Would love your opinion! 2000$ Budget (+/- 500)

[Rpmonteiro]

Hello dear Pc addicts!

I want to build a computer, but I'm afraid I have no experience. Not because I can't assemble it, but because I've never done it before.

Well, my max budget is 2500$, and I would like to play the recent games in Max settings and having an excellent movie quality.


Approximate Purchase Date: 1 week, depends on how fast I decide what to buy

Budget Range: 2000-2500 Swiss Francs (but for our sake, let's use Dollars, it's more or less the same thing)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, movies, the usual web navigation, photoshop

Parts Required: Monitor, keyboard

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: http://pctop.ch, https://www.digitec.ch/Startseite.aspx

Country: Switzerland

Parts Preferences: A high quality, big, monitor (like 23' or 24')

Overclocking: Yes (why not?)

SLI or Crossfire: Guess it is not needed.

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080, 1920x1200

Additional Comments: aesthetics are not important; Would like very much a quiet PC (within reason). Would like a small SSD to boot fast (128gb is more than enough)

I've read almost all threads on machines, but I get confused as I see that for instance an i7 does not bring a lot of advantages when it comes to gaming..

Thank you VERY much for your help!!

Have a nice day everyone

 

[Silvune]

Here is my build suggestion:

Intel Core i5 3570K CHF 235
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=238573

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H CHF 229
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=239258

Corsair Vengeance, 2x4GB, DDR3-1600, Low Profile, CL9@1.35V CML8GX3M2A1600C9W CHF 62
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=221371

Gigabyte GTX-670 OC 2GB GDDR5, PCI-E x16 3.0 GV-N670OC-2GD CHF 459
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=241211
Has one of the better non-reference but non-aftermarket GPU coolers.

Samsung SSD 830Series D-Kit, MLC, 128GB, SATA-3, 2.5 Zoll MZ-7PC128D CHF 169
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=225230
Good performance, high reliability.

Western Digital Caviar Green, 64MB, 1TB, SATA-3 WD10EARX CHF 99
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=234148
Chosen because a 'green' drive will be quieter than a normal 7200RPM drive. If you need to install programs onto the HDD rather than the SSD then you should probably go with a 7200RPM drive.

Super Flower Golden King SF-550P14PE, 550Watt, 80Plus Platinum CHF 183
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=209847
Chosen because it is semi-fanless and the maximum fan speed is 1300RPM, but idles much lower than that.

Thermalright HR-02 Macho CHF 55
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=233644
Positively reviewed at HardOCP and Xbitlabs. Has a fan speed range of 900-1300RPM. It was actually originally designed and released as a fanless product, so you could actually remove it completely as long as you don't go too crazy with the overclocking.

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit, OEM CHF 95-115, depending on language
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit, Retail ~CHF 170

Some popular quiet cases:
Fractal Design R3 - Black Pearl CHF 104
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=228953

Antec P280 CHF 129
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=232760

Corsair Obsidian 550D CHF 147
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=240467
I don't think this is worth the price difference over the previous two in terms of performance and quietness.

Antec P183 V3 CHF 156
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=206690

Corsair Obsidian 650D CHF 172
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=210259

Cooler Master ATCS 840 CHF 227
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=156697

Silverstone Fortress FT02 CHF 280
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=180285

Lian Li PC-V700WX CHF 289
https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=242118

Total: CHF 1745-2030 (depending on OS and case selection)

I don't know enough about monitors to make a recommendation, but you should have plenty of budget left to get a high end display.

 

[Rpmonteiro]

Thank you very much Silvune!

Couple questions:

8gb Ram is enough? If I place 12 or 16gb, would that make a big difference?

Why the i5 and not the i7? Is it not worth to buy the i7? The difference is relative?

Don't you think the AMD HD7970 is a better graphics card?

Thank you so much man

 

[azeem40]

1. 8GB is enough for many years to come.
2. i7 is mainly for programs that utilize HT.
3. Depends. What games do you play?

 

[Why_Me]

Thank you very much Silvune!

Couple questions:

8gb Ram is enough? If I place 12 or 16gb, would that make a big difference?

Why the i5 and not the i7? Is it not worth to buy the i7? The difference is relative?

Don't you think the AMD HD7970 is a better graphics card?

Thank you so much man

This build allows you to add another one of those cards later on in SLI


https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=227208 CHF 114.-
Corsair Carbide 500R Midi-Tower - black

http://www.corsair.com/carbide-series-500r-mid-tower-case.html <----- another look at that case

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=228374 CHF 138.-
Seasonic M12II-750 (SS-750AM F3) Bronze - 750 Watt

http://www.seasonicusa.com/M12II-Bronze-650-750-850.htm <----- another look at that psu

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=240624 CHF 149.-
AsRock Z77 Extreme4, Z77, LGA1155, PCI-E 3.0, CFX/SLI

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/asrock_z77_extreme4_review,1.html <----- review of that board with benchmarks

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z77%20Extreme4 <----- make sure to update to the latest bios

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=238573 CHF 235.-
Intel Core i5 3570K BOX, LGA 1155, 4C/4T, unlocked

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=228781 CHF 45.-
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=235966 CHF 111.-
Corsair Vengeance LP, 4x4GB, DDR3-1600, CL9@1.5V

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=240968 CHF 36.-
Asus DRW-24B5ST, DVD Brenner, SATA, Schwarz, Retail

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=234107 CHF 129.-
Seagate Barracuda 2TB, 7200rpm, 64MB, 2TB, SATA-3

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=238056 CHF 243.-
Kingston V+200 SSD 240GB, SATA-3, 2.5 Zoll

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=241211 CHF 459.-
Gigabyte GTX-670 OC 2GB GDDR5, PCI-E x16 3.0

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5818/nvidia-geforce-gtx-670-review-feat-evga <----- gtx 670 review with benchmarks

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=210341 CHF 95.-
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit, OEM, SP1 -D-

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=238188 CHF 219.-
Asus VS248H, 24" FULL HD TFT, 16:9, HDMI, schwarz

http://www.asus.com/Display/LCD_Monitors/VS248H/ <----- another look at that monitor

Total: CHF 1973.-



***For a single card build (no option to add another one of those cards later on in SLI) then change out the motherboard and psu up above with these down below.


https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=241081 CHF 126.-
AsRock Z77 Pro4, Z77, LGA1155, PCI-E 3.0, CF, ATX

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z77%20Pro4 <----- another look at that board along with a link to the latest bios

https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=224212 CHF 101.-
Corsair TX550M - 550 Watt, Modular, 80 PLUS Bronze


https://www.digitec.ch/ProdukteDetails2.aspx?Reiter=Details&Artikel=219393 CHF 45.-
Logitech G400, Optical Gaming Mouse, schwarz

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/gaming/mice-keyboard-combos/devices/optical-gaming-mouse-g400 <----- another look at that mouse

 

[Silvune]

Thank you very much Silvune!

Couple questions:

8gb Ram is enough? If I place 12 or 16gb, would that make a big difference?

Why the i5 and not the i7? Is it not worth to buy the i7? The difference is relative?

Don't you think the AMD HD7970 is a better graphics card?

Thank you so much man

Yes I would have thought that 8GB is enough for your uses. The only usage you listed which needs lots of RAM is Photoshop, which was the least important. I would suggest sticking with 8GB of RAM until you have built the computer and used it enough to be able to tell whether you need more or not, and if so then it is easy enough to upgrade to 16GB.

Again looking at your stated uses you would not benefit from getting the i7 over the i5.

The 7970 is better in some situations and games, so it would be better for you if your circumstances match the advantages the 7970 has.

I suppose if you are comfortable spending the extra money on these items then you should feel free to, but I don't think it is necessary.