Building a new PC for a friend

gman_42

Honorable
Jun 4, 2012
157
0
10,690
A friend of mine wants to get into PC gaming but has no idea how to budget a build. I have suggested the budget of $1500 CAD, $1200 for the components themselves. Here are the details:

Approximate Purchase Date: Soon (?)

Budget Range: 1300-1500 Before Rebates; Before Shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming and gaming only

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Parts to Upgrade: 100% new

Do you need to buy OS: Yes (8 would be good)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: NCIX.ca is good, Newegg.ca, Canada Computers if they have the parts you have in mind.

Location: Ontario, Canada

Parts Preferences: Intel is a must, NVIDIA is preferred, Corsair is nice too

Overclocking: No, I can't imagine that'd go over well with him

SLI or Crossfire: Probably not

Monitor (to buy) Resolution: 1080p is the resolution I would pick, he's not sure

Additional Comments: KB and Mouse, too, plus the mouse should be ambidextrous or lefty. Wifi will probably be used as it will be far away from the router.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: He got into CS:S which he can play now but he wants to play BF4 and really sample what PC Gaming has on offer.

Got any ideas?

Anything I'm missing just ask.
 

whitecat

Honorable
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($90.64 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($334.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Microcenter)
Monitor: Philips 227E4LSB 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($120.58 @ Newegg)
Total: $1096.13
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-08 10:28 EST-0500)
 
This is good quality and well balanced build.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.79 @ DirectCanada)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U14S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($77.12 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($143.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($84.60 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($185.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.75 @ Vuugo)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card ($419.00 @ Vuugo)
Case: BitFenix Ghost (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($87.58 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: Rosewill Lightning 800W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($144.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $1512.78
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-08 10:33 EST-0500)

But because you need monitor. Do it like this. This monitor
http://www.amazon.com/QNIX-QX2710-Evolution-LED-Monitor/dp/B00BUI44US

+ build.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.79 @ DirectCanada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.79 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($143.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($84.60 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($63.61 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card ($419.00 @ Vuugo)
Case: BitFenix Ghost (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($87.58 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: Rosewill Lightning 800W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($144.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $1223.33
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-08 10:39 EST-0500)

Monitor seems like expensive but it is not. It gives same quality as Dell 27" 2560 monitor and that is expensive.
 

Oleonius

Distinguished
Jul 29, 2011
448
1
18,960
I did two builds, one including the monitor, keyboard and mouse and the other with only the PC. The prices are from Newegg Canada.

With peripherals:

PC

CPU: Intel Core i5 4670 Haswell 3.4 GHz

Heatsink: Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z87X-D3H

GPU: Gigabyte GTX 660

Power supply: Seasonic G Series 550W

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1 TB

SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 120 GB

Memory: G. SKILL Ripjaws X 8 GB @ 2400 MHz

Case: Corsair Carbide 400R

Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS

Peripherals

Monitor: Acer G236HL
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009421

Mouse: Logitech G500s
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104857CVF

Keyboard: Logitech G105
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126327



Price: 1510$ (including taxes and shipping)

Without peripherals:

CPU: Intel Core i5 4670K Haswell 3.4 GHz

Heatsink: Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H

GPU: EVGA GTX 770 Superclocked

Power supply: XFX Pro 650W Bronze

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1 TB

SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 120 GB

Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8 GB @ 1600 MHz

Case: Corsair Carbide 500R

Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS


Price: 1515$ (including taxes and shipping)