Newbie Looking to Build PC for Sims Franchise and Academia

sc282

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Apr 29, 2015
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I'm in the market for a new computer and believe that it would be better to get a desktop versus a laptop due to potential upgrade-ability. I'm completely new to all of this and am trying to teach myself this process. I'd like a system under $700 and would need an OS and monitor (which pricing doesn't have to be included in build cost but suggestions would be helpful).

I'll mainly use the computer for college/researching and playing the Sims 3/4. I'd also like to be able to play some of my older games. I mostly play RPG/Simulator games and am also hoping that the build will allow me to purchase/play some new games once my school schedule slows down.I'm really not sure where to start and I'm not a heavy gamer but I would like to be able to play the Sims and multitask using 2 monitors (listen to music, work on homework, etc.) without serious lag on the system. I also need to build it to be wifi capable.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
1. Building a computer is easy if you can read and have hands with fingers still attached them. (Disclaimer, fingers detached from hands won't work)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIF43-0mDk4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zAdwedmj1M

2. Here's a system build without an OS.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($166.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H97M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($86.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.49 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($67.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 4GB Dual-X Video Card ($187.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($53.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $718.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-29 12:55 EDT-0400

Monitors and OS:
OS: Windows 8.1 64-bit: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615
Windows 8 performs just ever so slightly better than 7, and if you're worried about Metro/the new interface don't be, ClassicShell fixes that: http://www.classicshell.net/
Monitor(s): http://pcpartpicker.com/part/acer-monitor-umwv6aab01
 

sc282

Reputable
Apr 29, 2015
3
0
4,510
Thanks for the quick reply, I really appreciate the build info. I'm still looking in to everything and I'm wondering if the motherboard comes with built in wifi capabilities or if I would need a separate wifi adapter or wifi card?
 
Ahh whoops, forgot the wifi.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($166.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H97M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($86.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.49 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($67.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 4GB Dual-X Video Card ($187.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($53.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.78 @ OutletPC)
Total: $737.58
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-29 15:10 EDT-0400
 
Solution

sc282

Reputable
Apr 29, 2015
3
0
4,510





Another question if you have the time...are both an HDD and SSD recommended since it would be better to run media from the SSD and files from the HDD in terms of getting the most out of the recommended system? Or am I completely missing something since they both do the same job albeit the SSD is credited to being better at the job.

Thanks again
 
The SSD is for the OS, applications, and a few games (because they take up so much space). It will make the OS load up faster and feel more snappy than an HDD will. It is entirely optional though, you can just get the HDD and be fine, the difference between them in real world performance is somewhat minor.