$800-$900 Gaming PC Build Assistance Required.

The_TempesT

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May 30, 2008
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Hey Tom's Hardware, I'm back!

Approximately 6 years ago I asked you guys to help me make a machine with a $800~ dollar budget and it has lasted me 6 years, and is still going strong!
However I am back and needed a new computer since I currently can't play the game Star Citizen, which is coming out next year (hopefully).
I need your help again. Thanks!

Approximate Purchase Date: Between Dec 2nd and Jan-2nd

Budget Range: $1400 Before Rebates/ $800-900 After Rebates/Shipping.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming. Build needed for Star Citizen when it comes out. I'm a long time backer that has never been able to play in the Alpha yet cause my computer is too old.

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: I will harvest my Old data 1TB HD, and my DVD drive. I'll need a 128gig min SSD for my main drive.

Do you need to buy OS: No.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I have a $50 giftcard for Newegg.com. Other then that I have no preference.

Location: Colfax, WA. USA.

Parts Preferences: No Preference. I7's sure look nice but I trust the pro's on this site.

Overclocking: Not Necessary. Maybe at a later date.

SLI or Crossfire: Not sure...

Your Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050 but will go to 1920x1080 later.

Additional Comments: I am probably the least astetic person you will ever meet, so "bling" and shiney little lights I don't care about. Infact I am actually against LED's cause they are so bright.

I really only need 8 gigs to start out. No more then that. I will get more at a later time but 8 is fine to start with.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: My current computer is 6 years old and I want to eventually play Star Citizen.
 
Here, it's as un-shiny as possible.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($103.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 285 2GB WINDFORCE 2X Video Card ($214.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($61.64 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $795.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-29 01:49 EST-0500
 

The 285 is not a card meant for Mid tower's. It is a small form factor card that performs worse than the 280x which is $15 cheaper.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-E ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.00 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($94.29 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($319.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($73.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $853.21
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-29 17:51 EST-0500
Rockie's first build also looks pretty good. I left the option for SLI in the future for some insane graphics.980 is completely and utterly overkill, but that's good, future proofs your rig as much as possible. (Future proofing doesn't really exist but to a certain extent it does.)
 
@MasterDell: Yeah, but your build doesn't even follow what the OP asks...
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($22.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($103.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $896.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-29 13:25 EST-0500
 
Sorry I misread. Doesnt really make sense that he put $1400. Dont get your panties in a bunch okcnaline, by the way getting a 750W PSU is useless considering the 290's need far more than a 750W PSU for Crossfire. An 850W B2 would do pretty good. It would also be the same price or cheaper.
 
Okay, updated.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($110.78 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($249.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($68.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $892.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-02 00:12 EST-0500
 

OP, a better option would be a 290. $30 cheaper, twice the VRAM and it performs better anyways. SLIing the 770 would be really bad because your VRAM would limit you to only 2GB with all of that compute power. However if you crossfire the 290's you would be better off because you would have 4GB of RAM with tons of compute power. Rather than 2GB and tons of computer power. Just putting it out there.
 
Solution