New to building a computer, looking to spend roughly $1200

condar · Mar 7, 2014

Hey guys,

I've got a monitor and Windows 7 already. I'm looking to build a fairly powerful computer, mostly for gaming. I'd like to boot from a solid state drive, but save everything else to an HDD. What should i get?

woltej1 · Mar 7, 2014

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/35Qhs
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/35Qhs/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/35Qhs/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA SD1283 56.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.94 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($489.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX750B BRONZE 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $1169.85

s4in7 · Mar 7, 2014

This is the computer I just built for $1300 (a little over your budget, but it gives you an idea what you can do)

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/s4in7/saved/3YZQ

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($152.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 74.4 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($177.69 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($144.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Toshiba Q Series Pro 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($93.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: VisionTek Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($234.99 @ Dell Small Business)
Video Card: VisionTek Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($234.99 @ Dell Small Business)
Case: Antec Three Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Black Widow 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($139.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1323.59
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

It's more powerful than the computer woltej1 posted above, but it is $100 more.

Ahmadjon · Mar 7, 2014

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($32.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($129.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.89 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($499.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 300R Windowed ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ TigerDirect)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1277.79
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-07 15:54 EST-0500)

woltej1 · Mar 7, 2014

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/5984/sapphire-radeon-r9-270x-2gb-toxic-video-cards-in-crossfire/index17.html

I have a lot of problems with that above build.

Here's a review of that SLI. The cards in the review are the top tier 270x, while his are just some randoms. Even with the best of the best there is a minimal difference in FPS at the cost of heat and lost efficiency. Plus his PSU isn't as good and not as trusted. Thermaltake is hit or miss. On top of that his cpu is worse for gaming. Also his is missing a HDD. Using 16gb in a gaming rig is pointless.

s4in7 · Mar 7, 2014

VisionTek is not some random, you're really showing your lack of knowledge with that one man. Mine are clocked higher than the Sapphire Toxic cards...

I get 112fps in the Bioshock Infinite Benchmark with Ultra settings, Directx11+DDOF--that's a full 14fps faster than a TITAN.

Stop with that fanboy Intel stuff, it's simply not true. The 8320 at stock may be a few frames (i.e. not noticeable) behind the i5, but overclocked it's no contest.

Hell an Athlon 750k keeps pace with an i5...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIT9uLDjZcg

Believe me, my 8320 at 4.8ghz is not outpaced by an i5 4670k.

I've had that Thermaltake since 2009 in a Phenom II build with dual 5870s, in another build with dual 7850s and now with dual 270Xs and a 4.8ghz 8320--say what you will about Thermaltake, but this PSU has outlasted almost every other piece of computer equipment I own.

16gb is not pointless, it's future proofing. And my build was what I did to show him what was possible for a similar price, not necessarily what he should do.

And yes it is faster than either of the alternate builds listed here

Danbuscus25 · Mar 7, 2014

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Danbuscus250/saved/3Z0f
CPU Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core $229.99
CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing $30.98
Motherboard Asus Z87-A ATX LGA1150 $129.99
Memory GeIL EVO VELOCE 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 $76.99
Storage A-Data Premier Pro SP600 64GB 2.5" SSD $49.99
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM $54.99
Video Card EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB $489.99
Case Thermaltake Commander MS-I Epic Edition (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower $39.99
Power Supply XFX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V $69.99
Optical Drive Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer $19.98
Wireless Network Adapter TP-Link TL-WN350GD 802.11b/g PCI $8.99
Total: $1201.87

Danbuscus25 · Mar 7, 2014

s4in7 :

pretty good, however you did forget a hdd, and it would be better to buy 1 card for twice th price of each 270x, you will get better preformance. and i was on the fence about 8gb/16gb ram, but for $1200 i chose 8gb. all 3 of these builds (s4in7, Ahmadjon, and mine), are all great gaming builds and will max out any game you throw at them.

s4in7 · Mar 7, 2014

Yeah, I'd go with a single GPU over dual unless you want the absolute highest performance for the lowest cost. a 780 is going to handle anything you throw at it at 1080p though so I wouldn't worry.

woltej1 · Mar 7, 2014

visiontek, 1.03. toxic 1.1 with 1.15 boost.

As for your benchmarks, I couldn't care less. Crossfire is known to still have micro stutter problems and 2 cards are never as good as 1 in similar performance. Professional reviews show there is minimal differences.

The i5 is by far the superior choice for gaming, and is much more efficient. You could heat a small apartment with an OC 8320. Per core intel is insanely faster than amd, more efficient and also overall faster. I don't get how you can hate on intel when amd new 9xxx stuff is INSANELY hot running and still doesn't beat the i7. Also is just as expensive now.

Personal stories about equipment have nothing to do with the overall quality of a line up. Go by the numbers and track record.

16gb is pointless as it is an easily expandable part of a computer so why waste money when you don't need it.

Danbuscus25 · Mar 7, 2014

yeah, but if you want multiple monitors, then you want to crossfire amd cards, cuz hey have more vram.

woltej1 · Mar 7, 2014

in sli or crossfire, the total set up has as much as the lowest card, so 2 2gb cards have 2gb total VRAM. 1 780 with 3gb has more VRAM.

Danbuscus25 · Mar 7, 2014

woltej1 :

there is no need to be so critical about everything. and i5 is a LITTLE better for gaming, and your gpu is more important.
http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Core-i5-4670K-vs-AMD-FX-8350
intel 4670k is only faster with single-core performance and energy efficiency. for all cores, they are about the same speed. and amd does not get much hotter than intel, infact my amd build blows out cool air, and the last laptop i owned was intel, and the cpu would get to 95c and i could smell it.

Danbuscus25 · Mar 7, 2014

an equal priced amd card has 4gb ram, and nvidia is 3gb.

woltej1 · Mar 7, 2014

wheres an equal priced amd card? the 290 and 290x are inflated due to mining.

woltej1 · Mar 7, 2014

and what does that have to do with anything?

Danbuscus25 · Mar 7, 2014

http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-R9-290X-vs-GeForce-GTX-780-Ti
amd card is cheaper and has more vram, but slightly less performance. and for a single card, then for now it i better to get a nvidia. but for multiple monitors, amd is better.

woltej1 · Mar 7, 2014

the 290x is currently $600 for the cheapest non reference card, over $100 more than the 780.

Danbuscus25 · Mar 7, 2014

yes it is about $100 more, but you get equal performance and an extra 1gb of vram, which is worth it when you have a multimonitor setup. and the prices of high end amd cards will come down a bit once the bitcoin market crashes, likely within the next month.

s4in7 · Mar 7, 2014

You know so much about cards you don't own... My 270Xs are clocked at 1200mhz core and 1600mhz memory--higher than the Toxic and cheaper too.

The fact you think the i5 is insanely more powerful than the 8320 is laughable. Also, the 4670k puts out substantially more heat than 8320/50, I think you meant to say the AMD draws more power which is true, but if you stopped for a minute to actually read and watch reviews and benchmarks instead of talking out of your uneducated rear-end you'd know that.

Also, micro stutter has been a non-issue for some time now--again, if you'd read...

Danbuscus25 · Mar 7, 2014

you will get better performance with amd under $150, but over $150 intel outperforms. not always, but in general. as for graphics cards, nvidia out performs most of the time, but is more expensive. and the performance gap is much smaller than with cpu's. now, with cards over $350 ish, then amd starts to cost more cuz of bitcoin mining. but once every1 starts to use a bitcoin miner block thingy, then amd's prices will go down and be better bang for your buck at the high performance level again, like their cpu's.

New to building a computer, looking to spend roughly $1200

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