Building new PC - budget $NZ1,500 - $NZ2,000

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nzjase

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Jan 7, 2015
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Hello I am looking to purchase a new desktop PC and I am based in New Zealand.

I work from home and the PC will be mainly for work (spreadsheeting / word / financial modelling etc) but I do also game a bit on it so want something that will perform if I say buy the latest FPS.

I have been in and got a quote from the local PC store that builds PCs and it came out at $2,099 (the very top end of my price range).

Below I have posted all the details per the sticky and this includes the parts they have quoted me for.

I don't know a lot about PCs so I am trusting the folk at PB tech are building me a good machine therefore it would be good to get some feedback from you guys as to whether the parts they are quoting me for are:

    1. Good value


    2. The best / most reasonable parts available i.e. would you select something else if it was your machine.


Thanks in advance for your help, it is much appreciated.

Jason

*******************************
FYI the NZ$ to US$ is approximately 1 to 0.8 USD.

Approximate Purchase Date: the next two weeks

Budget Range: $NZD 1,500 - $2,000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: (e.g.: Folding@Home, gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies): Work (spread sheeting) -> Gaming -> Surfing net -> downloading / watching movies

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: this is a complete new build. I want to be able to upgrade in the future though so want to future proof the system to some degree e.g. 4 ram slots so I can go from 8gb to 32gb etc

Do you need to buy OS: Yes - likely windows 8

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: PB Tech is where my initial quote has come from but am open ot other suggestions for a computer build in NZ.

http://www.pbtech.co.nz

Location: New Zealand - PB Tech is the store currently quoting me

Parts Preferences: No preference, just want bang for my buck

Overclocking: No (I don't know how)

SLI or Crossfire: Is this running two graphic cards? If so I don't know why or if I would do this.

Your Monitor Resolution: Current monitor will be a Samsung Sync Master T220HD. I think this is 1920x1200

Additional Comments:
Due to location in the house I may not be able to connect directly to my router so need a wireless card.

Games I play on my PC are Company of Heroes 2 (this seems to be a resource hog for some reason) and COD franchise. Used to play WoW but don't think I will be playing that again.

Why am I upgrading: I am upgrading because I have been working on laptops for years and I have to replace them regularly as they are on for 12 to 16 hours a day 6 days a week and I only seem to get 12-18 months out of them.

I am hoping by getting a good desktop, which will be on for the above hours, I will get a bit of a better life expectancy out of it and will be able to upgrade / repair it more easily going forward.

List of parts I have been quoted for:

CPU - Intel Haswell Core i7-4790 3.6Ghz 8MB LGA1150 - $435.85
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=CPUIT4790&name=Intel-NEW-Haswell--Core-i7-4790-3.6GHz-8MB-LGA1150

Motherboard - Gigabyte Z97-HD3 Socket 1150, Intel Z97 Chipset - $194.35
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=MBDGBM2920&name=Gigabyte-Z97-HD3-Socket-1150Intel-Z97-CHipset-ATX-

RAM - Crucial 8GB DESKTOP DDR3 1600Mhz DIMM 240pin Non ECC PC3-12800 Desktop RAM - $113.85
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=MEMCRU048192&name=Crucial-8GB-DESKTOP-DDR3-1600Mhz-DIMM-240pin-Non-E

Hard drive 1, solid state - IIntel 120GB 530 Series SSDSC2BW120A4K5 2.5" SATA3 Internal Solid State Drive - $125.35
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=HDDINT4122&name=Intel-120GB-530-Series-SSDSC2BW120A4K5-2.5--SATA3-

Hard drive 2 - Seagate 2TB Barracuda SATA3 7200RPM 6Gb/s 64MB Internal HDD - $120.75
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=HDDSE2204X&name=Seagate-2TB-Barracuda-SATA3-7200RPM-6Gbs-64MB-Inte

Case - Corsair Carbide 200R Black Compact ATX Case, ATX/mATX, NO PSU, Features Front USB3.0 - $125.35
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=CHACOR0200&name=Corsair-Carbide-200R-Black-Compact-ATX-Case-ATXmAT

OS - Microsoft Windows 8.1 64bit OEM Eng - $171.35
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=OSYMSO8683&name=Microsoft-Windows-8.1-64bit-OEM-Eng-Intl-1PK-DSP-O

DVD drive - LG GH24NSC0 STAA INTERNAL SATA DVD WRITER - $40.25
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=DVWLGH223&name=LG-GH24NSC0-STAA-INTERNAL-SATA-DVD-WRITER-Black-co

Video card - EVGA GeForce GTX970 4GB ACX Dual Fan PCI-E 3.0 Video card , CUDA 1664 , 1178Mhz , Dual DVI + HDMI + Display Ports - $573.85
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=VGAEVG2972

Power supply - Corsair 650W RM-650 ATX Power Supply, 80 PLUS Gold Certified, Full Modular - $198.58
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=PSUCOR3650&name=Corsair-650W-RM-650-ATX-Power-Supply-80-PLUS-Gold-


 
Solution
Trossa
CPU: Good choice there, no change needed
Motherboard: You don't need Z97 if you're not overclocking. Save some money and go for the H97
Memory: 16GB will be nice to have, G.Skill is the best RAM maker in the business.
SSD: Chose a faster SSD that might be more reliable, since Samsung is the leading SSD manufacturer right now.
HDD: The fastest HDD in the world. You can swap it out for a cheaper 2TB one if you need the extra storage.
Video Card: Good choice there, no change needed.
Case: The N600 is a better case than the 200R, with grommeted holes to hide those cables as well as keeping your components cooler. If you don't need an ODD I'd suggest looking at NZXT's S340, which is marvellous.
Power Supply: You don't need 650 Watts. Chose a...
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Had no idea prices were so big over the pond.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($419.00 @ 1stWave Technologies)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($149.00 @ PC Force)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($259.00 @ 1stWave Technologies)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.00 @ 1stWave Technologies)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.95 @ Computer Lounge)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($566.00 @ Paradigm PCs)
Case: Cooler Master N600 Windowed ATX Mid Tower Case ($129.03 @ Aquila Technology)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($122.82 @ Aquila Technology)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($30.00 @ 1stWave Technologies)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($139.00 @ 1stWave Technologies)
Total: $2042.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-08 00:38 NZDT+1300
 
Upvote 1 Downvote


Thanks mate. Yeah I didn't realise either until I started looking at those USA and UK prices!

Would you mind explaining the reasoning behind some of your changes?

Cheers
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
CPU: Good choice there, no change needed
Motherboard: You don't need Z97 if you're not overclocking. Save some money and go for the H97
Memory: 16GB will be nice to have, G.Skill is the best RAM maker in the business.
SSD: Chose a faster SSD that might be more reliable, since Samsung is the leading SSD manufacturer right now.
HDD: The fastest HDD in the world. You can swap it out for a cheaper 2TB one if you need the extra storage.
Video Card: Good choice there, no change needed.
Case: The N600 is a better case than the 200R, with grommeted holes to hide those cables as well as keeping your components cooler. If you don't need an ODD I'd suggest looking at NZXT's S340, which is marvellous.
Power Supply: You don't need 650 Watts. Chose a better quality one as well.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
Thanks Trossa, much appreciated.

Does anyone else have any thoughts or comments on what has been proposed by PB tech (or Trossa)?

Also, as you can tell, I am a complete novice re: computers. Would building my own be something to consider i.e is it easy enough to do or would I save little money so might as well get someone like PB tech to do it?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Cheeky bump to see if there is any more feedback out there.

I have changed the following from my opening post, based on Trossa's feedback and a bit more research.

From Trossa's post:

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB DDR3-1866 Memory ($129.00 @ 1stWave Technologies)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.00 @ 1stWave Technologies)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.95 @ Computer Lounge)

My changes:

Case: Cooler Master N600 Windowed ATX Mid Tower Case -> http://www.aquilatech.co.nz/productDetail.asp?idProduct=63289
Power supply: Seasonic SSR-550RM -> http://www.pp.co.nz/products.php?pp_id=AA48525

Some questions I have got the following:

1. Regarding RAM is there much of a difference in performance between 1600mhz and 1866mhz?
2. I am considering spending the extra $80 and getting a 250gb SSD. Is it worth it for the extra size?
3. Power supply and case - I am at a bit of a loss on what I am really looking for here. Following Trossa's comments and a few hours trawling on the net I came across the two options posted above. Thoughts?

Cheers guys and girls
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The difference between 1600 MHz and 1866 MHz ram isn't noticeable until you begin to do benchmarks.

The 250 GB SSD is up to you. Based on what you do decide if you really need it or not.

As for the case, what are the two choices? If it's the 200R and the N600 then it's definitely the N600; grommeted holes to hide cables, better build quality, less restricted front fan, more room to work with and much more dust filters

The Seasonic PSU will be better than the one I suggested. If you can afford it, get it.
 
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