Building gaming/streaming pc
Tags:
- Streaming
- Computers
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Gaming
Last response: in Components
EvanTheComputerNoob
September 23, 2014 8:54:54 PM
Hello all Tom's Hardware users!
I'm planning on buying a new computer, budget around $1700-$2100. I do plan on streaming (I realize a lot of it is based off of internet) but I'm not necessarily a hardcore gamer that tries to buy games just to see how much I can pump out in terms of performance or fps. (some games include Warframe, Planetside2, Dayz, Team Fortress 2, Wildstar, rarely LoL but if/when I get back into streaming it's a maybe.) Although, I do want it to look nice. I'm not positive if future proofing is worth doing anymore (I've been told by some people it's not, with how fast newer technology seems to come out these days.
This is the idea so far - http://pcpartpicker.com/user/RNC1839/saved/VgzXsY
This was mainly put together by my friend. It was initially going to be with a 4820k instead and maybe a R9 290 but I am pretty inexperienced in knowing whats the best bang for buck and whatnot. So mainly I'm here to see what you guys think. Suggestions, opinions, anything helps! To some it may seem overkill and to others it may seem not enough, but I'm not sure. I do have a friend who will help me put together the computer, as I never have before.
TL;DR - Building a computer $1700-2100, suggestions and opinions on the components on that ^ site
Feel free to ask any questions and (hopefully) I will try to answer them!
Evan
I'm planning on buying a new computer, budget around $1700-$2100. I do plan on streaming (I realize a lot of it is based off of internet) but I'm not necessarily a hardcore gamer that tries to buy games just to see how much I can pump out in terms of performance or fps. (some games include Warframe, Planetside2, Dayz, Team Fortress 2, Wildstar, rarely LoL but if/when I get back into streaming it's a maybe.) Although, I do want it to look nice. I'm not positive if future proofing is worth doing anymore (I've been told by some people it's not, with how fast newer technology seems to come out these days.
This is the idea so far - http://pcpartpicker.com/user/RNC1839/saved/VgzXsY
This was mainly put together by my friend. It was initially going to be with a 4820k instead and maybe a R9 290 but I am pretty inexperienced in knowing whats the best bang for buck and whatnot. So mainly I'm here to see what you guys think. Suggestions, opinions, anything helps! To some it may seem overkill and to others it may seem not enough, but I'm not sure. I do have a friend who will help me put together the computer, as I never have before.
TL;DR - Building a computer $1700-2100, suggestions and opinions on the components on that ^ site
Feel free to ask any questions and (hopefully) I will try to answer them!
Evan
More about : building gaming streaming
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Reply to EvanTheComputerNoob
1) the i7 is a waste. Unless you're doing video editing which requires as short of render times as possible, don't get it. Will it be slightly better for streaming? Yes. Is it worth $100 over an i5? No.
2) I personally dislike closed loop liquid coolers. A big air cooler will be cheaper, quieter, perform just as well, and have way fewer moving parts that could break.
3) There's no need to spend that much on the motherboard. A $140 motherboard will be more than sufficient.
4) 16Gb of ram is a waste of money, as is getting 1866-clocked RAM. You aren't going to notice the difference in speed no matter what you're doing, and 8GB is enough to simultaneously run battlefield 3, photoshop, AND 30 tabs in chrome without even touching the page file.
5) Good pick on the ssd. You don't need 250GB since nearly every game gets zero benefit from being on the SSD, but if you want it, go for it.
Simultaneously, bad pick on the hard drive. Modern Barracudas tend to run a little hot and noisy - go with a WD black or a Hitachi.
6) I don't know if you know this, but the brand new 970s just got released a week or so ago. Get them instead. However, first think about what you're doing. What's your monitor? If you have the typical 1080p, 60Hz affair, it's just stupid to spend that much money for no reason. A single 970 will be just fine. I'd say that unless you're buying a 1440p, 120Hz Asus Swift as your monitor, you don't need above a GTX 980.
7) That's going to be a HUGE case, you know that, right? And it's bloody expensive. There are a lot of better options that will be much smaller and quieter.
8) Overkill on the PSU and it's again, horribly expensive. Get a 750w PSU if you do get two 970s, or a 620w Seasonic if you go with just one card.
9) Don't get windows 7. Seriously, windows 8.1 can be transferred from computer to computer, it has actually functional bluetooth support, it has quicker search and file transfer options... if you take 30 seconds to get rid of the metro apps and a few minutes to get used to pressing the windows button and just typing a few letters and hitting enter, and getting exactly what you wanted, windows 8.1 has so many benefits it's silly to get windows 7 unless you really hate change and can't take a few seconds to customize some options.
Anyways. Further advice will come after a few questions:
What's your monitor right now. Are you planning / considering upgrading?
Do you have a mechanical keyboard and a high quality mouse that works for you?
Do you like your sound system?
I would spend way less money on your computer, since a lot of it is going places that give you absolutely no benefit at all, and take that money to get a really good quality keyboard and mouse and monitor, directional headphones that will make your ears happy, and just giving you a generally much nicer experience.
Especially for the games that you play (Planetside2 aside because it has some... coding issues...), there's absolutely no reason to be spending as much as you are unless you have three monitors or want to play at 2160p or something.
2) I personally dislike closed loop liquid coolers. A big air cooler will be cheaper, quieter, perform just as well, and have way fewer moving parts that could break.
3) There's no need to spend that much on the motherboard. A $140 motherboard will be more than sufficient.
4) 16Gb of ram is a waste of money, as is getting 1866-clocked RAM. You aren't going to notice the difference in speed no matter what you're doing, and 8GB is enough to simultaneously run battlefield 3, photoshop, AND 30 tabs in chrome without even touching the page file.
5) Good pick on the ssd. You don't need 250GB since nearly every game gets zero benefit from being on the SSD, but if you want it, go for it.
Simultaneously, bad pick on the hard drive. Modern Barracudas tend to run a little hot and noisy - go with a WD black or a Hitachi.
6) I don't know if you know this, but the brand new 970s just got released a week or so ago. Get them instead. However, first think about what you're doing. What's your monitor? If you have the typical 1080p, 60Hz affair, it's just stupid to spend that much money for no reason. A single 970 will be just fine. I'd say that unless you're buying a 1440p, 120Hz Asus Swift as your monitor, you don't need above a GTX 980.
7) That's going to be a HUGE case, you know that, right? And it's bloody expensive. There are a lot of better options that will be much smaller and quieter.
8) Overkill on the PSU and it's again, horribly expensive. Get a 750w PSU if you do get two 970s, or a 620w Seasonic if you go with just one card.
9) Don't get windows 7. Seriously, windows 8.1 can be transferred from computer to computer, it has actually functional bluetooth support, it has quicker search and file transfer options... if you take 30 seconds to get rid of the metro apps and a few minutes to get used to pressing the windows button and just typing a few letters and hitting enter, and getting exactly what you wanted, windows 8.1 has so many benefits it's silly to get windows 7 unless you really hate change and can't take a few seconds to customize some options.
Anyways. Further advice will come after a few questions:
What's your monitor right now. Are you planning / considering upgrading?
Do you have a mechanical keyboard and a high quality mouse that works for you?
Do you like your sound system?
I would spend way less money on your computer, since a lot of it is going places that give you absolutely no benefit at all, and take that money to get a really good quality keyboard and mouse and monitor, directional headphones that will make your ears happy, and just giving you a generally much nicer experience.
Especially for the games that you play (Planetside2 aside because it has some... coding issues...), there's absolutely no reason to be spending as much as you are unless you have three monitors or want to play at 2160p or something.
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Reply to DarkSable
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You have some really good points, DarkSable. But he's streaming, you know.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($384.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock X99 Extreme4 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($220.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($224.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($629.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 230T Windowed-BLUE ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair 860W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1962.89
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 00:14 EDT-0400
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($384.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock X99 Extreme4 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($220.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($224.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($629.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 230T Windowed-BLUE ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair 860W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1962.89
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 00:14 EDT-0400
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Reply to okcnaline
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Related resources
- Need HELP building a gaming/streaming PC - Forum
- Need help building first gaming/streaming PC - Forum
- Building a High End Gaming/Streaming PC - Forum
- 1st Time building PC Trying for gaming/Streaming 800 - 1000$ budget - Forum
- Building a Gaming/Streaming PC for the Twitch channel my wife and I have! - Forum
Also, future proofing is absolutely not worth it. It's a much more economical option to get what gives you the performance you want now, and upgrade down the line. That way after, say, seven years, you still have a moderately good computer, rather than an ancient thing that nobody will want parts from even on craigslist.
Also, lemme help you brainstorm the focuses of this rig. Too often new builders just go for performance and don't consider anything else. So talk to me a little bit about how important the following are to you:
Aesthetics. (Are they important? What do you want? Do you want the gaudy side panel and lights and color and bears oh my! [no, wait...] or do you like the minimalist look?)
Acoustics. (Pretty simple. Do you care if it's loud or not? Do you just not want to be able to hear it over headphone while gaming, or are you as anal as me and don't want to hear any noise from it, period, despite expense. [Or, you know, a middle ground, if you believe those exist. ;p ])
Bragging rights. (Really though. It matters to a lot of people. I personally think it's a heck of a lot cooler to be able to say that my $1200 computer performs within 95% of your computer twice the price, and does it in a smaller size with less noise.)
Size. (I personally love small form factor builds just for the convenience, and the ability to move them easily. We could easily build you a rig in a fraction of the size of that tower for a very small premium. Bear in mind that's a full-tower case; it's going to be HUGE, and very heavy.)
Also, lemme help you brainstorm the focuses of this rig. Too often new builders just go for performance and don't consider anything else. So talk to me a little bit about how important the following are to you:
Aesthetics. (Are they important? What do you want? Do you want the gaudy side panel and lights and color and bears oh my! [no, wait...] or do you like the minimalist look?)
Acoustics. (Pretty simple. Do you care if it's loud or not? Do you just not want to be able to hear it over headphone while gaming, or are you as anal as me and don't want to hear any noise from it, period, despite expense. [Or, you know, a middle ground, if you believe those exist. ;p ])
Bragging rights. (Really though. It matters to a lot of people. I personally think it's a heck of a lot cooler to be able to say that my $1200 computer performs within 95% of your computer twice the price, and does it in a smaller size with less noise.)
Size. (I personally love small form factor builds just for the convenience, and the ability to move them easily. We could easily build you a rig in a fraction of the size of that tower for a very small premium. Bear in mind that's a full-tower case; it's going to be HUGE, and very heavy.)
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Reply to DarkSable
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($338.96 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.65 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($128.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($73.80 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 Blackout ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2076.12
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 00:20 EDT-0400
or just remove the 2nd gtx 980 and save $550 imo
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($338.96 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.65 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($128.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($73.80 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 Blackout ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2076.12
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 00:20 EDT-0400
or just remove the 2nd gtx 980 and save $550 imo
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Reply to esco_sid
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okcnaline said:
You have some really good points, DarkSable. But he's streaming, you know.Yep. No reason why that's necessarily worth $100 for slightly better performance. I have absolutely zero issues streaming with even a stock i5. There's also absolutely no reason for 16GB of ram unless he's doing video edits at more than 1080p. Seriously, I have yet to see anything that comes even close to using a full 8GB, and I have folders full of 80+ bookmarks that I open at once in the morning.
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Reply to DarkSable
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Huang Ray
September 23, 2014 9:22:37 PM
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($137.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($157.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($101.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1864.61
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 00:21 EDT-0400
or if you want i7
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($157.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($101.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1971.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 00:21 EDT-0400
Everything will fit fine and you can overclock it !
If you want liquid cooler, change it to h110 (however, I don't like close loop liquid cooling and it's more expensive.)
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($137.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($157.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($101.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1864.61
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 00:21 EDT-0400
or if you want i7
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($157.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($101.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1971.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 00:21 EDT-0400
Everything will fit fine and you can overclock it !
If you want liquid cooler, change it to h110 (however, I don't like close loop liquid cooling and it's more expensive.)
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Reply to Huang Ray
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EvanTheComputerNoob
September 23, 2014 9:32:35 PM
As of right now, I do have a Samsung SyncMaster P2250 which is 60hz 1080p, I don't necessarily plan on updating to a larger screen or resolution, but I do want another monitor to go along with the one I have (albeit the actual stand is broken so its sitting on my desk - pretty lame.)
I have a Logitech G600 mouse which has been working great for me. I do plan on buying a mechanical keyboard, but undecided on which one and whether to get functionality over looks (such as the new corsair rgb.)
In terms of sound system, I have a fatal1ty headset that I ordered off of Newegg, but I would love to possibly have a good set of speakers and a better headset (possibly wireless because of problems with current computer setup - usb mouse + right next to audio jack for headset = high pitch ringing, which might be fixed with either new gear or computer.)
I will have to check into these new 970's of which you speak and get back to you on that.
So, basically you're saying that almost everything can be downgraded somewhat because it won't benefit me enough to notice for what I want to do.. Also, I think I can re install this version of windows 7 on this computer onto the new one, but I didn't really give any thought to windows 8 if I'm honest. I messed around with my grandmas laptop which had windows 8 and it just seemed weird (probably biased and not much experience with it.)
I very much appreciate your answer. Although, I'm still wondering if, even though you say I can downgrade and still be able to do what I've previously mentioned perfectly fine, is there any reason to not downgrade as much and future proof for anything that may come out or for any sort of streaming purposes? Or would it be better to just wait and if something becomes obsolete just replace it.
Thanks! P.S., I already have an Ultra LSP 750w psu, so I might be able to just use that? Even though having a backup computer would be nice of course haha
I have a Logitech G600 mouse which has been working great for me. I do plan on buying a mechanical keyboard, but undecided on which one and whether to get functionality over looks (such as the new corsair rgb.)
In terms of sound system, I have a fatal1ty headset that I ordered off of Newegg, but I would love to possibly have a good set of speakers and a better headset (possibly wireless because of problems with current computer setup - usb mouse + right next to audio jack for headset = high pitch ringing, which might be fixed with either new gear or computer.)
I will have to check into these new 970's of which you speak and get back to you on that.
So, basically you're saying that almost everything can be downgraded somewhat because it won't benefit me enough to notice for what I want to do.. Also, I think I can re install this version of windows 7 on this computer onto the new one, but I didn't really give any thought to windows 8 if I'm honest. I messed around with my grandmas laptop which had windows 8 and it just seemed weird (probably biased and not much experience with it.)
I very much appreciate your answer. Although, I'm still wondering if, even though you say I can downgrade and still be able to do what I've previously mentioned perfectly fine, is there any reason to not downgrade as much and future proof for anything that may come out or for any sort of streaming purposes? Or would it be better to just wait and if something becomes obsolete just replace it.
Thanks! P.S., I already have an Ultra LSP 750w psu, so I might be able to just use that? Even though having a backup computer would be nice of course haha
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Reply to EvanTheComputerNoob
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EvanTheComputerNoob
September 23, 2014 9:40:29 PM
Oh my, as I wrote that there were other responses so I'm sorry if I repeated questions haha. So DarkSable, I'm not that picky about it but if I had to answer, I would like a light / side panel to see inside. The loudness, compared to my current computer, I'd assume wouldn't be much more. I would overall prefer medium.. not loud but not quiet xD... Usually as long as I don't hear it while in game or just chatting over the microphone to friends, I'm usually fine.
Don't really care about bragging as long as it's a good computer haha
I figured I needed a full ATX case to fit the mobo and other components just based off of the dimensions but ughhhh, I'm not sure about the whole size of the case thing. If I can fit everything into a smaller case and not have problems with the dimensions, heating, fans, or anything of that sort, then I'd say let's go for it. I don't have THAT much desk space, mainly because I need to move my printer elsewhere.
I was also wondering about SLI for two graphics card as well and whether it would be too much or not compatible for certain games or something. (Just look at my username and you'll know why I'm most likely giving silly unhelpful remarks and answers!) Also, the budget was just saying what I am WILLING to spend if needed on a good computer. I will definitely spend less RIGHT NOW if many people agree that just getting what would help right now and upgrading later would be best.
Don't really care about bragging as long as it's a good computer haha
I figured I needed a full ATX case to fit the mobo and other components just based off of the dimensions but ughhhh, I'm not sure about the whole size of the case thing. If I can fit everything into a smaller case and not have problems with the dimensions, heating, fans, or anything of that sort, then I'd say let's go for it. I don't have THAT much desk space, mainly because I need to move my printer elsewhere.
I was also wondering about SLI for two graphics card as well and whether it would be too much or not compatible for certain games or something. (Just look at my username and you'll know why I'm most likely giving silly unhelpful remarks and answers!) Also, the budget was just saying what I am WILLING to spend if needed on a good computer. I will definitely spend less RIGHT NOW if many people agree that just getting what would help right now and upgrading later would be best.
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Reply to EvanTheComputerNoob
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Okay. Here goes. (Sorry about all the numbers - it's just how I keep multiple points organized while typing responses.)
1) If all you're doing is gaming / streaming at 1080p and 60Hz, there is absolutely no reason to spend the money you are, and your friend is not giving wonderful advice. The second monitor is going to have absolutely zip effect on performance when gaming, and a single gtx 970 will be more than enough to max games just fine. If you feel like spending the extra money, you can get a gtx 980 with the stock cooler, which exhausts air out the back and is whisper quiet, and will play games totally maxed out for a while to come.
2) On a related note, please do 'check into' the new cards. They're highly upgraded versions of the now-old 770s that your original post has. A 970 or 980 will be significantly more powerful, and it will use less power and be far cooler and quieter than a 770.
3) Alright, I'm starting to get a good idea of what will be a good build for you - a bitfenix prodigy with a side window. It's compact, gives good cooling without sounding like a wind tunnel, has handles, looks incredibly good...
4) You don't need to use an ATX motherboard, though. You can go with a mini-ITX motherboard, use a single graphics card (which will be more than sufficient for your needs), and have a small computer (that will get you lots of compliments and comments on it) without any issues at all.
To put it in perspective, the case that you have in your original post... won't go on your desk. Period. It's going to be too long, and if you put it on there, it would come up above your head. It's designed to fit under a empty desk, which is why the power button is up top - it's so you don't have to bend over to reach it.
5) SLI is absolutely a silly thing for you to be doing right now. I have a GTX 670, which is a generation behind the 770s that you were looking at, and my single 670 still can play nearly every game (obvious ones like crysis 3 and the poorly-coded watchdogs as exeptions) at either 1440p, 60Hz or 1080p, 120Hz without hesitation at high / ultra graphics. At 1080p, 60Hz, a single 970 will honestly be more than enough for your needs - but like I said, I'd even go with the 980 for its incredible stock cooler and the knowledge that you'll be maxxing games for a long time to come.
You absolutely do not have to spend that much to get a great gaming computer. To be honest, you could spend $1200 and easily get a computer that will do everything you want from it and more for a long time to come. The slight extras are going to come for size, case build quality, motherboard features, and the lights.
6) Glad to hear your mouse is working well for you - when you start looking at keyboards, send me a PM. I'm a mechanical keyboard nerd, and can easily help you find the right keyboard to start you on your path of typing on a cloud of boobs. (Definitely go for functionality, by the way, especially when it comes to replaceable keycaps. That will mean your mechanical keyboard can last pretty much forever. I personally have a Leopold that's completely blank save for white arrow and WSAD keys. Watching people's faces the first time they sit at my computer is hilarious, especially if they can't touch-type.)
You'll definitely have the budget for speakers and a headset, though I don't personally like wireless headsets because of the weight. If the only issue is the ringing, that's easily solved by using optical-out and getting a pre-amp. As for the speakers themselves, I personally love Logitech's $30 set that comes with a subwoofer... it sounds like a lot of $100 sets I've heard. (And I know what I'm talking about; the sound system playing behind me right now is a full custom setup.)
7) I'm saying that it's really not a downgrade for you, because it's either giving you no benefit, or the benefits it's giving are entirely beyond what you can use... such as a pair of $300 graphics cards for a maybe $200 monitor that would get maxxed out with just a single one of them, most likely.
There's absolutely no reason to try to future proof. It's been shown time and time again that it's a far better option economically to buy what gives you the performance you're looking for now, and upgrade when that performance is no longer acceptable... that way you end up with a still decent mid-range computer, rather than an 8-year old computer nobody even wants parts from, that you couldn't replace because you had sunken so much money into it.
The only difference between an i7 and an i5 (not counting the way more expensive x99 i7's a couple people told you to buy) is that the i7 has a tiny amount more L3 cashe (negligible) and hyperthreading. Hyperthreading is not an extra four cores like a lot of people try to explain it as... it's more like having two hands to pick up food and shove it into your mouth. You still have one mouth, but it doesn't have to wait for the first hand if it chews a piece quicker than expected. It translates into maybe a 30% benefit in the best of situations with a highly multi-threaded application. For gaming the effect is ridiculously tiny. It will help slightly when streaming, but like I said, an i5 also isn't going to have any issues with streaming, especially if you overclock it.
8) You cannot transfer an OEM copy of windows 7. If you paid the extra $30 for a consumer copy, you might be able to depending on what mood microsoft is in. You can transfer an OEM copy of windows 8.1 to as many motherboards as you like.
I strongly suggest that you give Windows 8.1 a try. Your grandma's computer probably hadn't been upgraded from 8 to 8.1, probably hadn't had any of its settings adjusted, and you probably were using the "metro" apps, which are the biggest complaint about the thing. You can solve all those problems in 5 minutes when you first install the OS.
9) You can absolutely reuse your PSU if you want, and probably your hard drive and CD reader... but at the same time, if you go with the build I'm going to suggest, there's no reason not to have a second computer for, say, when a friend comes over.
Anyways, here's what I would suggest you get after actually listening to what you're looking for and giving you feedback and reasoning. (I rather dislike people who just throw a build at somebody without explaining it... especially when the OP is fairly new to building computers.)
Pros:
- A/C Wifi, great Bluetooth support.
- Has more than enough power for everything you need.
- Will be lightning fast, snappy, and still has a ton of storage from the hard drive.
- Though the green is optional, the video card is going to be mounted upright next to the window and "GTX 980" will light up in nvidia green... it's going to be snazzy.
- Just as a note, it doesn't have other lights; there are lots of options out there, most of them great.
- It'll be quiet and is small enough that you can carry it under one arm. (It'll get slightly uncomfortable after a while, but that's what the handles are for.)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($105.64 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97E-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($85.60 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($139.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Green) Mini ITX Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan ($21.95 @ Amazon)
Other: External USB optical drive if you really need one ($25.00)
Total: $1597.11
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 03:10 EDT-0400
1) If all you're doing is gaming / streaming at 1080p and 60Hz, there is absolutely no reason to spend the money you are, and your friend is not giving wonderful advice. The second monitor is going to have absolutely zip effect on performance when gaming, and a single gtx 970 will be more than enough to max games just fine. If you feel like spending the extra money, you can get a gtx 980 with the stock cooler, which exhausts air out the back and is whisper quiet, and will play games totally maxed out for a while to come.
2) On a related note, please do 'check into' the new cards. They're highly upgraded versions of the now-old 770s that your original post has. A 970 or 980 will be significantly more powerful, and it will use less power and be far cooler and quieter than a 770.
3) Alright, I'm starting to get a good idea of what will be a good build for you - a bitfenix prodigy with a side window. It's compact, gives good cooling without sounding like a wind tunnel, has handles, looks incredibly good...
4) You don't need to use an ATX motherboard, though. You can go with a mini-ITX motherboard, use a single graphics card (which will be more than sufficient for your needs), and have a small computer (that will get you lots of compliments and comments on it) without any issues at all.
To put it in perspective, the case that you have in your original post... won't go on your desk. Period. It's going to be too long, and if you put it on there, it would come up above your head. It's designed to fit under a empty desk, which is why the power button is up top - it's so you don't have to bend over to reach it.
5) SLI is absolutely a silly thing for you to be doing right now. I have a GTX 670, which is a generation behind the 770s that you were looking at, and my single 670 still can play nearly every game (obvious ones like crysis 3 and the poorly-coded watchdogs as exeptions) at either 1440p, 60Hz or 1080p, 120Hz without hesitation at high / ultra graphics. At 1080p, 60Hz, a single 970 will honestly be more than enough for your needs - but like I said, I'd even go with the 980 for its incredible stock cooler and the knowledge that you'll be maxxing games for a long time to come.
You absolutely do not have to spend that much to get a great gaming computer. To be honest, you could spend $1200 and easily get a computer that will do everything you want from it and more for a long time to come. The slight extras are going to come for size, case build quality, motherboard features, and the lights.
6) Glad to hear your mouse is working well for you - when you start looking at keyboards, send me a PM. I'm a mechanical keyboard nerd, and can easily help you find the right keyboard to start you on your path of typing on a cloud of boobs. (Definitely go for functionality, by the way, especially when it comes to replaceable keycaps. That will mean your mechanical keyboard can last pretty much forever. I personally have a Leopold that's completely blank save for white arrow and WSAD keys. Watching people's faces the first time they sit at my computer is hilarious, especially if they can't touch-type.)
You'll definitely have the budget for speakers and a headset, though I don't personally like wireless headsets because of the weight. If the only issue is the ringing, that's easily solved by using optical-out and getting a pre-amp. As for the speakers themselves, I personally love Logitech's $30 set that comes with a subwoofer... it sounds like a lot of $100 sets I've heard. (And I know what I'm talking about; the sound system playing behind me right now is a full custom setup.)
7) I'm saying that it's really not a downgrade for you, because it's either giving you no benefit, or the benefits it's giving are entirely beyond what you can use... such as a pair of $300 graphics cards for a maybe $200 monitor that would get maxxed out with just a single one of them, most likely.
There's absolutely no reason to try to future proof. It's been shown time and time again that it's a far better option economically to buy what gives you the performance you're looking for now, and upgrade when that performance is no longer acceptable... that way you end up with a still decent mid-range computer, rather than an 8-year old computer nobody even wants parts from, that you couldn't replace because you had sunken so much money into it.
The only difference between an i7 and an i5 (not counting the way more expensive x99 i7's a couple people told you to buy) is that the i7 has a tiny amount more L3 cashe (negligible) and hyperthreading. Hyperthreading is not an extra four cores like a lot of people try to explain it as... it's more like having two hands to pick up food and shove it into your mouth. You still have one mouth, but it doesn't have to wait for the first hand if it chews a piece quicker than expected. It translates into maybe a 30% benefit in the best of situations with a highly multi-threaded application. For gaming the effect is ridiculously tiny. It will help slightly when streaming, but like I said, an i5 also isn't going to have any issues with streaming, especially if you overclock it.
8) You cannot transfer an OEM copy of windows 7. If you paid the extra $30 for a consumer copy, you might be able to depending on what mood microsoft is in. You can transfer an OEM copy of windows 8.1 to as many motherboards as you like.
I strongly suggest that you give Windows 8.1 a try. Your grandma's computer probably hadn't been upgraded from 8 to 8.1, probably hadn't had any of its settings adjusted, and you probably were using the "metro" apps, which are the biggest complaint about the thing. You can solve all those problems in 5 minutes when you first install the OS.
9) You can absolutely reuse your PSU if you want, and probably your hard drive and CD reader... but at the same time, if you go with the build I'm going to suggest, there's no reason not to have a second computer for, say, when a friend comes over.
Anyways, here's what I would suggest you get after actually listening to what you're looking for and giving you feedback and reasoning. (I rather dislike people who just throw a build at somebody without explaining it... especially when the OP is fairly new to building computers.)
Pros:
- A/C Wifi, great Bluetooth support.
- Has more than enough power for everything you need.
- Will be lightning fast, snappy, and still has a ton of storage from the hard drive.
- Though the green is optional, the video card is going to be mounted upright next to the window and "GTX 980" will light up in nvidia green... it's going to be snazzy.
- Just as a note, it doesn't have other lights; there are lots of options out there, most of them great.
- It'll be quiet and is small enough that you can carry it under one arm. (It'll get slightly uncomfortable after a while, but that's what the handles are for.)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($105.64 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97E-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($85.60 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($139.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Green) Mini ITX Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan ($21.95 @ Amazon)
Other: External USB optical drive if you really need one ($25.00)
Total: $1597.11
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 03:10 EDT-0400
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Reply to DarkSable
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1241 V3 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($270.94 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-L12 37.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ECS Z97-MACHINE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($91.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.70 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 230T Windowed-BLUE ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1364.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 11:46 EDT-0400
I just thought that the Xeon would be a bit better than an i5 for the extra cache.
CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1241 V3 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($270.94 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-L12 37.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ECS Z97-MACHINE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($91.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.70 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 230T Windowed-BLUE ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1364.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 11:46 EDT-0400
I just thought that the Xeon would be a bit better than an i5 for the extra cache.
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Reply to DarkSable
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EvanTheComputerNoob
September 24, 2014 4:40:49 PM
For some reason, the case and mobo you chose, DarkSable, seem, not bad choices (what do I know,) but just very odd and I don't like knowing that, even though you say future proofing isn't a big deal right now, that I cannot ever put in another card with the mini ITX. Are you sure this case has decent ventilation and whatnot? Some reviews I read about it talk about having issues fitting in certain components, such as psu, and liquid coolers. I also don't really plan on taking my computer to many places or generally needing to be able to, more easily, carry it around. I think, if I can, I would rather get a slightly taller and not as fat maybe medium atx case (I liked, at least for the most part, the case that Okcnaline posted.) I agree I don't want a huge fat thing sitting on the floor. I like your cpu/gpu/cooler/storage choices though. Will still have to mess around a little bit but I think I'm getting a better idea at this point.. Still undecided on the RAM though haha. I don't know why but I feel set on 16 gigs
P.S., will message you about keyboards
P.S., will message you about keyboards
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Reply to EvanTheComputerNoob
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Better... Thanks for the hints, DarkSable.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ECS Z97-MACHINE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($91.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.70 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 230T Windowed-BLUE ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1273.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 21:06 EDT-0400
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ECS Z97-MACHINE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($91.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.70 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 230T Windowed-BLUE ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1273.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 21:06 EDT-0400
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Reply to okcnaline
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EvanTheComputerNoob said:
For some reason, the case and mobo you chose, DarkSable, seem, not bad choices (what do I know,) but just very odd and I don't like knowing that, even though you say future proofing isn't a big deal right now, that I cannot ever put in another card with the mini ITX. Are you sure this case has decent ventilation and whatnot? Some reviews I read about it talk about having issues fitting in certain components, such as psu, and liquid coolers. I also don't really plan on taking my computer to many places or generally needing to be able to, more easily, carry it around. I think, if I can, I would rather get a slightly taller and not as fat maybe medium atx case (I liked, at least for the most part, the case that Okcnaline posted.) I agree I don't want a huge fat thing sitting on the floor. I like your cpu/gpu/cooler/storage choices though. Will still have to mess around a little bit but I think I'm getting a better idea at this point.. Still undecided on the RAM though haha. I don't know why but I feel set on 16 gigsP.S., will message you about keyboards
No need to worry mate, like I said, I'm not going to claim anything is the absolute best option for you, I'm just trying to give you informed options so you can make choices based on what you're looking for.
Yes. What I picked is far from the norm, partially because I'm a fan of small form factor builds, and partially because I'm willing to question conventional wisdom and ask why a gaming computer should be a specific shape, for example. (Mine is two separate pillars, completely detachable from each other, which is an incredible design for a computer that gets transported a lot.)
The fact that you can't use two cards is the biggest issue with mini ITX, yes. However, if you plan on not using a really high end monitor, there's no reason for the ability to put in two cards. A single good card is pretty much going to be plenty for gaming at very high / ultra settings on whatever the 'standard' monitor setup at that time is. If 4k really takes off (I doubt it will that much, but you never know), then after a few years, graphics cards will catch up and flagship graphics cards will be able to handle gaming at 4k and 60Hz.
If you want, I'm more than happy to put together a micro-ATX computer for you; it won't be as small, but it will still definitely be able to go on your desk and will be carry-able.
As for the case, I've used one in a personal rig and built several computers in it, and I can tell you that it's a wonderful case. The PSU is something you have to pay attention to - a lot of manufacturers make ridiculously huge power supplies because there's no reason for them to build something compact... but as long as you know how much clearance you have, it's not an issue at all. Liquid coolers fit just fine if you aren't using an optical drive (which most people don't need anymore, or are perfectly happy with a USB one that costs no more and can be tucked away when not in use)... in my rig I had a complete custom water loop including an external reservoir off the back of it. Ventilation is more than adequate; especially with a blower-style graphics card and modern, efficient parts.
That being said, we can absolutely go with a regular case. Just so you know, a mid tower will still have some issues fitting on a desk - micro ATX might be a better option there, and it'll even give you a savings on the motherboard. Putting it on your desk is also seriously what you want to do - computers on the ground get way more dust and pet hair in them.
If you want to get 16GB, that's absolutely up to you, but I can tell you that you will pretty much never ever make use of it.
I have over 100 tabs in chrome open right now (and chrome is a memory-hog), and am streaming music on spotify, and have an MMORPG in the background, and I'm using all of 4.6GB (about 60%) of my 8GB. Again, up to you, and a lot of people like it, but when memory prices have gotten SO much more expensive compared to what they were a year and a half ago... -
Reply to DarkSable
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ECS Z97-MACHINE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($91.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.70 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($135.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1329.34
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 22:04 EDT-0400
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ECS Z97-MACHINE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($91.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.70 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($135.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1329.34
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 22:04 EDT-0400
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Reply to okcnaline
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EvanTheComputerNoob
September 24, 2014 6:58:26 PM
I would be interested in seeing a micro-atx setup since I want it on my desk and not a tank, yet larger than the prodigy. That would change the motherboard right? 'Cause I'm assuming that a micro-atx mobo wouldn't fit properly if it weren't a micro atx case made for it right? If it's too small or something (assuming by micro.) I don't know if it'd effect other parts in terms of compatibility though with the case.. Never looked up micro atx before. I like how it seems to be getting progressively, at least a little bit, cheaper haha.
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Reply to EvanTheComputerNoob
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okcnaline's build two posts above this one is a great rig - it doesn't have a SSD, which is a shame... and I really don't trust that motherboard. Other than that, it's wonderful picks.
Lemme throw together a rig for you to compare it that's built in a micro ATX case, though.
Case sizes (well, motherboard form factors, really) go mini-ITX < Micro ATX < ATX < EATX. With very small exceptions, any case that accepts a motherboard will accept a motherboard that's smaller than that, because they use the same mounting holes, just fewer of them. The backplates are the same, the location of the PCI slot(s) are the same...
So you could use a mini-ITX motherboard in a full-tower case, it'd just look silly because it would be this 6.5" square in a 2.5 foot box.
Micro ATX will not affect any other sort of compatibility... and it supports multiple graphics cards. The only issues that come into play are mostly with mini ITX having only one PCIe slot and "only" 6 (just usually, that's not standard. One of them has 10) sata ports.
Anyways, here's what I'd do for you:
The only thing that it doesn't fit what you requested is that it's more of a cube shape than a tower, but that's because by volume that's the smallest decent mATX case with support for full sized graphics cards. There are certainly less-wide, taller options if you want to look at those.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus GRYPHON Z97 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($154.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($85.53 @ Amazon)
Storage: Toshiba 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.88 @ B&H)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($559.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Node 804 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1539.34
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 22:25 EDT-0400
The reason it's more expensive is because is has a SSD, which is a must-have, and it has a significantly more reliable motherboard than okcnaline's rig, plus double the storage space.
Lemme throw together a rig for you to compare it that's built in a micro ATX case, though.
Case sizes (well, motherboard form factors, really) go mini-ITX < Micro ATX < ATX < EATX. With very small exceptions, any case that accepts a motherboard will accept a motherboard that's smaller than that, because they use the same mounting holes, just fewer of them. The backplates are the same, the location of the PCI slot(s) are the same...
So you could use a mini-ITX motherboard in a full-tower case, it'd just look silly because it would be this 6.5" square in a 2.5 foot box.
Micro ATX will not affect any other sort of compatibility... and it supports multiple graphics cards. The only issues that come into play are mostly with mini ITX having only one PCIe slot and "only" 6 (just usually, that's not standard. One of them has 10) sata ports.
Anyways, here's what I'd do for you:
The only thing that it doesn't fit what you requested is that it's more of a cube shape than a tower, but that's because by volume that's the smallest decent mATX case with support for full sized graphics cards. There are certainly less-wide, taller options if you want to look at those.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus GRYPHON Z97 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($154.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($85.53 @ Amazon)
Storage: Toshiba 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.88 @ B&H)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($559.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Node 804 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1539.34
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 22:25 EDT-0400
The reason it's more expensive is because is has a SSD, which is a must-have, and it has a significantly more reliable motherboard than okcnaline's rig, plus double the storage space.
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Reply to DarkSable
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Here's the entire reason why I recommend that motherboard.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mainstream-gaming-z...
And here's my updated, and MicroATX rig:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($106.98 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.70 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair Air 240 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($135.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1444.32
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 22:50 EDT-0400
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mainstream-gaming-z...
And here's my updated, and MicroATX rig:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($106.98 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.70 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair Air 240 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($135.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1444.32
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-24 22:50 EDT-0400
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Reply to okcnaline
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okcnaline said:
Here's the entire reason why I recommend that motherboard.http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mainstream-gaming-z...
And here's my updated, and MicroATX rig:
Huh, alright, fair enough. ECS has apparently gotten a lot better the past few years. After a little more research, I withdraw my objections to it.
Looks like a great build there; I'd rather have the faster 840evo over the larger M500... with a secondary drive to put games and data on, there's not much point in a 240GB ssd, since most games gain very little benefit from being installed to the C drive.
My only issue with that rig, well... two issues.
1) a $140 power supply when there's no reason to get a platinum PSU over even a bronze.
2) That case, while being a very good case, is also HUGE. It's ~33.5 liters.
*(Just realized that the case I linked is the 41L Node 804 - didn't mean to use that one, my bad.)
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Reply to DarkSable
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Mythras
September 24, 2014 8:20:23 PM
EvanTheComputerNoob
September 24, 2014 8:48:52 PM
Yeah, I thought that the cases were ridiculously wide which, for some reason, bugs me. It's mainly the case right now that is making me scratch my head. Also, I read (responses were from 4 days ago) that there are some stock issues with the GTX 980, just having low supply. If this is true, should I wait a little bit and see if when they get a new stock I should see if it lowers the price a little and grab it then? Or maybe that'll be too long from now.
I don't know much about capture cards but, since I don't have two computers, at least yet, and don't plan on trying to capture my gameplay and display it/record it to another computer, wouldn't a capture card kind of be a waste? I also don't (right now) plan on streaming anything other than PC games.
I don't know much about capture cards but, since I don't have two computers, at least yet, and don't plan on trying to capture my gameplay and display it/record it to another computer, wouldn't a capture card kind of be a waste? I also don't (right now) plan on streaming anything other than PC games.
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Reply to EvanTheComputerNoob
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Well that's no big deal, you can get a tower-style mATX case and make it work with no issues whatsoever.
The two best options are the Fractal Design Core 1100 and the Silverstone TJ08-E, which has the window you're looking for.
I would not wait, no. Getting more in stock isn't going to lower the price, it'll just mean that you'll be waiting longer.
As for capture cards, don't bother with them. That's not quite how they work, but you'll be fine with software capture.
The two best options are the Fractal Design Core 1100 and the Silverstone TJ08-E, which has the window you're looking for.
I would not wait, no. Getting more in stock isn't going to lower the price, it'll just mean that you'll be waiting longer.
As for capture cards, don't bother with them. That's not quite how they work, but you'll be fine with software capture.
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Reply to DarkSable
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