Looking at building first gaming desktop! (~$800, willing to pay more) w/ Windows 8.1)

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warm pancake

warm pancake

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Dec 29, 2014
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Hello all, I am very interested in building my own PC. As this is my first build, I hope to have a solid build with some future expandability, certainly with the motherboard at least. I'd really like the best i5 or above processor (non-K, and is an i7 overkill for gaming?). I feel like an i5 4690 would do the trick. My gaming will include games such as Elder Scrolls Online, Star Wars Battlefront, Arma 3, and various other AAA/demanding titles. I'm after 60fps/1080p/high-ultra gameplay. I also need a solid WiFi adapter as that is my only internet access. A Western Digital 1TB 7200RPM Blue or Black hard drive (or other brand, if it is reliable) works.

A recent NVIDIA card that offers completely passive operation in idle and a very quiet gaming experience is nice. Cooling fan(s): I'd like something preferably quiet to keep all of my parts cool even under load. A case that looks nice and offers nice ventilation and ample space for parts and the room for an SSD in future. I am looking to spend AS CLOSE TO $800 as you can get it but will go a little over w/ Windows 8.1 if at all possible. I can go a little over the $900 if it's a great build but don't include any peripherals. A fluid building process as well as fully compatible parts by trusted makers are a must. Cost effectiveness is key for me. Thanks for any help!
 
Solution
AznGOD
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QHVHjX
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QHVHjX/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($319.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($47.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($38.50 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus...
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AznGOD

AznGOD

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Dec 31, 2013
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PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QHVHjX
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QHVHjX/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($319.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($47.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($38.50 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN3800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $918.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-11 18:22 EDT-0400
 
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Solution
James Mason

James Mason

Titan
Jan 2, 2014
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The twin Frozr on the MSI GTX 960 is virtually silent at idle though, and it's not much louder when it's actually working.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($218.99 @ Directron)
Motherboard: MSI H97M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($86.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 4GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($52.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($13.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($91.69 @ NCIX US)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $912.08
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-11 18:27 EDT-0400
 
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AznGOD

AznGOD

Honorable
Dec 31, 2013
406
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10,960
similar performance, slightly worse

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB TurboDuo Video Card ($222.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($47.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($38.50 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN3800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $821.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-11 18:34 EDT-0400
 
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warm pancake

warm pancake

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Dec 29, 2014
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Thanks to you and the other dude for replying, I like what I see so far, but I am concerned with the R9 290 if it's gonna be loud. Apart from that, do I need an i7 in my build or is that a waste? Closer to $800 would probably be better for me as well.
 
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James Mason

James Mason

Titan
Jan 2, 2014
13,553
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74,965
You don't need an i7.

This one is closer to 800, this will still be fairly quiet, but a little less so than the $900:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($218.99 @ Directron)
Motherboard: MSI H97M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($86.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Mushkin Radioactive 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($197.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($13.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($91.69 @ NCIX US)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $831.08
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-11 19:06 EDT-0400

Also, just a warning, this still probably won't run Arma3 at ultra, because arma 3 is a poorly made game.
 
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warm pancake

warm pancake

Reputable
Dec 29, 2014
73
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4,630
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($176.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($83.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.64 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($186.49 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.79 @ OutletPC)
Total: $705.77
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-25 20:34 EDT-0400

Assume I might use something similar to this build (cheaper). Can you take this and add a case, better PSU, and maybe change other parts to make this $800 or so?
 
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James Mason

James Mason

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Jan 2, 2014
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XFX is one of the best PSU makers and this build only uses 300Ws anyways. Seagate makes HDDs that have a higher failure rate than WD. The MSI board offers better utilities. The Cougar Spike is just a good cheap case. The MSI GPU has a better and quieter cooler on it than the EVGA.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($167.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H97M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($86.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Mushkin Radioactive 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($197.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($13.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($91.69 @ NCIX US)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $780.08
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-11 19:44 EDT-0400
 
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warm pancake

warm pancake

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Dec 29, 2014
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Okay, I'm putting all this information in the back of my head for the future. One small edit I'd like to ask you to help me with is the case, I'll pay more for a better ventilated mid or large case (I would do it myself but I don't know what's compatible). Other than that thanks so much
 
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James Mason

James Mason

Titan
Jan 2, 2014
13,553
7
74,965
The 912 has better ventilation and is a bit larger.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($177.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H97M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($86.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Mushkin Radioactive 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($197.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($52.99 @ 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 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($91.69 @ NCIX US)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $813.08
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-11 22:12 EDT-0400
 
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