1.3K ($) Gaming Computer Build (Without Screen/peripherals), need advice

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sparrow560_91

Distinguished
Jul 2, 2011
6
0
18,510
Approximate Purchase Date: This month Probably

Budget Range: around the 1.3K $ US mark (flexible)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, running MATLAB, solidworks and other such heavy programs.

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I'm just looking for opinions, so not needed.

Overclocking: No

Parts Preferences: Intel

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: I live in a very hot and humid area, so cooling needs to be good, but unfortunately I don't have the option to go for water cooling.

Why am I upgrading: My current PC is 5 years old now, and struggles to run the latest games.

------------------------------------------------------------------

So here is what I think might work (you tell me):

CPU : Intel i5-4690 Tray
GPU: Gigabyte GTX970 G1 Gaming 4GB (chose it because it has three fans attached to it)
Motherboard: Asus H87M-E (or H97M-E, though I understand the difference is negligible)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LP 2x8GB DDR3 1600Mhz CL10
HDD: Western Digital 1TB 7200rpm
CPU Fan: Noctua NH-D14
Power supply: HEC Cougar ST600 600W (is it enough?)
Case: CoolerMaster HAF 912 Combat windowed, mid Tower

I'm not sure about the case and the power supply, I don't know if these components will fit nicely in the case (even though the case is for micro ATX/ATX M/Bs, and the CPU cooler is within the case's specified height limitations). Also, I'm afraid the CPU cooler might not leave enough room for the GPU.

Any opinions/advice?
 
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logainofhades

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
Apr 27, 2009
37,550
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PSU choice is not very good, and that big CPU cooler is unnecessary, for a locked CPU. Gigabyte graphics cards, I avoid. Quality of them just isn't as good as their motherboards, for some reason. H97 is what you want, for guaranteed bios support. For your non gaming programs, you are going to want an i7 class chip. The problem I see is that solidworks only officially supports workstation cards, and they do not game very well. You might not get proper performance when running it.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($242.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: RAIJINTEK AIDOS BLACK 48.6 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($75.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Stealth 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($71.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($339.99 @ B&H)
Case: Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($65.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $957.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-16 18:04 EDT-0400

 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Jul 27, 2011
42,542
815
104,940
The problem I see is that solidworks only officially supports workstation cards, and they do not game very well. You might not get proper performance when running it.
Click to expand...

I don't run Solidworks but I do run Autodesk and they have that list that claims that AutoCAD and all its' programs (Revit, Maya, etc) only run on workstation cards but I've only ever used consumer level Radeon and GTX cards and never had an issue. My theory is that NVIDIA and AMD both pay Autodesk to entice people into buying the far more expensive and unnecessary professional level cards when they don't have to.

Never, ever buy a tray CPU. They're not covered under warranty since they're mainly meant to be sold to OEMs who have their own warranties anyways. I agree with logainofhades that you should definitely not buy that PSU. The case is decent, but there are better. You also don't need a D14 with a non overclocked CPU.

This is a little over budget but this is what I would go with:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($239.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus Z170-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($159.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB STRIX Video Card ($479.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($117.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Directron)
Total: $1416.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-16 18:11 EDT-0400



 
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