1500 ~ 1600$ budget PC - Gaming focused

Goosebumps · Nov 13, 2016

Hi there everyone!

I want to surprise my nephew with a flamboyant new computer as he's getting great scores in school. The idea is to build the best gaming PC within a 1500 ~ 1600 budget.

The PC won't be used for overclocking as the target user has basic hardware knowledge.
So here's the configuration I came with after some research:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($293.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212X 82.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI B150M BAZOOKA Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($74.25 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($94.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($74.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($394.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($61.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($84.89 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: BenQ BL2420PT 23.8" 60Hz Monitor ($249.00 @ B&H)
Total: $1485.75
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-11-13 14:10 EST-0500

I'd really appreciate any tips and suggestions. This is a one time thing and I'd like him to have a PC that lasts for a few years without any problems.

Thank you in advance!

CTurbo · Nov 13, 2016

I like it. It's a very solid build. I agree with the decision to skip on overclocking. It's not particularly useful anyway.
A few minor nitpicks-
The 212X cooler is completely unnecessary and could be scrapped. The stock cooler would be fine. If you wanted to buy a "better" cooler, the CRYORIG M9i is under $20 and would be great. That could save you $20-40.
The RAM is overpriced. You should be able to get 2x8GB DDR4 RAM for closer to $70-75
That psu is a good reliable psu, but at your budget, you could get a fully modular gold unit for only a little more.

Other potential ideas-
Allow him to choose his own case. It would add personal stamp on the whole idea.
Find out of he would prefer the extreme eye candy of 1440p or the extreme smoothness of 144hz 1080p.

CTurbo · Nov 13, 2016

Here are the changes I mentioned as well as switching out to a full ATX motherboard and larger ssd. Obviously not hugely important changes.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($293.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG M9i 48.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($19.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H170-GAMING 3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX300 525GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($124.87 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($394.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($84.89 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: BenQ BL2420PT 23.8" 60Hz Monitor ($249.00 @ B&H)
Total: $1502.46
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-11-13 15:08 EST-0500

jmsellars1 · Nov 13, 2016

Looks like a great build but I'd got a few points/opinions to throw in there.

- The i7-6700 only gives better performance than the i5-6500 in certain games and costs quite a lot more. It is a good CPU for gaming but in terms of value for money I think the i5-6500 is better.

- Aftermarket coolers are fine on locked chips IMO. You won't get better performance but it will keep the system quieter and they look cool, which is the most important thing when you're young of course

- I agree on z gold/modular PSU at this price range.

- Would something flashy/colour coordinated with Windows/lights etc. be best? I'm assuming the nephew is young and likes that kind of thing since you used the word flamboyant.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($191.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! SHADOW ROCK LP 51.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($29.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI B150 Gaming M3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($108.38 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($50.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston Savage 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($142.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Western Digital Blue 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card ($404.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair SPEC-ALPHA ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($85.70 @ My Choice Software)
Monitor: Acer GN246HL 24.0" 144Hz Monitor ($188.83 @ B&H)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Devastator II Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Headphones: Kingston HyperX Cloud II 7.1 Channel Headset ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1583.51
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-11-13 16:47 EST-0500

Possibly a bit overboard on the red/black theme but it would just look/feel satisfying to use and for someone that doesn't know a lot about computers that usually means more than a small performance boost.

Goosebumps · Nov 16, 2016

Thank you so much for your answers guys! They're really helpful.

Based on your suggestions I made a few changes like dropping the expensive cooler and swapping the i7 with an i5.
I also slightly upgraded the PSU and now it rocks a 650W one.

Following your suggestions and to make it more attractive for a teenager, I'm picking mostly redish components and a case with a side window to make it look cool from the outside.

I should've said this, but I couldn't add some of the parts you suggested as I'm buying this computer from a retailer in Spain. My family leaves there so I thought it'd be way cheaper to buy it there than delivering it from the US.

Well here's the configuration I came up with:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($190.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Riing Silent 12 Red 53.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($37.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI B150 Gaming M3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($100.04 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($94.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card ($404.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Phanteks ECLIPSE P400S ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($92.88 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($82.00 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN722N USB 2.0 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Adapter ($12.29 @ Newegg)
Monitor: BenQ BL2420PT 23.8" 60Hz Monitor ($249.00 @ B&H)
Total: $1489.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-11-16 13:02 EST-0500

This is the retail store where I'm buying it: https://www.pccomponentes.com/configurador/
It's all in Spanish though :S

Btw, are there any US stores that build and test the computer for you? Do they deliver overseas?

Let me know if you have any additional input.

Isokolon · Nov 16, 2016

Goosebumps :

Thank you so much for your answers guys! They're really helpful.

Based on your suggestions I made a few changes like dropping the expensive cooler and swapping the i7 with an i5.
I also slightly upgraded the PSU and now it rocks a 650W one.

Following your suggestions and to make it more attractive for a teenager, I'm picking mostly redish components and a case with a side window to make it look cool from the outside.

I should've said this, but I couldn't add some of the parts you suggested as I'm buying this computer from a retailer in Spain. My family leaves there so I thought it'd be way cheaper to buy it there than delivering it from the US.

Well here's the configuration I came up with:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($190.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Riing Silent 12 Red 53.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($37.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI B150 Gaming M3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($100.04 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($94.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card ($404.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Phanteks ECLIPSE P400S ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($92.88 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($82.00 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN722N USB 2.0 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Adapter ($12.29 @ Newegg)
Monitor: BenQ BL2420PT 23.8" 60Hz Monitor ($249.00 @ B&H)
Total: $1489.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-11-16 13:02 EST-0500

This is the retail store where I'm buying it: https://www.pccomponentes.com/configurador/
It's all in Spanish though :S

Btw, are there any US stores that build and test the computer for you? Do they deliver overseas?

Let me know if you have any additional input.

650W is highly overpowered. this system can run on a 450W PSU just fine.

also I don't quite agree on the i5. especially with dx12 the i7 will potentially perform a lot better in the future

scrolling through this side, they offer a Seasonic G-550W for 99.95€
alternatively if money is tight the Corsair CXM550 for 75€ is fine as well
I'd pick Asus/Gigabye for Mainboards over MSI any day

jmsellars1 · Nov 17, 2016

Looks great, 550W is really more than enough power though. Actual power consumption under load is going to be something like 200-300W.

The i5 vs i7 debate is quite divisive and I want to make it clear that I don't think the i7 is a bad choice at all. It is just that currently it gives around a 20-30% performance boost in a handful of games for quite a lot more cash. Even if it was 30% better in all games the value for money is pretty good but not great. They are both great choices, I just think the i5 offers better value for money personally.

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