Looking to build a high end pc for the first time. Need a little help.

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 10, 2013

I have been toying around with the idea of building my own for the first time since I got Steam. Now I am fully ready to take the dive and build a gaming pc. I already have the monitor, keyboard and the mouse. All I need is a little guidance and some suggestions. I have about $2000 dollars I can sink into this, but no more and I would like to keep as much of that $2000 as I can while having a rather future proofed system.

This is the tower I want to use:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352029
(I like how simple it looks.)

Uther39 · Aug 10, 2013

This version is a better all round case.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352021

ps3hacker12 · Aug 10, 2013

For gaming I can't see going beyond this if its just for gaming:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler ($57.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($61.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($394.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define XL R2 (Titanium Grey) ATX Full Tower Case ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1004.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-10 15:24 EDT-0400)

alternate case you might like:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr4bl

If you enjoy fast boot and loading times:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler ($57.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($61.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($165.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($394.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define XL R2 (Titanium Grey) ATX Full Tower Case ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1170.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-10 15:26 EDT-0400)

The system has space for an SLI upgrade in the future too if you want to drop in another GTX770.

If you want even better performance a GTX780 or two 770s would be the way to go.

g-unit1111 · Aug 10, 2013

I'd probably put about $1200 into the PC and $200 into the display. Get something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.10 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($71.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1333.99
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-10 17:43 EDT-0400)

Nothing wrong with the above build except for the choice of cooler - those Antec Kuhlers are known to have issues associated with them.

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 10, 2013

I know you guys are recommending a mid tower, might I ask why? Wouldn't the full tower have more space for expansions and better airflow?

ps3hacker12 · Aug 11, 2013

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 :

I used your full tower case in the first build

For me its personal preference, i have a mid tower and already feel its pretty damn huge, but if you have the space than a full tower should be no problem.

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 11, 2013

ps3hacker12 :

I latched on to the case because I loved how simple it looked.

As for the builds, would they allow me to play Crysis 3 maxed out? If they can, I would figure I wouldn't have to upgrade it for a few years.

ps3hacker12 · Aug 11, 2013

Yes all of these builds would.

If you don't plan on SLIing/adding a second card then the 7970 Ghz edition would be an awesome choice for graphics card too.

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 11, 2013

ps3hacker12 :

Thanks for your help. I think I am going to go for the mid tower found here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352020

It seems like it would have enough room for me to SLI and even add more than 2 drives for added space and data back-up.

ps3hacker12 · Aug 11, 2013

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 :

Yeah thats a great case, remember to include extra case fans in your order IF you want extra case fans, (although its definetely not needed

)

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 11, 2013

ps3hacker12 :

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 :

Yeah thats a great case, remember to include extra case fans in your order IF you want extra case fans, (although its definetely not needed

)

How do you feel about liquid cooling? I never dealt with it before and the idea of having liquid that close to my system bothers me.

ps3hacker12 · Aug 11, 2013

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 :

Closed loop water cooling systems are awesome IMO and nowadays they don't contain conductive liquids so if they do break they shouldn't cause much problems (my friends build had this, where his PC fell from a shelf about 2 meters up and his PC crashed to a concrete floor, liquid came out but it never affected his system.)

citation needed

but in my experience so far if they are reliable and well known coolers, they are 100% fine.

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 15, 2013

I have most of the parts to my system. The only three things I am lacking are the case, the power supply and the OS. For the case I went with this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008HD3CTI/ref=oh_details_o03_s02_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Now I think it might be a mistake now that I see how freaking huge these two GTX 770s are.

ps3hacker12 · Aug 16, 2013

PSU for SLI 770s:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx750m

Windows 7 64bit:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-gfc02050

or if you don't mind windows 8:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700404

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 16, 2013

ps3hacker12 :

What I meant when I said that is that they are on the way. I just don't know if I can fit both of the cards into that case.

ps3hacker12 · Aug 16, 2013

Oh, clearance doesnt seem to be a problem, the first and second PCI-E slots are fairly high up the board so it will probably fit fine in the case.

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 17, 2013

I have to wait until Monday when I get the OS before I turn it on. Although I am tempted to set it up to dual boot Ubuntu and Windows 7.

So far, I think I have pieced everything together right. All of the parts fit perfectly.. I am just afraid to turn it on.

ps3hacker12 · Aug 17, 2013

Did you put the standoff's in correctly?

wow thats annoying that you have to wait for the OS, you could still see if it boots to BIOS, that would be a good sign.

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 17, 2013

ps3hacker12 :

Can't see the BIOS at all. I don't know whats wrong because I followed the guide on this site to a T.

All of the fans cut on and all I get is a black screen unless I connect the HDMI cable to one of the graphics cards, then it tells me to connect a powercable to it.

ps3hacker12 · Aug 17, 2013

Do the fans turn on and stay on?

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 17, 2013

ps3hacker12 :

All of the fans stayed on. Mind you the build is pretty much that same thing you posted, except for an added 770 and the Samsung SSD for quick booting with the 1TB for storage.

ps3hacker12 · Aug 18, 2013

Ok, thats a good sign, sounds like everything is working except your graphics card, make sure its in properly with the power cable in the graphics card and everything.

If not, try removing the graphics card and using integrated graphics see if that works, if not then something else might be wrong.

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 18, 2013

ps3hacker12 :

Okay, I screwed around with it and now I am getting a message that says: Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key."

Pressing a key just repeats the message.

ps3hacker12 · Aug 18, 2013

Ok, so the graphics card and everything seems to be working now?

Have you inserted the OS disk into the computer?

Hunter Ashpole-1386090 · Aug 18, 2013

ps3hacker12 :

The OS disk is the only part that I am waiting on. Everything else is here.

Looking to build a high end pc for the first time. Need a little help.

Honorable

Distinguished

Distinguished

Titan

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Share this page