A beast PC with cheap monitor or a cheaper PC with a better monitor?

[parsa_strife]

I have about 1300$-1400$ budget to build a PC!

First of all I have to say that good monitors with some good features cost ridiculously high! For example Asus MG248Q FHD 144Hz 1MS Freesync which is actually about 250$ costs around 420$ here! But cheap monitors almost cost the same as other countries.
Okay so two builds are in my mind.

The first build is a beast PC with a cheap 23.5Inch AOC 1080p 60Hz 2MS monitor without any fancy features:

Inno3D iChill GTX 1070 X3
Intel Core i5 - 6600K + Thermalright True Spirit 120M-BW
MSI Z170A Krait Gaming 3X
G.Skill Ripjaws V 2x8GB=16GB @3000 CL15
Kingston SSDNow v300 240GB
EVGA SuperNova 650 G2 80 Plus Gold


The second build is a cheaper PC but with a very costy (at least where I live) Asus 24Inch 1080p 144Hz Freesync monitor:

MSI RX 480 GAMING X 8G (Might upgrade it to a two-way RX 480 crossfire later on)
Intel Core i5 - 6600K + Thermalright True Spirit 120M-BW
MSI Z170A Gaming M3
G.Skill AEGIS Series 8GB DDR4 2x4GB @2400 CL15 (Might upgrade to a 16GB 3000MHz later)
Kingston SSDNow V300 240GB
EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G2 80 Plus Gold


I can't really decide! The second build costs a bit more (actually a lot more if I do those mentioned upgrades)

I have an old Pentium E2200 PC + GeForce 9400 GT and a normal 1050p monitor so I don't really know if a beast PC with a normal monitor is good or a cheaper one with a nice monitor so please help me to decide! Thanks

 

[CelicaGT]

Unless there is some reason to keep your old rig running, why not use the old screen till you have the funds for a new, better one? 1680x1050 is actually a great resolution being 16:10 (ignoring the fact a 1070 will push it around like an 800lb gorilla). I wish you could still get that aspect ratio mainstream.

 

[coozie7]

CelicaGT puts forward a very good point: Reuse the existing display and hold off on a monitor upgrade until you can afford one that is suitable for the system in mind.

Me, I'd suggest you: Do build one but cut out the 'luxuries' by dropping the SSD, CPU cooler and going for 8Gb of RAM, also consider a cheaper Z170 motherboard, the Asrock K4 is a great MB (amongst others) and should work out cheaper than the Asus Krait.
Set the money aside for a monitor upgrade and do that when you can afford it, and don't rush this decision, take your time, a good display will make using the system a pleasure and can have benefits beyond just FPS like reduced eyestrain and a stand that will put the panel where you want it, at YOUR ideal viewing position, getting a display with vertical adjustment has all but ended my neck pain for example.

 

[CelicaGT]

CelicaGT puts forward a very good point: Reuse the existing display and hold off on a monitor upgrade until you can afford one that is suitable for the system in mind.

Me, I'd suggest you: Do build one but cut out the 'luxuries' by dropping the SSD, CPU cooler and going for 8Gb of RAM, also consider a cheaper Z170 motherboard, the Asrock K4 is a great MB (amongst others) and should work out cheaper than the Asus Krait.
Set the money aside for a monitor upgrade and do that when you can afford it, and don't rush this decision, take your time, a good display will make using the system a pleasure and can have benefits beyond just FPS like reduced eyestrain and a stand that will put the panel where you want it, at YOUR ideal viewing position, getting a display with vertical adjustment has all but ended my neck pain for example.

Idk, that's a pretty solid build, not sure I'd pull anything out past the MoBo (I've no experience with either board). Matching RAM can be hard to source later on, and an SSD adds so much speed in and around the OS I'd never forgo one myself. Basically it seems that the goal of the OP is to postpone the purchase of a quality display for the time being. Displays are getting better and better, cheaper and cheaper. As already noted matching RAM can be hard to source later (Keep the model# and or packaging to help with this) and adding an SSD OS drive later can be a hassle. IMO the monitor is the easiest thing to deal with later. Still good advice you've given, wait...watch the market and make a considered decision.

 

[parsa_strife]

Thanks guys but I've gone through a lot to choose these builds especially the 1st build so not gonna change it xD

But the thing is I will never buy a god damn costy monitor with G-Sync that costs almost as much as a medicore gaming PC lol (it costs that much where I live)
I guess I'll just keep this 1050p monitor and go with the first build and buy a 60Hz IPS monitor with a good response time since that's not expensive as hell and can keep me happy for a long time Is 5MS too much for playing competitive games like Dota 2? Because I play that a lot. And I know well above 60Hz is not really necessary for Dota 2 so I guess I'll just give up on that and go for an IPS later!
What do you guys think?

 

[coozie7]

Bit of a late reply, sorry, mate.

Build one is a good one, I was just suggesting you delay adding the CPU cooler, SSD and dropping the RAM to 8Gb to save money towards the monitor.
Have to agree, though, it IS a nice build, enjoy.

Personally, I think you have made the right decision with the monitor, it'll be a real shame to have such a great build tied to a weak display, especially when they are so expensive.
Try to exercise patience, even those of us that can afford to update our core components every few years usually hold on to a display through 2 or even 3 builds, so take your time and choose carefully.
Generally IPS panels are a little slower than TN but have better colours, contrast and viewing angles but the differences are not a great as they were, my own TN panel is great for gaming but lacks the deep blacks and shadow details of the IPS panel it replaced, but it is only really noticeable in movies or a few games with a lot of dark areas.
Image quality aside, TN panels are usually cheaper and have a little less lag, but again the difference between 5Ms and 1Ms is really tiny, unless you have a pros reflexes I doubt you'll spot the difference, which means either TN or IPS should be just as good at 60Hz.

As CelicaGT points out that big GTX1070 is going to dominate a 24" 1080 screen "like an 800 pound gorilla" if you possibly can, try to aim for a larger, higher resolution screen, 2560x1440 or 2560x1080 super widescreen for preference, maybe a TN panel instead of IPS will help with cost here but if it's out of your reach then it's out of your reach and I'm not going to suggest you get yourself into debt or financial difficulties to get one, so don't.

Waffle over: If you cannot find a higher rez display within your budget treat your eyes to a good 1080 24" IPS display and enjoy it knowing that in a few years time that big GTX1070 will still be able to boss it around at the highest game settings.

 

[parsa_strife]

Bit of a late reply, sorry, mate.

Build one is a good one, I was just suggesting you delay adding the CPU cooler, SSD and dropping the RAM to 8Gb to save money towards the monitor.
Have to agree, though, it IS a nice build, enjoy.

Personally, I think you have made the right decision with the monitor, it'll be a real shame to have such a great build tied to a weak display, especially when they are so expensive.
Try to exercise patience, even those of us that can afford to update our core components every few years usually hold on to a display through 2 or even 3 builds, so take your time and choose carefully.
Generally IPS panels are a little slower than TN but have better colours, contrast and viewing angles but the differences are not a great as they were, my own TN panel is great for gaming but lacks the deep blacks and shadow details of the IPS panel it replaced, but it is only really noticeable in movies or a few games with a lot of dark areas.
Image quality aside, TN panels are usually cheaper and have a little less lag, but again the difference between 5Ms and 1Ms is really tiny, unless you have a pros reflexes I doubt you'll spot the difference, which means either TN or IPS should be just as good at 60Hz.

As CelicaGT points out that big GTX1070 is going to dominate a 24" 1080 screen "like an 800 pound gorilla" if you possibly can, try to aim for a larger, higher resolution screen, 2560x1440 or 2560x1080 super widescreen for preference, maybe a TN panel instead of IPS will help with cost here but if it's out of your reach then it's out of your reach and I'm not going to suggest you get yourself into debt or financial difficulties to get one, so don't.

Waffle over: If you cannot find a higher rez display within your budget treat your eyes to a good 1080 24" IPS display and enjoy it knowing that in a few years time that big GTX1070 will still be able to boss it around at the highest game settings.

I got it but where I live the difference between 1080p 60Hz displays and 1440p 60Hz, 1080p 144Hz is too damn much that even that wouldn't help much lol also my old HDD is half-dead so can't really count on it so I'll get a 240GB SSD so I wont get into much trouble if the HDD fails. And why SSD? Because I really love to see the difference

And in games like Dota 2, 2ms = 5ms because and especially because my internet kind of sucks. I have 90-100ms ping all the time. And I personally really love IPS panels, those vibrant colors are undeniable And would probably keep me happy for long since as you said 1070 will run most games high to ultra on 1080p 60Hz in the next 3 years at least.
I really would like to buy a 1440p IPS but it's way more expensive than 1080p and over my budget so I'll stick to 1080p!
I have a BenQ VZ2350HM on my mind, it's a nice IPS with a fair price however with no fancy things like speaker etc.

 

[coozie7]

If it's any consolation, I've had to save for some time to move up to a 144Hz 1440 IPS display, so I can understand your position.
That BenQ looks nice, and as we both agree, IPS has those better colours and viewing angles.
Me, I'd be tempted, but just pause a few days and think about a higher rez display, you don't HAVE to get a new monitor straight away, and, if after a few days you still don't think a 1440 panel is good for you then that BenQ is still good, and will remain good for some years to come.

 

[parsa_strife]

If it's any consolation, I've had to save for some time to move up to a 144Hz 1440 IPS display, so I can understand your position.
That BenQ looks nice, and as we both agree, IPS has those better colours and viewing angles.
Me, I'd be tempted, but just pause a few days and think about a higher rez display, you don't HAVE to get a new monitor straight away, and, if after a few days you still don't think a 1440 panel is good for you then that BenQ is still good, and will remain good for some years to come.

I could probably wait like 2 years or so to buy a 1080p 144Hz or 1440p 60Hz and 1440p 144Hz is out of questions it's overpriced as heck. I don't think it's worth to wait 2 years for that.

 

[coozie7]

Sorry, I had no idea it would take that long and be that expensive. 🙁

That BenQ still looks good, but again, take your time and look around to be sure what you purchase is the best you can find within your budget.
One last point, Black Friday is close now, if it happens in your country, or you have access to Amazon, maybe you should hold off until then, just a thought.

 

[parsa_strife]

Okay so I decided to make a little change

Gainward GTX 1070 Phoenix
Intel Core i5 - 6500
Gigabyte H110M-A
Geil Pristine DDR4 1x8GB @2400 CL15
Kingston SSDNow V300 240GB
Green GP550A-UK Gold (I think it only exists where I live lol but it's got a nice quality for money but it's not modular)

This costs a lot less so I can actually afford a 1440p monitor! This will be the shiny monitor: ASUS PB258Q

But I got a question! Will that build run 1440p perfectly?

 

[coozie7]

A few points to consider:
At 25" and 2560x1440 the Windows screen and text will be sharp but very small, you'll probably need to adjust these sizes through the Windows Settings to avoid eyestrain. On the plus side, games will be needle sharp.
That 'H' motherboard only supports DDR4 2133, it'll automatically downclock (slow down) faster memory to that speed, so you may be able to juggle cost/speed and get a pair of DDR4 2133 4Gb modules or even a pair of 8Gb parts, it'll depend on pricing.
Reviews show the Asus as being an excellent 60Hz display BTW.
And yes, the 'build three' will run 1440 with no issues, just be aware games like Wild Hunt and even Rise of The Tomb Raider are likely to dip below 60FPS at that res if you set them to max, there is few setups that can run these games without doing so.

A further suggestion: recalculate build one with the following changes: Drop the CPU cooler and go for 8Gb of RAM to see if you can still go for a 24" 1920x1080 IPS display. Keep the rest, it's all very good; Skylake CPUs' really like fast memory, the PSU is very good quality and a 'Z' motherboard usually has connectivity advantages over 'B' and 'H' chipsets, making it a better long term option..

 

[parsa_strife]

You do have a point but I'll only need it for the next 3 years so I'm guessing it can take me to 3 years? Also you mean 1440p on 25Inch is useless? I mean like it's almost the same as 1080p? If so I guess I'll change my mind.

Also that ram is the cheapest one I could find! 2133MHz ones are more expensive lol and I'm fine with it as I will upgrade to 16 sometime.

And I'm fine with games not on max really. Just an acceptable settings (high) and 50+ fps keeps me happy. I will play Elder Scrolls Online and Dota 2 most of the time and I can easily run them on ultra 1440p +60 fps. I just want that for 3 years so if 1440p monitor + build three can get me there I'll get it happily
But it'll be a problem if 25 inches is too small for 1440p and the difference between 1080p 24 inches wont be worth I'll reconsider it!


I can't drop the CPU cooler as K series don't have a stock cooler included! And 8GB of ram costs only a little bit less so wont help much sadly. I ofc do like to get Z series motherboard + K series cpu but I think 1440p is worth more (if 25 inches is not too small for it)
And I'm using a 1680x1050 20 (19,5 actually) Inch Monitor atm so I think 1440p 25 Inches will look great compared to this it's way bigger and got way more pixels so it should be probably almost the same as mine! Because I'm guessing 1050p is a little too big for 19,5 Inch.

Thanks a lot for the help BTW


Update: I also could buy an Asus PB277Q 1ms 1440p 75Hz TN panel for a some bucks more if 27 inch is a big deal or maybe an Asus MX27AQ IPS 1440p 60Hz which costs a little bit more than the PB277Q.
But if it'll be okay in everything else but windows texts etc. which can be scaled and customized I'll go with the cheaper 25 Inch one with higher DPI which would be cool.

In mobile industries they produce 5.5 Inches 1440p displays so I doubt I'll go wrong with the 25 Inch one?

And I could also go for 1080p 144Hz G-Sync if the monitor is available where I live (idk yet) but can the 6500 run fine on 144hz 1080p? SORRY btw I'm really lost there are so many options lol

 

[coozie7]

Far from it, a 25" 1440 display will give very, very sharp images and if you're OK with rescaling Windows and your browser to fit it and your eyesight that Asus PB258Q will give not only those sharp images but in very good colour as well.

I really can't see build three having any issues with 1440, the big GTX1070 is going to do most of the work at that resolution anyway and an i5 6500 is a very fast CPU, even my little R9 Nano can keep up with super demanding games like Wild Hunt at 1440 rez and the GTX1070 is significantly faster.

Most likely a 1440 Gsync display is going to be well out of your reach, here in the UK they're typically $200 more than an equally fast (144Hz) Freesync display.

Personally like IPS colours-I've just spent £400 to get a 1440 Freesync IPS panel-and think you'll like it too, so I'll suggest you go for:
Build one with the Asus PB258Q but only if it's not going to bankrupt you!
Or, build three with the same monitor, which should be a little easier on the wallet.
Only consider build three with a 27" display if it's comfortable for your finances, you'll probably want to look at a TN panel to keep costs within reason but I'd trade the better colours of IPS for the larger screen size of a TN panel any day.

 

[parsa_strife]

Far from it, a 25" 1440 display will give very, very sharp images and if you're OK with rescaling Windows and your browser to fit it and your eyesight that Asus PB258Q will give not only those sharp images but in very good colour as well.

I really can't see build three having any issues with 1440, the big GTX1070 is going to do most of the work at that resolution anyway and an i5 6500 is a very fast CPU, even my little R9 Nano can keep up with super demanding games like Wild Hunt at 1440 rez and the GTX1070 is significantly faster.

Most likely a 1440 Gsync display is going to be well out of your reach, here in the UK they're typically $200 more than an equally fast (144Hz) Freesync display.

Personally like IPS colours-I've just spent £400 to get a 1440 Freesync IPS panel-and think you'll like it too, so I'll suggest you go for:
Build one with the Asus PB258Q but only if it's not going to bankrupt you!
Or, build three with the same monitor, which should be a little easier on the wallet.
Only consider build three with a 27" display if it's comfortable for your finances, you'll probably want to look at a TN panel to keep costs within reason but I'd trade the better colours of IPS for the larger screen size of a TN panel any day.

I can go for the 25 Inch 1440p IPS with no problems but I'm not sure anymore lol Because maybe I should sacrifice 1440p IPS for 144Hz 1080p TN with G-Sync? It goes a bit over my budget but I think I can handle it. I really don't know! I'll play Dota 2 a lot so maybe I'll be better off with a 144Hz 1080p TN rather than 1440p 60Hz IPS? I'm just really lost in the waves of options to choose xD It's like torture lol

 

[coozie7]

If you're playing games like DOTA it's hard for me to say for certain which would be best.
The big 1080 Gsync is going to be much faster so if you're good at snap or reflex shooting the better speed will help there, but its downside is that if you prefer more considered, aimed shots, the relative lack of precision will hurt your accuracy and here the much sharper, if slower 1440 screen is going to be the better choice, it's really going to boil down to your style of play.
Personally, I'd go for the 25" IPS 60Hz screen, not because it's cheaper but because I like the better colours and its higher resolution suits my more considered-meaning slow 😉 -style of play.
Either way build one or build three will easily cope and will be good for some time to come.
Also, remember what I said earlier about monitors: Even those of us lucky enough to be able to update or hardware regularly tend to stick with the same display through several builds (my last one was 5 when I sold it on) and getting EXACTLY the right one first time can save money later on.
If this seems daunting or difficult, maybe you should take a little more time and back off for a few days, there's no harm in building the core system and getting it up and running (and debugged) on the old 1050 display, there's nothing quite as good as getting your mind off a difficult decision by doing something else to help clear your head and give what you have learned a little time to fully sink in.

 

[parsa_strife]

Yeah I think you're right I might give up on that 180Hz 1080p if it's not available here or if it costs ridiculously high. I would really like to get it but it's not guaranteed!
But yeah I'm actually gonna wait a bit maybe a few weeks so I can decide what to get because I'm gonna have it for a long time (3-4 years) before I move out to another country!

Also I thought I would change my mind on the processor or mobo!
Should I get a MSI Z170A Gaming M3 Mobo with 2x4GB DDR4 @3000MHz and upgrade the cpu to a i7 Kaby Lake Unlocked version later on?
Or
Should I just stick a H110M mobo and 1x8GB DDR4 @2400MHz (This is by far the cheapest one I can find and it's got a nice quality also) and get an i7 6700(non-k) instead of i5 6500? I think the second choice will be cheaper but I don't like it that the mobo limits the ram speed and is a bit small :/ But if the 1000MHz RAM frequency is not much of a big deal I'll just go with this option I guess.

Also if I want to upgrade to 16GB later on, Could I just buy the same kit again and just add it to the other 8GB and get 16GB? I know it is possible on DDR2 rams beacuse I've done it for myself and even my friends 😀 But not sure about DDR4!

Sorry for so many questions agaian! And thanks for patience and replying to all my questions <3
I'm just really confused 😀

 

[coozie7]

AH! Such is the joy of building a PC!, so many possibilities 😉

For most games there's little gained by getting an i7, locked or otherwise, even now very few games can use all 8 threads of the current i7 Quads so no, I'll advise you stick to the i5 series.
As far as I know the original MSI Z170A Krait in Build one can be updated with a BIOS flash to support Kaby Lake later, there's no real need to swap motherboards.
All the current Haswell and Skylake CPUs like fast memory, DDR4 3000 is about the sweet spot for price/performance.
For most mortals 8Gb is enough for a gaming rig as long as you keep other running applications under control and dual channel is the best option if possible.

Could you do build one with 8Gb and the Asus PB258Q? The price difference over here in the UK between the locked and unlocked i5s is really quite small, and even if you go for a locked CPU the Z170 motherboards offer more than just overclocking: Similarly priced 'H' series 'boards don't usually support fast memory, or the wider modern connectivity of their 'Z' series counterparts. As a possibly cheaper alternative, consider one of the Asrock Z170 motherboards if they're available in your country.

 

[parsa_strife]

Okay so!
These are the prices in my country 😀 Don't freak out please lol

BUILD 4:

Gainward GTX 1070 Phoenix --- 510$
Intel Core i5 - 6500 --- 190$
ASRock H110M-HDV (Supports RAM Non-Z OC up to 2800MHz) ---- 62$
Geil Pristine DDR4 1x8GB @2400 CL15 --- 36$
Kingston SSDNow V300 240GB --- 67$
Seagate Barracuda 2TB --- 73$
Green GP600A-HP (80 Plus Bronze and semi-modular it really does have a nice quality while being cheaper) --- 81$
Xigmatek Soundwave - A --- 36$
Asus PB258Q --- 420$
Total: 1475$


Alternative BUILD 4 (Slightly more expensive):

Gainward GTX 1070 Phoenix --- 510$
Intel Core i5 - 6600K --- 240$
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 34$
ASRock Z170A-X1 --- 110$
Geil EVO Forza DDR4 2x4GB @3000 CL15 --- 50$
Seagate Barracuda 2TB --- 73$
Green GP700A-HP (The 700W version of the mentioned PSU above) --- 95$
Xigmatek Soundwave - A --- 36$
Asus PB258Q --- 420$
Total: 1568$


The sad thing is the Alternative wont have a SSD 🙁

So what do you think about these? Which one?

 

[coozie7]

Build 4.0, it's plenty fast enough for a 60Hz 1440 screen and has that nice SSD as well.

 

[parsa_strife]

Thanks a lot for all the help