My New Build Specs. Recommendations Needed

[Trivecta]

Hey LTT Forums,

 

     I know we have heard this one a million times before... The "Is my rid good??" comments on all of Linus's vids. I have done extreme research on my pc and its component and I plan on purchasing my parts soon, so I'm certainly not blind here. But I would like to see what you guys think about this build for about ~720$ USD. I wouldn't mind going up to 750$ as that was my original budget, so tell me in the comments anything you would change as long as it stays under 750$. I plan on doing lots of gaming at 1080p high-ultra settings at 50-60 fps. If you could find a nicer GPU to fit in and keep the build at under 750$ that would be great. Thanks

 

Specs:

 

CPU - Intel Core i5 4590 

Motherboard - ASRock H97 Pro4 Motherboard

RAM - Kingston HyperX Black 8gb

Storage - WD Caviar Blue 1TB Hard Drive

GPU - XFX R9 280x Double Dissipation 

Case - NZXT S340 (Black/Blue)

PSU - EVGA 600B 600w Power Supple

[Hunter7263]

Consider the 390 (non X) its seems to be 30-40 bucks more but is going to give you far better graphics performance. Also don't forget a wireless card if you need one. People (especially me a couple of times) seem to forget they need them (not saying you forgot but just in case).

 

Also with all the 300 series cards pushing the performance the way they did maybe check out some benchmarks for the 380 (non X) which is cheaper. I know the 390 is currently beating the 290x in benchmarks and if you have no plans to overclock it may definitely be worth considering. 

[Nikht_Revan_S539]

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7Y29dC) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7Y29dC/by_merchant/)

 

Type|Item|Price

:----|:----|:----

**CPU** | [intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54590) | $189.95 @ SuperBiiz 

**Motherboard** | [MSI H97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-h97pcmate) | $84.99 @ Amazon 

**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmz8gx3m2a1866c9b) | $49.99 @ Newegg 

**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) | $50.99 @ Newegg 

**Video Card** | [sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-100363l) | $229.99 @ Amazon 

**Case** | [bitFenix Neos Black/Blue ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/bitfenix-case-bfcneo100kkxsbrp) | $59.99 @ NCIX US 

**Power Supply** | [EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-110b10750vr) | $68.99 @ SuperBiiz 

 | *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |

 | **Total** | **$734.89**

 | Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2015-07-01 04:19 EDT-0400 |

 

I cobbled this together. However, I would follow Hunter7263's advice and try and see if you can find a 380 or 380x for around the same price.

 

Also, I would recommend getting a cheap SSD like the Crucial MX100 128GB as a boot drive and important file holder.

 

EDIT: Also, do you have all you need? Do you need a copy of windows, a keyboard, mouse, monitor, or something else?

EDIT: The thing is a bit broken. I believe that that's because of the last forum update. That's my fault actually, I copied the wrong format.

[Agent80085]

my recommendation is paying a bit more on a hdd for 2tb. i have a seagate baracuda 3.5 2tb for around 75 bucks

[Nena Trinity]

If you do not need a SSD then its perfect I guess.

 

Also 280X or 380 4GB are both awesome!

[vSyNd1c4t3]

Hey LTT Forums,

 

     I know we have heard this one a million times before... The "Is my rid good??" comments on all of Linus's vids. I have done extreme research on my pc and its component and I plan on purchasing my parts soon, so I'm certainly not blind here. But I would like to see what you guys think about this build for about ~720$ USD. I wouldn't mind going up to 750$ as that was my original budget, so tell me in the comments anything you would change as long as it stays under 750$. I plan on doing lots of gaming at 1080p high-ultra settings at 50-60 fps. If you could find a nicer GPU to fit in and keep the build at under 750$ that would be great. Thanks

 

Specs:

 

CPU - Intel Core i5 4590 

Motherboard - ASRock H97 Pro4 Motherboard

RAM - Kingston HyperX Black 8gb

Storage - WD Caviar Blue 1TB Hard Drive

GPU - XFX R9 280x Double Dissipation 

Case - NZXT S340 (Black/Blue)

PSU - EVGA 600B 600w Power Supple

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vZMcLk

 

Why this build?

 

z97 sli board, so its ready for upgrades when you are.

 

"960!, but the 280x is better, why would you do that?" The 960 does just fine 1080p 60fps, and at a lower power consumption, so you can SLI them without upgrading your PSU at the cost of an arm and a leg... You would have to pay AMD the arm and leg, plus power bill for those power hungry AMD cards.

 

lower cost CPU, still plenty strong, no worries

 

RAM is on sale, get it quick.

 

had some budget left over, threw in a Samsung 850 120gb SSD, so yea, now you have a SSD, a really good one.

[Nikht_Revan_S539]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vZMcLk

 

Why this build?

 

z97 sli board, so its ready for upgrades when you are.

 

"960!, but the 280x is better, why would you do that?" The 960 does just fine 1080p 60fps, and at a lower power consumption, so you can SLI them without upgrading your PSU at the cost of an arm and a leg... You would have to pay AMD the arm and leg, plus power bill for those power hungry AMD cards.

 

lower cost CPU, still plenty strong, no worries

 

RAM is on sale, get it quick.

 

had some budget left over, threw in a Samsung 850 120gb SSD, so yea, now you have a SSD, a really good one.

Please don't spread the "AMD power bill" crap. You know it's stupid.

[vSyNd1c4t3]

Please don't spread the "AMD power bill" crap. You know it's stupid.

 

Proof.

 

123w draw from 960

 

241w draw from the 280x

 

4:15

 

Good day sir.

[Hunter7263]

Proof.

 

123w draw from 960

 

241w draw from the 280x

 

4:15

 

Good day sir.

If you loaded it up and ran it 24/7 where I live you would spend about an extra 15 cents a day which is 1.05 a week and 55 ish a year. You would burn out and replace both cards in like the first week but hey whos counting.

 

Realistically you are looking at maybe 2-3 hours a day for a gamer to at those levels. They both idle fairly close to each other . You might spend 15cents a week more on power bills with normal use.

[vSyNd1c4t3]

If you loaded it up and ran it 24/7 where I live you would spend about an extra 15 cents a day which is 1.05 a week and 55 ish a year. You would burn out and replace both cards in like the first week but hey whos counting.

 

Realistically you are looking at maybe 2-3 hours a day for a gamer to at those levels. They both idle fairly close to each other . You might spend 15cents a week more on power bills with normal use.

 

I used this calculator. http://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/electricity-calculator.htm

 

Power Consumption - 120w

Hours a day - 4

1 kWh cost - 7cents (which is a great price, didn't even use the high end.)

Cost per year = $12

 

Now lets use the average.

 

"The average price people in the U.S. pay for electricity is about 12 cents per kilowatt-hour."

 

Power Consumption - 120w

Hours a day - 4

1 kWh cost - 12cents (The average)

Cost per year = $21

 

$21 a year not bad. eh?

 

You decide to go xFire huh? so lets double that. $42 a year.

You buy a computer and expect it to last how long? 3-5 years?  Single Card $63-105  xFire - $126-210

Did you remember to buy a more powerful PSU to supply that card/cards?

 

960s can SLI off of this $80

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220gs0550v1

 

280x can xFire off of this $105

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20750xr

 

Adds another $25 for AMD users, sorry guys.

 

So the total can be pretty big when it all adds up. Up to $235 if you crossfire over the years.

 

Want another factor? How about that heat coming off the computer from those AMD cards? Increasing the amount of times your A/C comes on during the summer months.

 

Small to you? maybe. Still more? Yes.

[Hunter7263]

I used this calculator. http://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/electricity-calculator.htm

 

Power Consumption - 120w

Hours a day - 4

1 kWh cost - 7cents (which is a great price, didn't even use the high end.)

Cost per year = $12

 

Now lets use the average.

 

"The average price people in the U.S. pay for electricity is about 12 cents per kilowatt-hour."

 

Power Consumption - 120w

Hours a day - 4

1 kWh cost - 12cents (The average)

Cost per year = $21

 

$21 a year not bad. eh?

 

You decide to go xFire huh? so lets double that. $42 a year.

You buy a computer and expect it to last how long? 3-5 years?  Single Card $63-105  xFire - $126-210

Did you remember to buy a more powerful PSU to supply that card/cards?

 

960s can SLI off of this $80

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220gs0550v1

 

280x can xFire off of this $105

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20750xr

 

Adds another $25 for AMD users, sorry guys.

 

So the total can be pretty big when it all adds up. Up to $235 if you crossfire over the years.

 

Want another factor? How about that heat coming off the computer from those AMD cards? Increasing the amount of times your A/C comes on during the summer months.

 

Small to you? maybe. Still more? Yes.

Heat is NOT a factor dude. The amount of heat that the AC has to dissipate is roughly equivalent to the heat that it provides you in the winter that the heater doesn't have to give you.

 

Also most people buy overpowered PSUs anyway so that negligible. I have a 760ax when I bought my 960 that I had... it runs a 750ti now.... don't ask.....

 

Also just because you are on the computer for 4 hours a day (which is a shit ton by the way) It doesn't mean that GPU's are fully taxed all the time. I know a lot of my games ran at like 60% power according to MSI afterburner on my 960 so the 280x is going to be similar.

 

So yes WORST CASE scenario 42 bucks a year at 4 hours a day on SLI which btw isn't necessary for 50-60 frames at 1080. Realistically you are talking maybe 10-15 bucks since he didn't state sli and thus wouldn't need a stronger psu anyway.

 

Honestly though I don't know why im arguing this I would by the 960 over a 280x........

 

Looking at the prices now... WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU BUY THE 280X ANYWAY..... Way overpriced......I do have hope for the 380 though beating the 960 which is far more power efficient than the 280x so maybe 5-10 bucks a year for a card that is a little better.

[vSyNd1c4t3]

Heat is NOT a factor dude. The amount of heat that the AC has to dissipate is roughly equivalent to the heat that it provides you in the winter that the heater doesn't have to give you.

 

Also most people buy overpowered PSUs anyway so that negligible. I have a 760ax when I bought my 960 that I had... it runs a 750ti now.... don't ask.....

 

Also just because you are on the computer for 4 hours a day (which is a shit ton by the way) It doesn't mean that GPU's are fully taxed all the time. I know a lot of my games ran at like 60% power according to MSI afterburner on my 960 so the 280x is going to be similar.

 

So yes WORST CASE scenario 42 bucks a year at 4 hours a day on SLI which btw isn't necessary for 50-60 frames at 1080. Realistically you are talking maybe 10-15 bucks since he didn't state sli and thus wouldn't need a stronger psu anyway.

 

Honestly though I don't know why im arguing this I would by the 960 over a 280x........

 

Looking at the prices now... WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU BUY THE 280X ANYWAY..... Way overpriced......I do have hope for the 380 though beating the 960 which is far more power efficient than the 280x so maybe 5-10 bucks a year for a card that is a little better.

 

No math just guessing? I think this argument is over.

 

[Hunter7263]

No math just guessing? I think this argument is over.

 

You just guess numbers as well. You guessed that 4 hours a day is what it would run for. You guessed that it would be pinned at 100% the entire time. You guessed that he didn't live in a place that is cold all year round and that the extra heat wouldn't benefit him.

 

I wasn't wrong about temperatures being a wash. The average person (that could reasonably afford this kind of computer) lives in a place where they need a heater as often as an AC. Some live in places its hotter some in colder.

 

Im also not wrong about the gpu not being pinned at max all the time.

 

Your worst case scenario is just that.

[Nikht_Revan_S539]

Proof.

 

123w draw from 960

 

241w draw from the 280x

 

4:15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDhu5zLVLU0

 

Good day sir.

Funny enough argument, but entirely unneccesary. I never said that AMD cards didn't draw more power, they do.

You're entire argument is based on ifs. OP never said he wanted to crossfire or even said he had plans to.

Anyways, the way you worded it in your message sounded as if OP was going to have double his power bill a month because AMD cards consume so much power. $9 a YEAR is the difference! You're talking 75 cents a month, it's trivial!

Have a good day, sir.

[vSyNd1c4t3]

Funny enough argument, but entirely unneccesary. I never said that AMD cards didn't draw more power, they do.

You're entire argument is based on ifs. OP never said he wanted to crossfire or even said he had plans to.

Anyways, the way you worded it in your message sounded as if OP was going to have double his power bill a month because AMD cards consume so much power. $9 a YEAR is the difference! You're talking 75 cents a month, it's trivial!

Have a good day, sir.

 

I honestly thought you = the hunter guy. didn't even notice he wasnt you. LULz

 

I'll save my extra $100 over the years to put toward my GPU I get in my future build... All that electric bill saving money.

[Nikht_Revan_S539]

I honestly thought you = the hunter guy. didn't even notice he wasnt you. LULz

 

I'll save my extra $100 over the years to put toward my GPU I get in my future build... All that electric bill saving money.

Okay, have fun with your graphics card in ten years.

[Trivecta]

Whoa guys. I came to get help for my build not have an Nvidea vs AMD flame war Thanks for the suggestion @vSyNd1c4t3 the build looks nice, but does that 2gb 960 have enough video memory for GTA V high - Ultra?

[Trivecta]

So hold on. What you are reccomending is that I drop the 280x for a 960 or a 380?

[Nikht_Revan_S539]

Whoa guys. I came to get help for my build not have an Nvidea vs AMD flame war Thanks for the suggestion @vSyNd1c4t3 the build looks nice, but does that 2gb 960 have enough video memory for GTA V high - Ultra?

It does not.

So hold on. What you are reccomending is that I drop the 280x for a 960 or a 380?

Well, the thing about the 380 is that it is a 280x, but it's more future-proof.

[Trivecta]

@Nikht_Revan_S539 @vSyNd1c4t3. I live in a place where it is hot almost all year round, but I run my AC almost all the time so I'm guessing heat wouldn't make a difference. Looking at what you guys have said, I think Im going to ditch the 280x for a 380 4gb or a 960. Would you say that the 380 is worth the extra 40-50$ for more VRAM and a higher bus? I'm not entirely sure about clock speeds. Also, I do live with other people so I deffinetly don't need a super loud card, but I'm not too worried

[vSyNd1c4t3]

@Nikht_Revan_S539 @vSyNd1c4t3. I live in a place where it is hot almost all year round, but I run my AC almost all the time so I'm guessing heat wouldn't make a difference. Looking at what you guys have said, I think Im going to ditch the 280x for a 380 4gb or a 960. Would you say that the 380 is worth the extra 40-50$ for more VRAM and a higher bus? I'm not entirely sure about clock speeds. Also, I do live with other people so I deffinetly don't need a super loud card, but I'm not too worried

 

I think the 380 has enough to offer to win between those 2. They improved the TDP on the 380, so my arguement is completely out the window there. idk how much the 4gb of ram will actually help compared to the 2gb version of the 380. There is a $30 difference for the 4gb version though. Future games will probably start requiring more RAM, so it's probably a safe bet to get the 4gb version.

 

[Trivecta]

@vSyNd1c4t3 thank you for all your great help. I have made up my mind on the r9 380 and I'm going to drop the 120gb SSD to stay in budget. The SSD prices are coming way down anyways