Building my first PC

[marwick]

Hey guys, i'm going to be building my first gaming PC in about 2 weeks. I have done a couple of builds on PCPartPicker for fun but never got any review or feedback so i don't really feel confident about them. I would have a budget of around 900-1000$. I could go a little higher if it's worth it or i need to i could do without optional parts for the first few weeks.

Approximate Purchase Date: In about 2 weeks, probably around May 7th weekend

Budget Range: 900-1000$CAN, a bit more if worth it. I could wait before buying optional parts like optical drive, i have spare mouse and keyboard. I could probably also get a monitor...

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming>web surfing>watching online videos/movies/streams.

Are you buying a monitor: If it fits my budget if its worth i can wait


Do you need to buy OS: Yes, i would probably choose windows 7. Is it true that 8 is slow?


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: none

Location i live in canada so it's best if it can ship over here near Montreal Qc Canada. My postal code is J0S 1V0. If it cannot ship here i guess i could make it ship in usa, i live close to the border but i don't know if i will have tax to pay when i come back.


Parts Preferences: intel, but any would be good if better

Overclocking: don't know what that is, probably best if not?

SLI or Crossfire: if it's worth it

Your Monitor Resolution: probably 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I know i'm being pretty vague about my budget range, but i'm hoping i won't regret getting that bit better part.
Sound does not bother me, but if i can lower the sound for cheap i'd do it.
i am going to move in with my friends so maybe i will be moving my PC from my bedroom to the living room, so if anything could help, (i recall seeing a case with "handles" to transport it, for example...)

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I was tired of low fps while playing LoL, i want to play StarCraft II, Smite, games like Battlefield and other new and old games at high graphics (ultra prefered)

So thats it... I'm probably forgetting details, if i think about any i will post them. thank you for answering!

 

[camohanna]

I would suggest windows 8.1, its actually faster than windows 7.

 

[Edric Midnightmonster]

Windows 8.1 is faster than windows 7

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3Aq38
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3Aq38/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3Aq38/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($259.00 @ Canada Computers)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($154.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Kingston Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Memory Express)
Storage: A-Data XPG SX900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($83.10 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($289.00 @ Canada Computers)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Memory Express)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($98.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1109.84

 

[nikoli707]

This is without any monitor.....

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.00 @ Canada Computers)
Motherboard: ASRock B85 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($78.00 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($82.01 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB ACX Video Card ($269.04 @ TigerDirect Canada)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.50 @ Vuugo)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($98.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $931.31
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-28 22:25 EDT-0400)

But if you can squeeze a little bit more out of your budget this, getting a 4670k that can be overclocked will give you a good 25% boost in overall system performance.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($259.00 @ Canada Computers)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.79 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($82.01 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB ACX Video Card ($269.04 @ TigerDirect Canada)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.50 @ Vuugo)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($98.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1055.09
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-28 22:23 EDT-0400)

 

[camohanna]

If you dont want to overclock, i would suggest this:

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3AqdN
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3AqdN/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3AqdN/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.00 @ Canada Computers)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($88.00 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($82.01 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($369.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Memory Express)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($98.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $982.75
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-28 22:25 EDT-0400)

 

[marwick]

Wow thanks for all the quick answers! These look like nice builds.
I am not sure about overclocking. Would my CPU be safe from overheating or from any damage? I have read a bit on overclocking, though not a lot, and it seems the risks can be high. Would it require maintenance or anything special? Would you recommend me to overclock if i am nervous about damaging my system?

I forgot to say i need a network adapter, but i guess i can buy pretty much any and it should work right?

The main reason i was going with windows 7 is because friend has windows 8 and I just seem to like the interface better, but i guess i could get used to 8.

i'll end up having to buy a monitor, any ideas on good monitors for gaming? i guess a high resolution would be a good choice, but i doon't know which screen size i should get.

 

[Edric Midnightmonster]

Wow thanks for all the quick answers! These look like nice builds.
I am not sure about overclocking. Would my CPU be safe from overheating or from any damage? I have read a bit on overclocking, though not a lot, and it seems the risks can be high. Would it require maintenance or anything special? Would you recommend me to overclock if i am nervous about damaging my system?

I forgot to say i need a network adapter, but i guess i can buy pretty much any and it should work right?

The main reason i was going with windows 7 is because friend has windows 8 and I just seem to like the interface better, but i guess i could get used to 8.

i'll end up having to buy a monitor, any ideas on good monitors for gaming? i guess a high resolution would be a good choice, but i doon't know which screen size i should get.

Overclocking will not damage your system if you know what you're doing (I recommend it though, its free performance) but be sure to have a CPU cooler, something like a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO will be a nice "beginner" cooler. Just research a bit more, you don't have to overclock now, you can do it in the future when it interests you more.

At least a Wireless N Network Adapter unless you have a Wireless AC router

21.5" 1080p is the standard, so any monitor that size, resolution and a good brand name will work fine

 

[nikoli707]

overclocking is easy, you have nothing to worry about with toms hardware help and a decent hyper 212 cooler.

this asus 23" 1080p monitor is uber popular, a great performer, and gets greats reviews.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Monitor: Asus VS238H-P 23.0" Monitor ($134.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $134.99
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-29 16:27 EDT-0400)

 

[marwick]

well there's been a slight delay in my purchase... primary reason being, i'm hesitating between a PC or a laptop. If I would choose a PC i would probably go with nikoli707's overclocked build. how much more would it cost to get about the same specs in a laptop..?


PCPartPicker part list http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3Aq8c
Price breakdown by merchant http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3Aq8c/by_merchant/
Benchmarks http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LJi/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($259.00 @ Canada Computers)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.79 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($82.01 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB ACX Video Card ($269.04 @ TigerDirect Canada)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.50 @ Vuugo)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($98.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1055.09

 

[nikoli707]

to my knowledge there is no consumer laptop that will keep up with a 4670k cpu at stock speeds. you would have to find an exotic xeon based laptop and that would likely cost $5000. as for the gtx760, i think the 780m(gk110) in laptops comes very close to the performance of the gtx760, but your still going to be paying close to $2000.