First Gaming PC - 2500 max budget

danielcaceres · Aug 22, 2013

Hi everyone, I've done a lot of reading in the last few weeks and this is what I've come to:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1v4kJ

I would greatly appreciate any advice! specially since this is my first time

Regards,
Daniel

Matthew Randle · Aug 22, 2013

Looks very good!

But I'd change the CPU to an i7-3770k with that budget! And also 16GB ram, It will come in handy when you have a 780!

danielcaceres · Aug 22, 2013

Matthew Randle :

Thanks...I checked and the 4770k is priced practically the same...is the 3770k better for gaming? Also I'll use 16gb ram like you suggested

Matthew Randle · Aug 22, 2013

danielcaceres :

No the 4770k is actually better! Its a newer generation!

g-unit1111 · Aug 22, 2013

Matthew Randle :

Not for gaming, you want the 4670K for that. The original build has way too much money being invested in case fans, and the extra thermal compound is a waste of money. Most hydro coolers will have their own included that is made for that cooler. Then invest the money in a dual GTX 770 setup:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X60 98.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($107.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($108.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($399.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($399.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000G2 1000W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($197.04 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1935.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-22 18:38 EDT-0400)

FractalDesignCore · Aug 22, 2013

No No No No No This is way better. your i5 will be outdated before an i7.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($279.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($92.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($179.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Gaming Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($119.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($122.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital WD Black 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($266.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($479.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($479.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.50 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 850W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Professional (OEM) (64-bit) ($129.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $2372.37
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-22 19:17 EDT-0400)

g-unit1111 · Aug 22, 2013

FractalDesignCore :

No No No No No This is way better.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($279.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($92.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($179.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Gaming Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($119.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($122.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital WD Black 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($266.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($479.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($479.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Phantom (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 850W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($124.00 @ Amazon)
Total: $2381.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-22 18:56 EDT-0400)

I'll agree with most of this build except the i7. You just do not need it for a gaming rig.

danielcaceres · Aug 22, 2013

thanks to everyone for the quick responses...I've read here and on several other websites that i7 does not present any improvement on a gaming rig...but helps for video editing which I'm not into...I went with the h630 because it is a full tower case which gives me room for improvement in the future...I plan on making a custom water loop in the future. Also...what would be better a gtx 780 or two 770 sli?? Thanks in advance

FractalDesignCore · Aug 22, 2013

danielcaceres :

Go with the 2 sli gtx 770s. It kicks the singled 780s out of the water.

mourice12 · Aug 22, 2013

It all depends on the graphics cards. If you are doing a triple monitor setup,4k, or a very high res then 2 GTX 770's would be ideal. But for 1080p Id go with a GTX 780, better to get the fastest single GPU over 2 slower GPU's. It's all preference though, the 770's will give better performance but the 780 wont have the issue of SLI, which some games have.

FractalDesignCore · Aug 22, 2013

yeah i agree 1-2 monitors are good with sli gtx 770s but 4 monitors or above your going to need the sli 780s.

mourice12 · Aug 22, 2013

Yep yep. 1 monitor though go with a single 770 or 780. The AMD cards are stupid cheap now too. You can get a 7970 for like 312 bucks or something stupid like that

danielcaceres · Aug 22, 2013

Since I am new to this, I only had time to investigate nvidia cards....what would be the AMD equivalent to the 780....I'm planning on a single monitor 1080p setting so from what you guys recommended would be better...if I ever do a triple monitor setup it would be in a few years so if anything I would get another 780 which would be cheaper...or it's AMD equivalent...which is better?

mourice12 · Aug 22, 2013

AMD's only equivalent right now is the 7990 which is a dual GPU card and it honestly smokes the GTX 780 and is about 50-70 bucks more than a 780. The recent drivers for AMD has made it a very viable card. Otherwise 780 is king.

danielcaceres · Aug 23, 2013

mourice12 :

Just did some quick research on the 7990 and it is certainly above the 780...I'll defiitely go with that one....do you think I should use the fans that come with the case or buy better ones?

g-unit1111 · Aug 23, 2013

danielcaceres :

The bad thing is the 7990 has lots of driver issues and really can't be Crossfired.

mourice12 · Aug 23, 2013

Driver's have been fixed actually. 13.8 made the Frame latency really really really good actually. Also why would you Crossfire 2 7990? Overkill much

First Gaming PC - 2500 max budget

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