Never built a gaming rig before, build advice

Griff1985 · Mar 16, 2014

I am currently using a laptop for gaming (I know, blasphemy) that is about 2.5 years old. Now that I am back stateside I want to upgrade to a desktop for gaming.

I was originally going to buy from CyberPowerPC because I have zero experience with putting together a computer but their customer service is horrendous and I was told it would be a four week wait to get around to building it. From everything I have read it isn't a hard process so I am going to give it a shot. I have put together something similar to what I was looking at in their website with partpicker (cheaper obviously) and wanted some opinions on the build.

I was looking to stay under a thousand dollars which I barely managed to do with this build.

Thanks for the help.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3aLrb

envy14tpe · Mar 16, 2014

So you returned Stateside....wonder myself when I'll be back too. As for a build under $1000:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($62.51 @ Amazon)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.73 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($77.40 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Fractal Design FD-FAN-SSR2-140 66.0 CFM 140mm Fan ($14.50 @ Mwave)
Keyboard: Logitech K120 Wired Standard Keyboard ($10.29 @ B&H)
Total: $964.32

CPU: the fx-8320 is almost exactly the same as the fx-8350. Only difference is at stock. but if you overclock it then it'll be within 0.1GHz of the fx-8350.
CPU cooler: quiet quiet and cool temps.
PSU: the Corsair CX is low end. Get a Antec instead.
RAM: 1866 but lower CAS of 9. fast.

btw, you don't need a Fractal fan for a Fractal case. Any will do. I'd recommend Noctua, Scythe, or Corsair AF series.

jaslion · Mar 16, 2014

Change the fx 8350 for an fx 8320 as its pretty much the same just clocked lower (as mentioned above).
I would get the sycthe mugen 3 or 4 pcgh adition (silent edition) because its cheap. You also don't need super fast ram any 1600 mhz will do. Also why thermal paste? That come with or on the cooler when you buy one. And for the case fan you don't need that one just get a cheaper one from another brand. And with the money you save get a better graphics card. And good luck building.

Griff1985 · Mar 16, 2014

Okay. I did some adjusting and went with with fx 8320 like you both suggesting, and upgraded the graphics card like jaslion suggested, went with the cas 9 1600 ram, and made some other tweaks. Slightly over budget but I can live with that.

What are your opinions now? Anything else you would change? Thanks again.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3aOiG
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3aOiG/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3aOiG/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.97 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($489.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1077.86
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-16 11:29 EDT-0400)

Griff1985 · Mar 16, 2014

Double post sorry

RazerZ · Mar 16, 2014

This is a bit better for the price:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.79 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($489.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1089.19
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-16 11:35 EDT-0400)

envy14tpe · Mar 16, 2014

780 is overkill. 200R isn't very good, get 300R. CX PSU is weak.

Griff1985 · Mar 16, 2014

Alright this is what I ended up with after taking your advice and looking around the forums some more. I ended up dropping the 780 for the 770 to bring it back under $1,000 like originally intended and upgraded the PSU. Thanks for all the help. I am happy with how this turned out and will be ordering the parts later today. If there are any last minute adjustments you can see let me know know.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3aS97
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3aS97/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3aS97/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.97 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($329.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $942.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-16 13:40 EDT-0400)

envy14tpe · Mar 17, 2014

Get the non LE M5A97. It is much better and it is easily worth the extra $5. It is a steal at that price. Other than that, excellent build.

Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.79 @ Newegg)
Total: $79.79

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