[US] New Gaming Build

[MichaelGavel]

I've got a friend whom has decided to build a gaming PC, he's new to the world of PC gaming so I've tried my best to pick some of the parts for his budget.

 

Budget: $1500 USD

Note: - THIS BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE PERIPHERALS NOR MONITOR

         - Wants MAX settings at 1080p@60fps or close on a single monitor on most new games (GTA V, Witcher 3, (New) Battlefront and Battlefield)

         - Does not want water cooler (Does not want to worry about it even though I've explained it's no ordeal with AIOs)

         - Possibly a slight over clock if possible if temps permit (Nothing over 75C with extreme load)

         - Might be used for occasional video editing but nothing that would require something like work station hardware

 

PARTS AND PRICES (SEND SOME DEALS ARE WAY IF YOU KNOW SOME)

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K Devil's Canyon Quad-Core 3.5GHz LGA 1150 BX80646I54690K Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4600 - $240

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 SSO2 D-Type Premium CPU Cooler, NF-A15 x 2 PWM Fans - $100

Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI 6 x SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $110

RAM: HyperX Fury White Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model HX316C10FWK2/16  - $120

GPU: GIGABYTE GV-N970G1 GAMING-4GD GeForce GTX 970 4GB 256-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card - $350

HDD: Western Digital Blue WD10EZEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive - $55

SSD: Intel 730 Series SSDSC2BP240G4R5 2.5" 240GB SATA 6Gb/s MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - $150

PSU: CORSAIR RM Series RM650 650W ATX12V v2.31 and EPS 2.92 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply - $110

Case: NEW NZXT H440 STEEL Mid Tower Case. Next Generation 5.25-less Design. Include 4 x 2nd Gen FNv2 Fans, High-End WC support, USB3.0, White/Black - $120

OS: Microsoft Windows 8.1 64-bit - OEM - $100

(For OS and MB driver instalation, I know case doesnt support it) Optical Drive: SAMSUNG 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model SH-118CB/BEBE - $20

(For a little color from the window. Maybe white? Let me know)Case Fans: Corsair Air Series AF140 CO-9050017-BLED 140mm Blue LED Quiet Edition High Airflow Fan - $16

TOTAL: $1490

 

Thanks - Mike

[IcedEskimo]

don't get the RM 650. Bad Capacitor issues.  The RM 750 and 850's are from other OEM's and have better capacitors

 

Also, I recommend using pcpartpicker.com it's a great site to make yourself a list of all your parts

[dizmo]

Use PCPartPicker and we'll love you for it.

 

At a quick glace it looks really solid. However, there's a few things I'd change;

PSU to an EVGA G2 unit

Get a cheaper air cooler. While the Noctua units are nice, if he's not really OC'ing tons they're more of a waste of money. And they're not that sexy.

If he's not super into the idea of overclocking (which is possible if he hates AiO) maybe consider dropping down to a lower i5. K processors are nice but if he's not gonna OC...

 

FWIW I got a K series processor and never overclocked. Never needed to. Never noticed any difference between mine and my dad's OC'd rig.

[CatzRuleZWorld]

Better:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($199.99 @ Micro Center) 

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($69.89 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($110.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($55.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($69.00 @ B&H) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.49 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($315.00 @ Newegg) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($315.00 @ Newegg) 

Case: Corsair 450D ATX Mid Tower Case  ($109.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($73.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($87.79 @ OutletPC) 

Total: $1460.11

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-23 01:22 EDT-0400

[dizmo]

 

Better:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($199.99 @ Micro Center) 

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($69.89 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($110.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($55.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($69.00 @ B&H) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.49 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($315.00 @ Newegg) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($315.00 @ Newegg) 

Case: Corsair 450D ATX Mid Tower Case  ($109.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($73.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($87.79 @ OutletPC) 

Total: $1460.11

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-23 01:22 EDT-0400

 

Eh some ways yes some ways no.

Is that a G1 PSU? Then no.

I'd still go 16gb over 8gb of RAM.

128gb SSD for that budget is too restrictive.

2 970's if he's using a single 1080p monitor is way, way overkill.

[Gaben the Great]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($326.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($28.89 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($106.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($63.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($63.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($133.32 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.49 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($539.99 @ NCIX US) 

Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case  ($99.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ NCIX US) 

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer  ($14.98 @ OutletPC) 

Total: $1496.61

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-23 02:18 EDT-0400

[brob]

A slightly different take on the black & white theme.

• White air tower cooler
• 2x4GB memory, 8GB is quite sufficient for gaming and light video editing
• White & gray motherboard
• White GTX 980
• Oversize, but much better psu
• No need for an optical drive as Windows can be installed from a usb stick
• H440 case has sufficient and good quality fans

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($231.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler  ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK S ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($269.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: PNY XLR8 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($57.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($97.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.30 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 980 4GB XLR8 PRO OC Video Card  ($530.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT H440 (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($108.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1491.23
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-23 02:04 EDT-0400

[MichaelGavel]

Use PCPartPicker and we'll love you for it.

 

At a quick glace it looks really solid. However, there's a few things I'd change;

PSU to an EVGA G2 unit

Get a cheaper air cooler. While the Noctua units are nice, if he's not really OC'ing tons they're more of a waste of money. And they're not that sexy.

If he's not super into the idea of overclocking (which is possible if he hates AiO) maybe consider dropping down to a lower i5. K processors are nice but if he's not gonna OC...

 

FWIW I got a K series processor and never overclocked. Never needed to. Never noticed any difference between mine and my dad's OC'd rig.

 

Thanks for the tip on the RM series PSU, I'll definetly change that.

 

And he's not afraid of OC its just that I've read around that the NZXT H440 doesn't have great airflow. So I'm just not aware of what the temps will look like when it's all together. As for the AIO he's just against having water in his system all together so that's why no AIOs. If the Noctua will allow some good OC in a case like that then I would think it's a good keep, but I may be wrong.

[jamesfindlay3]

If I were you I wouldn't go with the noctua d15 or d14 both of those are huge cpu coolers for massive cooling which you just won't need and you probably won't even have the space for it. If I were you I would go for the NHU-14S cpu cooler a lot smaller and you can have either 1 or 2 fans depending on what you want. For and i5 even if your going to over clock it will be just fine. I am going to be using one with my i7 4790k which will be overclocked and I know it will keep up with that just fine. The noctua d15 and d14's are really good but so is the NHU-14S and for that build the d15/14 will just be overkill.

Hope this helps and have great fun with the build!  

[MichaelGavel]

If I were you I wouldn't go with the noctua d15 or d14 both of those are huge cpu coolers for massive cooling which you just won't need and you probably won't even have the space for it. If I were you I would go for the NHU-14S cpu cooler a lot smaller and you can have either 1 or 2 fans depending on what you want. For and i5 even if your going to over clock it will be just fine. I am going to be using one with my i7 4790k which will be overclocked and I know it will keep up with that just fine. The noctua d15 and d14's are really good but so is the NHU-14S and for that build the d15/14 will just be overkill.

Hope this helps and have great fun with the build!  

 

Thanks for the advice I'll be checking out the NHU-14S for sure cause you're right about the NH-D15 being overkill.