Need advice on new $2500-$3000 gaming/every day pc

thinkhard63

Honorable
Dec 18, 2013
5
0
10,510
Hi! So, I currently have an Asus G73-SW gaming notebook and well with my GTX 460M and i7-2630QM I feel like it's time for an upgrade. Also, since my current notebook is more like a movable desktop I decided it makes more sense to just get a desktop and a good looking monitor instead of another notebook.

With that said, my budget is around $2500-$2850. I really don't know too much about pc's and what works best although I do know some basics. I was looking online and came across CyberPower custom built pc's and found this http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Zeus_EVO_Thunder_Max .

I really don't know if that's a good buy or not, and when looking at it I would probably upgrade the sound card as I like good audio. If I can get someone else's insight who knows a thing or two more about this stuff that would be great!

Also, a friend mentioned looking at Dell's Aurora Gaming Desktop : http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-aurora-r4/pd?oc=DPCWNY1&model_id=alienware-aurora-r4#overrides=dpcwny1:2~L24930K;29~DQ1OE;3~32G164D;11~W8PROAE

However, as a gamer I am aware of the stereotypes that come with alienware and how they're mostly overpriced. I also did a quick google search on CyberPower PC as a company and it looks like getting a good functioning product from them is hit or miss.

Last but not least I also played around with ibuypower and came up with this build. Not really sure if everything works (if all the options are a good fit with each other) and decided to get the GTX 780 EVGA superclocked over the GTX 780 ti EVGA superclocked as i'm not sure the differences are worth $220 more. //www.ibuypower.com/Store/Gamer-Paladin-D879/W/201302

If anyone can help me out here, I would really appreciate it. Thanks :)
 

maurelie

Honorable
Hi,

-Prebuild PC's are too expensive, maybe you should build one yourself and get better parts.
-If you will be gaming. lets say 80% of the time, than you won't need more than i5 4670k
-Just saw the ibuypower PC, why would you even need an i7 4930k. It is just money thrown down the well if you are not going to use that processor to do heavily threaded applications and use it for rendering or 3D software.
-If you build and pick the parts yourself, you are looking at budget no more than $1500 for high end gamer.
 

thinkhard63

Honorable
Dec 18, 2013
5
0
10,510
The only issue is that to be honest, I have no idea how to build a pc. Therefore, these prebuilt and customizable ones are my best bet to get something I want. In terms of the ibuypower pc I will at times be using 3D software. However, lets say I were to downgrade to the i7-4820k (saving $300) and upgrading to DDR3 2133 + GTX 780 ti, would that in your opinion be a better option?
 

maurelie

Honorable
It is like saying ''i will buy a Ferrari, but maybe i will be driving it from time to time'' Building PC is not rocket science, there are many videos or tutorials on the web. I was afraid at first, but 5 PC's later, there was not a single problem with one of them. Just follow instructions, and you will be fine. If you don't have the time, and you have big budget, than get prebuild pc. But i am sorry i can not recommend any of the listed above, i know is not my money, maybe some other forum members will be more of a help then me. Sorry again :)
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator


Yeah I completely agree about IBUYPOWER / Cyberpower. They have some major quality control issues, and the markups on their rigs are completely ridiculous. Not to mention they don't even include the right hardware with their builds.

You can definitely build your own gaming rig for far less money than you would going through Cyberpower:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($222.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme 99.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme6 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($178.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vector 150 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($87.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card ($699.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Phantom 630 (Gunmetal) ATX Full Tower Case ($175.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: NZXT HALE90 V2 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($168.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1863.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-18 12:35 EST-0500)

Gives you a $500 difference to add OS, monitor (I suggest a good 2560 x 1080 or 2560 x 1440 27" display), a mechanical keyboard, and whatever mouse you want.
 
Something like this. 4770k is better.. 4930k is good with budget like this. CF R9 290 is maybe best option.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB Video Card ($457.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Series Primo Aluminum ATX Full Tower Case ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Lightning 1000W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Other: XSPC Raystorm 750 EX420 Extreme Universal CPU Water Cooling Kit ($190.00)
Other: EK Radeon R9-290X VGA Liquid Cooling Block - Acetal (EK-FC R9-290X ($107.00)
Other: EK R9-290X VGA Liquid Cooling RAM Backplate - Black CSQ (EK-FC R9-290X Backplate ($30.00)
Total: $1911.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-18 14:17 EST-0500)

Monitor:
http://www.amazon.com/QNIX-QX2710-LED-Evolution-DPort/dp/B00ENB4Q7U

For water cooling kit you need couple more fittings and maybe bit more tube. And couple plugs like this.
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17155/ex-tub-1476/Phobya_G14_Knurled_Low_Profile_Stop_Fitting_-_Vintage_Matte_Black_68245.html
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator


Depends on the usage. I don't think a 4930K is applicable for this type of system. The one thing I have heard in regards to LGA 1150 systems is that the CPUs overclock and scale better with higher RAM speeds (2133 and above) : http://www.anandtech.com/show/7364/memory-scaling-on-haswell

I'd stick with the GTX 780TI though over the Radeon R9 though because of all the overheating issues associated with the R9s: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-r9-290-driver-fix,3666.html
 


You tell this and that here. Not so long ago you did tell that never use faster than 1600MHz memory :lol:
Now you are suggesting to use faster memmory. Just waiting what next :) Yo just learn bit too slow IMO.

 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator


Well that is true that I did recommend that until this article was brought to my attention and I read through the whole thing, now I see the light. But saying I learn too slow? That's taking things a bit too far there. :no: