Need help with my very first gaming PC build

th3cookie

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Dec 1, 2013
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Hi everyone!

This is my very first gaming pc build and just wanted to get some advice on my build and anything that can make it a little cheaper but still perform very well at max settings.

This PC will mainly be used for gaming and i want it to be able to run at MAX settings on most games, if not all. I will also be overclocking the CPU in the future.

My budget is around the $2,000 mark, a little over isn't a worry however it'd be great if i could reduce the price but keep the performance.

Would you guys recommend the graphics card or maybe an SLI or crossfire build?

Also, i've read alot of other builds on this forum and a lot of people recommend the i5, however with the rise of these new consoles, a lot of game developers will be coding in multi-core (correct me if i'm wrong) and i don't mind spending the extra $100 to future proof my CPU.

Also if there is anything that isn't compatible or is a waste of money please tell me (like the motherboard, i was thinking of the Asus Z87-A for $199 instead of the gigabyte listed below, what are your thoughts? is the Gigabyte better for gaming?)

My current build:

(I live in Australia and these are Australian figures)

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/2cBJZ

Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor - $379.00
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler - $39.00
Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD4H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard - $248.99
G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory - $99.00
Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk - $145.00
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive - $69.00
EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card - $659.00
NZXT Phantom (White) ATX Full Tower Case - $139.00
Corsair 760W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply - $255.00
LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer - $29.00

Total: $2061.99

Any extra advise would be helpful,
Thanks in advance! :)
 
Solution
[quoteJust one quick not from your build, the motherboard says: Memory Type - DDR3-1333/1600 but the memory you put in is: 1866. Will this affect the system at all? is it compatible with 1866 ram even though it doesn't state so?][/quote]

Here gigabyte say. http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4518#sp

4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory
* Due to a Windows 32-bit operating system limitation, when more than 4 GB of physical memory is installed, the actual memory size displayed will be less than the size of the physical memory installed.
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for DDR3 3000(O.C.) / 2933(O.C.) / 2800(O.C.) / 2666(O.C.) / 2600(O.C.) / 2500(O.C.) / 2400(O.C.) /...
How about this? Best case with amazing upgrade ability for watercooling.
This build enables you to go CF later. My suggestion is wait for video cards come out with better coolers.
Or if you go to water cooling then it do not matter. And for more save take cheaper case. (NZXT Phantom)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($265.00 @ PCCaseGear)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($39.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($195.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($99.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($105.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.00 @ CPL Online)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB Video Card ($489.00 @ Scorptec)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Series Primo Aluminum ATX Full Tower Case ($269.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Power Supply: XFX 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($139.00 @ PLE Computers)
Total: $1669.00
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-01 23:36 EST+1100)
 

Praise_Gaben

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Dec 1, 2013
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Looks great, i7 will be really futureproof and the gtx 780 will max out pretty much everything you throw at it. And in say 2 years you just buy an extra GTX 780. I would also go for a cheaper motherboard unless you are a die hard overclocker. Asus z87-a will be fine for a good overclock.

You can also go for i5 and gtx 770 and save the money for future upgrades.. on 1080p that will perform perfectly as well. Not that much difference in performance.
 

th3cookie

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Dec 1, 2013
19
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10,510
Hi AxlFone,

The build is very good for a little bit more of a budget than mine (i don't mind spending the extra money for e.g. the i7 instead of the i5 to future proof my machine a little).

Just one quick not from your build, the motherboard says: Memory Type - DDR3-1333/1600 but the memory you put in is: 1866. Will this affect the system at all? is it compatible with 1866 ram even though it doesn't state so?

I'll probably also stick with the 780 since this system is a gaming pc and i've seen it runs better than the r9 (from the sites i've seen)

Hi Praise_Gaben,
thanks!
i will probably go with the z87-a (i had it on before but apparently the gigabyte had better reviews and i was thinking since i'll be overclocking it anyway, i'll get a decent motherboard that can support the overclocking but since the z87-a can, i'll probably go with that)

thanks for your help guys!


 
[quoteJust one quick not from your build, the motherboard says: Memory Type - DDR3-1333/1600 but the memory you put in is: 1866. Will this affect the system at all? is it compatible with 1866 ram even though it doesn't state so?][/quote]

Here gigabyte say. http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4518#sp

4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory
* Due to a Windows 32-bit operating system limitation, when more than 4 GB of physical memory is installed, the actual memory size displayed will be less than the size of the physical memory installed.
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for DDR3 3000(O.C.) / 2933(O.C.) / 2800(O.C.) / 2666(O.C.) / 2600(O.C.) / 2500(O.C.) / 2400(O.C.) / 2200(O.C.) / 2133(O.C.) / 2000(O.C.) / 1866(O.C.) / 1800(O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 MHz memory modules
Support for non-ECC memory modules
Support for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules
So yeah 1866 MHz works just fine. Just faster than 1333/1600

Sure GTX 780 is good. But R9 runs all games better. And if you buy bigger res monitor it is eben better.
But sure. Both work just fine. R9 is just cheaper with better performance. And with 3 monitors it is best choice.

U think Asus PRO is way to go. Cheaper good option is Gigabyte X-D3H or UD3H. (depending price)
And do u need wifi+ bluetooth and how much connectors u need.
Hope this helps :) Good luck with build :)
 
Solution

th3cookie

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Dec 1, 2013
19
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Hi Axl, I've had a look and you're right, plus i can't go wrong with gigabyte motherboards! (my current PC is gigabyte)

I've changed to;
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H
Ram - G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory
SSD - Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk

Now my PC is a little cheaper and it has better hardware! :)

only one more question, does it matter which chipset i get in the graphics card? They have different chipsets like "Asus" or "EVGA" or "MSI" or "Gigabyte". Does it matter which one i choose or does it have to match my motherboard, in this case Gigabyte?

Thanks for your help :)
 
only one more question, does it matter which chipset i get in the graphics card? They have different chipsets like "Asus" or "EVGA" or "MSI" or "Gigabyte". Does it matter which one i choose or does it have to match my motherboard, in this case Gigabyte?

No chipset is not issue. Id look good video card with good cooler. (if you use air cooler)
Asus,Gigabyte,MSI makes best cooler solutions for video cards.
Then there is Zotac and they make really good performance cards. They OC really well and they give u 2+3 year warranty. And warranty is still on if you chance cooler for then card. U just need to register card to zotac site.

Look this. http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/59857-zotac-geforce-gtx-780-amp-edition-updated/

But u need good big psu to OC all out with fastest GTX 780's :) +1000w is good to have :) (with two cards)
 
only one more question, does it matter which chipset i get in the graphics card? They have different chipsets like "Asus" or "EVGA" or "MSI" or "Gigabyte". Does it matter which one i choose or does it have to match my motherboard, in this case Gigabyte?

No chipset is not issue. Id look good video card with good cooler. (if you use air cooler)
Asus,Gigabyte,MSI makes best cooler solutions for video cards.
Then there is Zotac and they make really good performance cards. They OC really well and they give u 2+3 year warranty. And warranty is still on if you chance cooler for then card. U just need to register card to zotac site.

Look this. http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/59857-zotac-geforce-gtx-780-amp-edition-updated/

But u need good big psu to OC all out with fastest GTX 780's :) +1000w is good to have :) (with two cards)
Btw. this is really good reliable psu for cheap price now.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-power-supply-lightning1000
Normal price is 170-200$ so it is cheap as paper now :D

But that is option for australia :( Sorry did forget that.
Just wonderingwhy they do not ship rosewill or super flower to aussie?

They are really good psu.. Better than cossie or seasonic.

 

th3cookie

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Dec 1, 2013
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ok cool i know a lot more now!

Thanks very much for your help! :)