Building a PC for a friend

[ChasingPluto]

*Sigh* So my friend ruined his laptop by watching too much porn. He didn't say that explicitly but thats what I deduced from when I was diagnosing it. He also probably clicked on things he shouldn't have because he's dumb. Regardless he wants a sit at a desk computer and he was looking at some pretty terrible AIOs so I told him I'd make him a tower that was better. So like a month later here we are. Into the details we go!

 

Budget: $900ish...

Location: United States

Aim: Productivity and light gaming. The most intense game he will play is Total War: Rome II

Monitors: A single 1920x1080. He has however expressed interest in dual and triple monitor setups.

Peripherals: Basically everything. However, the inclusion of Windows in the price is not required. Because of the nature of the build I'm going to cheap and will be using a Logitech K120 for the keyboard and mouse suggestions are welcome but I'll have to talk to him about that one.

Reason for Upgrade: Ruined laptop with porn, needs more gaming potential.

 

Timing: Literally one of the most unhelpful people in the world so I'm gonna push for the next two weeks but it's all really tentative.

 

My Build: This is what I came up with after a month of pushing parts and numbers around

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460

MoBo: ASrock H97M Pro4

RAM: 8GB 1600MHz Kingston HyperX Fury

GPU: EVGA GTX 950 2GB SSC ACX 2.0

Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP600 128Gb

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM

PSU: EVGA 500w 80+ Bronze

Case: Fractal Design Core 1100

Optical Drive: Asus CD/DVD

WLAN: GIgabyte GC-WB867D-I

Monitor: Asus VS238H-P

Keyboard: Logitech K120

 

OS: MS X Home (64-bit)

 

Final Price (All Components): $950.06

PCPartPicker Link: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rG44Lk

 

Final Notes

- Stock CPU cooler should be adequate because there will be no overclocking of any sort.

- It would be nice if you included cost of Windows

- I've stopped caring about the monitor because he's not going to notice/care so as long as its not completely terrible

- Wireless networking card is required because I'm not dealing with the potential, "Whats an ethernet cable" and whether or not he was a jack in his room

 

Edit: May be replacing the GTX 950 with an R7 370. Suggestions as to what 370 to get are welcomed as well as what you feel would be better. I forgot the 370 was a thing so yeah... I don't have any brand loyalty and he doesn't know the difference so all suggestions welcome!

 

I think thats everything...

[SPAS-ID]

Yeah its good, next time please the OS to Windows 10 not MS X

[DXMember]

950 --> 370

[TheGeeker]

Ethernet is a simple and big deal. Dont push it off like that. 

[ChasingPluto]

Yeah its good, next time please the OS to Windows 10 not MS X

It wasn't my idea. I got it from someone else on LTT and I liked it.

[ChasingPluto]

950 --> 370

Any recommendations on which board partner?

[ChasingPluto]

Ethernet is a simple and big deal. Dont push it off like that. 

So is not clicking on click-bait but here we are. I'll bring it up but I don't see logic/common sense winning. He can be stubborn sometimes.

[TheGeeker]

So is not clicking on click-bait but here we are. I'll bring it up but I don't see logic/common sense winning. He can be stubborn sometimes.

[Warchylde]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9k22sY

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9k22sY/by_merchant/

 

Includes price of OS, Monitor

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($175.88 @ OutletPC) 

CPU Cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 45.0 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler  ($19.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($66.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($39.89 @ OutletPC) 

Storage: Kingston SSDNow KC300 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($50.89 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card  ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($88.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($69.99 @ NCIX US) 

Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer  ($15.98 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.89 @ OutletPC) 

Monitor: Asus VS228T-P 60Hz 21.5" Monitor  ($97.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $965.45

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-18 01:42 EDT-0400

[ChasingPluto]

I whole-hearted believe in ethernet so I'll do my damnedest but we'll see

[Comessy]

"MS X Home (64-bit)"

I laughed harder than I should have

[ChasingPluto]

"MS X Home (64-bit)"

I laughed harder than I should have

I mean Windows 10 is good and all but MS X is just more fun. Shout-out the person whose signature introduced me to 'MS X'

[jimakos234]

got you an i5- r9 390, monitor, windows, pretty much everything, you dont really need wireless imo, but if you do, let me know

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($175.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($75.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($41.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($44.73 @ B&H)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 390 8GB PCS+ Video Card  ($289.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($45.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.89 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VS228T-P 60Hz 21.5" Monitor  ($97.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Logitech K120 Wired Standard Keyboard  ($8.49 @ Amazon)
Total: $984.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-18 06:37 EDT-0400