In the market for a new PC, need help with build/specs.

[iChristopher]

I'm not a PC building, spec guru and I would appreciate some help. I know just enough to get me in trouble and enjoy using computers more than tinkering under the hood. My budget is max $1000 and I use my computers for gaming (waiting for Elder Scrolls Online), graphics, music, movies, Photoshop etc. I want something I won't have to upgrade for a few years unless it's a graphics card or memory.

I ran speccy and here are some of my specs to give you an idea of what I have been working with.

Windows 7 home premium 64bit SP1
Intel Core i7 2600k @3.4GHz - Sandy Bridge 32nm Technology
16GB duel channel DDR3@798MHz
Alienware 046MHW (CPU1) ... Yes, I know people hate Alienware!
3071MB Nvidia Geforce GTX 580 EVGA
Running 1TB WD HDD but would also like an SSD to run windows,other system programs

I have a RW DVD optical and SM/SD/Mini card readers for ease of use. Maybe move up to a blu ray player so I can have it all in one optical drive?

It's liquid cooled and have had zero problems with the PC but My kid needs a new PC and he will inherit this one. Time for me to get a new PC! yay! Much appreciation for any help.
Also... Are laptops a viable option for playing hardcore PC games smoothly or is it best to just stick to desktops? Thanks Again!

 

[animal]

For graphics capability and extended playing (as well as cost), no laptop can touch a desktop PC. That being said, will you need a keyboard, mouse, speakers, headphones, monitor or OS included in the $1000 budget?

 

[iChristopher]

For graphics capability and extended playing (as well as cost), no laptop can touch a desktop PC. That being said, will you need a keyboard, mouse, speakers, headphones, monitor or OS included in the $1000 budget?

I need an OS. I thought so about the laptop. Windows 8 or 7 better? I haven't tried 8 yet.

 

[animal]

I'm still on Win 7 myself, probably won't change until they get the metro UI stuff fixed, the next incarnation is supposed to auto-detect whether you have a touchscreen or use kb/mouse and boot to the appropriate start-up. Are you going to be needing a monitor with this? What resolution are/will you be using the monitor at? I'll see what I can put together. Will an i5 be alright or are you wanting an i7 or possibly an AMD build? Any preference for the GPU?

 

[iChristopher]

I'm still on Win 7 myself, probably won't change until they get the metro UI stuff fixed, the next incarnation is supposed to auto-detect whether you have a touchscreen or use kb/mouse and boot to the appropriate start-up. Are you going to be needing a monitor with this? What resolution are/will you be using the monitor at? I'll see what I can put together. Will an i5 be alright or are you wanting an i7 or possibly an AMD build? Any preference for the GPU?

Windows 7 has been working just fine for me, if 8 isn't much better then why pay for it. My Samsung monitor is 1920x1080@60
i5 or i7 hmmm don't know the difference but I'm assuming the i7 is better? lol just so I upgrade on things from my current PC, I can't have my kid having better tech than me! My current pc has Intel Core i7 2600k @3.4GHz - Sandy Bridge 32nm Technology. I've always used Nvidia and that's what I'm used to I would like to upgrade from my current GPU=3071MB Nvidia Geforce GTX 580 EVGA (I luv this graphics card) I guess I've always used Intel inside and never had AMD.

 

[Beezy]

your current computer is very powerful, why again are we updating?

 

[animal]

Unfortunately, with a $1000 budget, I don't know if it will be possible to get an i7 AND a better GPU than what you already have, much less if you want watercooling, Blu-ray drive, and OS This is an i5 with GTX 760 and it's just over $1000 without an OS yet (and had to drop Liquid/water cooling):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($228.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G43 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.20 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($80.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($249.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($46.98 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($54.99 @ Adorama)
Total: $1004.60
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-16 19:07 EST-0500)

You are probably looking at closer to $1500 if you want as good or better than you currently have.

 

[iChristopher]

your current computer is very powerful, why again are we updating?

I know! lol my kid needs a new PC and will inherit mine. This is a good time to upgrade my tech, yes?!

 

[iChristopher]

Unfortunately, with a $1000 budget, I don't know if it will be possible to get an i7 AND a better GPU than what you already have, much less if you want watercooling, Blu-ray drive, and OS This is an i5 with GTX 760 and it's just over $1000 without an OS yet (and had to drop Liquid/water cooling):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($228.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G43 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.20 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($80.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($249.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($46.98 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($54.99 @ Adorama)
Total: $1004.60
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-16 19:07 EST-0500)

You are probably looking at closer to $1500 if you want as good or better than you currently have.

I must have got a really good deal on this PC and I didn't even know it but I did upgrade the GPU and RAM. I've had it for over a year or so also. Thats probably about the right price ($1500) adding in my GPU and RAM upgrade.

 

[animal]

Here is an i7 build w/ water cooler and GTX 780 (but no OS) for $1500:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($304.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($145.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($479.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($54.99 @ Adorama)
Total: $1505.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-16 19:25 EST-0500)