New gaming computer

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
M

MrScribble

Honorable
Jun 6, 2013
36
0
10,530
I'm looking to by a new gaming rig and I was wondering if anyone could put one together for me using these specifications. Thanks!


Purchase date: Start of June

Budget: I would like to spend $1500 but I am willing to spend up to $1750 if necessary.

System Usage (from most to least important): Gaming, game programming, rendering videos, word processing.

Buying a monitor?: No

Parts to upgrade: N/A (I am buying all new parts)

Buying O/S?: Yes, windows 8 home

Preferred website: http://www.canadacomputers.com/

Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Preferred brands: Intel i7 CPU, water cooling (moving the pc a lot)

Overclocking: Yes

Crossfire: No

Why upgrading: Old computer can't play many games, to use in University as a game programmer.
 
Solution
J


In your shoes, I'd do things a little differently: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/1bQS6

However, the only alteration I'd consider vital would be changing the PSU. At this budget, there's no excuse for getting something not made by SeaSonic (that said, with brands like XFX, you can avoid paying SeaSonic prices for SeaSonic products).
Sort by date Sort by votes
M

MrScribble

Honorable
Jun 6, 2013
36
0
10,530


I do not need a screen, and I plan to go to university as a video game developer, and will need an i7 for some of the programs I will need to use
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I

ikaz

Distinguished
Dec 27, 2005
2,192
0
20,460
Question about your GPU selection put AMD but you also put maybe Xfire/SLI. The thing is AMD right doesn't have good xfire drivers (though I'm running xfire'ed 7870LE's) but for single card configuration they are good. With that being said do you know what applications you will be using at the university ? Depending on the 3d applications you plan to use would/could help determine which is better nvidia cuda, or AMD direct compute power.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

MrScribble

Honorable
Jun 6, 2013
36
0
10,530


I have a feeling I would be doing a lot with C++, adobe flash Cs6 and JavaScript, if you believe that nvidia is better for those applications I would be fine using one of their GPUs, and if you didn't know C++ does have a lot of 3D
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
J

Jack Revenant

Honorable
Apr 16, 2013
2,625
0
13,160
Your intending build date is September. As a result, you should come back closer to September. The builds we design include (usually) multiple sales which won't run for months on end, as well as combos which may be removed, and parts from suppliers whose inventories may deplete. And that's not even considering how prices could shift in that time, or what might come out.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ballerslife

ballerslife

Distinguished
Jan 26, 2013
517
0
19,010
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ NCIX)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($137.88 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.98 @ NCIX)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($419.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($97.99 @ NCIX)
Total: $1559.78
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-21 14:49 EDT-0400)

You have an i7 for good editing. 16GB of RAM too which is essential if you are doing any kind of coding/editing work. The more RAM the merrier. A 120GB SSD for loading games/windows, the 840 pro is the fastest SSD in the market. 1TB HDD for mass storage.

Nivdia is better for 3D, and the Cuda cores it has is also a big plus. Not to mention better drivers/performance than a 7970.

Got you a beautiful and silent case. The PSU has a reputable brand and is also modular.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
J

Jack Revenant

Honorable
Apr 16, 2013
2,625
0
13,160
Ballerslife offers a good option. Here's my suggested alternative:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ NCIX)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($73.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($124.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Mushkin Chronos Deluxe MX 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($108.00 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($398.99 @ DirectCanada)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($97.99 @ NCIX)
Total: $1513.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-21 20:14 EDT-0400)

Since ballerslife already offered a quiet build, I designed this one for superior cooling. The Phantom 410 is an excellent case, and the Noctua will allow some truly impressive overclocks. The PSU may look like a step down, but all XFX PSUs are SeaSonic-made, so it's not a meaningful loss in quality.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ballerslife

ballerslife

Distinguished
Jan 26, 2013
517
0
19,010


It's a good build although your PSU isn't modular. Other than that, it looks fine.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
J

Jack Revenant

Honorable
Apr 16, 2013
2,625
0
13,160


I use a closed-loop water cooler (the NZXT Kraken x60, to be specific), and have had no issues with it in spite of carting my machine around more than I'd prefer. I haven't used a custom loop, however, so I can make no comment in that regard.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

MrScribble

Honorable
Jun 6, 2013
36
0
10,530


How does it preform in comparison to a typical CPU cooler? Also is it much more expensive?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
J

Jack Revenant

Honorable
Apr 16, 2013
2,625
0
13,160


The performance has been stellar, and the comparisons I've seen placed the Kraken x60 above all the air coolers, though the Noctua NH-D14 was fairly close behind it. However, power definitely comes at a price: the Kraken is around twice as expensive as the NH-D14.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

MrScribble

Honorable
Jun 6, 2013
36
0
10,530


Would you then say that the water coolers work like graphics cards, you get
a 10% increase in proformance for a 50% price increase?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
J

Jack Revenant

Honorable
Apr 16, 2013
2,625
0
13,160


Fairly accurate. Performance to price pretty much starts with the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo and goes downhill. Obviously, however there are times when you need more than a Hyper 212 Evo can provide, so it's all about weighing the pluses and minuses. For example: while it's a great cooler, the NH-D14 is quite heavy, and there have been some reports of warped motherboards after long-term use (that said, accounts vary, so I don't consider it by any means assured that a NH-D14 would cause harm to your motherboard, it's just something you want to factor). Liquid coolers also decrease the amount of waste heat in your case, and in the case of the custom loops allow for the absolute highest tier of performance, as well as customization options such as including your graphics cards in your loop. On the counter, you need a case which can mount the specific radiator(s) your cooler or loop use (the Kraken x60, for example, only fits in a very limited number of cases due to its 2x140mm radiator). Ultimately, it's a very complex decision based on a lot of factors. That said, in absolute cooling terms, you definitely have diminishing returns after a certain point (which I tend to consider to be the NH-D14).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

MrScribble

Honorable
Jun 6, 2013
36
0
10,530


Would the Kraken x60 work with the case you recommended?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

MrScribble

Honorable
Jun 6, 2013
36
0
10,530


What does a non modular PSU mean?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ballerslife

ballerslife

Distinguished
Jan 26, 2013
517
0
19,010


Meaning the cables on your PSU is forever stuck in it. You can't switch it around or take out redundant cables. Makes for messy cable management.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

MrScribble

Honorable
Jun 6, 2013
36
0
10,530


Would your PSU work on his build?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
J

Jack Revenant

Honorable
Apr 16, 2013
2,625
0
13,160


According to NZXT's spec sheet, it would, technically. However, they seem to indicate that modification would be required. If you wanted the Kraken x60, I would probably recommend upgrading to a NZXT Phantom 630 or Switch 810, both of which can fit the cooler without alteration.



His PSU would definitely work with the build I suggested.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom