: A gtx1070 is a good idea, coming soon.

[Sykol]

You guys are awesome. Thanks for the quick replies, I really appreciate it.

Like I said, I have no idea what should and shouldn't go into a computer so I just kind of tossed anything that looked alright in there. If the sound card isn't necessary for anything basic, I can ditch that idea. And we don't lose power often, but brownouts do happen somewhat frequently in the summer. I'm heading to work now, but I'll update my list afterwards with some of your suggestions and see what you guys think.

- - - Updated - - -

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/dtTHxY

Is what I've went with so far, based off some suggestions. I looked at the AMD and GTX cards, but it looks like they're still a few weeks away or more. I figure I can just pull the card out of hers and give it to myself when I can upgrade to that, unless it's really a terrible idea, in which case I can make her wait. I'm still trying to get the price down a bit, but am unsure what I could lower without impacting performance too much. As I said, I'm pretty unsmart when it comes to this kind of thing, but I'm trying to learn.

[Deleted]

Personal opinion, but I feel like if you're paying $1400 and you're NOT getting a really good graphics card it's a waste of money.

This video has a $1500 build and you get a GTX 1080.

You missed the most important part. He is in Canada....

[Masark]

This video has a $1500 build and you get a GTX 1080.

That's not a $1500 build, that's a $1900+ build. Conversion rates yo.

[Sykol]

That's not a $1500 build, that's a $1900+ build. Conversion rates yo.

Yeah, at first I was like, "oh, cool" and then the sudden feeling of betrayal hit.

So I've been mulling it over a bit, and I basically narrowed it down to this: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/8bGGXH

I threw an older video card in there as a placeholder until I can get a 1070. I figure there's no point getting a good graphics card when I can wait a bit and then get a really good one. But is the 750 so bad that it won't be worth using the computer before then, meaning I should just wait to pull the trigger, or would it be okay to use in the month or so until I can get one? If it's decent enough, I'll probably put it into another computer later on that I'm not too worried about being great.

[Sykol]

So I've got all my parts, do I need an ESD device or can I start building without one? I'm using a hardwood floor and I tried ordering a wristband, but Purolator didn't bother delivering to me and is really fucking me on this.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

So I've got all my parts, do I need an ESD device or can I start building without one? I'm using a hardwood floor and I tried ordering a wristband, but Purolator didn't bother delivering to me and is really fucking me on this.

So long as you aren't wearing synthetic materials and earth yourself every now and again (grab hold of a radiator, they are usually grounded or plug the power supply in to a wall socket and touch the casing) you don't really need one.

[Purolator Help]

So I've got all my parts, do I need an ESD device or can I start building without one? I'm using a hardwood floor and I tried ordering a wristband, but Purolator didn't bother delivering to me and is really fucking me on this.

Hello Sykol,

Sorry to hear you're having a hard time receiving a delivery. If you still need help, please email me your tracking number.

Regards,
Vincent
Social Media Coordinator / Customer Care Team

Purolator Inc.
E-mail: customer .care at purolator .com

[Sykol]

So I finished building it, used a bunch of tutorials, finally got it finished, and when I go to power it up it just sounds like the hard drive is whirring to start but nothing happens. Then it keeps doing that until I power it down. I have no idea what's wrong with it and this whole experience from start to finish has been pretty terrible. How do you guys do it?

[lockblock]

What does the post codes from the LEDs on the upper right of the board tell you? The motherboard manual should have a section telling what each of them mean.