Need help with a $1000 Gaming and Excel PC

Pacificstar · Jan 27, 2014

Hell everyone, this is my first post on Tom's Hardware! I'm looking to build a PC for a first time and I am feeling overwhelmed just reading how to assemble a PC, so I was hoping that some of you kind folks could help me out with the actual build.

Approximate Purchase Date: ASAP

Budget Range: $1000 - could stretch to $1200 if it will get me a lot more bang for my buck

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, heavy Excel for sophisticated fin'l models referencing large data sets, sometimes using Steam Big Picture to play some games on the TV, playback movies when connected to a TV.

Parts Not Required: Can ignore mouse, keyboard and monitor.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: No preference, but I've had good experience in the past. That said if I can save using other sites I'm more than happy to do so.

Country: USA - living in the Phoenix, AZ (Scottsdale) area

Parts Preferences: I want a case that is quiet, without any windows and neon lights. So maybe not a stereotypical gaming case. I also want the case to have some USB ports easily accessible from the front.

Overclocking: I'm kind of really scared of this, so no.

SLI or Crossfire: I want to build a PC that can crossfire/SLI, but do not necessarily want to buy the 2nd video card now. The idea is that in a year or two I can purchase the 2nd card relatively cheaply and extend the life of the PC for gaming purposes.

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200 26 inches

Additional Comments: Thank you for your help! I really appreciate it. I play league of legends and path of exile, but I have avoided playing more graphically intense games because my computer was 7 years old and couldn't run other games at a level where it was even fun to play them. So unfortunately I can't really specify any games in particular that I want this machine to run.

shortstuff_mt · Jan 27, 2014

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

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54670k) | $219.99 @ Newegg
**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz87xd3h) | $129.99 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f314900cl9d8gbsr) | $76.50 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) | $59.66 @ OutletPC
**Video Card** | [Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx770dc2oc2gd5) | $330.98 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Fractal Design Core 3000 USB 3.0 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcacore3000usb3bl) | $74.99 @ NCIX US
**Power Supply** | [Corsair Enthusiast 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-tx850m) | $99.99 @ Newegg
**Optical Drive** | [Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-optical-drive-sh224dbbebe) | $16.98 @ OutletPC
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | $99.98 @ OutletPC
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $1109.06
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-27 01:04 EST-0500 |

I went with the overclocking "K" version of the CPU just in case you get the bug and decide to overclock in the future.

I also included a motherboard that is capable of SLI and a quality 850W PSU that will run two GTX 770 cards in SLI in the future.

Pacificstar · Jan 27, 2014

Thanks so much shortstuff! I'm going to leave this open maybe until tomorrow to see if anyone else wants to share some ideas too

shortstuff_mt · Jan 27, 2014

Any time. Good luck with the build!

lucasz · Jan 27, 2014

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

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($197.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H87 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($92.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($505.91 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Shinobi Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: BitFenix Spectre PWM 51.3 CFM 120mm Fan ($11.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX750B BRONZE 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1146.35
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-27 02:20 EST-0500)

Pacificstar · Jan 27, 2014

Thanks for the response lucasz! Can you give me an idea of the trade-offs between this build and the one shortstuff posted?

shortstuff_mt · Jan 27, 2014

I can list the main differences.

It saves $22 by going with the non-overclockable and slightly slower i5-4570 (3.2GHz - 3.6GHz) vs the i5-4670K (3.4GHz - 3.8GHz) CPU.

The motherboard only has one PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot and is not capable of running multiple GPUs, so you wouldn't be able to run SLI in the future.

The RAM is slightly slower (DDR3 1600 vs DDR3 1866).

It includes a better GPU (GTX 780 vs GTX 770).

The PSU does not provide enough power to support SLI.

Windows 7 vs Windows 8.1. I prefer to use the newest OS at the time since it includes the latest DirectX version and optimizations for current hardware. I currently run Windows 8.1 on my personal machine and really like it. That decision is up to you.

taha2001 · Jan 27, 2014

Sorry can't give you links of hardware I am sending this from a tab.
So for this build I want you to go with intel i5 4670k, ($220)it really is a awesome pc for gaming and is best cpu for that price range,
For cpu cooler I want you to go with cooler master hyper 212 evo ($30), as I have chosen k version it can be overclocked and for that cooler that comes with box is not enough .
For mobo go with z87 chipset , either asus z87-a or asus z87-pro, I personally prefer asus and these two mobo would cost around $140 and have crossfire and sli.these will surely do well with haswell in gaming, if u get non k cpu don't buy z87 mobo instead get z77 cause. Think z87does not support non k.
For memory get any ddr3 8gb with good speed less than $75
Video card asus geforce 770 ($330), this gpu will surely play any latest games at max execpt some games like crysis 3 at very high to high.
Power supply never cheap out on psu as it could damage other parts.get corsair ax75 ($150)
For case it's always a personal preferrence.sorry for my grammar, as I told you I amsending this from tablet

Pacificstar · Jan 27, 2014

Thanks Taha! lucasxv, thanks for the input, but I definitely want to be able to SLI/crossfire. That case looks nice, though I don't want a window. Thanks for the explanation shortstuff

lucasz · Jan 27, 2014

Why not sort of combine the two builds? Get the 4570 (because you don't want to overclock) and get a new H87 motherboard that supports SLI (shouldn't be more expensive). Then get the RAM shortstuff suggested since it is the same price. Also get the 780 and a power supply that supports SLI later on.

Pacificstar · Jan 27, 2014

I'll just have to do the math and see how it fits into my budget, but that's what I was kind of considering as well. But overall I think I want to leave myself with options. So getting the K processor might be better for that reason. If I decide to overclock later I can figure it out then

lucasz · Jan 27, 2014

The thing that will give you the most performance will be the 780 over the 770, keep that in mind too.

DeltaRecon2552 · Jan 27, 2014

I think you could getaway with SLI at 750 watts as long as you don't OC anything. I think shortstuff's build will be the best for you and your excel spreadsheets. The extra processor and Ram power will be a godsend over the long run. The 770 will run games just fine and two of them in SLI is very good at 1080p. Go with his build. Maybe go with a 750 watt PSU if you have to save the extra money. But I believe the $ difference is negligible enough to keep the 850. Best of luck.
Don't forget to pick a best answer. (I recommend shortstuff. He earned it

)

AND BTW a 780 is overkill for gaming on a budget, especially if you want to run SLI in the NEAR future. I have a single 780 and it is nice. But, it's overkill.

Pacificstar · Jan 27, 2014

Thanks for the help everyone! Now to start shopping

DeltaRecon2552 · Jan 27, 2014

Pacificstar :

Anytime. Come back if you need more help.

Pacificstar · Jan 27, 2014

Hah, I probably will

Pacificstar · Jan 27, 2014

DeltaRecon2552 :

So I finished the purchases. After accounting for delivery costs and a deal I found on OEM windows 8.1, I ended up buying everything from Newegg and getting the best price I could from them

DeltaRecon2552 · Jan 28, 2014

Good luck man! Have fun with that SLI! LOL. It should work out well for you.

If you can, in the future, grab an SSD to run Windows and excel and a couple games. It'll cut the load times down a lot.

taha2001 · Jan 28, 2014

Cool and good luck for your build

Pacificstar · Jan 28, 2014

Thanks! Can anyone tell me if it's OK that my screwdriver has a magnetic tip?

DeltaRecon2552 · Jan 28, 2014

You should be fine.
That's all I use.

Pacificstar · Jan 29, 2014

Thanks again deltarecon! With regard to forum etiquette, is it OK for me to continue posting in this thread if I have further questions?

DeltaRecon2552 · Jan 29, 2014

Definitely. Or you can PM me. Which ever works.

Pacificstar · Jan 31, 2014

If I have all my parts but the OS, is it OK to assemble everything and then just wait until the OS arrives? Or should I just plan on doing it all at once.

shortstuff_mt · Jan 31, 2014

You can assemble everything to make sure you're able to access the BIOS and everything starts up like it should. If everything looks good you can enable the XMP profile for the RAM, make sure your drive(s) are all showing correctly in the BIOS, and check the CPU temp in the BIOS. Another thing you can do before the OS arrives is run Memtest86+ to test for RAM errors. Do an overnight test to fully test the RAM.

Need help with a $1000 Gaming and Excel PC

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