I intend to use the pc for mostly gaming. Also photo editing, working with stats software (STATA to be specific), streaming etc. I want to run games on the highest or near the highest settings. The games I'll be playing are as follows. Project Cars, Dirt Rally, Assetto Corsa, and BF4. Maybe ARMA. $1800 is my ideal budget for everything. $2000 maximum if it's really really worth it but ideally I don't go there.
The more expensive of the two builds I've made is here
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.98 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 93.3 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($89.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($98.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card ($499.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec P280 ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G-750 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($28.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: QNIX QX2710 Matte 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($280.00)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($75.00 @ Mechanical Keyboards)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1812.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-23 20:00 EDT-0400
And the second, cheaper one is here
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($166.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS8900 Quiet CPU Cooler ($22.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card ($333.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($37.60 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($28.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: QNIX QX2710 Matte 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($280.00)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($75.00 @ Mechanical Keyboards)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1338.34
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-23 20:01 EDT-0400
Obviously the big differences here are the ability to OC, better graphics card, a better cooling system to make it quieter/handle the overclocking, more storage/ram, a different case to make the build easier space wise and a better quality power supply. A quiet build is important to me as I'll be listening to a lot of music. Ideally the mobo supports spdif import although that's not the biggest deal and I will need some sort of optical drive or usb cd reader. My big questions are as follows.
1) Does the performance increase make the price increase worth it?
2) Would my money be better spent switching some parts out and/or expanding my budget to bump up to an I7 or SLI'd 970s?
3) Are there any parts changes/suggestions that you have for either build?
I'm a first time builder so any extra knowledge would be great. I'm planning to build in late august.
Thanks!
The more expensive of the two builds I've made is here
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.98 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 93.3 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($89.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($98.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card ($499.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec P280 ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G-750 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($28.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: QNIX QX2710 Matte 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($280.00)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($75.00 @ Mechanical Keyboards)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1812.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-23 20:00 EDT-0400
And the second, cheaper one is here
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($166.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS8900 Quiet CPU Cooler ($22.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card ($333.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($37.60 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($28.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: QNIX QX2710 Matte 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($280.00)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($75.00 @ Mechanical Keyboards)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1338.34
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-23 20:01 EDT-0400
Obviously the big differences here are the ability to OC, better graphics card, a better cooling system to make it quieter/handle the overclocking, more storage/ram, a different case to make the build easier space wise and a better quality power supply. A quiet build is important to me as I'll be listening to a lot of music. Ideally the mobo supports spdif import although that's not the biggest deal and I will need some sort of optical drive or usb cd reader. My big questions are as follows.
1) Does the performance increase make the price increase worth it?
2) Would my money be better spent switching some parts out and/or expanding my budget to bump up to an I7 or SLI'd 970s?
3) Are there any parts changes/suggestions that you have for either build?
I'm a first time builder so any extra knowledge would be great. I'm planning to build in late august.
Thanks!
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