First build - What parts should I choose?

elemenopqrstuv

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Sep 14, 2013
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Hey guys! First, I've done a ton of research over the last couple months on building a computer. I've repaired hardware on computers in the past, but never built from the ground up. However, this may be one of the best communities for requesting build advice, so thanks in advance.

Now, I live in Massachusetts, but I'll be buying my parts in New Hampshire (no sales tax WHOO!). I'm not a huge gamer, I am a huge movie buff and watch them online regularly, and generally I want a system that is quick, responsive and I wont have any issues with (don't we all). Furthermore, while I don't spend days playing games like I used to, I want a system that's able to play some games I have my eye on (Rome 2, Final Fantasy: Realm Reborn). Below, I'll use Finneous' template to answer some questions you guys will undoubtedly have:

Approximate Purchase Date: To be honest, it doesn't matter as much. I would love to have it RIGHT NOW haha, but by the end of the year is cool too.

Budget Range: I don't really want to put a maximum on it. I just want a system that is able to suit my needs and more. I don't believe I will need a super system with 4-way SLI Titans, but a system that is able to kick ass with anything I throw at it.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Movies, Games, Surfing the internet, very rare photo editting or graphic design work.

Are you buying a monitor: Yes, but probably not right away, but we can talk about it, so I know I know what I am looking for. I'm looking to get the system built first. Then, I'll make sure it runs correctly and add the peripherals in slowly.


Parts to Upgrade: Just about everything haha. I might have a case if everything I want fits in it. Let's not talk about that though because I have like 10 cases and I'm more interested in getting your expertise on the parts I'll need. I'll buy a case if I need to.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes, not a fan of Window 8, so I'll be buying Windows 7
Please note that if you're using an OEM license of Windows, you will need a new one when buying a new motherboard.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I have my heart set out on acquiring my parts in NH because I hoping I'll get better service if things go awry(just going back to the store instead of staying on hold with a call center for 30 minutes and have someone explain a cancellation policy to me and then hopefully getting my replacement parts a couple weeks later). If I do buy online, I would like to get the best value, so what ever website provides me with the best deal.

Location: I'm on the border of Massachusetts and NH. I don't mind travelling 200 miles in order to get a significantly better deal if you guys know of a store up here.

Parts Preferences: I've had good experiences with AMD and Intel CPUs, but I'm not nearly as experienced as some other people and I've heard Intel CPUs are the way to go. I really want the Geforce 770 because I believe I'll be able to max out the graphics on the games I play with it, but let me know if you think it is appropriate for me.

Overclocking: Maybe, I chose an i5-4670K in my build on pcpartpicker (entire build is below). I'm not opposed to overclocking. I wont do it to begin with, though. I'm not interested in spending on an expensive cooler right away because I don't think I'll need it for the games that I play.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe, if I need to down the line. I chose the MSI Z87 MPOWER Max as my motherboard. Mainly, because it looks pretty upgradable, but really not sure with this chose. What do you think? I want USB 3.0 because my case will be equipped with it.

Your Monitor Resolution: Not sure here. I was just going to attach it to the monitors I have now, but I definitely want to upgrade. I heard 1900 x 1200 LED is the way to go. Do you think I'll need it?

Additional Comments: I really don't want or need anything flashy. A quiet PC is nice since I'll be watching movies, but I believe I could attach some switches to each fan and turn them off if I needed to.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I can't a few games that I've wanted to play and my computer is a POS. I've always wanted to build my own computer. I need something to do...haha

CPU: Intel i5-4670K 3.4 GHz - $230.00
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54670k

Cooler: will use CPU equipped heatsink for now.

MOBO: MSI Z87 MPOWER Max - $268.00
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z87mpowermax

RAM: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory - $143.00

Storage: A-Data XPG SX900 256GB SSD - $217.00
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/a-data-internal-hard-drive-asx900s3256gmc
and
Western Digital 1TB WD10EXED - $60.00
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex

Video Card: MSI Geforce GTX 770 2GB - $400.00
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-n770tf2gd5oc

Case: Whatever works out. I chose the Thermaltake VN300M1W2N ATX Full Tower Case in my build on pcpartpicker mainly because I like the feet on the bottom of the case. Lawl, I bet you don't hear that often.- $160.00

PSU: SeaSonic 650W ATX12V - $140.00
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-ss650km

OS: Windows 7 - $90.00

Total: $1708.00

Prices are from TigerDirect because I think there's one in NH. However, they are pretty expensive, so I may look somewhere else.

So, what do you guys think? Do I need a 770? Will the MOBO allow for the later expansion I want? What do you think is the best case for my build? Am I wrong about all of it?

EDIT: Forgot to put RAM in. Whoops...adjusted total
 
Solution
Too much to aswer right now. But I did made you build.
How this build stricks for you? Case is not normal but good normal case you can get 100$ price. Like Fractal R4 good silent case. Build is made xeon because it is cooler than 3570k /4670k so it is more silent. It do have power. It is like 3770 but no iGPU and it do have HT + 8 Treads. New lga xeon 1230V3 is just overpriced now.
This is same price as the 3570k /4670k and it is better because if you OC is maybe. You can same forget it and take xeon. Cpu coole is there just for ssilece.Fans you can removeand trow away drom that cooler. :) Case maybe need couple silet fans. Corsairs case fans are not best silent fans.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($125.74 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 680 2GB Video Card ($363.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair Air 540 ATX Desktop Case ($124.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G-750 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($95.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1395.62
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-14 10:52 EDT-0400)

If you like BIGFULLTOWER CASE then you need to look rosewill blackhawk ultra or Enermax Fullmo GT.
Rosewill Thor V2 is good big too.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6854/rosewill-blackhawk-ultra-case-review-were-it-not-for-competition
 

elemenopqrstuv

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Sep 14, 2013
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Interesting...Couple questions, for the most part, I guess I'm making a gaming rig. I usually don't see people value the CPU as much in this scenerio. Do you think the Xeon is necessary? I'm not knocking the suggestion. I just usually hear that the i5 is more than enough for gaming.

Also, do you think the 680 will last for a couple years? I mean I might go SLI eventually anyways, but I don't want to be stuck with a sub-par GPU a year from now. At $40.00 more too I think the best bet is the 770.

Reason I chose the MSI Z87 mobo was because of the ram compatibility up 3000mhz and just about everything under that. RAM is extremely easy to upgrade for some quick, relatively cheap speed. While I wont be getting 3000mhz RAM right away I thought that maybe I could make the jump later. Also, the Z87 has the 8 6GB/s SATAs that caught my eye. The Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H only has RAM mhz up to 1600 and only 3 6GB/s SATAs. Do you think the MSI board is worth the extra $140 for what I am using the computer for?

I wont need 3TBs of storage. I usually just watch the movies and delete them. If I do save them, it's only for a couple months max. I like the SanDisk SSD suggestion a lot though. I'll be saving a lot of money there.

I like the case you chose even if it is a bit wide. I do like Fractal Designs too. Silence is nice, but it's not entirely necessary. I'm confident I could quiet the computer down if need be. I'm not as concerned about the case as I am the parts inside it.

Looks like the SeaSonic 750W is cheaper than the 650W I chose, so I like that quite a bit.

As far as the optical drive goes, it's not needed. I have one from an old computer I'll be using for now. I'll be adding a BluRay in eventually, but that's the very least of my concerns about my build.
 

Blaise170

Honorable


The Xeon is a full blown server CPU, so it's not at all necessary for gaming. The i5-4670K is just fine and is one of the best Intel CPUs for gaming. Give me a second to put a build together.

P.S. PCPartPicker.com is a really great site, shows you the cheapest prices around the net. Newegg is really good for ordering, they have killer deals and usually get the items to you within a week.

Edit: This build should play anything at max settings. Look up GTX 770 benchmarks for more information on the card. If you don't want to spend quite this much, certain things can be downgraded like the case and things.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($385.91 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced ATX Full Tower Case ($138.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($12.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1132.80
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-14 12:14 EDT-0400)
 

elemenopqrstuv

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Sep 14, 2013
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18,510


This is great. Thanks! Really love the motherboard choice. I'll probably add an SSD and Windows 7, but I love this build. Does anyone know the best place to purchase all of these items? Will the internet allow me the best deals? How about service? I was thinking about purchasing in New Hampshire, does anyone know a good place to purchase computer parts in NH?
 
Interesting...Couple questions, for the most part, I guess I'm making a gaming rig. I usually don't see people value the CPU as much in this scenerio. Do you think the Xeon is necessary? I'm not knocking the suggestion. I just usually hear that the i5 is more than enough for gaming.
Yes you are making a gaming rig. You must understand couple things what maker xeon better than 3570k /4670k. It is same chip as the 4770 it us just cut down to iGPU.
This makes it 10degree cooler than i5 . Then it do have HT + 8 treads. So it is cheap and its fast. This cheap beats 2011 3820. Cheao and fast and cool they was your wish.
Cool means silence.

Also, do you think the 680 will last for a couple years? I mean I might go SLI eventually anyways, but I don't want to be stuck with a sub-par GPU a year from now. At $40.00 more too I think the best bet is the 770.

Same thing here. 680 takes less wattage.
Did you look how much other 680 cards cost ? This was really good deal. You are fine with that five years or so.
Look here: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_770_review,5.html
And how fast is 680 really fast.. read that gtx 770 test and look how much the difference is. And what games benefit over the GTX 770.

Reason I chose the MSI Z87 mobo was because of the ram compatibility up 3000mhz and just about everything under that. RAM is extremely easy to upgrade for some quick, relatively cheap speed. While I wont be getting 3000mhz RAM right away I thought that maybe I could make the jump later. Also, the Z87 has the 8 6GB/s SATAs that caught my eye. The Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H only has RAM mhz up to 1600 and only 3 6GB/s SATAs. Do you think the MSI board is worth the extra $140 for what I am using the computer for?

Intel cpu support only 1600MHz 1.5V memory. Same thing with 4670k.
1150 chipset do have more sata ports. But with HDD you really do not benefit with sata 3 ports anything. Same thin with faster memory. You just burn you chip with using faster memory.

I like the case you chose even if it is a bit wide. I do like Fractal Designs too. Silence is nice, but it's not entirely necessary. I'm confident I could quiet the computer down if need be. I'm not as concerned about the case as I am the parts inside it.

Looks like the SeaSonic 750W is cheaper than the 650W I chose, so I like that quite a bit.

As far as the optical drive goes, it's not needed. I have one from an old computer I'll be using for now. I'll be adding a BluRay in eventually, but that's the very least of my concerns about my build.
Quoted 1 times
I was trying to buil good fast long lasting pc for you. So cheap I can but so cheap that it will come slow or unstable. This was really kick ass build :)
Good hope you enjou your new build :) Good luck :)





 

Blaise170

Honorable


Not really sure about NH, but you'' usually find better deals online. PC stores are usually more expensive because they have to make a little bit of profit to stay in business. Newegg, Amazon, and Outlet PC are some of the better choices. If you use pcpartpicker.com, the site shows you the cheapest place to buy each part.
 
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