- Jun 17, 2010
- 80
- 0
- 18,630
After picking through the solved threads for quite awhile, I have decided it's best to build my own computer for my next upgrade. I'm currently using a 2006 Dell XPS Gen 5, and it's going to be relegated to my garage as a workshop computer for light internet and maybe music.
Approx. purchase date: (next couple months, not in a rush but would like to get going, but I'll wait if I should be looking at something good coming on the horizon)
Budget: $1200-ish. I would like suggestions on reducing cost, but willing to upgrade parts for longevity and performance and pay a bit extra, hence the "ish." Rebates are nice, but not required.
Usage: Adobe Creative Suite, Gaming, CAD Programs, Possibly Video Editing.
Monitor: Have an older 24" Dell from 2006 that will suffice until it dies. Would like to probably go 4K maybe when that happens, but monitor not required for this build.
OS: Windows 7 and I already have a copy that is not OEM for a bootcamp partition I no longer use. (Please don't hurt me, yes I have a Macbook Pro)
Location: Northwest US, Why can't we have a Micro Center?
Preferred Websites: Good Ones, I may try out Best Buy's price matching on a few items, however I don't want to have to deal with bad customer service/returns in case I get a Lemon part.
Parts Preferred: High Quality and Stable, open to suggestions but I was thinking Intel & Nvidia
Overclocking: Unlikely, I'm looking for longevity and stability with minimal care. Open again to suggestions though.
SLI or Crossfire: Was thinking a single video card at first and maybe Crossfire later when the cost comes down. I'd rather not fuss with it, unless it will really increase the longevity of the system.
Wish List: I'd like to reduce clutter so looking to cut outside cables where I can.
Games: Star Citizen, MMOs, Civilization Beyond Earth, Team Fortress 2. These are my immediate gaming needs, though I anticipate more as there seems to be a bit of a Renaissance for the PC gaming industry and I wouldn't rule out more graphic intensive games. I like to be prepared.
My PCPartsPicker.com attempt at a PC:
[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qrDxJx) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qrDxJx/by_merchant/)
Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k) | $317.99 @ SuperBiiz
**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) | $24.89 @ OutletPC
**Thermal Compound** | [Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/arctic-silver-thermal-paste-as535g) | $6.75 @ OutletPC
**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz97xgaming5) | $129.89 @ OutletPC
**Memory** | [G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32133c11d16gxl) | $76.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz75e250bam) | $89.75 @ OutletPC
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) | $47.98 @ Best Buy
**Video Card** | [Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-strixgtx970dc2oc4gd5) | $318.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Case** | [Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr4bl) | $74.99 @ NCIX US
**Power Supply** | [EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-120g10650xr) | $81.24 @ Amazon
**Optical Drive** | [Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas) | $16.89 @ OutletPC
**Wireless Network Adapter** | [Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-wireless-network-card-gcwb867di) | $29.99 @ SuperBiiz
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $1246.34
| Mail-in rebates | -$30.00
| **Total** | **$1216.34**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2015-08-28 17:09 EDT-0400 |
*Updated to reflect CPU change from Xeon E3 1241 V3 which may not work with this motherboard.
Approx. purchase date: (next couple months, not in a rush but would like to get going, but I'll wait if I should be looking at something good coming on the horizon)
Budget: $1200-ish. I would like suggestions on reducing cost, but willing to upgrade parts for longevity and performance and pay a bit extra, hence the "ish." Rebates are nice, but not required.
Usage: Adobe Creative Suite, Gaming, CAD Programs, Possibly Video Editing.
Monitor: Have an older 24" Dell from 2006 that will suffice until it dies. Would like to probably go 4K maybe when that happens, but monitor not required for this build.
OS: Windows 7 and I already have a copy that is not OEM for a bootcamp partition I no longer use. (Please don't hurt me, yes I have a Macbook Pro)
Location: Northwest US, Why can't we have a Micro Center?
Preferred Websites: Good Ones, I may try out Best Buy's price matching on a few items, however I don't want to have to deal with bad customer service/returns in case I get a Lemon part.
Parts Preferred: High Quality and Stable, open to suggestions but I was thinking Intel & Nvidia
Overclocking: Unlikely, I'm looking for longevity and stability with minimal care. Open again to suggestions though.
SLI or Crossfire: Was thinking a single video card at first and maybe Crossfire later when the cost comes down. I'd rather not fuss with it, unless it will really increase the longevity of the system.
Wish List: I'd like to reduce clutter so looking to cut outside cables where I can.
Games: Star Citizen, MMOs, Civilization Beyond Earth, Team Fortress 2. These are my immediate gaming needs, though I anticipate more as there seems to be a bit of a Renaissance for the PC gaming industry and I wouldn't rule out more graphic intensive games. I like to be prepared.
My PCPartsPicker.com attempt at a PC:
[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qrDxJx) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qrDxJx/by_merchant/)
Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k) | $317.99 @ SuperBiiz
**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) | $24.89 @ OutletPC
**Thermal Compound** | [Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/arctic-silver-thermal-paste-as535g) | $6.75 @ OutletPC
**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz97xgaming5) | $129.89 @ OutletPC
**Memory** | [G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32133c11d16gxl) | $76.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz75e250bam) | $89.75 @ OutletPC
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) | $47.98 @ Best Buy
**Video Card** | [Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-strixgtx970dc2oc4gd5) | $318.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Case** | [Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr4bl) | $74.99 @ NCIX US
**Power Supply** | [EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-120g10650xr) | $81.24 @ Amazon
**Optical Drive** | [Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas) | $16.89 @ OutletPC
**Wireless Network Adapter** | [Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-wireless-network-card-gcwb867di) | $29.99 @ SuperBiiz
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $1246.34
| Mail-in rebates | -$30.00
| **Total** | **$1216.34**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2015-08-28 17:09 EDT-0400 |
*Updated to reflect CPU change from Xeon E3 1241 V3 which may not work with this motherboard.
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