First Computer Build - Intel Core i5 8400

[kllstvns]

Hello World, 

 

I have been planning on building my own PC for a while now. I've put together what I think is my final product using PC Parts Picker Canada. I am looking for some refining tips and possibly some dollar shaving tricks. I am willing to take my time to assemble everything to ensure the best possible combination of hardware for my money. All currency values are in CAD.

 

My current choice of hardware:

 

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor - $229.50

CPU Cooler: Corsair - H60 Liquid AIO Cooler - $69.99
MotherBoard: Asus - ROG STRIX Z370-E GAMING ATX LGA1151 - $249.25

Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 - $249.99

Storage: Samsung - 960 EVO 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive - $149.99

Video Card: Asus - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB STRIX Video Card - $298.99

Power Supply: Corsair - RMx 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular - $119.99

Case: NZXT - S340 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case - $118.99

 

The current total retail price before taxes: $1486.69. 

I would like to bring the total price down to under $1500.00 AFTER taxes.

 

PC Parts Picker Link: https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/user/kllstvns/saved/zDF6XL

 

Please evaluate, comment and make changes to my build according to your knowledge and experience. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated and taken into consideration. I will make changes to this forum as I receive questions, feedback and alternatives.

 

Thanks Everyone!

 

K. Stevens

 

[thelordofwarr]

You could get a Standart s340 or a h700i(but I don't know the price of that now) also you could go to data sad or a HDD, because you might need more than 250 GB of storage)after windows I would say 200gb) also maybe cut the RGB from the ram, saves some money too

[brob]

Instead of the H60 cpu cooler you could use the stock cooler that comes with the cpu. Another option would be using an air tower cooler like the Cryorig H7. The i5-8400 is a locked 65W TDP part and so its cooling requirements are less demanding than an unlocked cpu.

 

Instead of the NVMe M.2 drive, I would suggest a larger SATA III ssd. In a gaming and general use system the performance difference will not really be noticeable.

 

The maximum power draw of all components will not exceed 250W based on manufacturers' specs. A 450W psu is more than enough to hand the build as is with a very generous allowance for upgrades. Enough in fact to comfortably handle a GTX 1080.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor  ($229.50 @ Vuugo) 
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($46.75 @ Amazon Canada) 
Motherboard: Asus - Prime Z370-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($199.00 @ Mike's Computer Shop) 
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  ($249.99 @ Amazon Canada) 
Storage: Crucial - MX500 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($167.00 @ shopRBC) 
Video Card: Asus - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB STRIX Video Card  ($298.99 @ Mike's Computer Shop) 
Case: NZXT - S340 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($118.99 @ PC-Canada) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Gold 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($84.99 @ Newegg Canada) 
Total: $1395.21
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-03-03 16:47 EST-0500

[Jurrunio]

I dont like stuff that doesnt have a major selling point, and that's the case with the Corsair H60 and all other 129mm rad liquid cooler. The i5-8400 doesnt produce enough heat to need one, while overclockable 8600k and 8700k find them too weak to surpress the heat. For the i5, the stock cooler will do (at most needs undervolting). If you want to be prepared with a CPU upgrade by getting the future cooler now, get something at least a 240mm rad liquid cooler, or an air cooler with big heatsink (R1, NH-D15 etc)

 

SSDs are fast, while NVMe ones have higher transfer rate than SATA ones. However, the transfer rate doesnt matter unless you move huge stuff around all the time. What makes SSDs a must-have is their very short response time, which is similar on both SATA and NVMe SSDs. I'd get the 500GB 850 Evo/860 Evo/MX500 or 525GB MX300 instead.

 

RGB on RAM costs quite a bit of money, but I think you already know that. What I can say is that 2800-3000MHz RAM only leads to a tiny performance decrease while being noticeably cheaper at times.

 

Never into premium cards like this strix on something lower on the grade like the 1050ti. It's like using money to cover up the fact that it's still a 1050ti, not something faster. Not that I dont understand why, but I might as well get something cheaper.

 

That's kind of expensive for a case. I'd look elsewhere myself, but since a case can be used for a long time if maintained properly, it's up to you.

 

20 minutes ago, brob said:

The maximum power draw of all components will not exceed 250W based on manufacturers' specs. A 450W psu is more than enough to hand the build as is with a very generous allowance for upgrades. Enough in fact to comfortably handle a GTX 1080.

Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Gold 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($84.99 @ Newegg Canada) 

No point for 80+ Gold certification for a 450w unit. Get some cheaper Bronze rated unit instead.

[Herman Mcpootis]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor  ($389.75 @ Vuugo) 
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370 Pro4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($119.50 @ Vuugo) 
Memory: Team - Night Hawk RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory  ($199.88 @ Amazon Canada) 
Storage: Crucial - MX500 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($99.25 @ shopRBC) 
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB Mini Video Card  ($448.99 @ Mike's Computer Shop) 
Case: Fractal Design - Define C with Window ATX Mid Tower Case  ($79.99 @ Newegg Canada) 
Power Supply: Cooler Master - MasterWatt 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($58.99 @ Amazon Canada) 
Total: $1396.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-03-03 21:21 EST-0500

[Streetguru]

21 hours ago, kllstvns said:

Video Card: Asus - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB STRIX Video Card - $298.99

Why?
 

 

16 hours ago, herman mcpootis said:

Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB Mini Video Card  ($448.99 @ Mike's Computer Shop) 

Whyyy?

I highly suggest you just live with a Ryzen APU for now and save your money for next generation GPUs down the line

 

Will be alright for 1080p gaming

Motherboard may need a BIOS update

Could get 16GBs of RAM just for future use.
 

PCPartPicker part list: https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/hp3TWD
Price breakdown by merchant: https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/hp3TWD/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 3 2200G 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($129.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($104.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: ADATA - 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-3000 Memory  ($98.99 @ PC-Canada)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  ($104.00 @ Mike's Computer Shop)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Case: Cooler Master - MasterCase Pro 3 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($55.99 @ PC-Canada)
Power Supply: Cooler Master - MasterWatt 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($58.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Total: $602.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-03-04 13:21 EST-0500

[VEXICUS]

14 hours ago, Streetguru said:

Why?
 

 

Whyyy?

I highly suggest you just live with a Ryzen APU for now and save your money for next generation GPUs down the line

 

Will be alright for 1080p gaming

Motherboard may need a BIOS update

Could get 16GBs of RAM just for future use.
 

PCPartPicker part list: https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/hp3TWD
Price breakdown by merchant: https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/hp3TWD/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 3 2200G 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($129.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($104.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: ADATA - 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-3000 Memory  ($98.99 @ PC-Canada)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  ($104.00 @ Mike's Computer Shop)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Case: Cooler Master - MasterCase Pro 3 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($55.99 @ PC-Canada)
Power Supply: Cooler Master - MasterWatt 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($58.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Total: $602.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-03-04 13:21 EST-0500

R3 2200g sucks at gaming....even it's bigger brother struggles to get about 40-50fps at low-mid settings. 

 

Streetguru just know it urself what u r suggesting others....

 

Also...currently, GPU prices are ridiculously very high

[Streetguru]

2 minutes ago, vexicus365 said:

Also...currently, GPU prices are ridiculously very high

Which is why APUs are pretty good choices for now, can still game until GPU pricing is back to normal.