Need some help building a basic gaming PC for my SO

[Coffey]

So my SO wants to get into PC gaming and we were looking for some help.

A little info is that we already have a case and a hard drive (120gb ssd) and a gpu (5850) with a budget of 450$ for the rest

She plays Diablo 3, BF4, Chivalry, and a few free to play games that aren't too taxing.

I was wondering if someone could suggest some parts for a Canadian. Every time I try to pick parts it comes out over budget and I don't know whats a good price/performance at the cost we are looking at. The cheaper the better I guess.

Thanks to anyone willing to help us out!

[Hidden Orange]

Er.... what's a SO?

 

Also, do you need an OS, peripherals like a monitor, keyboard, and mouse; and do you want accessories like er... LED strips? Probably not, but it's still good to mention. Also, what resolution would she be playing at?

[Createinator]

Er.... what's a SO?

 

Also, do you need an OS, peripherals like a monitor, keyboard, and mouse; and do you want accessories like er... LED strips? Probably not, but it's still good to mention. Also, what resolution would she be playing at?

Significant Other ~ possibly milk or sugar

[Hidden Orange]

Significant Other ~ possibly milk or sugar

Oh... Is this Canadian slang or something that'll come by as I get older?

[Coffey]

All peripherals are covered, I have extra of most things other than the bulk of a computer. And yea, I've only recently seen SO around, you don't really say it, its more like lol for laugh out loud, so for significant other.

[Hidden Orange]

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/  If you can go a bit over, if not just get a smaller HDD or downgrade CPU. But $22 isn't THAT much more.

Dude, you need to copy the BBcode markup or else it'll just link us to whatever we just built or a blank slate. So something like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  AMD 2650 1.45Ghz Dual-Core Processor  ($31.00 @ Amazon) 

Total: $31.00

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

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-08 23:46 EDT-0400)

 

By the way, don't buy this...

[TopplesS]

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/  If you can go a bit over, if not just get a smaller HDD or downgrade CPU. But $22 isn't THAT much more.

I think you missed the budget - $450

 

EDIT: My bad, looked at it wrong..

[Coombzy]

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/  If you can go a bit over, if not just get a smaller HDD or downgrade CPU. But $22 isn't THAT much more.

Um that is broken you need to use the PCPartpicker specific URL.

[Coombzy]

[post=http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/] This one should be correct. Idk if I'm linking it correctly

Look for the permalink

[Hidden Orange]

[post=http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/] This one should be correct. Idk if I'm linking it correctly

... Just click on the BBcode markup tab, copy, and paste... Jaysus...

 

Edit: The time we're spending on helping someone get a link working would be better off spent on actually build something for the poor fellow's SO.

[Hidden Orange]

I is sorry. 

Is aight. By the way, dude's from Canada, so you might want to try Canadian retailers and prices. Use ca.pcpartpicker.com; the "ca" means Canada.

[Coffey]

Does amazon.com and newegg.com ship to Canada? Does is cost more for importing it/will there be fees from customs?

[TopplesS]

So my SO wants to get into PC gaming and we were looking for some help.

A little info is that we already have a case and a hard drive (120gb ssd) and a gpu (5850) with a budget of 450$ for the rest

She plays Diablo 3, BF4, Chivalry, and a few free to play games that aren't too taxing.

I was wondering if someone could suggest some parts for a Canadian. Every time I try to pick parts it comes out over budget and I don't know whats a good price/performance at the cost we are looking at. The cheaper the better I guess.

Thanks to anyone willing to help us out!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($202.99 @ Amazon Canada) 

Motherboard:  MSI H87M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($74.99 @ Memory Express) 

Memory:  Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($75.77 @ DirectCanada) 

Storage:  Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.99 @ NCIX) 

Power Supply:  Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($39.98 @ Newegg Canada) 

Total: $453.72

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

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-09 00:03 EDT-0400)

[Hidden Orange]

Meh... You could add a larger hard drive or something.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($202.99 @ Amazon Canada) 

Motherboard:  ASRock H81M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($63.50 @ Vuugo) 

Memory:  Corsair 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($75.61 @ DirectCanada) 

Power Supply:  Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($39.98 @ Newegg Canada) 

Total: $382.08

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

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-09 00:01 EDT-0400)

 

If you want to have a more powerful GPU for the time being, then you could try this i3 build. It's the above build, but with a GTX 750 Ti and an i3-4330 instead of just the i5-4430. It'll be over budget and you won't have the immediate ability to add a hard drive, but you could always add one later on.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i3-4330 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($139.79 @ DirectCanada) 

Motherboard:  ASRock H81M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($63.50 @ Vuugo) 

Memory:  Corsair 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($75.61 @ DirectCanada) 

Video Card:  EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($149.99 @ Amazon Canada) 

Power Supply:  Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($39.98 @ Newegg Canada) 

Total: $468.87

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

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-09 00:03 EDT-0400)

[Coffey]

 

Meh... You could add a larger hard drive or something.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($202.99 @ Amazon Canada) 

Motherboard:  ASRock H81M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($63.50 @ Vuugo) 

Memory:  Corsair 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($75.61 @ DirectCanada) 

Power Supply:  Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($39.98 @ Newegg Canada) 

Total: $382.08

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

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-09 00:01 EDT-0400)

 

If you want to have a more powerful GPU for the time being, then you could try this i3 build. It's the above build, but with a GTX 750 Ti and an i3-4330 instead of just the i5-4430. It'll be over budget and you won't have the immediate ability to add a hard drive, but you could always add one later on.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i3-4330 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($139.79 @ DirectCanada) 

Motherboard:  ASRock H81M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($63.50 @ Vuugo) 

Memory:  Corsair 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($75.61 @ DirectCanada) 

Video Card:  EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($149.99 @ Amazon Canada) 

Power Supply:  Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($39.98 @ Newegg Canada) 

Total: $468.87

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

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-09 00:03 EDT-0400)

What kind of improvement would the 750ti with an i3 give over the i5 with 5850?

Would it be better to get the i5 now and wait a few month and save up for a better video card?

[WoodenMarker]

Does amazon.com and newegg.com ship to Canada? Does is cost more for importing it/will there be fees from customs?

There's amazon.ca and newegg.ca

It would help to tell us what case you have and whether or not you need a copy of Windows or any peripherals. 

[Coffey]

There's amazon.ca and newegg.ca

It would help to tell us what case you have and whether or not you need a copy of Windows or any peripherals. 

I mentioned earlier I got all that covered, I have a monitor and keyboard laying around and she has a mouse for her laptop she can use for now. I also have an OS to use

EDIT: Also I find pricing and availability to change from US to Canadian versions of retailers as well as priced differences.

[WoodenMarker]

I mentioned earlier I got all that covered, I have a monitor and keyboard laying around and she has a mouse for her laptop she can use for now. I also have an OS to use

I see but what case do you have?

[Coffey]

I see but what case do you have?

Antec 900, old but in good condition

[Hidden Orange]

What kind of improvement would the 750ti with an i3 give over the i5 with 5850?

Would it be better to get the i5 now and wait a few month and save up for a better video card?

Immediately, the GTX 750 Ti would be a newer card, meaning it would have access to features an older card wouldn't. Also, it'll use less power. As for performance, I'm not sure, since not many people compare new cards with old cards. I think it might be slightly more powerful. The drawback is that it takes up money that could be used on an i5, a much more powerful CPU compared to the i3. This is if you can't wait sort of build that some people might like.

 

If you can wait, then don't go with the i3 and GTX 750 Ti build. Instead, get the i5 build suggested and add say, a GTX 760, R9 280, R9 270(X) or even a GTX 770, GTX 780 (Ti), R9 280X, or R9 290(X) if she really gets into games.

[Coffey]

Immediately, the GTX 750 Ti would be a newer card, meaning it would have access to features an older card wouldn't. Also, it'll use less power. As for performance, I'm not sure, since not many people compare new cards with old cards. I think it might be slightly more powerful. The drawback is that it takes up money that could be used on an i5, a much more powerful CPU compared to the i3. This is if you can't wait sort of build that some people might like.

 

If you can wait, then don't go with the i3 and GTX 750 Ti build. Instead, get the i5 build suggested and add say, a GTX 760, R9 280, R9 270(X) or even a GTX 770, GTX 780 (Ti), R9 280X, or R9 290(X) if she really gets into games.

Will the i5 be a bottleneck for the more powerful cards?

[WoodenMarker]

Antec 900, old but in good condition

I'd probably recommend something like this: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3GATo

Grab more storage or an aftermarket cooler as you see fit. 

 

Will the i5 be a bottleneck for the more powerful cards?

It doesn't really get much more powerful than a 780 Ti and the i5 shouldn't bottleneck it. How powerful of a card were you planning to upgrade to?

[Coffey]

I'd probably recommend something like this: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3GATo

Grab more storage or an aftermarket cooler as you see fit. 

 

It doesn't really get much more powerful than a 780 Ti and the i5 shouldn't bottleneck it. How powerful of a card were you planning to upgrade to?

I meant more powerful then the 750ti or 5850, I know those cards will be the bottlenect for the cpu but will better video cards than that be limited by the i5?

Edit: does the fx 6300 you linked compete well with the i5 mentioned?

[WoodenMarker]

I meant more powerful then the 750ti or 5850, I know those cards will be the bottlenect for the cpu but will better video cards than that be limited by the i5?

Like I said, even the 780 Ti shouldn't be bottlenecked by the i5 and it doesn't get much better than that..

[Coffey]

Like I said, even the 780 Ti shouldn't be bottlenecked by the i5 and it doesn't get much better than that..

How does the fx 6300 stack up against the mentioned i5?