Gaming Desktop $1500 Budget

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Haliford

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Feb 21, 2015
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Hey everyone!

Ive decided to attempt to purchase and build my first gaming desktop computer! My budget for the whole project itself is $1500 not including peripherals (I have them already). One of my friends sent me this build and i was wondering if anything could be improved/changed. My only requirement is that it needs to be WI-FI compatible. I will not be able to connect this computer via a Ethernet cord. Let me know what you think and feel free to make suggestions as you see fit!


PCPartPicker part list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/4c3R8K
Price breakdown by merchant: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/4c3R8K/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel - Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($210.85 @ Jet)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master - Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI - Z170-A PRO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team - Vulcan 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory
Storage: Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($179.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.45 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card ($384.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair - 760T Black ATX Full Tower Case ($164.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA - SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($86.88 @ OutletPC)
Sound Card: Creative Labs - Sound Blaster Audigy Rx 24-bit 192 KHz Sound Card ($64.89 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link - Archer T6E AC1300 PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($48.63 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1365.43
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-05 18:15 EDT-0400
 
Solution
Barty1884


Not at all. It's using the SATA connection in the M.2 slot - so the first standard SATA port is disabled, that's all.
Unless you want to populate with 5-6 HDDs, it'll be just fine.
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What resolution are you intending to play at?

At first glance, there's quite a few things I'd suggest to be 'changed'.
*For the money, you should be able to get a KabyLake i5 and Z270 board
*The NEX lineup of PSUs is not the best.
*Are you overclocking? If so, I'd look for something a little more substantial for a cooler
*$165 strikes me as overkill for a case, but if you like it, you like it.
*Not everybody needs a soundcard these days..... so you may want to consider your needs. If do, you do. If you don't, the money is probably better utilized elsewhere (or kept in your pocket)
*The AC Wifi adapter appears to have some pretty poor build quality - and don't have extensions for the antennas (so you can't move them to get better line-of-sight, they're just stuck behind the desktop). I'd suggest something else there.

I'll make a couple of tweaks to it...... but resolution will play a big factor. I assume minimum 1080 144Hz or 1440p woith a GTX 1070?

 
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Thanks for the quick response! The monitor I have and am currently running is 920 x 1080 60 Hz.
On the overclocking, I have no idea if i intend to or not with the system i'm purchasing .
 
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With a 1080p monitor, a GTX 1070 *might* be a little overkill. No big deal, as it should keep you at Ultra settings for longer..... a GTX 1060 might serve you just aswell.

As for the tweaks to the build, I'd suggest something like this - as far as changing your original list:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-7600K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($228.66 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock - Z270 Pro4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($103.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team - T-Force / Night Hawk 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($179.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.45 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Windforce OC Video Card ($341.73 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair - 760T Black ATX Full Tower Case ($164.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill - Capstone 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Jet)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($86.88 @ OutletPC)
Sound Card: Creative Labs - Sound Blaster Audigy Rx 24-bit 192 KHz Sound Card ($64.89 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus - PCE-AC55BT PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($46.58 @ Amazon)
Total: $1469.13
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-05 18:30 EDT-0400

KabyLake, quality PSU, an AC wifi card with extensions fo the antennas (and bonus bluetooth)and a better cooler.


Some further refinements (if this was my $1,500) would be something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-7600K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($228.66 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock - Z270 Pro4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($103.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team - T-Force / Night Hawk 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 525GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($146.98 @ Directron)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.45 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Windforce OC Video Card ($341.73 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair - SPEC-ALPHA (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill - Capstone 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Jet)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($86.88 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus - PCE-AC55BT PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($46.58 @ Amazon)
Total: $1272.22
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-05 18:34 EDT-0400

You won't notice the difference in speed between the Samsung and Crucial SSDs in 'real world' performance. The Crucial is also M.2 so it's a little neater with less cables (and an extra 25GB)

The case is more 'budget' orientated, but still solid quality (and a comparable colour scheme)

Dropped the soundcard from the build, but you could add it back.

All in all, performance-wise would be identical to the revised build I did originally.... and saves you somewhere better $200-$250 from the budget (you could do a lot with that money; increase to an i7....a new monitor etc......or you could just pocket the cash).
 
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Awesome! Thanks for your input! Any tips for a first time builder?
 
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I just updated the post with another build...... which I think is a much better 'bang for your buck'. But if you like that case, need the soundcard etc, it'll work just fine .

As for tips, the main one is just utilize common sense.

"Breadboard" first - CPU/Mobo/1xRAM + relevant PSU connectors. Use the motherboard box as a base. That way you can test the basics work before you mount eveyrthing in the case, and deal with any problems if they arise.

Take reasonable precautions when building (no building in socks on carpet etc), and take the time to read the manuals that come with your components - everything is detailed in there.

Touch bare metal periodically to ground yourself or, ifyou're super worried - invest in anti-static wristband (can be worn around the ankle too).

If you're stuck/confused, take a break. Ask for help if you need it (here or elsewhere), and never force anything.

Build on a wooden surface if you can, hardwood/laminate floor works too, as does lino. - avoid metal surfaces, and definitely don't build on carpet.

Most of all, just take your time.
 
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Ill definitely keep all that in consideration when building! I looked at the updated build and I saw that there were 2 compatibility issues at the top.

"The motherboard M.2 slot #1 shares bandwidth with a SATA 6.0 Gb/s port. When the M.2 slot is populated, one SATA 6Gb/s port is disabled.
The motherboard M.2 slot #2 shares bandwidth with a SATA 6.0 Gb/s port. When the M.2 slot is populated, one SATA 6Gb/s port is disabled"

Will that be an issue if I decide to purchase and go with your build?

 
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Not at all. It's using the SATA connection in the M.2 slot - so the first standard SATA port is disabled, that's all.
Unless you want to populate with 5-6 HDDs, it'll be just fine.
 
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Solution


Was just curious! I'm extremely new to this so i just wanted to make sure before I pulled the trigger on buying some parts !

 
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