$950 Gaming PC with Peripherals and Monitor - Help?

[Happy Camper]

This is my first time building a PC.  My friend requested I make one for him.  His budget is at most $950, including keyboard, mouse, monitor, os, etc.  I need help deciding what to get.

 

Here are my criteria:

- Must be $950 or less

- Must include keyboard, monitor, mouse (these don't need to be fancy, just functional)

- Must include Windows 8.1 (or other if you think that I should use another)

- Must include reliable parts (parts that won't ship defective)

- Would be good if the case is windowed (n600?)

 

Thanks a lot!

[79wjd]

location? purpose? 

If it's US and gaming: 

 

and before someone comments about a Z board and a locked chip, it's one of the cheaper boards that supports XFIRE atm. 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($184.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97 U3 Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Directron) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Tri-X Video Card  ($199.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer  ($13.99 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($89.98 @ OutletPC) 

Monitor: Acer G246HLAbd 60Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($119.99 @ Amazon) 

Keyboard: Logitech G105 Wired Gaming Keyboard  ($39.99 @ Amazon) 

Mouse: Logitech G100s Wired Optical Mouse  ($26.49 @ Amazon) 

Total: $936.36

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-20 16:36 EST-0500

[Lotus]

Are you absolutely SURE it has to have an optical drive? If you don't need one, the S340 is a great case, cheap, and windowed, and it'll save you some cash and trust me, you're going to be struggling to put enough cash into the tower at this price point. You can easily install Windows via a USB flash drive without the optical drive, and that's usually the only use people have for one. I'll see what I can do.

[Happy Camper]

Are you absolutely SURE it has to have an optical drive? If you don't need one, the S340 is a great case, cheap, and windowed, and it'll save you some cash and trust me, you're going to be struggling to put enough cash into the tower at this price point. You can easily install Windows via a USB flash drive without the optical drive, and that's usually the only use people have for one. I'll see what I can do.

I'll check with my friend

[Happy Camper]

Are you absolutely SURE it has to have an optical drive? If you don't need one, the S340 is a great case, cheap, and windowed, and it'll save you some cash and trust me, you're going to be struggling to put enough cash into the tower at this price point. You can easily install Windows via a USB flash drive without the optical drive, and that's usually the only use people have for one. I'll see what I can do.

Checked with my friend, he said he doesn't

[79wjd]

Checked with my friend, he said he doesn't

 

Since theres still room left to work with, he can even get a 4690k and add an aftermarket cooler at a later point. 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($209.99 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97 U3 Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Directron) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Tri-X Video Card  ($199.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($89.98 @ OutletPC) 

Monitor: Acer G246HLAbd 60Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($119.99 @ Amazon) 

Keyboard: Logitech G105 Wired Gaming Keyboard  ($39.99 @ Amazon) 

Mouse: Logitech G100s Wired Optical Mouse  ($26.49 @ Amazon) 

Total: $947.38

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-20 16:46 EST-0500

[Happy Camper]

 

location? purpose? 

If it's US and gaming: 

 

and before someone comments about a Z board and a locked chip, it's one of the cheaper boards that supports XFIRE atm. 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($184.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97 U3 Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Directron) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Tri-X Video Card  ($199.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer  ($13.99 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($89.98 @ OutletPC) 

Monitor: Acer G246HLAbd 60Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($119.99 @ Amazon) 

Keyboard: Logitech G105 Wired Gaming Keyboard  ($39.99 @ Amazon) 

Mouse: Logitech G100s Wired Optical Mouse  ($26.49 @ Amazon) 

Total: $936.36

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-20 16:36 EST-0500

 

It is US and gaming, sorry for not clarifying

[Lotus]

Checked with my friend, he said he doesn't

Phew, you can get a way better (and cheaper) case if you go without one, and it saves enough to fit all of this in for your budget, and I didn't even include rebates!

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.99 @ Micro Center)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($31.99 @ Directron)

Motherboard: MSI Z97 U3 Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Team Zeus Blue 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($67.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Directron)

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 280 3GB TurboDuo Video Card  ($171.00 @ Newegg)

Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($64.99 @ Directron)

Power Supply: Rosewill 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Amazon)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($99.98 @ OutletPC)

Monitor: Acer G227HQLbi 60Hz 21.5" Monitor  ($108.00 @ Newegg)

Keyboard: Rosewill RK-700M Wired Standard Keyboard  ($9.99 @ Amazon)

Other: Perixx MX-1800 ($20.00)

Total: $942.90

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-20 16:46 EST-0500

 

I personally own the mouse, and couldn't be happier. It's a "perfect sensor" mouse (although it uses an older sensor which is why it's cheap, but it's still among the best) so it's great for FPS games, and has fully programmable keys and macros, although the software is clunky. The monitor is just a standard 1080p 60hz IPS panel. I threw in a K series CPU, Z chipset MoBo, and aftermarket CPU cooler because it only really cost an extra $50 compared to a locked i5 due to the steep discounts on the CPU and MoBo. There is no SSD, but at your budget it's much more important to put the money into real performance parts instead of luxury items like an SSD. An SSD will not help with anything in-game, just boot up and load times, so unless you want to waste $110 of your budget to avoid waiting an additional 15 seconds on boot, I'd skip it. You could consider going with a locked i5 and an R9 290, but that would actually put you overbudget, so instead I went with the overclocking setup and an R9 280. This should do very well for almost anything, and can max all but the most demanding games.

[Happy Camper]

 

 

Since theres still room left to work with, he can even get a 4690k and add an aftermarket cooler at a later point. 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($209.99 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97 U3 Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Directron) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Tri-X Video Card  ($199.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($89.98 @ OutletPC) 

Monitor: Acer G246HLAbd 60Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($119.99 @ Amazon) 

Keyboard: Logitech G105 Wired Gaming Keyboard  ($39.99 @ Amazon) 

Mouse: Logitech G100s Wired Optical Mouse  ($26.49 @ Amazon) 

Total: $947.38

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-20 16:46 EST-0500

 

Would it be worth it to save money on the keyboard and mouse by getting Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle or similar product?

[Lotus]

Would it be worth it to save money on the keyboard and mouse by getting Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle or similar product?

I'd just get the mouse/keyboard combo in my build. It should perform better, at least the mouse will, and that's the important one for FPS gaming. Same cost too.

[Happy Camper]

Phew, you can get a way better (and cheaper) case if you go without one, and it saves enough to fit all of this in for your budget, and I didn't even include rebates!

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.99 @ Micro Center)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($31.99 @ Directron)

Motherboard: MSI Z97 U3 Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Team Zeus Blue 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($67.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Directron)

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 280 3GB TurboDuo Video Card  ($171.00 @ Newegg)

Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($64.99 @ Directron)

Power Supply: Rosewill 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Amazon)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($99.98 @ OutletPC)

Monitor: Acer G227HQLbi 60Hz 21.5" Monitor  ($108.00 @ Newegg)

Keyboard: Rosewill RK-700M Wired Standard Keyboard  ($9.99 @ Amazon)

Other: Perixx MX-1800 ($20.00)

Total: $942.90

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-20 16:46 EST-0500

 

I personally own the mouse, and couldn't be happier. It's a "perfect sensor" mouse (although it uses an older sensor which is why it's cheap, but it's still among the best) so it's great for FPS games, and has fully programmable keys and macros, although the software is clunky. The monitor is just a standard 1080p 60hz IPS panel. I threw in a K series CPU, Z chipset MoBo, and aftermarket CPU cooler because it only really cost an extra $50 compared to a locked i5 due to the steep discounts on the CPU and MoBo. There is no SSD, but at your budget it's much more important to put the money into real performance parts instead of luxury items like an SSD. An SSD will not help with anything in-game, just boot up and load times, so unless you want to waste $110 of your budget to avoid waiting an additional 15 seconds on boot, I'd skip it. You could consider going with a locked i5 and an R9 290, but that would actually put you overbudget, so instead I went with the overclocking setup and an R9 280. This should do very well for almost anything, and can max all but the most demanding games.

 

 

 

 

Since theres still room left to work with, he can even get a 4690k and add an aftermarket cooler at a later point. 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($209.99 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97 U3 Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Directron) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Tri-X Video Card  ($199.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($89.98 @ OutletPC) 

Monitor: Acer G246HLAbd 60Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($119.99 @ Amazon) 

Keyboard: Logitech G105 Wired Gaming Keyboard  ($39.99 @ Amazon) 

Mouse: Logitech G100s Wired Optical Mouse  ($26.49 @ Amazon) 

Total: $947.38

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-20 16:46 EST-0500

 

Are all of the parts reliable?

[79wjd]

Are all of the parts reliable?

yes, but no matter what components you get, there is ALWAYS a chance they'll be DOA. 

[Lotus]

Yes for both builds. There's always the chance for DOA, no avoiding that, but all the parts are reliable. Just be careful and don't miss steps like the motherboard standoff screws, or forget to ground yourself.

[C.G.F.Sabre]

 

location? purpose? 

If it's US and gaming: 

 

and before someone comments about a Z board and a locked chip, it's one of the cheaper boards that supports XFIRE atm. 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($184.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97 U3 Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Directron) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Tri-X Video Card  ($199.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer  ($13.99 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($89.98 @ OutletPC) 

Monitor: Acer G246HLAbd 60Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($119.99 @ Amazon) 

Keyboard: Logitech G105 Wired Gaming Keyboard  ($39.99 @ Amazon) 

Mouse: Logitech G100s Wired Optical Mouse  ($26.49 @ Amazon) 

Total: $936.36

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-20 16:36 EST-0500

 

why gett z97 if it is not a unlocked chip

[79wjd]

why gett z97 if it is not a unlocked chip

Thanks for reading..... 

[C.G.F.Sabre]

Thanks for reading..... 

sorry I missed it

[Happy Camper]

You could consider going with a locked i5 and an R9 290, but that would actually put you overbudget, so instead I went with the overclocking setup and an R9 280. This should do very well for almost anything, and can max all but the most demanding games.

If I get your build, I should overclock?  Is it worth it?

[Happy Camper]

Thanks for reading..... 

I think that I will go with Lotus's mouse and keyboard setup

[Lotus]

why gett z97 if it is not a unlocked chip

With the rebate he included, it's cheaper than any h97 board that supports crossfire.

[Lotus]

If I get your build, I should overclock?  Is it worth it?

 

My build is designed for overclocking, and it is definitely worth it to overclock with the components. If you don't overclock, you could save some money as some of the components are specifically geared toward overclocking, and you're paying extra for that feature alone.

[Happy Camper]

My build is designed for overclocking, and it is definitely worth it to overclock with the components. If you don't overclock, you could save some money as some of the components are specifically geared toward overclocking, and you're paying extra for that feature alone.

How do I overclock?

[79wjd]

How do I overclock?

Go into the bios, raise the multiplier and the cpu core voltage (changing two numbers) then running Aida64 for a bit. 

 

 

More detailed: 

Set the voltage to 1.250v and the multipler to 42. Boot up and run Aida64. If your temps are above 80ºc, then lower the voltage. If your temps are less than 80ºc but your system crashed, then raise the voltage to 1.30v. Then try a higher multiplier and repeat. Once you find the highest stable multiplier, then you look for the lowest stable voltage. 

[Happy Camper]

What are the benefits to each of your builds?

[79wjd]

What are the benefits to each of your builds?

They're pretty much the same build, I just opted for a better GPU and no aftermarket cpu cooler as you can just upgrade that when you're ready to overclock. 

 

And a larger monitor, which I would recommend. 

[Happy Camper]

They're pretty much the same build, I just opted for a better GPU and no aftermarket cpu cooler as you can just upgrade that when you're ready to overclock. 

 

And a larger monitor, which I would recommend. 

Is that the only significant difference?