$1600 USD PC Build - Advice needed.

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
O

orinn177

Distinguished
Mar 1, 2011
7
0
18,510
Approximate Purchase Date: Tomorrow

Budget Range: About $1600

System Usage: Strictly gaming

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts:Any

Location: OH,USA

Parts Preferences:Intel/nVidia

Overclocking:No

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe SLI within 2 years.

Your Monitor Resolution:1920x1080

Why Are You Upgrading: Current gaming PC is outdated. I'd like to max out Elder Scrolls Online. I primarily play MMO's but I do play competitively so maximum performance is important to me.

Additional Comments: I wasn't quite sure about the power supply. I probably will get a second 780 but it wouldn't be for 2 more years if I did. I also need a mouse/keyboard/monitor but these won't be included in the PC budget. I know I want a razer naga and a razer black widow ultimate. I'm not sure about the monitor yet. It would need to be below $200.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3d66T
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3d66T/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3d66T/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($33.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Hero ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($198.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($529.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.98 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($24.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($101.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1603.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-20 05:24 EDT-0400)



Any incompatabilities? Is there anything else I need to buy? I've never built my own before so I'm not sure if there's additional cables or fans that I'll need.

Thank you!
 
Solution
sadams04
You are in OK shape. My thoughts are below.

MB + CPU - No reason not to buy the K series CPU (as you have listed), but the MB you have is overkill without overclocking. The ASUS Z87-A is a good board that will allow you to SLI down the road. I would encourage you to add a CPU cooler now. The Hyper 212 EVO will allow for a nice overclock (if you change your mind later), or not bat an eye keeping it cool at the stock speed.

MEM - Changed to low latency modules (DDR3-1600 CL7 1.5v)

SSD - There was enough budget to go top tier with the 840 Pro. Added a 2TB HD because there was budget remaining (although it did put you over by $30).

CASE - Fine and all, but IMHO the NZXT Phantom has great options at a lower price.

PSU - Nice...
Sort by date Sort by votes
sadams04

sadams04

Splendid
Nov 23, 2010
4,711
1
26,960
You are in OK shape. My thoughts are below.

MB + CPU - No reason not to buy the K series CPU (as you have listed), but the MB you have is overkill without overclocking. The ASUS Z87-A is a good board that will allow you to SLI down the road. I would encourage you to add a CPU cooler now. The Hyper 212 EVO will allow for a nice overclock (if you change your mind later), or not bat an eye keeping it cool at the stock speed.

MEM - Changed to low latency modules (DDR3-1600 CL7 1.5v)

SSD - There was enough budget to go top tier with the 840 Pro. Added a 2TB HD because there was budget remaining (although it did put you over by $30).

CASE - Fine and all, but IMHO the NZXT Phantom has great options at a lower price.

PSU - Nice selection. I went with the XFX 850w simply because it is also a great unit and rated 100w higher.

OPTICAL - BD-RW because you have the budget.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($129.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.02 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($199.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.81 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($499.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($65.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1628.75


EDIT: Ignore my comment about adding the CPU cooler. You were already planning on adding it even though you don't plan to OC...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
HiTechObsessed

HiTechObsessed

Splendid
Dec 3, 2013
5,430
0
24,960
You can get an i7 with a 780 Ti and you won't need to upgrade this computer for a long time:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($294.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H87 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($91.48 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($61.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.99 @ Best Buy)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card ($649.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Phantom (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($119.99 @ Best Buy)
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) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1601.39
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-20 12:14 EDT-0400)

You don't need to overspend on the SSD, RAM and BD drive, and Seagate drives are known for failing prematurely. This build will get you maximum performance for a very long time.

Or you can save a couple hundred dollars and get the 4670 and 780 :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
g-unit1111

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Jul 27, 2011
42,535
812
104,940
The Maximus is very overrated for a motherboard and if you're paying this kind of money for a rig you should definitely overclock. Most Z87 motherboards will practically do it for you. Try something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 460 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($489.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Titanium Grey) ATX Mid Tower Case ($121.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 750W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($116.50 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($97.27 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $1465.68
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-20 13:21 EDT-0400)

- $150 less which you can use for monitor or peripherals
- Better PSU that is Haswell compatible
- Less expensive motherboard
- Faster RAM, better for Haswell
- Better cooler
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HiTechObsessed

HiTechObsessed

Splendid
Dec 3, 2013
5,430
0
24,960
My reasoning behind not overclocking, is that for gaming, overclocking doesn't really increase performance all that much. At any rate, a 4770 + 780 Ti will always beat a 4670k + 780 overclocked, unless you were getting into crazy LN2 cooling with the 780. A 4770 will also last just as long into the future as an overclocked i5 will, and the 780 Ti is crazy strong.

Overclocking is really just for enthusiasts who want that extra couple frames, and isn't really necessary for the most part, especially on these higher end Intel CPUs.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
O

orinn177

Distinguished
Mar 1, 2011
7
0
18,510
Thank you everyone - the feedback was greatly appreciated and helped out a lot. Everyone had great answers and it was tough to pick out the best solution. I was able to reduce the cost a bit and improve the specs. Thanks sadams04 for pointing out the lower latency RAM at a better price.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
g-unit1111

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Jul 27, 2011
42,535
812
104,940


Where is this information coming from? I've never read that in any publication or benchmark I've ever seen. :heink:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HiTechObsessed

HiTechObsessed

Splendid
Dec 3, 2013
5,430
0
24,960
What information? About overclocking? It's common knowledge that overclocking yields very little in terms of gaming performance. And into the future, once games start utilizing more than 4 threads, the i7 will start to distance itself from the i5 as well, even when not overclocked. The same goes for the 780 vs 780 Ti; the 780 Ti will always be better than the 780.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom