New Budget Gaming PC Build

thecelis · Apr 10, 2014

Hello tom's Hardware

I am building a new computer, something that I've never done before. However, after watching newegg's 3 part series videos on youtube and other various websites, I believe I have a faint idea of what I have to do.

I have a budget of 700 Australian dollars.
I've spent a couple weeks picking out what pieces I should use. I am planing to use this computer for 'graphically intensive programs' (basically games such as Battlefield, Far Cry, GTA, etc), and I wish to record gameplay, edit, etc, all at an acceptable graphic level (as high as possible). So far this is what I have listed down for parts:
CPU: Intel I5-4430 (I won't be doing any over clocking) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116895
GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 750Ti 2GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127784
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157376 (Thanks RCguitarist)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB sticks http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345
Storage: Typical Internal 500gb HDD. Something along the lines of this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320
Optical Drive: Pretty flexible. Something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
Power Supply: CORSAIR CX500 500W 80+ Bronze Certified. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
Case: None chosen (yet!)

Is there anything I could improve on, to further optimise this for gaming? I am unsure about the motherboard choice, but everything else I'm quite satisfied with, but then again this is my first time build so that doesn't really count for anything

I am also in need of a case. If anyone could recommend a case that would allow sufficient airflow/ample room, at a relatively cheap price (preferably under 60 dollars), that would be greatly appreciated. Also if anyone could point out any possible incompatibilities, that would be of an immense help. And of course if there is anything you feel that I could do better just comment below.

Thanks

~thecelis

MalakiArtook · Apr 10, 2014

The cx series CPU uses cheap capacitors. great HD choice. that MOBO is fine. do you want a mid or micro case?

Guest · Apr 10, 2014

Is that your Budget for GPU?

thecelis · Apr 10, 2014

MalakiArtook :

Hmm...which ever one balances a mix of price and air flow. Are my pieces especially big or.. ?

MalakiArtook · Apr 10, 2014

no they are pretty compact. people just like micros for there aesthetics. your not going to have heat issues since you are going pretty low watt. check this out http://au.pcpartpicker.com/parts/case/#sort=a7

i7Baby · Apr 10, 2014

The CX430 is made by Channel Well - should be OK. I like the Seagate Barracuda HDDs better and I'd go for 1 TB - better storage/$. You could go a cheaper 85 or 81 chip mobo seeing your not overclocking. If you can stretch your budget another $30 try a 750Ti. I'd go for a mid tower case for better ventilation and expandability later down the track - something like a Coolermaster N500

Guest · Apr 10, 2014

The MSI GTX 750 Ti 2GB was not upto recommended power for the Battlefield 4..
http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=17046&game=Battlefield+4%3A+Final+Stand&p_make=Intel&p_deriv=Core+i5-4440+3.1GHz&gc_make=Nvidia&gc_deriv=GeForce+GTX+750+Ti+MSI+2GB+OC+Edition&ram=8&screenRes_width_FPS=1920&screenRes_height_FPS=1080&checkSubmit=

And your CPU was not upto the recommended for Far cry 3..
http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=883&game=Far+Cry+3&p_make=Intel&p_deriv=Core+i5-4430+3.0GHz&gc_make=Nvidia&gc_deriv=GeForce+GTX+750+Ti+MSI+Gaming+2GB+Edition&ram=8&screenRes_width_FPS=1920&screenRes_height_FPS=1080&checkSubmit=

It is not that it will not run, If those bars cross recommended line, you'd get future proof of your system in this rate of teechnology development.. I mean in the future years, you won't get any problems running the latest games at that time..

MalakiArtook · Apr 10, 2014

he is getting the 750ti he just didnt lable it as such. also it will be fine for playing games. a lot of setting on games make no difference and only eat up the GPU. Also Id get the 4670 if you can swing it. 3.0 isnt bad but 3.4 is a lot better

thecelis · Apr 10, 2014

i7Baby :

I definitely like the look of some mid tower cases, so I'll look into that.
What sort of compatible MOBO would you recommend? I want to keep my cost of my MOBO to the (almost) absolute minimum so I can spent it on my CPU/GPU

thecelis · Apr 10, 2014

MalakiArtook :

Thanks for reminding me

fixed.
Yeah, I looked into the 4670 and the 4440 also, but they're both about 30 dollars more, and on a 700 dollar budget...

i7Baby · Apr 10, 2014

I think with this budget (AUD700) this is an entry point PC. Down the track you should look at upgrading - CPU (so maybe keep the 87 mobo) and GPU (so maybe also get a bigger PSU). Then later go SLI and add an SSD.

RCguitarist · Apr 10, 2014

Changes I would make to your build:

Motherboard: Save some money here as this one will do just as good as the one you picked if you are not overclocking.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157376

Power supply: This one is stronger than the one you picked and will provide a true 520W. It is on sale alot for $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151093

Graphics card: A 750Ti won't quite be enough for you. You should get a 660 OC at the very least. This card goes on sale for $174 all the time.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121660

Storage: Get a 1TB drive. You will use up 500GB pretty quickly.

i7Baby · Apr 10, 2014

He might want to keep the 87 mobo is he's later going to get a better CPU - that can overclock.

The Seasonic 520 is also the HX 520. The HX are n the way out and AX in.

You could get a better card for the same price secondhand on eBay. But a 6 series. You'd get a 660 and maybe even a 660Ti for $160.

RCguitarist · Apr 10, 2014

i7Baby :

If he wants to overclock, he will need to get a Z series board, not an H series. The seasonic is fine, it's a solid unit. And I would strongly advise against buying a graphics card second hand. You are taking a gamble if you do that. Warranties on graphics cards are a good thing to have.

thecelis · Apr 10, 2014

RCguitarist :

Okay, looks like I've found a replacement for my power supply

I'll go with the motherboard you've picked too. I don't have any intentions to over clock in the near future (at least)
I'll stick with a 500GB for now though, I plan to add further storage as I obtain more money.

thecelis · Apr 11, 2014

RCguitarist :

Even though the 750Ti may not be enough, the fact that its pretty much using half the power means a lot to me. I am not running an aftermarket CPU cooler, and the case (for possible extra fans) is yet to be decided. Do you think if I use the 660 it'll get to warm in my case?

i7Baby · Apr 11, 2014

A 660 is a bit better performer than the 750Ti but uses more power and new costs a bit more.Personally I wouldn't go that way unless I could get one real cheap. Your case should have a fan at the front and a fan at the rear as minimum. A bigger case allows more air flow from convection due to the heat generated inside. I've got a mid tower with a lot of stuff in it but I'm not having overheating problems. You sure won't have with a 750Ti and I can't see you having cooling problems with any current or late model GPU.

thecelis · Apr 11, 2014

i7Baby :

So I will be better of performance wise and also for this sitatuion, to ditch the 750Ti and go with with 660?

MalakiArtook · Apr 11, 2014

yeah 660 is much better. 750ti is a low watt card more ideal for upgrading a outdated pc with out upgrading your psu of for building a small low power gaming box. id go with the 760 though if you can swing it.

RCguitarist · Apr 11, 2014

thecelis :

A 660 won't heat up the case much. My case runs very cool with my 660 (OC edition) in it. A 750ti will still do games quite well, but you will be stuck to high settings instead of being able to enjoy ultra settings. High settings are still better than what PS4's and Xbox One's do, so it will still look great.

As for the storage size, you can get a Western Digital Blue drive in 1TB size for $59 on newegg. The 500GB models are only $5 cheaper. You might as well spend $5 and have a nice sized drive that you can grow into. The 1TB Western Digital Black is $80 on Amazon.

i7Baby · Apr 11, 2014

For Graphics Card rankings see: http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html

Any cards within 10% of each other are nominally of the same performance. If you look at benchmarks for games, some cards do a bit better than others in different games.

thecelis · Apr 12, 2014

I am getting my parts from here mostly: http://www.msy.com.au/Parts/PARTS.pdf
And I saw that in the 660s, there are two gigabyte manufacured cards:
Gigabyte-WF2 /Gigabyte-OC
I was wondering the difference between an "WF-2" Card and an "OC" card, and why an "OC" card is 10 dollars more?

Thanks

i7Baby · Apr 12, 2014

A factory OverClocked card costs a bit more. This is for people too lazy to overclock and test their own cards.

thecelis · Apr 12, 2014

i7Baby :

Is the extra overlock speed worth it for 10 more dollars? Or is it particularly difficult to overlock a graphics card?

i7Baby · Apr 12, 2014

Overclocking Graphics cards is dead easy using Afterburner which also includes testing software (Kombustor). Me - I buy non OC Asus cards. I rarely overclock them (or my CPU) but if I want to its easy-peasy.

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