Gaming PC for around $1,000 (primarily to play ArmA 3)

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Schmidtdude

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Feb 3, 2014
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Just like the title says, I'd like to build a gaming PC for about $1000 USD, primarily to play ArmA 3. I'm pretty new to buying a PC as I've been using a Macbook Pro for the last 4-5 years and never really done this before, so I appreciate any help/feedback anyone has! I've included ArmA 3's recommended system requirements and roughly what I've come up with through some research.

So my question is, is this decent/affordable for what I'm looking for?

ArmA III System Requirements:
CPU - Intel: Core i3-530 2.9GHz OR AMD: Athlon II X3 440
Graphics - Nividia GeForce GTX 260
RAM - 4 GB
OS - Win 7 64
HDD Space - 15 GB

My own PC:
CPU: Intel Core i5 3570K
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 (I don't intend on overclocking BTW, just for gaming)
Memory: Kingston 8GB
Storage: 2TB
Video Card: GTX 760
SSD: *Need Suggestions*
Case: *Need Suggestions*
Power Supply: *Need Suggestions*
Optical Drive: *Need Suggestions*
Operating System: Windows 7


Thanks, I appreciate any tips/help!
 
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Schmidtdude

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Feb 3, 2014
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Utisz, thanks a lot! Question, isn't 120GB for SSD a bit much? Or is it really necessary?
 
rolandzhang3

rolandzhang3

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A low end CX430 for an i7 and a 760 would be pushing it too much, the CX line uses cheap capacitors which do not handle well under load

A 120GB SSD is the usual amount for a decent gaming rig nowadays

You won't be overclocking so just get a locked Haswell i5
 
U

utisz

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Jan 12, 2014
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I think it will be good for the operating system and scratch disk purposes as well as some of the applications/games
I would go for it.

Also, rolandz has a point, you may want to upgrade the power supply if you have some flexibility at budget.

That's a quick build I just made, everything is not considered, but overall it's a good i7 system with a more than decent GPU..

 
rolandzhang3

rolandzhang3

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For gaming wise you'd be fine with an i5, you could get that i7 if you want to do streaming and video editing/rendering

Could probably fit a 770 into this budget if you wanted to as well

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus B85M-G Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($69.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.66 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Shinobi Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $919.54
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-03 01:22 EST-0500)
 
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Schmidtdude

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Feb 3, 2014
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When you say "fit a 770" do you mean a GeForce GTX 770? And thanks for the rest of the suggestions, I'm in Hong Kong so I will take this list with me and hopefully the shop owners will be able to put this together for me.
 
rolandzhang3

rolandzhang3

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Sep 28, 2013
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For pure gaming:

Since I have no idea about HK pricing at all

AFAIK, Arma 3 suffers low CPU utilization so AMD CPUs would not be recommended if you primarily want to play Arma

CPU- Haswell i5 (4430/4440/4570 or 4670), i7s aren't necessary for gaming and offer little to no performance difference unless you're streaming or video editing, depends how much more expensive they are and your uses, I'd much rather spend the extra money towards a better GPU for gaming afterall

Motherboard- Cheap/compatible LGA1150 mobo (H81/B85/H87, Z87 reserved for overclocking) preferably with USB 3.0 headers onboard

RAM- an 8GB kit of DDR3-1600 should do

Storage- as above

Video Card- depending on pricing a GTX 660/r9 270 (non x), r9 270x or a GTX 760 (760 being a bit more powerful than the 270x), the higher end options being the GTX 770 and 7970/280x, the rest are way overbudget

Case- also depends on preference and price, if you get a mobo with a USB 3.0 header you'd want a case with front panel USB 3.0 connectors

PSU- preferably a decent unit from XFX/Antec/Seasonic/Silverstone

Optical Drive- any cheap generic SATA DVD RW drive should do

OS- Windows 7 as per your preferences
 
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fatih934

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Feb 4, 2014
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Have you completed this? I'm in Hong Kong but when I bring my list to the stores at Sham Shui Po, they say that some parts are old and they are not selling them anymore.

The prices in Hong Kong are slightly cheaper. It could probably save you about USD$25.
 
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Schmidtdude

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Feb 3, 2014
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Fatih934, no I haven't gone yet, I will be going to Wan Chai tomorrow with a friend to try. I will let you know how it goes!
 
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Schmidtdude

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It went very well! I actually went today and got it sorted. I went to Wanchai Computer Centre and picking it up tomorrow! Here's my list...

CPU: Intel i5 4570
Motherboard: Asus LGA1150 B85 M-G
RAM: 8GB 1600MHz DDR3
Storage: Western Digital 1TB Blue HDD
Storage: Kingston 120GB SSD
Video Card: GTX 770 2GB
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Vortex Plus CPU Cooler
Power Supply: Antec HCG 620w
Case: Cooler Master Case 335
Optical Drive: LG 24x DVD
OS: Windows 7
Keyboard + Mouse included*

Total: $8,900 HKD ($1,147 USD)
 
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fatih934

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Feb 4, 2014
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It looks good! Good luck building it!
 
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Schmidtdude

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Oh I'm not building it! I'm not that good with hardware haha, they're building it up for me :) The guy said he'll put it together tonight and run it overnight, check and make sure it all runs smoothly before I pick it up tomorrow afternoon.
 
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fatih934

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hahaahh that must be a good deal you made with the shopkeeper!
 
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Schmidtdude

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Most in Hong Kong (ie. Wan Chai/SSP) are willing to do that for you, usually only means an extra $200-300 and in 2 hours time its done! The shopkeeper was pretty nice to me, he said he would personally look at my computer and run it overnight to do all the checks which was cool :)
 
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fatih934

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Feb 4, 2014
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Can you please give a price breakdown cause if wanchai is cheaper, I might as well consider to go to Wanchai to get my parts instead of SSP
 
gameboy1998

gameboy1998

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Did you seriously pay him 200-300$ for building and testing it? If so it is just too much you could have built it yourself.

Also, make sure he installs a legal copy of Windows 7 not a pirated one (A lot of small retailers do that).

Anyways Happy Gaming!
 
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fatih934

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Feb 4, 2014
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200 HKD or about 25USD, Not that much if you're gonna build a pc like that
 
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Schmidtdude

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Feb 3, 2014
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Yes it was $200HKD sorry. I bought the PC, everything is fine apart from one issue :(

Wifi! I didn't realise the ASUS B85M-G doesn't have built-in wifi, and so I went back to the shopkeeper the next day to get a wifi card but he tells me the slot is already taken up by the GTX 770, so I had to buy a USB Wireless Adapter which is not working out very well.

Is it true I can't add a wifi card because of the GTX 770?? I find it hard to believe because that means the B85M-G requires everyone to also buy a USB Wireless Adapter then? Am I just getting scammed here?

Please help :( I'm a total newbie to computer building and I thought it was all sorted....
 
rolandzhang3

rolandzhang3

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The 770 occupies the PCI-E x16 slot, it's a double slot card so there should be a spare PCI-E x1 slot, but it might be a tight fit and block out the airflow of the 770

Damn, I did not have wifi in mind when I put that partslist together, that microatx board is rather small so there's much less room for expansion compared to a full ATX board
 
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Schmidtdude

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Feb 3, 2014
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Hmm okay, what do you recommend I do? Try and fit the wifi card in or just go with a wireless USB adapter? Problem I have with the USB adapter I have is that I'm getting a strong network connection(14-20Mbps) but poor browsing and download speeds(40Kbps), is that just cause it's a cheaper adapter?
 
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