Looking to build a 4 monitors system / casual gaming (<$450)

JJB303 · Jan 22, 2014

Hi there, I just had my ASUS of 5 years crap out on me and it's time for something new. I've often toyed with building my own system from scratch... but with the amount of parts available... it's quite daunting and not sure I even know where to start picking parts.

So basically what I'm looking for is to keep it <$450 and preferably closer to $350. I need something that can handle up to 4 monitors and some casual gaming (SimCity, RPGs, etc - nothing as intensive as Call of Duty but if we can get there, cool) and possibly the occasional video editing, again not hard core crunching a full length feature, just some GoPro footage.

I'd like it if somebody can create a list of parts to purchase and links if possible. I'm an Amazon prime member so hopefully that can help cut some shipping costs

Here is what I current have from old systems:
mouse/keyboard/monitors (monitors have both VGA and DVI)
1TB hard drive with Win7 installed
3x 2GB PC2-6400 memory (i'm fine with upgrading if we shouldn't use the existing)
Optical drive (DVD multi-recorder it says)

Not sure one what else I'll need and to keep everything compatible so that where I'm hoping this community can help out!! As for the new tower, I'm thinking something that has more of that Gamer Rig look than just the standard desktop look... other than that; I'm open to suggestions. Guessing I need 2 graphics cards?? or do they make 4 ways?

If I'm missing anything, just let me know.
Thanks!!
Jason

Joe Coste · Jan 22, 2014

Before we start picking out parts, I just want to make sure of something. You want to build a gamer rig that can support 4 monitors and have dual video cards in SLI, or even 4 way SLI with a budget of $300-400?

JJB303 · Jan 22, 2014

Joe Coste :

Shoot... how can i unsolve..... No for the 4 monitors, it is basically home office type stuff. I don't think i'll need the SLI, which I understand to be "joining" multiple graphics cards to increase the performance? Just basically a system to give me 4 different screens with 4 different programs running.

USAFRet · Jan 22, 2014

JJB303 :

Done.

JJB303 · Jan 22, 2014

thanks for the un-solved USAFRet!!

JustANewUser · Jan 22, 2014

400$ and want 4 monitors? Didn't know that was possible!

JJB303 · Jan 22, 2014

I already have the 4 monitors... just trying to figure out how to build the rest. I've seen some cards on amazon for $80 that claim to do 4 monitors... but 1) don't know the quality and 2) need a new PC so would rather build something than buy one at the store to put in that cheap-o 4-monitor card.

Beezy · Jan 22, 2014

a GPU designed around multi monitor gaming and stuff like the graphics card 780ti exceeds your budget alone...you can maybe get a GPU like a HD 7000 series or the r9 270x at minimum but *gaming* on all 4 monitors at once will suck. u might get away with just casual use on 4 monitors..

Beezy · Jan 22, 2014

that is, those lower end cards that "support" up to 4 monitors have 4 inputs in the back, usually 2 DVI, a HDMI and a display port. Doesn't mean it will perform well with your tasks at hand..

JJB303 · Jan 22, 2014

The gaming will be minimal at best.. mostly screwing around while i'm "working".... at most i can see the following

monitor 1 = outlook
monitor 2 = company web applications
monitor 3 = internet
monitor 4 = simcity

Nothing crazy... Not trying to get the graphics output to all monitors at once

Hope that helps

Beezy · Jan 22, 2014

it would help, but for me with my HD 7870 GHz, which is stronger than the 660, with 2 monitors (resolution is where it really matters) one at 768 x 1366 and the other is 1050 x 1680 or something like that. I was able to game on the 1366 x 768 and browse the web like on youtube on the other but it was apparently too much to bear, as I got blue screens often. could be a number of issues, I just don't know if the card will be up to the task. if you don't play any games at all, but have outlook, web apps, internet, and whatever else I think it will work, but once you launch a game you will feel the strain. just my 2 cents. just buy the best GPU you can afford, and adjust your needs around what it can handle, youll only know once you try.

Note* could've been CPU bound issue with my FX 6300 but I don't think that was the case as the CPU should be totally capable of what I was trying

JJB303 · Jan 22, 2014

SOOO.... I played around on PCPartPicker and came up with this.... although not sure it's the best combination?? Anybody that knows their specs have any suggestions/comments??

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2FXQl

Beezy · Jan 22, 2014

since youre on a budget, you should strongly consider the new AMD kavari APU. You chose the first gen FX chip which is known as bulldozer. Bulldozer had its problems and wasn't performing as well as it was supposed to, so the next update was the Piledriver chip (Piledriver= AMD FX 4300 and 6300 and 8320) (Bulldozer=4100 6100 and 8100). The kavari APU has a CPU + the graphics card built it. the 170$ish APU with a built in HD 7850 will trade blows with a gtx 660. Games are largely CPU bound, so even if you got the 4 core FX 4130 which is kinda weak now, PLUS a great GPU you still wouldn't be guaranteed GREAT performance. the new APU is supposed to be 10% better than the FX piledriver chips, and is a wonderful budget solution..though you would need a new motherboard with the FM2 or FM2+ socket something like that.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113359
heres a link, you can do youtube searches to see how it performs in the games you are interested in. this would be a big change though and is only something to consider...well see what others think.

Beezy · Jan 22, 2014

to compare the CPU/GPU combo you have picked out now is 200+70 =270$ and the APU option will only cost 190$...But if you do choose to stay with the FX series chips (which is a CPU only, no built in graphics at all) you should consider an HD 7870 instead of the GTX 660. the 7870 goes for around 200 or less now and is much better than the GTX 660

Beezy · Jan 22, 2014

also, glad I caught this, get 2 RAM sticks. if you want 8GB you want 2 4GB sticks so you can take advantage of dual channel memory. it will run much faster than one single stick.

note
great brand on the power supply unit, but I doubt you will need anything over 620W and if you can save some money that way, do so.

JJB303 · Jan 22, 2014

Thanks beezy!! I'll play around with part picker tomorrow

JJB303 · Jan 22, 2014

Beezy :

Ok so here is the new build I put together... http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2G0Y7

Changed the CPU to the FX-4300, the Graphics to HD7870 and reduced the PSU to the 650w. I left the motherboard the same as it didn't show any issues (other than the normal AMD 970 chipset notification)... I tried to search for other motherboards that were FM2 or FM2+ and they were grayed out on partpicker for not available so not sure they'd work with the combo?? Other than that, the build online seems ok??

Question on the memory... so eventually i'd want to upgrade to the 4x8gb stick... so i think it makes sense to start with one 8, but yes do want the dual channel idea... so would i get similar results with 1x8gb and the 3x2gb from my old machine for a total of 14gb??

JJB303 · Jan 23, 2014

Ok i think i just re-did the part builder based on what you meant on the motherboard/CPu... http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2G1Yx, a little more out of the budget... thinking the last one I sent might be better option for my range..

Beezy · Jan 23, 2014

in the second build you remove the HD 7870 becuase that AMD A10-7850 is an APU not the same as a CPU. The A10 has an HD 7850 built into the processing unit. The FX series chips do NOT have built in graphics though and you would NEED a GPU like that HD 7870 to run anything at all. So for the second build remove the HD 7870 and that will be roughly $500. i would say if you game on your HDTV its probably like 1366 x 768 (which is like 720p i think) and that would be ideal. At 1080p the card will be working much harder to run the games, you may have to lower some settings to keep frames where you want them, maybe not the case at all.

Here are my suggestions right now for each build.

the FX 4300 build
strongly consider the FX 6300 at this point, 105 dollars for the 4300 is close enough to whatever the 6300 must be, and the gains will certainly be worth the costs here. switch the motherboard to an ASUS M5a97 LE 2.0 board, if you can. I see you have a CPU cooler, i want you to know if you had any overclocking in mind these motherboards (sub 80$ boards) do not overclock well, at all. At the very lower end, if you want overclock ability, you want 4+2 power phases but 8+4 and 8+2 are all better than 4+1 (what both the board you chose and i suggested have).

A10 build
drop the 7870
and you HAVE to get much faster RAM..Since there is no GPU here the CPU and GPU use the same system RAM. The GPU's like that 7870 come with 2GB dedicated graphics card RAM (GDDR5). So since the graphics card on the A10 is counting on the system RAM to be the only RAM its gotta be fast. 2133 Mhz. You could majorly cut the costs on the power supply with this build too since no GPU (big power sucker) even down to a quality 430 CX Corsiar psu or 500W max, save even more money to use on the RAM. If you have to cut more costs i would say motherboard is next if you look hard enough you will find something just as good for cheaper.
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-80PLUS-Bronze-Certified-100-B1-0500-KR/dp/B00DGHKK7M

Beezy · Jan 23, 2014

im starting to lean towards the A10-7850k build for you. figure the costs of both though and see what is a cheaper option. (again, if youre gonna go FX go to the 6300). just watched a vide of Bf4 on really high settings running great at 1080p

JJB303 · Jan 23, 2014

Thanks for the additional feedback Beezy!! Honestly the gaming need is on the lower end of my "wants" "needs" list. Still playing around on the PcPartPicker (that site seems to make it pretty easy)

Thanks again for the pointers

Beezy · Jan 23, 2014

actually forget the A10 build, you wont be able to hook up 4 monitors without a GPU anyways. ha

JJB303 · Jan 23, 2014

I was just about to ask you that... i adjusted everything and got the A10 build to $476.12..... I do have a GeForece7300 graphics card laying around my house... woudl I be able to throw that in and do the 2-out from board and 2 out from card?

Beezy · Jan 23, 2014

i think so yes...but i cant say for sure. that would need some researchn first honestly..

JJB303 · Jan 23, 2014

Got this one down to $499... found a bundle at Microcenter that gives both the motherboard and CPU for $149.99
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2GqiO

MSI 970A-G46 AM3+ ATX AMD Motherboard - $0
AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor - $149

This was on the FX6300 build.. the rest of the build is the same. Any thoughts on the FX-8320 CPU?

Looking to build a 4 monitors system / casual gaming (<$450)

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