Where would you cut back in this $850 Gaming PC?

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vertexx

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Apr 2, 2013
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Budget needs to be $850 or less including OS and KB/Mouse Combo.

1. Downgrade from i5 to i3?
2. Cheaper PSU?
3. Eliminate SSD?

Why?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($103.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.91 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Raidmax Viper GX ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($57.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Other: Keyboard/Mouse ($15.00)
Total: $878.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-28 09:36 EDT-0400
 
Solution
Alex Kelly


That sounds good. :) it will be easier to get the SSD first and install a hard drive later on rather than getting a HDD and having to reinstall windows when an SSD is...
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LucoTF

LucoTF

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Sep 6, 2013
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I'd do this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($196.95 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock B85M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.40 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Raidmax Viper GX ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($57.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Other: Keyboard/Mouse ($15.00)
Total: $834.26
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-28 09:43 EDT-0400

Better CPU, weaker mobo, smaller SSD.

That CPU should last you through broadwell and beyond so don't worry about x97 boards there will be something even newer available by the time you need it
 
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Alex Kelly

Alex Kelly

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Oct 12, 2013
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An i3 will do completely fine. I used an i3 with my GTX 760 for a few months and it worked perfectly, no 'bottlenecking'. If you want to keep the i5 you don't need to get an SSD, contrary to popular belief. It makes no difference in games. I wouldn't recommend skimping on the power supply, what you have chosen is good. You also don't need a Z97 motherboard since you won't be overclocking. Have a look at some H97 boards :)
 
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Novuake

Novuake

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Aug 27, 2011
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Solid build you have there.

I would say remove the SSD completely to be added later.

Then you could do this :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z97-G55 SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($88.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.40 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Raidmax Viper GX ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Other: Keyboard/Mouse ($15.00)
Total: $848.32
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-28 09:47 EDT-0400
 
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V

vertexx

Honorable
Apr 2, 2013
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Cheaper Mobo is definitely another option - was doing Z97 for Broadwell compatibility.
 
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LucoTF

LucoTF

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Sep 6, 2013
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Yeah everyone is doing this right now, but what if I told you the i5-4570 would last you through broadwell and into skylake / cannonlake (or maybe beyond)?
 
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V

vertexx

Honorable
Apr 2, 2013
747
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Hey guys - thanks for all the suggestions. This build is for a 15-year-old friend of my oldest son. It's his first PC build - he had put together a build based on an FX-8350, so I'm talking him off that. When I presented him with the options, he liked the idea of the ability to upgrade the CPU next year to one that he can overclock. So, he is actually suggesting that he can forego the 1TB HDD for now. He thinks he'll have the extra $50-60 for that in the next month or two, so he think's he's good with the 256GB SSD temporarily.

What do you guys think of that?
 
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Alex Kelly

Alex Kelly

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Oct 12, 2013
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That sounds good. :) it will be easier to get the SSD first and install a hard drive later on rather than getting a HDD and having to reinstall windows when an SSD is purchased. :)
 
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Solution
LucoTF

LucoTF

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Sep 6, 2013
6,414
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Ah, you're looking for a tinkerer's build - my fave lol
 
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