Console gamer needs help building a low budget mid range custom gaming PC

theDialTECH

Reputable
Feb 2, 2015
6
0
4,510
Hi. I know very little about building a custom gaming pc. I went to http://www.build-gaming-computers.com for a place to start. I have used the recommended custom gaming builds as a reference for what I would like to build and how much I'm willing to pay. So far, I have came up with a build that's somewhere in-between the low and mid range build. I'm not sure if these parts are compatible with each other or if I should replace these parts with something better or compatible. My budget is to spend no more than $1,000.

Motherboard - ASUS Micro ATX DDR3 2600 (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K2R6BQS/ref=psdc_1048424_t1_B00K2R6C9Y)

CPU - Intel Core i5-4570 3.2ghz (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CO8TA4I/ref=psdc_229189_t2_B00CO8T9VC)

RAM - Kingston HyperX Fury 8gb DDR3 1600mhz (http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-HyperX-FURY-1600MHz-DDR3/dp/B00J8E92M6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1422851717&sr=1-1&keywords=Kingston+HyperX+Fury+8gb+DDR3+1600mhz+CL10)

Video Card - EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SSC GDDR5 ( http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Dual-Link-Graphics-02G-P4-2966-KR/dp/B00SC6HAS4/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1422834456&sr=8-15&keywords=evga+geforce+gtx+760)

Hard Drive - Western Digital 1tb (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088PUEPK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0088PUEPK&linkCode=as2&tag=buildg-20)

Optical Case - ASUS 24x DVD Burner (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0033Z2BAQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0033Z2BAQ&linkCode=as2&tag=buildg-20)

Case - Rosewill Redbone or Blackbone ATX Mid-Tower (http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-REDBONE-Tower-Computer-Cases/dp/B006DKER46?ie=UTF8&ref_=de_a_smtd&showDetailTechData=1#technical-data) (http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-Steel-Plastic-Computer-Blackbone/dp/B004A9XB6W/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1422830690&sr=1-2&keywords=rosewill+mid+tower+cases)

Power Supply - Corsair Builder Series CX 500wt (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0092ML1SC/ref=twister_B0093XCRXS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)

I don't need the best resolution and frame rates for my PC gaming. I want play Space Sims, MMOs, and Strategy games at medium settings with little to no problems without having to upgrade anything within the year and or into next year because I do have a Xbox One for all other console genres.
 

ykki

Honorable
If you want os and an optical drive=

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.79 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($83.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.97 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($39.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($329.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H21 ATX Mid Tower Case ($33.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($13.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($92.00 @ B&H)
Total: $1002.66
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-02 01:28 EST-0500
======================================================================
If you don't want os AND optical drive =
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($30.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($116.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.97 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($39.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($319.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1000.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-02 01:33 EST-0500
 
Solution

theDialTECH

Reputable
Feb 2, 2015
6
0
4,510
How important is having a SSD and HDD together? I'm thinking about ditching the SSD because I won't be storing a lot of games on the hard drive and I really need to cut down the total a little.
 

Knicks2012

Honorable
Dec 13, 2012
530
0
11,010


SSD is great for loading your OS and favorite games incredible fast. HDD is for other games and everything else. For just $100 more you cant beat it.
 

ykki

Honorable
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($25.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($125.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($324.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($62.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($73.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $941.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-05 20:17 EST-0500


The 212 will be sufficient for the i5.
I don't think you need to do any overclocking now. The i5 will last you years for gaming.
A better case is added. However it doesn't support 5.25 drives. Those include optical drives . So if you think that ypu would want an optical drive in the future then go for this case
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-case-vp300a1w2n
A 970 will easily destroy 1080p.
The psu you chose is top of the line you will have to change it if you go SLI in the future.
You can always add an ssd in the future.
Hope this helped!