Is this 700 dollar build w/ windows good?

0computernoob0 · Mar 5, 2016

Hello! I am trying to make the best build with 700 dollars. Is this good? How can I make it better? Thanks!

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/davin_FTD/saved/Vs6G3C
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/davin_FTD/saved/Vs6G3C
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/davin_FTD/saved/Vs6G3C

Outlander_04 · Mar 5, 2016

Yes its good
but use this RAM instead so you have dual channel
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cml8gx3m2a1600c9

If you want to save a few more $ then you probably wont need the extra fan , and you could use a cheaper DVD drive .
I have had best reliability and life from Lite-on dvd's
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lite-on-optical-drive-ihas12414

TheConsiderateIlliterate · Mar 5, 2016

All things considered I think it's solid. One may argue dropping to an i3 and getting a gtx 960 but I'm a firm believer of at least an i5 in any gaming build.

superninja12 · Mar 5, 2016

wrong psu made by hec, avoid it. get a seasonic s12ii

BadActor · Mar 5, 2016

Good job on the build. Two minor things. Two four GB sticks of RAM will run a little better than one since you will have dual channel mode. Also, you can get a Tier 2 PSU instead of the Tier 3 for just a few dollars more. Better reliability.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

EtnoNyt · Mar 5, 2016

change the memory to 2X4 will be better, and you wont need a 600W PSU

Outlander_04 · Mar 5, 2016

If you want to spend all $700 you can have a skylake build

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($204.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H170-GAMING 3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 950 2GB Superclocked+ ACX 2.0 Video Card ($139.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H21 Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($87.95 @ OutletPC)
Total: $703.77
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-05 19:30 EST-0500

BadActor · Mar 5, 2016

You can do a Skylake build for around the same money and have the latest generation.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 950 2GB Dual WindForce Video Card ($143.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.11 @ Mac Mall)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.89 @ OutletPC)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($87.95 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Cooler Master SickleFlow 69.7 CFM 120mm Fan ($4.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $695.76
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-05 19:28 EST-0500

superninja12 · Mar 5, 2016

tea urchin :

everything is wrong with what u said..........
1 the i5 6400 is better than the i5 4460 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCI-R55Vxns
2 hashwell is not dead...???

BadActor · Mar 5, 2016

The i5 4460 vs i5 6400 is an endless debate. The Skylake has lower power consumption, better graphics, can use high speed DDR4 (with the right motherboard) and the Turboboost may be a little better in implementation even though it's clocked 100 mhz lower. The Haswell has slightly stronger single thread performance in most benchmarks. In my mind, it's wash. I'd rather have the latest technology.

Outlander_04 · Mar 5, 2016

Since he can have a decent mb and the i5 6500 [ which is a lot faster] for $8 more I would avoid badactors build

BadActor · Mar 5, 2016

No offense, but the PSU you selected wouldn't be my first choice nor the 2666 RAM that will downclock to 2133.

Outlander_04 · Mar 5, 2016

BadActor :

None taken

I would pay the extra $8 for
19% more cpu power
A motherboard with expansion options, more pci-e lanes , and far better features

The RAM can be overclocked to 2666 Mhz and you'd know it would run .
And if you wanted to add more there are two spare slots [ unlike H110]

The psu is not as high quality but it is more than good enough since the entire build will pull under 200 watts .
Its going to last and last and never even work up a sweat

BadActor · Mar 5, 2016

How do you overclock RAM on an H170 chipset? The motherboards I've looked at say that all RAM will default to 2133. Extra USB and SATA ports are nice if you need them, but most budget builds don't, so no use paying the premium for features you won't use.

Quote from the Gigabyte Gaming 3 memory compatibility list:

"Qualified Vendors List (QVL), Model Name: GA-H170-Gaming3
DDR4 2400MHz (downgrade to DDR4 2133MHz)"

Outlander_04 · Mar 5, 2016

BadActor :

I have not used that board but have seen Asus H170 boards that offer XMP profiles for 3000 Mhz

Some boards may let you change RAM reference clock from 100 MHz to 133 MHz which should give you an instant 33% increase in clock speed

A fully manual RAM OC is always a possibility , even on H170.

I suppose with any doubts you can swap out the faster RAM for 2133 MHz and save even more money

As for extra features: I see them as an upgrade path . If you want to add an ultra fast M.2 SSD in the future you can on H170 , but not on H110 which uses pci-e 2 lanes on the board controllers . I'd also want the much better audio , and the Killer NIC would be a nice to have feature too

Outlander_04 · Mar 6, 2016

I would have thought the first upgrade was an SSD of some sort.
Having an M.2 drive option, especially since it could be 3 times faster than a SATA drive, would be worth the price difference . Especially since you get that 18 - 19% cpu improvement as well

Outlander_04 · Mar 6, 2016

tea urchin :

If you do not understand something someone writes then you could either ask for a clarification or perhaps just read it more slowly ?
The cpu in the build I suggested is a 6500 .Its clocked about 18-19% faster and will thus be 18-19% more powerful .

The H170 mb STILL has all the advantages I suggested too . Better sound , M.2 slots with enough pci-e lanes to run them , more RAM slots .
And in this particular case its also not fugly like the suggested H110 board [that has the weakest VRM's I have ever seen on a computer]

Are you sure you are a computer enthusiast ? When did enthusiasm equate with recommending a less powerful pc , with fewer expansion options and limiting your choice of future hard drive upgrades to one that is only 1/3 as fast?

Obviously I'm not criticising . Just making an observation. If you want to recommend worse computers for the same price then that is entirely your business .
Mine is to point out you are doing that

Is this 700 dollar build w/ windows good?

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