New budget build, advice?

Ryan Wee · Aug 2, 2014

Hi guys,

I needed to build a brand new budget PC (Gave mine to my dad) so I guessed I should post here to get some advice since I am not a total pro when it comes to build so yeah...

Note:
I will be using this PC mostly for video editing and gaming. I will also be using this for my school work but still mainly for using something like Premiere Pro or After Effects and playing some pretty graphical intensive games such as Crysis 3 and Battlefield 4 so I can't really go totally budget on my GPU or CPU.

Anyways, I have actually came up with a build on PCPartPicker and here it is:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Hero ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($168.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($142.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Corsair Force LX Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280X 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($287.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 530 (Black) ATX Full Tower Case ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N15 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($25.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $1455.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

The issue here is that I am trying to lower this build down to somewhere around $1200 or so without going cheap on some of these components.

First, don't downgrade this build to an i5, I will need an i7. And I am willing to pay that extra money to get the newer and better 4790K instead of the 4770K. Next, I still need a GPU with at least 3GB VRAM that isn't something that's really bad (Eg. R5 or 750) or overpriced (Eg. 780Ti or R9 290X). I will be doing some mild overclocking (Reason why I paid extra for that K lol) so I will need a decent CPU cooler (Prefably AiO, to get rid of those RAM compatibility issues. And I would really like to have an SSD and at least 1TB storage. 16GBs of RAM is preferred (Used to run on 8, had lots of low memory issues).

Thanks

Ryan

pierrerock · Aug 2, 2014

price per performance for GPU is pretty much linear until you get to a 780TI so i would definitely recommend a R9 290X :

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-8.html

Ryan Wee · Aug 2, 2014

pierrerock :

I'm sorry but I don't get what you meant there. (Don't expect too much from a 14 year old lol) Is it that the 290X is more value for money than the 280X?

FoxVoxDK · Aug 2, 2014

Hmm, a R9 290 4GB might yield the best performance for the money. But that said, the 280X is a capable card as well.

6R1M01R3 · Aug 2, 2014

Trying to keep it close to 1200 without going cheap in components, I can only think of disregarding overcloking.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1241 V3 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($269.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI H97 GAMING 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($116.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280X 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($287.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N15 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($25.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $1278.83
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-02 10:26 EDT-0400

Levo84 · Aug 2, 2014

In all honesty I would say if you look at the bench marks vs what you would pay for anything above the r9 280x gets into a " how much you wanna spend" for a little bit better performance. Unless you really wanna spend money I would stick with the R9 280x... But that is coming from a novice.

Ryan Wee · Aug 2, 2014

6R1M01R3 :

Trying to keep it close to 1200 without going cheap in components, I can only think of disregarding overcloking.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1241 V3 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($269.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI H97 GAMING 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($116.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280X 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($287.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N15 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($25.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $1278.83
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-02 10:26 EDT-0400

Hi, thx for your reply

I think this is a pretty good build here, but I still doubt that that Xeon would perform in games though... And again, thanks a lot for your help!

Ryan Wee · Aug 2, 2014

Levo84 :

Hi thx for your reply

Yeah I guess I would stick with the 280x, any suggestions on what parts I can reduce the price on？

Ryan Wee · Aug 2, 2014

FoxVoxDK :

Hi, thx a lot for your reply. I would say that I would still stick with the 280x since I'm on a pretty tight budget, unless I can shrink some components here and there.

geofelt · Aug 2, 2014

It is tough to save $250 on your parts.
Here are some ideas:

1. No need for an expensive motherboard. This asrock Z97 anniversary will do the job for $80 less:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97manniversary

2. A R9-280X will need only a 600w psu. The EVGA unit will be a bit less:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-100b10600kr

3. Your ram is good, and low profile. It will not interfere with any cooler. A $30 cm hyper212 will do the job.
The 4790K will run all day at 4.4 turbo. Do you really need more?

4. Cases are a personal thing. There are many out there for $50 or so. Antec GX500 for example.

5. I am not keen on the R9 cards. Looking at newegg feedback, your selected card has 35% negative(0 or 1 egg) feedback.
A better similarly performing card would be the evga GTX770 superclock with NO negative feedback.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130946
Yes, it is $25 more.
A GTX760 would not be a bad choice either for $100 less:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130932

Levo84 · Aug 2, 2014

Ryan,
You can save about 20 ish bucks if you went with this HD -http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

You also might be able to shave some cost off on your mother board, but I would leave that up to someone with more experience to tell you which one. 168 bucks seems to be on the steeper end of things for a home build. I'd bet someone could recommend a great board thats closer to the $100-$125 ( I could be wrong on that.)

Levo84 · Aug 2, 2014

I like what geofelt said- Paying attention to feedback can help steer you away from products that may underperform or just be all around suck. If its just 1 or 2 reviews take it with a grain of salt... If its many reviews you can see a trend. I am leaning toward a 760 for my upcoming build.. but thats just my two cents worth.

Ryan Wee · Aug 2, 2014

Levo84 :

Thx for your help man, really appreciate that

Ryan Wee · Aug 2, 2014

geofelt :

Thx a lot geofelt

But will the hyper 212 perform as well as the H80i if I were to overclock? Also I would prefer an ATX board and I can't get ASRock products in Malaysia (At least to my knowledge that's a no). I would like to have a PSU with extra tolerance for future upgrades btw. Thx

Ryan Wee · Aug 2, 2014

Levo84 :

Had really bad experiences with the barracuda hd to be frank. Mine gave way after a year and my brother's after 2 years

My black is still spinning even after 5 years so I'd rather pay more for reliability and saving up so I don't have to RAID 1 everything lol

Levo84 · Aug 2, 2014

I have heard that from more than one person. I may have to rething using a bara in my build tbh...

Ryan Wee · Aug 3, 2014

Levo84 :

Tbh, I would say that you go with something more reliable, like the black since it will last longer = won't have to replace it that soon and you won't bump into any issues whereby you might even lose your precious data. $20 is definitely worth it at this point.

New budget build, advice?

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