Building a new PC!!! Budget $1200 (NOT FLEXIBLE)

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Mr_StarDelta57

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Hi all! I am building a desktop PC after my poor laptop's graphics card fried. :( Now I can game at 1080p!!! FINALLY! Take into consideration that I do live in Australia when posting your own suggestions on builds as prices are always fluctuating and changing here.

Here are the parts I have chosen. Don't worry about peripherals, I have got them sorted.

CPU: i5-4690K (Might try my hand at overclocking when games demand more performance) = $297 (cheapest I have seen in Aus)
GPU: ASUS STRIX GTX 960 (Heard great things about this card, really quiet, good performance etc.) = $297 (cheapest I have seen in Aus)
MBO: H97 Fatal1ty Performance (I have used this board in my previous builds and it has been great! Unfortunately, no SLI.) = $135
RAM: HyperX Fury (2x4GB) 1866MHz RED = $95
Case: Corsair Carbide SPEC-03 = $85
PSU: CX-500M = $95 (I do want my PC to look somewhat decent XD)
OS: Windows 7 64-bit = $112

= $1143 all up.

What does look to you guys? Decent build or no? Suggestions?
 
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CTurbo

CTurbo

Pizza Monster
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Aug 27, 2013
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Better psu, cpu, and better video card value.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($349.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty H97 Performance ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($90.00 @ IJK)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($259.00 @ CPL Online)
Case: Corsair SPEC-03 Red ATX Mid Tower Case ($85.00 @ CPL Online)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($98.00 @ CPL Online)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($125.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Total: $1145.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-31 13:25 EST+1100



There's no way I can recommend the 960 when the 280 is just as good for $40 cheaper.
 
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Mr_StarDelta57

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Sorry! I forgot to mention that I do have optical and hard drives already!!
 
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Mr_StarDelta57

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I am personally a NVIDIA fanboy. I have used AMD software before and it is just plainly confusing and weird. GeForce Experience and the new MFAA that is coming out soon is why I am buying this over the 280. I am not denying that the R9 280 has 15% better performance for $50 cheaper and so on and so forth. Quite recently I have built two PC's with GTX 760's in them and they run everything absolutely fine at max settings with filters on. And the software is a blast! So why not get the 960 and utilize MFAA? Anyway, may I ask why you went with the Xeon over the i5? I will be mostly using this PC for gaming and video editing. Damn it! I forgot H97 can't overclock... Maybe I should get Z97? Maybe with SLI for future upgrades?
 
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CTurbo

CTurbo

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The Xeon e3-1231v3 is nothing more than an i7 4770 and would be more useful for you for editing than an i5 would. Overclocking is over-rated and I wouldn't bother with it. You would probably bust your budget trying to overclock anyway. It's just not worth it. The 960 is not bad, it just severely overpriced.
 
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-HH-

-HH-

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Oct 20, 2014
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surely for $1200 this'd be better?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($226.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($108.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($114.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($329.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($107.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1181.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-31 07:26 EDT-0400
 
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Mr_StarDelta57

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Unfortunately, for Australians this translates to be $1800 - $2000 if even some of the parts are stocked here... I wished I lived in America so bad...
 
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Mr_StarDelta57

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Yeah, I have realised it would be a waste of my time, money and too much effort. If the Xeon is as powerful as the i7 4770, then why do so many people go with i5's other than overclocking? Is it that they just don't know?
 
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CTurbo

CTurbo

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For one thing, most people are unaware of the e3 line of Xeons. They assume Xeon automatically = server builds.
And secondly, people automatically assume they need to overclock every build all the time and that's just not the case anymore.
 
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Mr_StarDelta57

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Well, CPU Boss says the CPU is better than a 4770, but you all know how reliable that site can be... It also says it is better than the i5. I am moving over to getting a Xeon now. Wait! I am doing some research... Does this particular Xeon come with a fan and cooling unit???
 
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-HH-

-HH-

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righty ho!
 
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RCFProd

RCFProd

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In my opinion your best bet at 1200 dollars

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($269.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-Gaming 3 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($126.00 @ IJK)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($90.00 @ IJK)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($72.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card ($479.00 @ Centre Com)
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($72.00 @ CPL Online)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($95.00 @ CPL Online)
Total: $1203.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-01 18:53 EST+1100

i5-4590 + GTX 970 for pretty much any game at ultra 1080p@60fps.
 
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-HH-

-HH-

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($252.00 @ IJK)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($105.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($103.00 @ IJK)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($72.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($499.00 @ Centre Com)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($88.00 @ CPL Online)
Power Supply: Silverstone Strider Essential 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($79.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Total: $1198.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-01 19:00 EST+1100
 
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Mr_StarDelta57

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Holy Mother of God this is good... Let me think...
 
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-HH-

-HH-

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Only things I may switch is either the mobo or the Case as the mobo is MATX format which will fit but look small and on an ATX board you get more PCIE slots and stuffs! Though you may rather a bitfenix Prodigy M case or something in that region!
 
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turbopiki

turbopiki

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Here you go for :D hahhahahah exactly 1200$

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($269.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty H97 Performance ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($90.00 @ IJK)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($72.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card ($479.00 @ Centre Com)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H24 ATX Mid Tower Case ($52.00 @ CPL Online)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($99.00 @ PLE Computers)
Total: $1200.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-01 20:59 EST+1100
 
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RCFProd

RCFProd

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Just because I am wondering as our build are the same price:

- The CPU I selected is a bit better
- The motherboard I selected is quite a bit better, more features
- GPU is the same
- PSU is not the same quality, Strider Essential series are no better than the Corsair CX. The Antec-HCG is quite the better PSU in this one.

Performance wise I think it is quite a bit below the one I suggested. I'm just wondering why you suggested a different one for the same price :).
 
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Andrei123

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Unless you tell us what you're gonna do with the PC this is the best bang for buck I could do for you.

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/8bHZD3

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($269.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.00 @ Centre Com)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($90.00 @ IJK)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($315.00 @ IJK)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($88.00 @ CPL Online)
Power Supply: Corsair 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($89.00 @ IJK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($125.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Total: $1115.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-02 05:21 EST+1100

And to the guys on top of me trying to make a build there remember the OP needs Windows and you both forgot about it ...
 
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CTurbo

CTurbo

Pizza Monster
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This is still the best


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($349.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty H97 Performance ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($90.00 @ IJK)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($259.00 @ CPL Online)
Case: Corsair SPEC-03 Red ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.98 @ Mwave Australia)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($98.00 @ CPL Online)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($125.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Total: $1144.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-02 12:02 EST+1100
 
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-HH-

-HH-

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Oct 20, 2014
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ya. Nice hard drives ya got there ;P

A little tweaking on this and the budget, best I could do is:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1220 V3 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($285.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty H97 Performance ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($90.00 @ IJK)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($72.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($309.00 @ CPL Online)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($85.00 @ Umart)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($98.00 @ CPL Online)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($127.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Total: $1205.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-02 19:31 EST+1100
 
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