Gaming PC, how much should I spend?

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vil_iam1

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Aug 21, 2014
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Hi guys! So I have been recently thinking about switching to PC gaming but im concerned about the cost of it. I only plan to play games such as Team Fortress 2, CSGO, and maybe even a little battlefield 4 if my pc can handle it hoping for high settings on them at a good fps (60 fps or higher). My screen resolution isnt that big though, 1080p or lower. I was thinking of paying around $750 but i might save up to $1000 if necessary.

This is some specs that I was thinking...
CPU: intel core i5, unsure of model
GPU: AMD Radeon r9 270x or 280(x) (this might be too good for my pc, and the rest of the components may bottleneck it)
Motherboard: unsure
RAM: 8gb ddr3
Hard drive: 500gb hdd and maybe another ssd for the OS
PSU: unsure
Case: unsure, was thinking corsair 300 but idk if thats out of my price range
Monitor: dont have one, any suggestions
K+m: unsure

Can someone help me plz? Never built a PC before so im extremely nooby.
 
Solution
jafrankl
Assuming you are planning to buy soon: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/nfsTNG

I went over budget, but the CPU could be downgraded to a lower i5 and still handle everything. I went with a 4690k, but 44XX would work great as well. A 270 would be cheaper than the 270x as well. Wasn't sure on the OS you wanted, but it's ~$100 either way. Could also save some on mobo.
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jafrankl

jafrankl

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Dec 7, 2014
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Use PC part picker, select the components in order of importance to you (gaming rig, so put more into CPU and GPU), and adjust pricing as necessary. Get a mobo with at least 2 PCI-e 3.0 x16 if reasonably priced (allows for dual GPU upgrade later and SLI/Crossfire). Since you plan on getting 8GB RAM, aim for a mobo that supports dual channel and go for 2 x 4GB. PSU: size approximately using this site: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp and go 50-100W above it. Go for a good brand/review PSU from jonnyguru.com. Pc part picker will also allow you to check monitor pricing based on your other component costs.

Also, the R9 270x or 280x won't be bottlenecked by 8GB RAM or an i5. If getting an SSD, just put the OS on it, use the HDD for all other storage. Get at least 7200 rpm HDD for ok perfomance; again, look for good reviews as some drives are really bad. If you're looking for a build suggestion, I will provide one, but it will be difficult to keep to that budget with those specs (CPU ~$220, GPU ~$175-300), especially with needing a monitor worth playing on.
 
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Thaisnang

Thaisnang

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Sep 23, 2013
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A 750$ would buy you a good PC. But since you'll be needing everything. You should save up as much as you can but atleast 100$ more.
Spend around $650-$700 on the CPU. $100-$150 on the monitor and around 50$ on other peripherals.
 
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vil_iam1

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Aug 21, 2014
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Thank you so mich for your answer, and I shall use part picker now to help me out. It would be excellent if you could suggest a build, but my budget might not be able to get much further than $1k (i just turned 18 and got a job and I always wanted a gaming pc but could never afford it)
 
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jafrankl

jafrankl

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Dec 7, 2014
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Assuming you are planning to buy soon: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/nfsTNG

I went over budget, but the CPU could be downgraded to a lower i5 and still handle everything. I went with a 4690k, but 44XX would work great as well. A 270 would be cheaper than the 270x as well. Wasn't sure on the OS you wanted, but it's ~$100 either way. Could also save some on mobo.
 
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vil_iam1

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Aug 21, 2014
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Thanks heaps for the answers. I am trying to have it by January, but if that fails then I might just ask again later in another forum. Thanks for a build suggestion, but I was wondering if a 4670k would also work well? I will get 270x, OS is windows (most likely 8) because I hate Mac and Linux is a bit to complex for me right now. I like the psu and monitor suggestion, and the mobo is nice too. Thanks for the suggestion again :) both of you
 
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