First custom build | Gaming + Work | $1200 budget

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
F

Fantasty

Honorable
Dec 18, 2013
8
0
10,510
This is my first ever build, so I'd like some input from other people before I finalize it. What I want to do with this PC: I'll mainly be using it for work, but I also want it to be able to run most of the games out there at the moment at maximum settings. I'm a web designer, so I'll be using Photoshop and other Adobe programs very often - most of the time simultaneously, so it has to be able to support that as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($281.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($20.70 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI B75A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($78.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($72.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($317.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Zalman Z9 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($20.65 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1138.21

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-18 10:55 EST-0500)

Thanks in advance!
 
Solution
Transmaniacon
Looks solid, but made a couple changes to get you a faster SSD and GPU, and a better PSU. Also updated to Haswell, and if you aren't overclocking you can use the stock Intel cooler. If you do plan on overclocking you need a 4770K, Z87 motherboard, and aftermarket CPU cooler.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($294.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI H87-G43 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($97.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($72.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ B&H)
Storage:...
Sort by date Sort by votes
Transmaniacon

Transmaniacon

Distinguished
Nov 3, 2008
1,617
0
20,160
Looks solid, but made a couple changes to get you a faster SSD and GPU, and a better PSU. Also updated to Haswell, and if you aren't overclocking you can use the stock Intel cooler. If you do plan on overclocking you need a 4770K, Z87 motherboard, and aftermarket CPU cooler.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($294.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI H87-G43 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($97.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($72.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card ($319.99 @ B&H)
Case: Zalman Z9 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($75.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($20.65 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1170.78
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-18 11:05 EST-0500)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
Niko_boy

Niko_boy

Honorable
Jul 16, 2013
536
0
11,160
You dont really need a Cpu cooler if you going for a NON OC build , because Intel has a good stock Cooler that will run it much cooler at its default clocks ..
may be for some future proof you wanna go for Overclocking Build!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
BigBAWZ

BigBAWZ

Honorable
Dec 25, 2012
298
0
10,860
Here's another suggestion. I would go with Haswell since Ivy Bridge will eventually go out, also I went with a GTX 770 for awesome performance in just about any application/game.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2mgK4
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2mgK4/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2mgK4/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Pro3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill AEGIS 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($73.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston HyperX 3K 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($329.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Zalman Z9 ATX Mid Tower Case ($41.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1034.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-18 11:04 EST-0500)

*Forgot to add $100 for the OS*
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
F

Fantasty

Honorable
Dec 18, 2013
8
0
10,510


Thank you very much! How much higher would you rate the R9 280X over the HD 7970? The problem is, I can get the HD 7970 one for $343 where I live (shipping from the US is not an option), while the R9 280X is much more expensive over here if I want an ASUS model (it costs $450). I can get a Club 3D one for $400 or a Sapphire one for $415, would you recommend I get those, knowing what they cost? I'm less familiar with those brands, so that's why I'm asking.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
F

Fantasty

Honorable
Dec 18, 2013
8
0
10,510
Thanks a lot so far guys.

I've decided to follow your advice and upgrade to Haswell. For me the HD 7970 GPU is by far the cheapest, so I'm going to stick with that. Also went for a MSI H87-G43 ATX LGA1150 motherboard as per Transmaniacon's suggestion. Sadly, they don't sell the PSU you recommended over here, so I went for a Cooler Master one with good reviews, 80+ Bronze certification and 750 Watt (should be enough if I ever decide to go Crossfire and add another GPU). I decided to stick with my current SSD, because it's fast enough for me as it is and I really value the 128 GB over the 120 GB, especially given the price.

My final build looks like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($294.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI H87-G43 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($97.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($72.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($356.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN951N 802.11b/g/n PCI Wi-Fi Adapter ($27.70 @ Amazon)
Case: Zalman Z9 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Cooler Master GX 650W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($74.98 @ OutletPC)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($20.65 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1235.46

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-19 06:55 EST-0500)

(Edit: I also added a Wireless Network Adapter, since I like to be able to use WiFi connections)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom