Gaming PC for $1200

[Richard_]

I am looking for a new gaming PC. I am in USA

Budget: $1200
Monitor: Yes (24 Inch)
Mouse: Yes
OS: Yes
Keyboard: No
Case: No
SLI or XFire: No

 

[numanator]

Overclocking the CPU? Any brand preference for the GPU or CPU?

 

[numanator]

Here is a build for overclocking the CPU:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($117.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($71.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: BenQ RL2455HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($164.99 @ NCIX US)
Mouse: Logitech G500s Laser Gaming Mouse Wired Laser Mouse ($52.48 @ Amazon)
Total: $1217.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-29 20:25 EDT-0400

And here is a build for no OC:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($247.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-GAMING 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($103.66 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($71.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: BenQ RL2455HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($164.99 @ NCIX US)
Mouse: Logitech G500s Laser Gaming Mouse Wired Laser Mouse ($52.48 @ Amazon)
Total: $1146.02
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-29 20:27 EDT-0400

The Xeon E3 1231v3 is basically an i7 without the integrated GPU. You could also get a i5 4460 and use the money saved to upgrade the GPU to an r9 290.

 

[Richard_]

Overclocking the CPU? Any brand preference for the GPU or CPU?

Overclock: Yes
CPU Brand: Intel
GPU Brand: R9 Series

 

[Richard_]

Here is a build for overclocking the CPU:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($117.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($71.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: BenQ RL2455HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($164.99 @ NCIX US)
Mouse: Logitech G500s Laser Gaming Mouse Wired Laser Mouse ($52.48 @ Amazon)
Total: $1217.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-29 20:25 EDT-0400

And here is a build for no OC:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($247.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-GAMING 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($103.66 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($71.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: BenQ RL2455HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($164.99 @ NCIX US)
Mouse: Logitech G500s Laser Gaming Mouse Wired Laser Mouse ($52.48 @ Amazon)
Total: $1146.02
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-29 20:27 EDT-0400

The Xeon E3 1231v3 is basically an i7 without the integrated GPU. You could also get a i5 4460 and use the money saved to upgrade the GPU to an r9 290.

1. Do you think getting a 250GB ssd is enough without the 1tb?
2. Would the stock cooler on the 4460 be sufficient?

 

[numanator]

Here is a build for overclocking the CPU:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($117.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($71.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: BenQ RL2455HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($164.99 @ NCIX US)
Mouse: Logitech G500s Laser Gaming Mouse Wired Laser Mouse ($52.48 @ Amazon)
Total: $1217.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-29 20:25 EDT-0400

And here is a build for no OC:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($247.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-GAMING 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($103.66 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($71.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: BenQ RL2455HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($164.99 @ NCIX US)
Mouse: Logitech G500s Laser Gaming Mouse Wired Laser Mouse ($52.48 @ Amazon)
Total: $1146.02
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-29 20:27 EDT-0400

The Xeon E3 1231v3 is basically an i7 without the integrated GPU. You could also get a i5 4460 and use the money saved to upgrade the GPU to an r9 290.

1. Do you think getting a 250GB ssd is enough without the 1tb?
2. Would the stock cooler on the 4460 be sufficient?

1. Depends on your usage and storage needs. For me, 250gb would not be enough but you could probably get away with it for some time.

2. The stock cooler is sufficient for the 4460. If you wanted something a bit quieter then something like the Cooler Master 212 Evo would work.

Keep in mind that the 4460 is a locked CPU also so it cannot be overclocked.