Best performance under $1400? - Gaming PC build

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BlackRoseImmortal

Reputable
Feb 16, 2014
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I'm looking for the best "bang for the buck" on my new gaming PC. I have a maximum budget of $1400 to spend (after rebates, discounts, etc.) I have already selected parts that I think are good but if you have any suggestions on where I can improve please let me know. This PC will be used for gaming (mostly BF4, Ghosts, Minecraft), movies, photo editing, and music listening with high quality headphones. I'm using a 1080p 24" Dell s2440l monitor and I don't need a keyboard/mouse etc. I will need an OS so some input on whether I should get Win 7 or Win 8 would be appreciated. Thank you for you help.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: MSI Z87-G55 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($82.95 @ Amazon)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($489.99 @ NCIX US)

Case: BitFenix Shinobi Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($93.98 @ Newegg)

Optical Drive: LG UH12NS30 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($41.99 @ Newegg)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($84.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $1358.83

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-23 12:31 EST-0500)

 
Solution
shortstuff_mt
The build looks good. I'm not crazy about MSI motherboards and I would shoot for a little faster RAM, but those are just personal preference. I also suggest going with Windows 8.1. It's better optimized for the current hardware and is a solid OS once you get over the learning curve.

These are my recommended changes:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($113.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $278.96
(Prices include shipping...
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mathieub

mathieub

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Jan 6, 2014
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The Evo is a great air cooler but if youre going to do some serious Over Clocking id recommend going with a water cooler.

For the rest your system is a pretty solid build, you could save some cash on going down to a GTX 770 but the GTX780 is definitely more of a "future proof" card because of the extra vRam
 
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shortstuff_mt

shortstuff_mt

Glorious
Apr 1, 2008
10,191
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The build looks good. I'm not crazy about MSI motherboards and I would shoot for a little faster RAM, but those are just personal preference. I also suggest going with Windows 8.1. It's better optimized for the current hardware and is a solid OS once you get over the learning curve.

These are my recommended changes:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($113.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $278.96
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-26 15:35 EST-0500)
 
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Solution
mathieub

mathieub

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Jan 6, 2014
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I've never noticed a major difference with going to faster ram especially since your MOBO has to support it and you have to set it in the BIOS which is an extra hassle, but its up to you.
 
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K

Kakorat119

Honorable
Jan 24, 2014
308
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10,810
My reccomended changes:

Change mobo to asrock fatal1ty z87 killer/asrock extreme 4 or another gigabyte mobo,
Change case to nzxt phantom ($74)
This one can change:
Option 1: Get an i7 and an r9 280x.
Option 2: Get an i7 and gx 780 (if you have the money).
Option 3: get an i7 and change to a gtx 770(SLI in the future of replace in a years or so).

If you want to save some more $$, switch the ssd to a Kingston ssdnow v300 120gb, saves you $20.
You can cut down about $30 on the optical drive, you don't need a bluray drive to run games. But if you think you NEED it VERY much, then keep it.

This one isn't necessary but if you have left over money:
Change ram of crucial ballistix 1866mhz 16gb

I prefer 12+ gb ram cuz games like watch dogs reccomend more than 8gb ram to set it to ultra settings.

Hope I helped :)
 
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M

Mateo Lopez

Reputable
Jul 3, 2014
1
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4,510
Better pc setup
i5-4670K http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CO8TBOW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1404389631&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40 220$ (With
discount)

Corsair vengeance 16gb http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006EWUO22/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1404389672&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40 150$(With discount)

EVGA GTX 780 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CUIVSNS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1404389708&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40 500$ (Discounted at the time)

MSI GD65 Gaming http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D12OBYK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1404389762&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40 185$ (with discount)

Corsair CX series 750http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ALK3KEM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1404389845&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40 78$ (With discount)

CM Storm devastator http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DKXXAAQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1404389871&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40 30$

NZXT Guardian 921 RB ATX Mid-Tower, black http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004351H9G/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1404389945&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40 55$

Seagate SSHD (hybrid ssd and hd) 1TBhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DKXXAAQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1404389871&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40 100$ (With discount)

Around 1300$ ( with discounts)

READ! These are all Amazon, there should be cheaper prices. If there are enough, you can get a monitor and windows 8
 
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C

Chase77

Reputable
Oct 3, 2014
4
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4,510


I agree that 12+ gb ram is great (though not cruicial) I like your choice in graphics cards however and i5 doesn't fit $1400 computer to me. I would make a minimum of an i7 4770k or i7 4790. Radeon over Nividia indefinitely and the motherboard is fine. 3gb video ram is more than enough for high settings but to save money do a 2gb of your choice then update processor to an i7 and if you can spare anything I highly reccomend more ram. Random Access Memory makes a big difference in gaming like a video card. If you have 8gb you are fine but have little wiggle room in next gen games.
 
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