Pre-Building critique for 1st $1,000 build.

[Yottabyte_AVD]

INTRO

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I would like some critique's, recommendations, and other advice to my 1st build. 

This is my first build for a computer as I am moving from Apple to Windows/Linux. I do have limited knowledge of computers, their speed, reliability etc. But very limited. 

I used PC Part Pickcer to help me pick and choose the proposed equipment.

 

Please be honest and direct as possible as I dont want to spend my money and see it to become a "Outmode" in 1 years time.

 

PLAN

 

I plan to use my first build as a base line for Video Editing, Color Grading and Sound Mixing. With the potential road to upgrade down the line.

 

 

PRIORITY

In this order 

1. Upgradeability
2. Price / Budget
3. Performance
4. Spot for an SSD for the O.S. 
5. Half XB EVO Case
6. Gaming - WarThunder
7. Cosmetics (I dont care about this line here)

BUDGET

 

CAD $800 - $1,100.

 

 

PROGRAMS USED

Only listing the heaviest load for the CPU and GPU only. 

• Adobe Creative Suite (Editing sound, audio, color, encoding. HD and possible 4k footage)
• Avid Media Composer
• War Thunder _{(Only game I truly enjoy.)}

 

LOCATION

• Canada, B.C

So prices will be based in CAD. 

Preferably bought though NCIX Canada for in store pickup. 

 

PRE-OWNED EQUIPMENT

I will be reusing this equipment for the build.

• Operating System - Linux Ubuntu, Windows 7
• Monitor - HP w2228h 
• Keyboard - Generic USB
• Game Pad - Logitech G13
• Mouse - Sidewinder
• HDD - 7TB _(worth) of Various External HDD

PROPOSED EQUIPMENT

 

I really wanted to grab this graphics card. However I needed to exclude it as I no longer have the budget.

EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card (04G-P4-3966-KR)  ($329.00 @NCIX)

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($289.99 @ NCIX) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($34.99 @ NCIX) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97A GAMING 7 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($229.99 @ NCIX) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($64.99 @ NCIX) 

Storage: Crucial MX200 250GB M.2-2260 Solid State Drive  ($159.99 @ NCIX) 

Case: Cooler Master HAF XB EVO ATX Desktop Case  ($109.99 @ NCIX) 

Power Supply: Silverstone Strider Plus 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ NCIX) 

Case Fan: Cougar Vortex PWM 70.5 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($14.99 @ NCIX) - _Intake

Case Fan: Thermaltake CL-F015-PL20BL-A 129.6 CFM 200mm  Fan  ($18.38 @ NCIX) - _Exhaust

 

Total: CAD$1,013.30

 

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 19:23 EDT-0400

[Speedbird]

Get a cheaper motherboard (like the MSI Z97 PC MATE) and you can afford an i7 and more RAM.

[Hunter259]

Get a cheaper Mobo and a better PSU.

[ilikemacandpc]

@Yottabyte_AVD

 

This rig has a faster hyperthreaded CPU, 16GB of RAM, a GTX 960 card, and a quiet case, making it SIGNIFICANTLY better than what you had posted. 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($343.00 @ NCIX) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($112.99 @ NCIX) 

Memory: Team Vulcan 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($113.98 @ Newegg Canada) 

Storage: Mushkin ECO2 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($102.98 @ Newegg Canada) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card  ($227.00 @ Newegg Canada) 

Case: Antec P100 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($75.99 @ NCIX) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($59.98 @ Newegg Canada) 

Total: $1035.92

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 20:37 EDT-0400

[Hman1250]

This is terrible, truely a waste of money. You're better getting a $600 PC if you aren't getting a GPU. Nothing will work out what so ever because you will have no dedicated GPU. Intel HD is crap for everything. No one needs that big of SSD space. Haf XB Evo, bad case, my friend has it and says it's terrible. If you want something GOOD, then go with something like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($218.50 @ shopRBC)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($122.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($62.99 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($83.98 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB Superclocked Video Card  ($238.98 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Cooler Master HAF XB EVO ATX Desktop Case  ($104.99 @ Memory Express)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($79.27 @ shopRBC)
Total: $911.70
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 20:38 EDT-0400

[Yottabyte_AVD]

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Interesting that both of all recommended the same mother board. What was the Issue that you saw in the proposed build? I dont want to sound rude in any way, I do wish to understand and learn from your recommendations.

 

I dont plan to OverClock for now which is a statement I forgot to mention.

 

Also was the information I provided useful or just too much? 

[Hman1250]

Your motherboard was extremely overpriced. No one should get THAT high in of a motherboard if they aren't going to overclock, it's useless. Also, you shouldn't get a K series (unlocked) CPU if you won't be doing any overclocking. You had multiple flaws mainly because you had things you didn't need.

[Yottabyte_AVD]

So i dug a little deeper into the research that was provided.

I love that it was projected to be under budget. Below is my revised build mixing the recommended items provided.

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($343.00 @ NCIX) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master RR-HT2-28PK-R1 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($19.99 @ NCIX) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($103.98 @ NCIX) 

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

Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($74.64 @ NCIX) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card  ($259.99 @ NCIX) 

Case: Cooler Master HAF XB EVO ATX Desktop Case  ($109.99 @ NCIX) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ NCIX) 

Case Fan: Cougar Vortex PWM 70.5 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($14.99 @ NCIX) 

Total: $1071.56

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-07 05:55 EDT-0400

 

Now out of curiosity would the ASUS Sabre Tooth Z97 MK1 be any worth the money. As I kinda feel that the motherboard is one of the things I dont want to think about in 2-3 years time. But I am open. 

 

[ilikemacandpc]

 

So i dug a little deeper into the research that was provided.

I love that it was projected to be under budget. Below is my revised build mixing the recommended items provided.

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($343.00 @ NCIX) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master RR-HT2-28PK-R1 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($19.99 @ NCIX) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($103.98 @ NCIX) 

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

Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($74.64 @ NCIX) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card  ($259.99 @ NCIX) 

Case: Cooler Master HAF XB EVO ATX Desktop Case  ($109.99 @ NCIX) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ NCIX) 

Case Fan: Cougar Vortex PWM 70.5 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($14.99 @ NCIX) 

Total: $1071.56

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-07 05:55 EDT-0400

 

Now out of curiosity would the ASUS Sabre Tooth Z97 MK1 be any worth the money. As I kinda feel that the motherboard is one of the things I dont want to think about in 2-3 years time. But I am open. 

 

 

Don't spend wayy too much money on the motherboard. The Sabretooth is not worth it. We all suggested the Z97 PC Mate b/c it is a relatively high quality budget board that can support overclocking on unlocked i5 and i7 processors. 

 

As for your proposed build, you also want a larger SSD and 16GB of ram for Creative suite. That power supply doesn't leave much headroom, so I would at least get a 500W unit or higher. The Hyper T2 isn't much better than the stock cooler, so I wouldn't waste money on it.