Help me make a workstation beast.

blue2kid3

Honorable
Jan 10, 2014
7
0
10,510
So let my explain my situation as I have read the amazing build replies for people.

I am returning my $1,200 lenovo laptop as I have noticed when Im at school or on the go I do light tasks but at home I play heavy 3D games and work on my programming ect.

So my plan is to return my laptop (Its defective anyway) and get a cheap $200 laptop for coffee shop work, And have a beast for home that I can upgrade when I need.

So I have been looking at lenovos E model workstation for entry level software creators and dells workstation as well they start at $799ish so I was wondering if building my own could get me more for less.

I will be honest I like my steam games and would love to play titan fall without getting an xbox one.
(so if I could get a graphics card to swap-out even would be cool {if that's even possible}) I would be doing beginner grunt work like java, flash games, and other application, game creation. But again would it be possible to play games on a workstations?

So Im looking for any advice would the pre-built workstation work or could you guys think of a custom machine that suites me better.

Quick requirements: Something to play the occasional game on, A pc for content creation, easily up-gradable, Price range MAX needs to be $1,000-$1,200.

Again you guys rock for even reading this post! Thanks for any advice!


 
How about this build?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($252.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($111.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($164.62 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($106.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($263.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($49.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1080.50
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-10 03:48 EST-0500)
 
Solution

blue2kid3

Honorable
Jan 10, 2014
7
0
10,510
Ok guys so I have been asking around and looking at others builds what do you think would be better of a cpu for gaming and programming and game creation.

amds top model FX-8320 or FX-9590 or intel i5 i5-4670K (maybe a mid or higher mid end i7)

here are my main struggles understanding:
high end Fx need a select few motherboards?
If I go with the i5 could I later reuse good parts and just swap the i5 to an i7 when I have more money to spend?
I hear amd is better for rendering (video and compiling software) due to it having 8 cores, but then some say intels 4 cores are better so Intel is better for it.

Again thanks a ton for all the help guys!
 

blue2kid3

Honorable
Jan 10, 2014
7
0
10,510
mm ill look into one this is the build I was playing with (disclaimer im new to building pcs)(I also trust your build over mine so far)

Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor $294.99 NCIX US
Motherboard

Asus MAXIMUS VI FORMULA ATX LGA1150 Motherboard $298.99
Memory

Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory $41.87
Storage

Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk $114.99
Video Card

MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card $259.99 -$10.00 $249.99
Case

Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case $109.99
Power Supply

Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply $59.99

Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer
Operating System

Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit - OEM (64-bit) $99.98
Total: $1275.75
 

blue2kid3

Honorable
Jan 10, 2014
7
0
10,510
What Im trying to sort out is what I feel I need.
A fast CPU that can render well and support heavy amount of apps open.
SSD 128gb sounds like a ton.
HDD 500-1T
usb 3.0 at least 3
good-great GPU
RAM 4 as a min is fine but I WILL upgrade asap to at least 16 max (maybe 32)
HDMI at least one if not 2 or 3

What I would enjoy but not needed now
sound card.
card reader (SD ect)
gigabyte Ethernet.
16 gb or ram.
cool looking case.

Hope maybe this helps again I trust others builds over my own I know how to work software a lot better than hardware.

Any and all advice is appreciated


 
This is better with near same price. Psu is bit small but works with this build.

Id you want bigger psu then Id must suggest this. http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-power-supply-lightning800

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2zrEm) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2zrEm/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2zrEm/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646e31230v3) | $243.08 @ SuperBiiz
**CPU Cooler** | [Thermalright Macho-120 73.6 CFM CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermalright-cpu-cooler-macho120) | $45.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-B85-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gab85hd3) | $88.99 @ Mwave
**Memory** | [G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9d8gbsr) | $81.50 @ NCIX US
**Storage** | [Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sandisk-internal-hard-drive-sdssdhp256gg25) | $164.62 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st3000dm001) | $106.99 @ NCIX US
**Video Card** | [MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-n770tf2gd5oc) | $334.98 @ SuperBiiz
**Case** | [BitFenix Ghost (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/bitfenix-case-bfcgho300kkn1rp) | $69.99 @ NCIX US
**Power Supply** | [Rosewill Capstone 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-power-supply-capstone450m) | $49.99 @ Newegg
**Optical Drive** | [Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas) | $16.99 @ Newegg
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit - OEM (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-885370635690) | $99.98 @ OutletPC
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $1303.10
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-11 08:41 EST-0500 |
 
If you sedle with 128GB SSD and with 1TB HDD then with 4770k + Z87 mobo it looks like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($319.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Macho-120 73.6 CFM CPU Cooler ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($143.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($81.50 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($92.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($329.99 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Ghost (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill Lightning 800W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit - OEM (64-bit) ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1371.37
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-11 09:00 EST-0500)