$900-1100 Gaming Computer Build

Viet Vo

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I am planning on building a computer around July. I would like to know what would be considered the best build for my budget, hope you guys can help me! This will be my first computer and I am also not very good with IT. Looking forward to your suggestions!

Budget Range: $900-1100. This is after shipping, taxes, rebates...etc.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming

Are you buying a monitor Yes

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: http://www.cplonline.com.au/

Location: Mulgrave, Melbourne, Australia. Not too sure if there are computer shops nearby.

Parts Preferences: No prefferences.

Overclocking: Yes, moderately.

SLI or Crossfire: Possibly

Your Monitor Resolution : Don't have one at the moment.

Additional Comments:
Want to be able to play:

League of Legends
Guild Wars 2
World of Warcraft

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading : My current laptop is horrible.
 
I cut every corner I could trying to save a buck while still giving you great performance.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3iheZ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3iheZ/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3iheZ/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 ($30.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($113.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.55 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB Video Card ($219.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($21.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($97.26 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VS247H-P 23.6" Monitor ($157.00 @ B&H)
Total: $1125.70
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-28 23:21 EDT-0400)
 
PCPartPicker part list: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/3ihpt
Price breakdown by merchant: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/3ihpt/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/3ihpt/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: ASRock B85M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($87.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($99.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card ($259.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($49.00 @ CPL Online)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($95.00 @ CPL Online)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($22.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($115.00 @ CPL Online)
Monitor: BenQ GW2255 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($139.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Total: $1148.00

Here's something close. Check your website to see if some prices are cheaper there.
 

shoomee

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Oct 18, 2013
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Monitor: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-vh238h
GPU: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-01gp42753kr 2 if you want.
CPU: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54670k
RAM: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f310666cl9d8gbxl
Case:http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-galaxy03
Motherboard:http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z87extreme4
Cooler??? (If overclocking): http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2
HDD: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st1000dm003
PSU: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-ss650am
OS: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615 or http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-gfc02050

Total cost: $1064 USD

Or this GPU if you want to spend some extra cash: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp42763kr

I want other people to look over this build. Because honestly Im new to this but I think this will do fine!
 

Viet Vo

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Mar 28, 2014
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Thank you guys both for your quick answers! I don't really mind if it's above $1100, my budget's not that strict anyways. However, why would both of you get a Radeon R9 270X over lets say, an Asus GTX 760/770? Is it a lot cheaper?
 

Viet Vo

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And also, what about the CPU? I was hoping to buy i5 4670/3570/4570K. Are these alot better? I forgot to mention that the $900-1100 budget was without the OS or the monitor. Sorry!
 
My standard operating procedure is to ALWAYS go bigger if I can afford it! LOL I say that laughingly, but I mean it sincerely. By doing such, I rarely regret my decisions later on. How many times have you said to yourself, "Man I wish I had gotten the better one"? That's the definition of "buyer's remorse" gone wild. Do yourself a favor and go with the best you can afford to avoid regretting your decision later on.
 

Viet Vo

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Thanks :) I think i'll buy the GTX 760 and i5 4670/3570. Probably going to go over the budget for GPU and CPU because they will increase my gaming fps the most I dare say? Comparing the i5 4670 and the i5 3570, which one would you recommend?
 


Without a second thought I'd go with the 4670. It is Haswell and the 3570 is the older Ivy Bridge. Both are good CPU's, but the 4670 is newer technology.
 

Viet Vo

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Thanks! I have a few questions.
Do motherboards affect gaming to a large extent?
Also, what do you think about the Samsung 840 EVO 120GB?
How does the 3GB Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 compare to the GTX 760?
 
A motherboard in itself has absolutely no affect on gaming. A 500 dollar motherboard has the same performance as a 100 dollar motherboard if the components of them are the same. e.g. chipset More expensive boards simply offer more features and/or sockets for plugging in more components like GPU's and such.

I own a Samsung 840 Pro (which is very similar to the Evo) and I wouldn't trade it off for the world! I love it. If you want to see speed in your computer, then you really, REALLY need an SSD, and the Samsung is the best.

And for the GPU comparison, here is a direct comparison of the two. It will give you the "winner" in every category that matters in a GPU:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CFAQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgpuboss.com%2Fgpus%2FRadeon-HD-7950-vs-GeForce-GTX-760&ei=wUo2U47SN7PQsASMuoHwDQ&usg=AFQjCNEvZla9jQwDJUvgj1btitUK6p9kFA&sig2=jj-AaAwwpWmuYafL46s3sA&bvm=bv.63808443,d.cWc

 

sarcophagus_macabre

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Jul 16, 2013
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($189.00 @ PCCaseGear)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($39.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($219.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($99.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($319.00 @ CPL Online)
Case: Cooler Master K280 ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($95.00 @ CPL Online)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($22.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Total: $1106.00
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-29 15:19 EST+1100)

-Or-

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($395.00 @ PCCaseGear)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($39.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-C ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($146.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($99.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($319.00 @ CPL Online)
Case: Cooler Master K280 ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($95.00 @ CPL Online)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($22.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Total: $1239.00
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-29 15:25 EST+1100)

The 4770K is the only unlocked Haswell chip that shows up. Only one very expensive motherboard option for the 3570K.
Either system would be fun, though.
 
You selection in a case can have a great deal of affect on cooling, particularly if you are using only air cooling. A small and/or cluttered case restricts the flow of air through the case, thus causing temperatures to rise within the case. Also, some cases feature USB 3.0 sockets on the front.....things of that nature. If you have a motherboard with a USB 3.0 header, but your case doesn't support it, that feature of your motherboard is rendered all but useless.

I advocate the decision of a Corsair case, but I do suggest you go with a bigger/better model if you can. If you budget and space restrictions allow it, I would always opt for a full tower case rather than a mid-tower. Not only can more components be added to a larger case, but they almost always feature better cable management, cooling options, and airflow through the case. The Corsair 800d is a WONDERFUL case, but it's expensive (for cases anyway).
 

Viet Vo

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I'm sorry if this is a stupid question but, why is the i7 - 4770k much more expensive than the AMD FX 8320? They both have 3.5 GHz while the AMD has 8 cores.
 
The 4770k pretty much spanks it in every category. You can't go by frequency. That's like saying my old 2.1 Ghz HP desktop that is 15 years old could compare in some way with today's computers. That's a joke in itself! LOL While benchmarks aren't a perfect way to size up a processor, they are the best way. Here is a link to high-end CPU's that will benefit you by viewing it. Just scroll down the list until you find the CPU's that you're looking for, or just type them into the search box.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html
 

Viet Vo

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Thanks for the help! I've decided on this setup.

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock B85M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive / Samsung 840 EVO 120GB
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)
Monitor: BenQ GW2255 60Hz 21.5" Monitor

All for around $1300. Looks good?
 
You just get better performance by overclocking. But the reason that I asked is that your current CPU doesn't allow for overclocking. Only CPU's with a "k" at the end of the model number can be overclocked.

You don't have to OC to get good performance, but it certainly adds to performance.