$1400 budget for gaming setup. Have 2 builds, what would you change?

DiogogB · Jun 1, 2014

Hello everyone!

Here is some information:
I'm from Canada.
I'm not interested in overclocking since I have never overclock before and I have heard it will not improve gaming significantly. (Would like some feedback if I should invest time learning how to o/c.)
Interested in playing and streaming mainly League of Legends.
Want to dual monitor (1080p)
One monitor is for the game itself, the other for stream options, playlist etc.
I do not need a hard drive for storage, a 240gb SSD is enough.
Budget is $1400.

Here are my two builds:
1) [PCPartPicker part list](http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/rhBw7P)

2) [PCPartPicker part list](http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/fVzqhM)

Once again the budget is $1400 and I would like to get the most out of my money.
Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you all for your time!

CTurbo · Jun 1, 2014

I like the Xeon one or this one

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/wBkhK8
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/wBkhK8/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/wBkhK8/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($217.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.75 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($84.77 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 290 4GB Tri-X Video Card ($484.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($114.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($118.34 @ TigerDirect Canada)
Total: $1350.80
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-01 23:19 EDT-0400)

manofchalk · Jun 1, 2014

I wouldn't go with either to be honest.

This is my suggestion for what you go for.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1240 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($298.98 @ Amazon Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.79 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($89.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($149.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($349.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($100.32 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1282.82
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-01 23:23 EDT-0400)

- The Xeon chip is basically an i7 without integrated graphics, so plenty of CPU grunt on the cheap. You have room in the budget if you wanted an i7 though.
- The Xeon doesnt come with a stock cooler, so you need one aftermarket. That and you want want something quieter than stock anyway.
- The motherboard is fine for your needs. MATX because I feel that a smaller machine is better in this case.
- 8GB of 1600Mhz low profile memory, nothing special. Its a dual stick kit, so you could buy another kit and have 16GB if you wanted later on.
- 840 EVO SSD, again nothing special. I'm assuming you have some HDD's kicking around you intend to use, but if you dont, I really suggest getting a HDD as 240GB will not last long.
- Graphics card, for streaming and general video capture Nvidia is far better than AMD. All Kepler GPU's incorporate a dedicated H.264 encoder in them you can utlize through ShadowPlay, which means you have a hardware encoder rather than loading that task to the CPU. It basically means you have a free capture card.
- Case, the 350D is a pretty awesome case.
- PSU, again nothing special, will run just fine.

CTurbo · Jun 1, 2014

All of the e3 Xeons come with stock coolers

manofchalk · Jun 1, 2014

Huh, I know that the X79 Xeon's dont so I thought it carried through down to LGA1150, and the product image shows a very thin box. But yeah, seems I was wrong on that.
But anyway, I suggest you get the 212 EVO. If your going to be talking on stream, you don't want the stock cooler whirring away in the background.

filippi · Jun 1, 2014

this is a good one:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($202.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.75 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Mushkin Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($149.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 780 3GB OC Video Card ($509.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.79 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1303.27
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-01 23:49 EDT-0400)

DiogogB · Jun 2, 2014

manofchalk :

I wouldn't go with either to be honest.

This is my suggestion for what you go for.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1240 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($298.98 @ Amazon Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.79 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($89.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($149.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($349.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($100.32 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1282.82
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-01 23:23 EDT-0400)

- The Xeon chip is basically an i7 without integrated graphics, so plenty of CPU grunt on the cheap. You have room in the budget if you wanted an i7 though.
- The Xeon doesnt come with a stock cooler, so you need one aftermarket. That and you want want something quieter than stock anyway.
- The motherboard is fine for your needs. MATX because I feel that a smaller machine is better in this case.
- 8GB of 1600Mhz low profile memory, nothing special. Its a dual stick kit, so you could buy another kit and have 16GB if you wanted later on.
- 840 EVO SSD, again nothing special. I'm assuming you have some HDD's kicking around you intend to use, but if you dont, I really suggest getting a HDD as 240GB will not last long.
- Graphics card, for streaming and general video capture Nvidia is far better than AMD. All Kepler GPU's incorporate a dedicated H.264 encoder in them you can utlize through ShadowPlay, which means you have a hardware encoder rather than loading that task to the CPU. It basically means you have a free capture card.
- Case, the 350D is a pretty awesome case.
- PSU, again nothing special, will run just fine.

would 2gb vram be okay for dual screen?

manofchalk · Jun 2, 2014

Your not gaming on the 2nd screen, so the VRAM it consumes is negligible compared to the game running on the other (and thats LoL, not exactly a demanding game). Your good.

CTurbo · Jun 2, 2014

The 290 is a good bit stronger than the GTX770 for gaming though

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$1400 budget for gaming setup. Have 2 builds, what would you change?

DiogogB

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filippi

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