Building a PC

Pigums · Jul 3, 2014

I would like to build my own gaming PC for around or under $1000. Probably the most graphically demanding games I will be playing on it are Skyrim and Witcher 2. I would appreciate any advice on my current build:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Rcr3mG

Are there any bottlenecks or components that you would recommend instead?
Thank you!

tiny voices · Jul 3, 2014

NO bottlenecks. The GPU is a tiny bit on the weak side for an unlocked i5, but you said you are not playing demanding games, so it should be fine.

The PSU could be changed to an XFX 550w unit for slightly better quality and lower price.

leo2kp · Jul 3, 2014

Looks good to me!

numanator · Jul 3, 2014

Do you plan to overclock the CPU? if not you could save some money by changing the CPU and mobo.

Pigums · Jul 3, 2014

numanator :

Will I need to overclock to play Skyrim or Witcher 2 on ultra settings? If not, then I guess I won't be overclocking. What kinda CPUs or mother boards did you have in mind?

tiny voices · Jul 3, 2014

No, not at all. Overclocking is a hobby, more than it is for performance gains.

If you won't be overclocking. Get a non-K i5 and an h87/h97 motherboard. This saves money so you could get a better GPU.

numanator · Jul 3, 2014

Something like this for a non-OC build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($73.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($229.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.48 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Asus VS247H-P 23.6" Monitor ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $991.36
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Pigums · Jul 3, 2014

tiny voices :

For the PSU, a friend of mine recommended I get at least a 650/700W PSU in case I plan on upgrading or adding extra fans or an ssd. That's why I chose my current PSU.

tiny voices · Jul 3, 2014

Fans and SSDs use less than 2w each. There is absolutely no reason to get that big of a PSU.

Pigums · Jul 3, 2014

Updated build:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7Nqxbv

Almost forgot to add a keyboard and mouse, that would be bad.

You mentioned that my GPU was a bit weak for the build. What GPU would you recommend without adding too much to the pricetag?

tiny voices · Jul 3, 2014

Generally with an i5 I like to pair a gtx770. This will run most games at ultra settings at 1080p.

I also strongly recommend Win8.1.

Pigums · Jul 5, 2014

Will spending an extra $100 for a gtx770 be worth it for increased performance in the games I will be playing? Will the difference be that noticeable?
Also, why do you recommend Windows 8 over Windows 7?

tiny voices · Jul 5, 2014

Skryim with decent mods will not max on a gtx760. But if you only play less demanding stuff, you could easily get away with it.

WIndows 8 is simply better, faster, lighter, more support. I much prefer it to win7.

Icaraeus · Jul 5, 2014

It boots faster, uses less system resources, is essentially like Windows 7 (except faster) when you set it to boot to desktop, will be supported for longer, has better antimalware software and after the first few hours isn't in your face (initially it spams you with tips to help figure out how to use the OS). I was gonna use Windows 7 Ultimate but now I'm happy that my Bluray drive didn't read the disc!

If you get Windows 8 make sure to update (for free) to Windows 8.1 Update 1.

Pigums · Jul 5, 2014

I did some research and found that windows 8 is slightly better than windows 7 for gaming, so I will be picking up Win 8. Thx for the recommendation!

As for the graphics card, I'm still unsure what would be optimal for the games I will be playing. (Skyrim modded and Witcher 2)
1.) I could stick with the GTX 760 but reupgrade to the overclocking motherboard and cpu I had earlier for cheaper than the price of a GTX 770. How does an OC GTX 760 compare to a GTX 770? (Probably sounds like a stupid idea, since you said that OCing is more like a hobby)
2.) I could pony up the extra $100 or so and get the GTX 770, as tiny voices recommended.
3.) I could go for a Radeon R9 280X. I've heard that it gives similar performance compared to the GTX 770 and is also about $50 cheaper. What are your thoughts on this option? Will the 280X perform better on skyrim than the GTX 770 and 760?

I probably should've mentioned this earlier but I will not be buying these components right now. I'm most likely going to wait for a good sale before I buy the components. I'm new to pc hardware sales, so idk when the next sale will be or how often they come up. If I don't find a good sale I will probably wait till black Friday to get all my components. Quick question: Is it better to buy individual components when they go on sale, or is it better to buy all the components at the same time?

tiny voices · Jul 5, 2014

A gtx770 will beat a 760 handily no matter what. You cannot compare an overclocked 760 to a stock 770, because if you overlock one then you HAVE to consider the other option overclocked. So, no an OC760 will not come close to an OC770.

I would get the 280x. It is 98% of a gtx770 for 25% less money. That would be my choice.

Also, it is not worth even planning a build until about 2 weeks or less form the purchase date. Planning this now for black friday is pointless as new things will release, prices will DRASTICALLY change, and new software might come out changing how stuff performs.

When you plan a build, it is for the NOW, not for 5 months away.

If you don't plan to build unitl Black Friday, come back and make a new thread a week prior. I promise almost everything will be changed (price/ component wise) in your build.

Pigums · Jul 6, 2014

Oh wow! I was not aware that the hardware market changed that frequently. I was originally planning to buy the components during 4th of July sales, but I found that the sales were not that great for my build. (only saving me ~$20)
Thanks a lot for the advice.

Even though I might not be buying the components anytime soon, I still learned some. I'll keep an eye open for sales, and when I'm ready to buy I'll post it in a new thread.

ThePaulrus94 · Jul 6, 2014

I too am planning a pc build and mine is extremely similar to yours. From what I know and have heard, the i5-4670K and GTX 760 are a great combo. I have a bit better mobo and my build has extras but I may borrow some of your part ideas. I just believe my mobo would offer more upgrade ability but I may be going a bit overboard with it. The build you have overall looks great and I wouldnt think 650w would be too much. Itll save you money if you upgrade your gpu or something down the road. PS I am fairly new to building and thisll be my first build so these are just my non-expert thoughts

Heres my build if you wish to look:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pBN84D

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