Advise on building a new PC, $1000 budget

phholigan

Reputable
May 5, 2014
2
0
4,510
Hello everyone. TL;DR version: I would appreciate advise on building a new PC for under a grand to replace one lost in a fire.

Approximate Purchase Date: As soon as possible

Budget Range: $1000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Semi-casual gaming, Movie/Stream watching, minor video editing, web surfing

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: Everything except the monitor.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes, Windows 7

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon Prime, New Egg

Location: City, State/Region, Country - Albany, NY

Parts Preferences: I'm thinking AMD to keep costs down, but I'm open to suggestions

Overclocking: Not right now, but I'd like the possibility in the future

SLI or Crossfire: Not right now, but I'd like the possibility in the future

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080 resolution on an Asus MX239H

Additional Comments: I have no spare parts for swapping in case of problems, and no testing equipment - see below


And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: a few months ago, my wife and I lost everything in an electrical fire. We are living in a new place now, and our PCs, spare parts, testing equipment and software all need to be replaced. I've got a Asus MX239H monitor recently, and it comes with decent-for-a-monitor speakers.

I haven't ruled out buying a pre-made PC from CyberPower or similar, only because troubleshooting without swaps or testing parts could be difficult, especially if there is a limited amount of time to isolate the problem and return the part if they all arrive at the same time from Amazon. I would appreciate feedback on this as well.

I would appreciate recommendations on Case and PSU as well. And I'll need to buy a copy of Windows 7, that'll factor into the $1000 budget.

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read or answer this, it's appreciated.












 
Solution
8-cores will do the work
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NX9yqs
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NX9yqs/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($174.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Corsair Dominator GT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.67 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($68.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($263.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Apevia X-HERMES-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Antec Neo...

numanator

Honorable
Just a hair over $1000

Amd FX-8320, gtx 770, windows 7

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($328.19 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($81.24 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1013.34
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-05 12:19 EDT-0400)

Tried to get everything from amazon/newegg.

You could swap out the gtx 770 for a gtx 760 and fit an SSD into the build if you wanted. Also, the AMD r9 270x and r9 280x are good cards that could replace the gtx 770 and save a bit (280x is on par with the 770, 270x with the gtx 760)
 

numanator

Honorable
Alternatively, if you don't plan on overclocking, you could get an i5 build:

i5-4440, gtx 770

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($177.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus H87-PLUS ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($106.49 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($328.19 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($81.24 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $976.86
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-05 12:25 EDT-0400)

THe i5-4440 is a locked cpu and the H87 is a non-overclocking motherboard. If you wanted a i5 system that overclocks, it would cost about $80 more.
 

maurelie

Honorable


Hi,
Here is something for your budget that it will be able to Overclock and SLI or Crossfire in the future. Also included SSD for overall system boost

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($159.97 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.94 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99X EVO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($106.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($73.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270X 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($196.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $984.79
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-05 12:27 EDT-0400)
 

Graphiicz

Reputable
Mar 16, 2014
477
0
4,860
Sorry to hear about your troubles. Here is what I'd recommend for you.

It has a great CPU cooler, an excellent motherboard that will offer the possibility for both SLI and overclocking in the future. The only upgrade you'd need to make to this system in order to add another GPU is to get a higher wattage PSU. In reality 1600 MHz RAM is no different to 1333 MHz in terms of gaming, but it just so happens that at the time of writing it's cheaper / the same price. So may as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($159.97 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($61.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($118.00 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.44 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($319.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($47.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1001.22
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-05 12:29 EDT-0400)

 

Seeking Solace

Reputable
Mar 1, 2014
397
0
4,860
I don't think I've struck so close to a target before...it was fun drawing this up, though it is probably not the best build for budget.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 760K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($71.75 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI A88XM-E45 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($72.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($79.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($279.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ TigerDirect)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG UH12NS29 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($54.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $999.61
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-05 12:44 EDT-0400)
 

ali saqib

Honorable
Aug 24, 2013
119
0
10,690
8-cores will do the work
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NX9yqs
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NX9yqs/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($174.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Corsair Dominator GT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.67 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($68.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($263.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Apevia X-HERMES-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 520W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.97 @ OutletPC)
Total: $942.57
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-17 04:53 EDT-0400
 
Solution