Budget Gaming/Photo Editing PC (700-800 USD)

[crimsonparadox]

Hello,

Let me know if I have posted in the wrong area. I'm building a new computer (from scratch) since my old one will be moved to the living room as a media center computer.

Approximate Purchase Date: October (i'm getting a feel for what parts I need to order)

Budget Range: (e.g.: 300-400) $700 preferred but can go to $800 after shipping if need be

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (WoW, Final Fantasy, Hearthstone, LoL), streaming videos, occasional Photoshop editing, steam games

Are you buying a monitor: Yes (but will not be included in this budget, I'm looking for a cheap monitor 20 inches or more, if you have any suggestions feel free to put them in).

Parts to Upgrade: Everything, I also have a Wireless N PCI-E Adapater (RNX-N250PCe that is unopened that I can use (although my adapater on my current computer took a poop not long after I built it... So i'm a bit wary of them). I also have extra fans (Corsair Air Series AF120 Performance Edition Twin Pack Fan (CO-9050004-WW) and Rosewill RFA-120-BL 120mm 4 Blue LED Case Fan (though Idk if I need them for this build).

Do you need to buy OS: Yes (willing to do win 7, but not win 8, win 10 okay)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon preferred but also willing to do Newegg (I have prime shipping)

Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA

Parts Preferences: by brand or type (e.g.: I would like to upgrade to Intel CPU)
Prefer intel, don't want SSD (I need at least 1-2tb storage)

Overclocking: not necessarily needed

SLI or Crossfire: not necessarily needed

Your Monitor Resolution: Not sure, I want to run dual monitors. I currently have a HP S2031 20-Inch Diagonal LCD Monitor that I will use (I need to buy another monitor though to have 2)

Additional Comments: (e.g.: Need to have a window and lots of bling, I would like a quiet PC. Please also list specific software or games you're using)
Using photoshop, heavy streamlining on internet, gaming on steam, WoW

Suggestions for a cheap mechanical keyboard (with number pad please!)? I want to upgrade from my crappy dell keyboard (prefer sub $100 but willing to go into $100 area if good investment)

I also would like to specifically make sure that this build will be better than my current computer which has these parts:
Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000
CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
HIS Radeon HD 6770 1 GB (128 bit) GDDR5
ASRock H61M-GE LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

I'm hoping this build will last me several years before I have to upgrade again. If you think I need to add a bit more money to my budget let me know. Thanks!

 

[Archgaull]

While I get that you have prime and save on shipping, I advise you order from more than just Newegg or Amazon. The money saved on parts will far exceed the money you may have to spend on shipping. The build below would be $900+ from Newegg+Amazon.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($166.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($64.80 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($189.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 w/Window (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($115.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($50.40 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 OEM (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $789.59
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-04 04:11 EDT-0400

 

[crimsonparadox]

Ah, I see what you mean, I'm willing to go with other retailers in that case. Whatever is the cheapest haha.

Some dumb noob questions:
Any idea on how the performance will be compared to my old PC? I'm assuming my wireless PCI-E card will be able to be installed.
Any benefit to upgrading the ram amount or is 8gb a pretty good sweet spot?
How much would costs be if I decided to do a 2tb storage?
Suggestions on cheap mech keyboard w/ num pad or monitor?

 

[George Phillips]

If you could pay just $150-$200 more, you can get an amazing deal from HP NOW as a deal is being offered by HP:
HP 750se Desktop
http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/desktops/hp-envy-750se-windows-7-desktop-p5q80av-aba-1?jumpid=ba_r329_hhoaffiliate&aid=38293&pbid=lw9MynSeamY&aoid=35252&siteid=lw9MynSeamY-nGp44ZZrGhydTB1EbmRSjw

Under Processor, select 6th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700K processor quad-core (+$40)
Under Graphics Card, select 4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 (+$280)
Under Power Supply, select 500W Power supply (+$30)
Add to Cart
In cart, apply coupon code LDS2015
Total should be $874.99. Shipping is free
Specs:
Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Skylake CPU
12GB DDR4 Memory
2TB Hard Drive (7200rpm)
4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 970
SuperMulti DVD Burner
500W Power supply
Windows 7 Pro (64-Bit)

I really would like to buy this if I haven't already built one just few weeks ago!! It's a killer deal if you also have a academic discount of like 10%.

 

[Archgaull]

Ah, I see what you mean, I'm willing to go with other retailers in that case. Whatever is the cheapest haha.

Some dumb noob questions:
Any idea on how the performance will be compared to my old PC? I'm assuming my wireless PCI-E card will be able to be installed.
Any benefit to upgrading the ram amount or is 8gb a pretty good sweet spot?
How much would costs be if I decided to do a 2tb storage?
Suggestions on cheap mech keyboard w/ num pad or monitor?

Short comparison between the CPU: http://www.game-debate.com/cpu/index.php?pid=2076&pid2=658&compare=core-i5-4460-3-2ghz-vs-core-i3-2100-3-1ghz

Comparison between the GPU:http://www.game-debate.com/gpu/index.php?gid=3215&gid2=2821&compare=radeon-hd-6670-his-fan-1gb-edition-vs-geforce-gtx-960-evga-superclocked-2gb-edition

8GB would be a pretty good sweet spot. Obviously you would see some increased speeds with 16GB, but I can't say if the added performance will justify the added cost. For 2TB storage, I'd stick with the WD brand. A WD Black is $111, vs a $49 WD Caviar Blue 1TB.

Also, I have no experience with mechanical keyboards, sorry.

 

[crimsonparadox]

Ah, I see what you mean, I'm willing to go with other retailers in that case. Whatever is the cheapest haha.

Some dumb noob questions:
Any idea on how the performance will be compared to my old PC? I'm assuming my wireless PCI-E card will be able to be installed.
Any benefit to upgrading the ram amount or is 8gb a pretty good sweet spot?
How much would costs be if I decided to do a 2tb storage?
Suggestions on cheap mech keyboard w/ num pad or monitor?

Short comparison between the CPU: http://www.game-debate.com/cpu/index.php?pid=2076&pid2=658&compare=core-i5-4460-3-2ghz-vs-core-i3-2100-3-1ghz

Comparison between the GPU:http://www.game-debate.com/gpu/index.php?gid=3215&gid2=2821&compare=radeon-hd-6670-his-fan-1gb-edition-vs-geforce-gtx-960-evga-superclocked-2gb-edition

8GB would be a pretty good sweet spot. Obviously you would see some increased speeds with 16GB, but I can't say if the added performance will justify the added cost. For 2TB storage, I'd stick with the WD brand. A WD Black is $111, vs a $49 WD Caviar Blue 1TB.

Also, I have no experience with mechanical keyboards, sorry.

Thanks for your input, I'll probably stay with the 8 gb since 16 gigs seems to not have too much of a benefit. I'll debate on the 2tb a bit more.

 

[crimsonparadox]

If you could pay just $150-$200 more, you can get an amazing deal from HP NOW as a deal is being offered by HP:
HP 750se Desktop
http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/desktops/hp-envy-750se-windows-7-desktop-p5q80av-aba-1?jumpid=ba_r329_hhoaffiliate&aid=38293&pbid=lw9MynSeamY&aoid=35252&siteid=lw9MynSeamY-nGp44ZZrGhydTB1EbmRSjw

Under Processor, select 6th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700K processor quad-core (+$40)
Under Graphics Card, select 4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 (+$280)
Under Power Supply, select 500W Power supply (+$30)
Add to Cart
In cart, apply coupon code LDS2015
Total should be $874.99. Shipping is free
Specs:
Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Skylake CPU
12GB DDR4 Memory
2TB Hard Drive (7200rpm)
4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 970
SuperMulti DVD Burner
500W Power supply
Windows 7 Pro (64-Bit)

I really would like to buy this if I haven't already built one just few weeks ago!! It's a killer deal if you also have a academic discount of like 10%.

Oh man.... that is nice, I wonder how long the deal is going to last? Any idea?

 

[George Phillips]

There could be more deals like this in Black Friday, but I doubt it because Black Friday seems to have a lot more items that are to be phased out. There may not be deals like these very often at the time you have actually made up the mind. This deal seems to need to make the total above $1100 for the coupon code to work. It's great because you get to choose the latest and the greatest 6700k/6700 Skylake series processors AND the pretty high end GTX970 is an option. If I were to use it for few years and I were to upgrade now, I'd definitely get it asap as it will only ship on October 1st or 2nd est.

On the other hand, if you prefer to build one your own, it will be another story.

 

[crimsonparadox]

I might have to pass on the HP deal, as nice as it seems, since I don't think I can commit immediately (I'm one of those people who tends to flip flop...)

Another option I want to look into is maybe instead of getting a 2tb drive, if I could just get a small SSD to put the OS on and use the 1tb HDD for file storage (I have no idea how to do that though). Is it a viable option and it is significantly more expensive than just getting a 2tb drive? I haven't had an SSD before, but I do like the faster boot time.

 

[Archgaull]

It's definitely a viable option. That's actually what I'm doing right now, with a 240GB PNY Optima SSD with my OS and program files, and a 1TB WD Caviar Blue for my Games/media files.

 

[crimsonparadox]

It's definitely a viable option. That's actually what I'm doing right now, with a 240GB PNY Optima SSD with my OS and program files, and a 1TB WD Caviar Blue for my Games/media files.

Awesome. I seriously might pick up a SSD with the 1tb HDD. Could I get away with a lower size or is 240gb pretty safe? I'm willing to up my budget a bit if it's worth it.

 

[Archgaull]

I'd say you could pull off a 120GB, if you're picky about what you install and where you install it.

 

[George Phillips]

Unless the budget is really really tight, one should spend extra $20-$30 to get a 240GB or 256GB SSD. 120GB class SSDs are now as low as $50-60. 240GB class SSDs are as low as $70-80. If you are patient, you could find some Crucial M500 240GB SSDs are just $70 which is not much more than 120GB SSDs sold at about $60. I personally just sold two M500 240GB SSDs on eBay at about $75 each. Both are brand new.