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Need help building new gaming computer for $2000 or less

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  • Computers
  • Systems
Last response: in Systems
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May 12, 2014 8:41:30 AM

I have been wanting to build a new gaming computer for quite some time but not sure exactly where to start. I have done some research but was looking for specific input and suggestions from people that more about computers than I do. My price cap is about 2k which includes two monitors, but don't need any keyboards or mouse. Also need suggestions on which software to use because hear mixed feelings on windows 8 and everything. I am looking to be able to run multiple games at time (world of Warcraft, Diablo, hearthstone, call of duty), have Different tabs open at the same time and be able to stream and not have a problem doing so. Lastly, I am not sure when's the best time to buy things to build a new computer in regards to new products coming out and being better or lower priced etc. I appreciate all the help I can get and look forward to playing on an actual gaming computer compared to my MacBook Pro :( 

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a c 284 4 Gaming
May 12, 2014 8:56:54 AM

Wouldn't spend near your max budget for what you're looking for. The Xeon is a superb CPU, and with 8 threads, will be great for the multitasking and streaming you're looking for. The 280x will get you maxed out at 1080p, and will be able to handle multiple games at a time with ease as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($244.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.84 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($289.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: OCZ ZT 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1378.70
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-12 11:56 EDT-0400)
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May 12, 2014 9:11:55 AM

1. Why would you even want to run multiple games at once..?
2. Do you care on the size of the desktop?
3. What other games do you play?

Going off what you listed, I made a thing.

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($334.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($128.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($125.45 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.28 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($319.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced ATX Full Tower Case ($138.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 1050W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($225.99 @ Best Buy)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($136.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer H226HQLbid 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($137.73 @ B&H)
Monitor: Acer H226HQLbid 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($137.73 @ B&H)
Total: $2041.08

All for between $2000-$2100
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May 12, 2014 9:12:54 AM

HiTechObsessed said:
Wouldn't spend near your max budget for what you're looking for. The Xeon is a superb CPU, and with 8 threads, will be great for the multitasking and streaming you're looking for. The 280x will get you maxed out at 1080p, and will be able to handle multiple games at a time with ease as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($244.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.84 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($289.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: OCZ ZT 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1378.70
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-12 11:56 EDT-0400)


Questioning why you would put a server CPU into a gaming rig.
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a b 4 Gaming
May 12, 2014 9:19:21 AM

Lightbulbie said:
HiTechObsessed said:
Wouldn't spend near your max budget for what you're looking for. The Xeon is a superb CPU, and with 8 threads, will be great for the multitasking and streaming you're looking for. The 280x will get you maxed out at 1080p, and will be able to handle multiple games at a time with ease as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($244.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.84 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($289.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: OCZ ZT 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1378.70
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-12 11:56 EDT-0400)


Questioning why you would put a server CPU into a gaming rig.


Because it's essentially a locked i7.
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a c 284 4 Gaming
May 12, 2014 9:20:43 AM

It performs just as well as an i7 for gaming. There's no point in spending $100 more for an i7 when you're not going to be using the integrated graphics chip anyway. The build you posted above will perform almost identically to my build above, but costs almost $700 more.
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a b 4 Gaming
May 12, 2014 9:21:01 AM

HiTechObsessed said:
Wouldn't spend near your max budget for what you're looking for. The Xeon is a superb CPU, and with 8 threads, will be great for the multitasking and streaming you're looking for. The 280x will get you maxed out at 1080p, and will be able to handle multiple games at a time with ease as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($244.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.84 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($289.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: OCZ ZT 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1378.70
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-12 11:56 EDT-0400)


+1

Only change I'd make is the case. Perhaps the Define R4?
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May 12, 2014 9:23:20 AM

HiTechObsessed said:
It performs just as well as an i7 for gaming. There's no point in spending $100 more for an i7 when you're not going to be using the integrated graphics chip anyway. The build you posted above will perform almost identically to my build above, but costs almost $700 more.


What is OP wants to OC? I've never heard of anyone OC'ing a Xeon.
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a c 284 4 Gaming
May 12, 2014 9:25:43 AM

Overclocking isn't necessary, and again, an additional $700 to eek out a few FPS is definitely not worth it.

And Graphiics, I went with the 350d cause the motherboard I chose was mATX. Since the H87 mATX isn't ideal for Crossfire, I figured I would keep a smaller case, as the Define R4 is quite big lol
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a b 4 Gaming
May 12, 2014 9:39:49 AM

HiTechObsessed said:
Overclocking isn't necessary, and again, an additional $700 to eek out a few FPS is definitely not worth it.

And Graphiics, I went with the 350d cause the motherboard I chose was mATX. Since the H87 mATX isn't ideal for Crossfire, I figured I would keep a smaller case, as the Define R4 is quite big lol


Ah that makes sense.
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