New Build for a Noob, Under $1000 Canadian

[naespeden]

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: in a month


Budget Range: around $1000 after shipping


System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming and work


Are you buying a monitor: No


Parts to Upgrade: everything, all I have is a Mac


Do you need to buy OS: Yes / No Yes


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg, amazon, NCIX


Location: City, State/Region, Country - Ottawa, Canada


Parts Preferences: by brand or type (e.g.: Intel CPU


Overclocking: I don't think so, is overclocking dangerous?


SLI or Crossfire: one GPU is enough


Your Monitor Resolution: 1920X1080

Additional Comments: a quiet PC would be nice


And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Interested in PC gaming


Include a list of any parts you have already selected with descriptively labeled links for parts. Please do not post only links.

I tried this to start, any good?


http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/zAoO

 

[iceclock]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGvh
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGvh/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGvh/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ NCIX)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99X EVO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($113.50 @ DirectCanada)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: A-Data S510 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($288.46 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Antec Three Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.79 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Canada Computers)
Total: $909.68
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 11:18 EST-0500)

Base Total: $944.68
Mail-in Rebates: -$35.00
Total: $909.6

 

[naespeden]

Thanks, I would prefer a Intel CPU. I have a question about cases, do they ever affect upgradability of you system in the future?

 

[iceclock]

yes, they do.

heres an intel build.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGBs
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGBs/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGBs/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($216.99 @ Newegg Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($23.78 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($84.88 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: A-Data S510 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($288.46 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Antec Three Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.79 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Canada Computers)
Total: $961.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 11:29 EST-0500)

Base Total: $1001.85
Promo Discounts: -$10.00
Mail-in Rebates: -$30.00
Total: $961.85

 

[robthatguyx]

overclocking isn't dangerous if you pay attention to what your doing,but on a budget of under 1000 you may be better of with an amd chip if your looking to game.at that price point you'll be able to go with a amd chip and put the money where it counts , into a gpu. i wouldn't recommend anything more than a quad core though.The amount of games that utilize anything more are not worth investing into unless all you plan on doing is playing flight simulator x and such like that.

 

[djangoringo]

OP, the parts that you choose are good ones, but a i5-3470 is of better value for the i5, no difference in performance between the 3470 or 3570, if it's for gaming, a 7950 will be better.
Made some changes, here's the link : http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/zGCe

 

[robthatguyx]

On that note though the intel builds they listed will smoke the amd build and do what you want it to and more.

 

[iceclock]

not bad but i prefer this.


PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGFt
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGFt/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGFt/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: MSI B75MA-P45 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($64.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: A-Data S510 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($288.46 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Antec Three Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.79 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 450W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Canada Computers)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $993.17
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 11:36 EST-0500)

Total: $993.17

 

[boulbox]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($84.88 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($95.99 @ Computer Valley)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.99 @ NCIX)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($288.46 @ DirectCanada)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($17.06 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $1026.33
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 11:39 EST-0500)

Tried to fit inside that OS without losing to much

 

[naespeden]

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking of a SSD, are all SSD brands equal? For optimal performance what is the best thing to put on the SSD. ? OS? Steam and games from Steam?

 

[naespeden]

Another quick question. What is the difference between all the GPUs of the same series (eg .7950) but made from different companies?

 

[boulbox]

Not all brands are equal, some give special extended warranties, others can be more reliable and such things like that.

I have not really had any problem with A-Data SSDs myself and since it was cheaper than a lot of others, i choose it.

Putting stuff inside - OS, steam(of course transfer games to the HDD, it is only for fast boot up), pretty much the stuff that takes time booting up and then some others if you have space left

 

[djangoringo]

Some good better coolers, like the gigabyte 7950 windforce 3x, than a reference card, with custom pcb and other things altered.

See here :

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/gigabyte_hd7950_windforce_review,19.html
http://www.pureoverclock.com/Review-detail/gigabyte-7950-windforce/18/
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/53456-gigabyte-hd-7950-windforce-msi-hd-7950-twin-frozr-iii-review-18.html

It depends on the ssd, the A-Data Premier Pro SP900 is a good ssd, it got good speeds, check the speeds of the ssds, on the details.
In a ssd, put the os and the games, the other stuff on the hdd.

 

[iceclock]

it depends like boulbox said, some companies has better circuitry and better cooling systems, some come factory pre-overclocked and somethimes not.

a-adata has some good stuff.

i keep os and a few programs on the ssd, and data on hd.

u wanted silence got u a silent case, cpu cooler,

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGTR
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGTR/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGTR/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ NCIX)
CPU Cooler: Antec KUHLER Flow CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Memory Express)
Motherboard: ASRock B75 PRO3-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($95.99 @ Computer Valley)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($288.46 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Fractal Design Core 3000 ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.88 @ Canada Computers)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($17.06 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $953.33
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 12:07 EST-0500)

Base Total: $971.53
Mail-in Rebates: -$10.00
Total: $961.53

 

[naespeden]

it depends like boulbox said, some companies has better circuitry and better cooling systems, some come factory pre-overclocked and somethimes not.

a-adata has some good stuff.

i keep os and a few programs on the ssd, and data on hd.

u wanted silence got u a silent case, cpu cooler,

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGTR
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGTR/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zGTR/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ NCIX)
CPU Cooler: Antec KUHLER Flow CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Memory Express)
Motherboard: ASRock B75 PRO3-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($95.99 @ Computer Valley)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($288.46 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Fractal Design Core 3000 ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.88 @ Canada Computers)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($17.06 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $953.33
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 12:07 EST-0500)

Base Total: $971.53
Mail-in Rebates: -$10.00
Total: $961.53

If I removed my quiet requirement do I still need a cooler? I don't think I will be over locking. Does the cooler keep the temperatures down so that the CPU fan does not turn on?

 

[djangoringo]

The stock cooler is fine, it will give good temperatures, the aftermarket coolers are more for oc, you can't oc nor are you willing to.
Either of all cases or builds, will give about the same amount of noise, it's not going to be noisy.

 

[naespeden]

Thanks guys, What part of the build " stops" me from over clocking? Just curious.

 

[boulbox]

The CPU, but you can overclock the GPU fine

 

[naespeden]

Thanks, was just thinking about the last time I built a pc. About 20 years ago I got a 486 dx2 66 with a 500mb hd and 8 MB of ram and a monitor for $3500. Times certainly have changed.

 

[boulbox]

Yea, prices changing a lot. It just went higher this week though.

 

[iceclock]

well u wanted silent, so i gave u silent and performant pc.

 

[naespeden]

well u wanted silent, so i gave u silent and performant pc.

I know, my fault, I just wanted to understand the benefits of the cooler.

 

[iceclock]

no problem, just offering what u asked for

 

[naespeden]

How quickly will the 128GB SSD fill up? Will I constantly be erasing stuff from it when I add new stuff?

 

[iceclock]

u need to keep an ssd at 80% capacity or less, because over 80% capacity it will start using the ssd more and speed will degrade.

also its not recommand to constantly move stuff and erase stuff on an ssd.

id keep most of my stuff on the data, and install windows and a few programs on ssd