Back to building: 1300-1500$ Gaming build for September!

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Ender P

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Jul 5, 2013
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I haven't built a desktop computer from scratch for about 5 years, but I'm planning to be somewhat more stable (only moving once every 2-3 years), so it is time!


Approximate Purchase Date: I will order parts last week of August (to be delivered around when I return to the US)

Budget Range: 1300-1500 USD

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Movies/TV Shows

Are you buying a monitor: Yes



Parts to Upgrade: I only have a keyboard, mouse, and a 128 GB Plextor SSD that I love.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes (I like Windows 7 better than 8, but read that 8 is faster)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg and Amazon

Location: Parts will be assembled in Rexburg, Idaho

Parts Preferences: I lean towards Nvidia/Intel because of poor experiences with AMD/Radeon

Overclocking: Yes! Nothing extreme, just the most I can do with a cheap cooler.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe, but in the distant future - unlikely.

Your Monitor Resolution: I want at LEAST 1080p. I could go higher if the price is right, and my other specs can handle the higher resolution.

Additional Comments: I want this to be as bland as possible. No lights, no bling, just as professional looking as can be. No window.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: My laptop cannot handle Planetside 2 or Battlefield 3


I have posted a build on PCpartpicker

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.98 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.46 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 4GB Video Card ($295.66 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Asus VS248H-P 24.0" Monitor ($178.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1188.01
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-05 16:38 EDT-0400)
 
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JMer806
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ksham

ksham

Splendid
Mar 29, 2013
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1. Since it fits your budget, upgrade to Haswell.
2. The G.Skill Ripjaws (non-X and non-Z models) are not good at overclocking. Just so you know.
3. The WD Black 1TB has longer warranty than the Blue. Worth considering if you can afford it.
4. The Corsair CX models are low-end PSU and so it is not optimal for your high-end gaming rig. Try a XFX 550W. It is really affordable and a very good PSU.

Other changes I would make, if you can, try to get a GTX 770. Work around various config and see if you can fit it in. Consider dropping to a 23" monitor which can be bought for $110 or so if you need some cash for the GTX 770.
 
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Ender P

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Jul 5, 2013
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1. What motherboard combo would you recommend for my rig if I go haswell?

2. Which RAM would be ideal for easy safe overclocking?

3. I will look into the black version.

4. I wasn't sure about which power supply to get. I don't want to overspend, but definitely would rather overspend on the PSU.

5. How much is the 770 compared to the 760?

6. I would like a monitor with very low input lag because I play counter strike. I'm flexible and open to suggestions on monitors. I want a good viewing angle in case I watch movies with another person in the room, but is more important that it not hour blur or lag.

 
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JMer806

JMer806

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Jun 12, 2012
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In your budget I'd definitely get Haswell and a Z87 board. I like Asus but Asrock and Gigabyte are also good choices here.

You should also bump up to a GTX 770. You'll see much better performance from what you've got and it's only about $100 more expensive - within your budget. If you do decide to stick with the 760, drop down to the 2GB version - with a single monitor you won't need 4GB video RAM.

As Ksham said, get a different PSU... I'd recommend Corsair TX series and above, XFX, Seasonic, etc. 550-650 watts is perfect for your system.
 
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JMer806

JMer806

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Jun 12, 2012
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Sorry we posted at the same time. I can answer some of these...

1. Here is a build with Haswell and a good Z87 MOBO: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1dChs

2. This is usually the RAM brand recommended for overclocking since it is low-voltage and very reliable. It is a bit pricier though: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-Extreme-MV-3V4G3D-US/dp/B00592002W/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373061240&sr=1-1&keywords=samsung+ram

4, 5, 6: In the build. For 6 in particular the monitor I picked is very good (I own one myself after searching for months for the best gaming monitor) with only 2ms gtg time, and it's even a bit cheaper than the one you'd chosen.


Note that all together it's more expensive than your build... with the RAM I mentioned (which doesn't seem to be on PCPartPicker) plus the build, it's about $1350.
 
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Ender P

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Jul 5, 2013
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10,510
Two questions now:

Will the 770 fit in the Fractal case?

Is there RAM that is pre-overclocked, or would I be better off just leaving the RAM alone? How much difference does overclocking the RAM make in games? I don't want to overspend on RAM for an unnoticeable difference in games.


Thanks, great answers so far everybody!
 
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JMer806

JMer806

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Jun 12, 2012
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Sorry it took so long to reply, I didn't see this response.

Re: the size of the case, specs are that it fits a GPU up to 470mm in length, though I am not sure if that is with the middle HDD cage removed. That's about 18.5", so yeah there's plenty of room for any GPU that I know of. Even with the HDD cage you should be able to easily fit an 11" or so card.

As far as pre-overclocked RAM, they do sell RAM clocked at higher speeds, but generally speaking they aren't worth the money. Unless you're benchmarking, you won't notice the difference between 1600 and 1866 RAM. With that said, if you want to buy it then stick with a very solid brand like G.Skill, Corsair, Samsung, etc, and just search for it on Newegg or wherever. They have several speeds above 1600.

 
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