Best Graphics Card and CPU Quality to Cost?

[apcs13]

I'm looking to build a new PC since my current one has been giving me a host of issues lately, and my budget is anything $1,000 and below. What is the best graphics card for the money that leaves room for a good CPU and a good cooling system as well as decent other parts, and also, can you reccomend a good CPU to go with that? Thanks!

 

[sammyssb]

Are you just gaming? I mean are you rendering heavy video and images and stuff too or just gaming and web browsing and stuff?

 

[smorizio]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLjQ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLjQ/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLjQ/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $501.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-06 22:29 EDT-0400)

 

[smorizio]

on the amd you have room to put a 8350 cpu and a ssd for speed. there no gpu in this build as amd dropping newer cards this week and nvidia may be dropping there gpu prices.

 

[smorizio]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87M Extreme4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $531.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-06 22:32 EDT-0400)

 

[smorizio]

intel i5 and i7 cpu are more powerful in gaming then amd but you pay a lot more money for them.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Well if gaming is your "raison-d'être" then I would recommend these items:
CPU - AMD FX-6300 - $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286
Mobo - ASROCK 970 Pro3 - $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157364
GPU - Radeon HD 7870XT (x2) - $360 (-$30 mir) - Should really be called HD 7930 but whatever, it's what I have...lol
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131484
You now have $455 to play with to put the rest together but no matter what, those 3 core components will ensure that this thing is a monster that can take down a GTX Titan. Enjoy!

Please note that this is almost as good a deal as I got on NCIX. I paid $20 less for both cards in CAD and got the rebate as well. This is by far the single best GPU deal out there. You're getting just above the power of a GTX Titan for $330 after rebate. Nothing else even comes close to that.

 

[apcs13]

Are you just gaming? I mean are you rendering heavy video and images and stuff too or just gaming and web browsing and stuff?

I'm mainly in it for gaming, although I will be doing a little video editing for my YouTube channel and for extracurriculars that need it, but yeah, mainly gaming.

 

[sammyssb]

Well if gaming is your "raison-d'être" then I would recommend these items:
CPU - AMD FX-6300 - $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286
Mobo - ASROCK 970 Pro3 - $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157364
GPU - Radeon HD 7870XT (x2) - $360 (-$30 mir) - Should really be called HD 7930 but whatever, it's what I have...lol
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131484
You now have $455 to play with to put the rest together but no matter what, those 3 core components will ensure that this thing is a monster that can take down a GTX Titan. Enjoy!

Please note that this is almost as good a deal as I got on NCIX. I paid $20 less for both cards in CAD and got the rebate as well.

i think it's best to go with one graphics card over two. for that $300 i would just get a http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102961

 

[apcs13]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87M Extreme4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $531.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-06 22:32 EDT-0400)

Wow, that seems like a solid build for a decent price, although I can't say that I know too much about proper hardware since I'm newly a computer enthusiast. Recommended GFX card?

 

[sammyssb]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87M Extreme4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $531.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-06 22:32 EDT-0400)

Wow, that seems like a solid build for a decent price, although I can't say that I know too much about proper hardware since I'm newly a computer enthusiast. Recommended GFX card?

GFX card depends on how much you can spend and what you are using the computer for

 

[apcs13]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLog/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87M Extreme4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $531.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-06 22:32 EDT-0400)

Wow, that seems like a solid build for a decent price, although I can't say that I know too much about proper hardware since I'm newly a computer enthusiast. Recommended GFX card?

GFX card depends on how much you can spend and what you are using the computer for

I'd say my price roof is $1,000 but if I have to go over that by a little for a great performance increase I would do it. Mainly for gaming, with a small amount of video editing on the side, but the only thing I really need it for is gaming horsepower.

 

[robax91]

I'm looking to build a new PC since my current one has been giving me a host of issues lately, and my budget is anything $1,000 and below. What is the best graphics card for the money that leaves room for a good CPU and a good cooling system as well as decent other parts, and also, can you reccomend a good CPU to go with that? Thanks!

Usually you would want to use pieces that still work, like your case and PSU (maybe even the HDD) but here is a quick throw together than will play any game on the market (not at highest settings but...) as well as sticking around $1,000.

Yea, there are a ton of great alternatives and yes some people have brand loyalty, however I can only recommend vendors I'm familiar with.

The parts: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLAj

On a side note, you can search the individual pieces for better deals. I know I payed around $190 for my i5 from Microcenter. Good luck on your PC search.

 

[apcs13]

I'm looking to build a new PC since my current one has been giving me a host of issues lately, and my budget is anything $1,000 and below. What is the best graphics card for the money that leaves room for a good CPU and a good cooling system as well as decent other parts, and also, can you reccomend a good CPU to go with that? Thanks!

Usually you would want to use pieces that still work, like your case and PSU (maybe even the HDD) but here is a quick throw together than will play any game on the market (not at highest settings but...) as well as sticking around $1,000.

Yea, there are a ton of great alternatives and yes some people have brand loyalty, however I can only recommend vendors I'm familiar with.

The parts: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LLAj

On a side note, you can search the individual pieces for better deals. I know I payed around $190 for my i5 from Microcenter. Good luck on your PC search.

Thank you very much, unfortunately I can't use any old parts since my current PC is a laptop, but I'll use your build you shared with me as a guide and hunt for the best prices. Thank you!

 

[smorizio]

here a few building tricks to help you out. with power supply's make sure they have a bronze rating and are a known good tested brand like cosair or seasonic.. there are few online vendors that do power supply reports that load test the units.
http://www.hardocp.com/reviews/psu_power_supplies/
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Review_Cat&recatnum=13
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page541.htm
http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

 

[Avro Arrow]

i think it's best to go with one graphics card over two. for that $300 i would just get a http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102961

You're joking right? You think that one HD 7970 even comes close to two HD 7870XTs in crossfire? I've been using crossfire for 4 years and I love it. Here's a graph comparing the crossfire performance levels of cards against their single-card halves. The 7870XT will be somewhere between the HD 7870 and HD 7950, probably around 100fps faster than the HD 7970 at 1920x1200. If that's not amazing, I don't know what is:

 

[smorizio]

use parts picker and newegg daily deals and microcenter flyers. a lot of time micro center has combo deals on motherboard and cpu. some case your paying extra for a name (nxzt line). some cases hit you more if it has windows and led and sold as a gaming case. with intel cpu and mb. if your not going to overclock the cpu buy a h chipset and a non k cpu. standard ram sped for ddr3 is 1333/1600 in real world not going to see much change between the two. one other trick is look or buy last years parts. ie cases and gpu when the newer one drops newegg and other stores drop the price on older parts to move them out. newegg calls there clearance gear dyi computers...where they take there slow selling parts and blow them out.

 

[smorizio]

crossfire and sli both work as the vet has pointed out. the thing a new builder needs to know is sli and crossfire work best with two good cheaper cards. you can see this with the 760 sli is faster then a titan and is less money. but this is the big but...two card and 600.00 and more gpu cards are mostly used in hard core gaming rigs that trying to max out there fps on top new games. any cpu and mb now out there make great web and word and photo editing. when gaming rig is built the build dollars have to be split between a good power supply the cpu and gpu. look at toms builds per build level. look at there 600-1200 pc. look where they cut cost and how it effected there builds.