First Real Custom Built Gaming PC

legend8887 · April 16, 2014

Currently I have an Alienware that I got last Christmas. (FAIL) I might sell the Alienware because I won't need it and I will need the money for the build. This time, since I'm being smart, I am going to build my own custom built PC. Right now I have $1,312. I counted yesterday. However, the current build I really want to get is a little over $2,000. I would like to get build it by this summer although I doubt that's going to happen. I really don't want to say this, but is there anything you think that I could spend less on so I would be able to get the computer faster? Here is the build. Also, please don't recommend anything over than Intel or Nvidia.

Edit: I plan on gaming at max settings on the most demanding games. I will possibly do some video editing as well. ATM I only have a single 1080P monitor although I am going to try to upgrade eventually to a 1440P G-Sync monitor although that will be another mission. I live in the U.S. and have access to Microcenter, Fry's Electronics, Tiger Direct, Newegg, Amazon, etc, so I can get parts from anywhere.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3t0o7

NuraXx · April 16, 2014

I would problably get a i5 4670K depending on what you will use this PC for.You can also get a cheaper mainboard for sure tho.

Shd0w2 · April 16, 2014

1. A bit over, but hey, its two 780ti's

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Micro Center)

CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($109.99 @ Newegg)

Motherboard: ASRock Z87M OC Formula Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($164.98 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: GeIL EVO POTENZA 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda Green 2TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.45 @ Amazon)

Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($649.99 @ Micro Center)

Case: Corsair 750D ATX Full Tower Case ($129.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: XFX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX US)

Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Mwave)

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

Total: $2226.33

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-16 19:08 EDT-0400)

2. on budget, one 780ti and a 1440p for you sir, also an ssd

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Micro Center)

CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($109.99 @ Newegg)

Motherboard: ASRock Z87M OC Formula Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($164.98 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: GeIL EVO POTENZA 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: PNY XLR8 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($60.98 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda Green 2TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.45 @ Amazon)

Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card ($649.99 @ Micro Center)

Case: Corsair 750D ATX Full Tower Case ($129.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: XFX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX US)

Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Mwave)

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

Monitor: QNIX QX2710 Matte 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($379.49 @ Newegg)

Total: $2016.81

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-16 19:10 EDT-0400)

Faceman · April 17, 2014

Currently I have an Alienware that I got last Christmas. (FAIL) I might sell the Alienware because I won't need it and I will need the money for the build. This time, since I'm being smart, I am going to build my own custom built PC. Right now I have $1,312. I counted yesterday. However, the current build I really want to get is a little over $2,000. I would like to get build it by this summer although I doubt that's going to happen. I really don't want to say this, but is there anything you think that I could spend less on so I would be able to get the computer faster? Here is the build. Also, please don't recommend anything over than Intel or Nvidia.

Edit: I plan on gaming at max settings on the most demanding games. I will possibly do some video editing as well. ATM I only have a single 1080P monitor although I am going to try to upgrade eventually to a 1440P G-Sync monitor although that will be another mission. I live in the U.S. and have access to Microcenter, Fry's Electronics, Tiger Direct, Newegg, Amazon, etc, so I can get parts from anywhere.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3t0o7

You do not need to spend more than $1,200 to get a PC that will perform the same as the one you have picked out.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3t4i8

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3t4i8/by_merchant/

Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3t4i8/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Micro Center) <-- Excellent in-store Microcenter deal. Paired with a motherboard, you get an additional $30 off the bundle. For gaming you only need i5, not i7. i7 is wasted money.

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC) <-- Hyper 212 EVO. No brainer. You won't find a better value CPU cooler. Its amazing how much performance $30 provides.

Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg) <-- Motherboard doesn't impact performance. Get the least expensive Z87 motherboard you can find. Either SLI capable or not. -$30 from Microcenter Bundle.

Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg) <--Get the least expensive 4GBx2, 1600Mhz, 9-9-9-24, 1.5v RAM you can find. Brand doesn't matter. Only need 8GB for gaming. If you need more, upgrade. Start with 8GB. If you decide that it is not enough, then upgrade. For gaming, 16GB is not going to do anything for you, unless you play a heavily modded Skyrim.

Storage: PNY XLR8 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($59.99 @ Amazon) <-- Excellent SSD for the price, you can double down and get 240GB for $90 if you want.

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC) <-- Can't go wrong with Seagate Barracuda. 2TB version is available for $85.

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($489.99 @ Newegg) <-- Excellent video card. Don't get a Ti. a Ti is $200 more for only 10-15% increase in performance. Ti is bad value.

Case: Cougar Archon ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Mwave) <-- Case doesn't impact performance. Whichever case you select, it needs to be at least 7.9" or 195mm Wide to fit the Hyper 212 EVO.

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($45.00) Buy the Corsair CX600M before it goes back up in price.

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)

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

Total: $1200.86

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-16 20:46 EDT-0400)

Some notes about the case you select. I generally urge people to go with the least expensive case that they will like, because case doesn't impact performance. Better to go with a less expensive case, and fill it with quality case fans, than to buy a really expensive case and be stuck with the cheap stock case fans. The opposite line of thinking is to buy a very nice case, because this part can be reused in all of your future builds. You have the budget to buy a nice case... Personally I would go less expensive case, and high quality case fans. The Cougar Vortex PWM 120mms are really nice case fans, and often go on sale for $10 on Newegg and Tigerdirect. Very powerful and quiet fans. I have 5 of them.

Motherboard doesn't impact performance as you saw in the video. You have the luxury of living near a Microcenter, so you can take advantage of their processor and motherboard bundle deal. Don't spend more than you need to on a motherboard. Get the least expensive Z87(for overclocking) and either you want it to be SLI capable, or not. non-SLI capable should cost you $85, SLI capable should cost you $100.

CPU Cooler, I went with a budget option here because the performance difference between air and water cooling is not much. The Hyper 212 EVO is amazing. You will be able to achieve very good overclocks with the EVO. If you decide to go water cooling, just be aware that you are paying 3x as much for maybe .1-.2 more Ghz. I have an i5-4670k, with Hyper 212 EVO and achieved a 4.7 Ghz OC @ 1.275v with temperatures in the 50s, 60s, or 70s depending on the game. Don't spend more than you need to.

A note regarding power supply. The Power supply is another part that doesn't impact performance. While it is not a good idea to skimp out and buy a cheap PSU, there is also no benefit in going overkill. I have an i5-4670k and GTX 780, both overclocked, and I use a CX600M. It works perfectly, is very quiet, and semi-modular for cable management. Don't spend more than you need to on this part. The CX600M is your best value, price to performance option.

When I build a PC, I always aim to get the best performance for my dollar by spending money on the components that impact performance the most. After a certain point, you will see diminishing returns on your investment. This build is right at that point of diminishing returns. Any less, and it wouldn't be fully optimized, any more, and you are spending a lot more money for minimal performance gains. This build is very powerful, and will last you for a very long time, while still being upgrade-ready.