Gaming PC Build Help

[Sbwarren]

Hi so I need help with my build I'm looking to spend $800ish maybe a bit more depending on how much I get for Christmas. Please give me advice on what I should use or change. Thank you.

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($202.95 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($64.80 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.90 @ SuperBiiz)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($43.20 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: Apevia X-HERMES-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($53.10 @ SuperBiiz)

Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($52.20 @ SuperBiiz)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 OEM (64-bit) ($86.75 @ OutletPC)

Monitor: Acer G226HQLBbd 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($99.99 @ Amazon)

Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($26.98 @ Newegg)

Total: $836.86

 

[N3rdR4ge]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($176.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($67.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Blue 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($42.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($189.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($33.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($47.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($89.75 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer G226HQLBbd 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($26.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $826.01
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-07 22:07 EDT-0400

buy better processor if you get more money.
i recommend:
https://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646e31231v3

 

[Sbwarren]

What's the difference between my video card and the one you put?

 

[N3rdR4ge]

What's the difference between my video card and the one you put?

not sure, you didnt put the model number of the msi one. possibly a better cooler and higher factory overclock.

 

[11sphere92]

The difference on GPU won't be that much.
But yours had I5-4690 which it better on CPU than 4460.

 

[N3rdR4ge]

its all minor tweaks where i could add quality or lower pricing while keeping quality. still need to know which version of the msi card you picked to tell you why its better or not. im assuming the evga is better though, based on the price of the msi card. gpu weighs much heavier than cpu in this build.

 

[Sbwarren]

Well that was an accidental click

 

[madmatt30]

Unchecked for you - they're primarily the same build anyway - personally I'd stick with your original choice of board - full atx always offers an easier build & more upgrade potential with more expansion ports in my eyes.

Different models of 960's??
You'll barely see 2-3fps difference between the slowest & fastest models.
Buy the currently best priced one.

I would drop to the 4460 if budget is tight - with a 960 you're not going to tell the difference between those CPU's anyway .
As N3rdR4ge suggested go for 2x4gb sticks , dual channel does offer a performance benefit.

Currently the best prices cas 9 stuff

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9d8gbrl

 

[Sbwarren]

Would you recommend adding a cooler or just using the one I get from the i5?

 

[N3rdR4ge]

the stock one is fine for a 4460.

 

[Sbwarren]

Or for a 4690? Also is my motherboard ok for upgrading in the future?

 

[N3rdR4ge]

both are fine with stock cooler. id at least recommend the h97 pro4 over the anniversary. they are both up-gradable but by the time it is worth upgrading your chip you will probably be looking at a new socket/board anyway.

 

[Cryio]

4 things I'd change on your list.

You don't really need the i5 4690 CPU. The cheapest i5 Haswell CPU will do the job just as well. Get the i5 4440 or something like that.

Don't buy a Windows 7 license. Get a 8.1 or W10 license. Better drivers, stability, faster OS and generally a lot of enhancements over Windows 7.

Don't buy a 960 2 GB. Actually, don't buy a 960 at all. The AMD's R9 380 costs about the same or less, depending on retailers, it's faster than a 960 any time of the day and it's as efficient or more so.

*DO NOT* buy a 2 GB VRAM card. If you're going for the (my advice) 380 or 960, buy the 4 GBs cards. They are really needed in this time and day. 2 GBs VRAM is no longer enough for 1080p gameplay.

 

[Sbwarren]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Js6GTW

This is the updated one. It's a wee bit pricy but I want to be able to play game at medium settings (lower is fine for big games like GTA) or higher. Also the 380 was about $10-20 more expensive so I think I'll stick with the 960z

 

[madmatt30]

You can do a 380 4gb for less money if you're sensible - the 4590 is NOT worth $20 more than the 4460.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($176.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($40.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.78 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: HIS Radeon R9 380 4GB IceQ X² OC Video Card ($219.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Deepcool KENDOMEN Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($50.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($57.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VS238H-P 23.0" Monitor ($106.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($26.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $883.46
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-09 16:03 EDT-0400

 

[Sbwarren]

From what CPUBoss says, 4590 is superior to 4460 by quite a bit. 35% better performance per dollar.

 

[madmatt30]

Its about 3% faster in synthetic benchmarks.
For gaming paired with a 960 or a 380 it will perform EXACTLY the same.

 

[Sbwarren]

So I downgraded to the 4460. Is that all I should do?

 

[madmatt30]

Everything I did above was based on getting you a 380 4gb in for the same or less money mate.

 

[Sbwarren]

It says the 380 is $30 more than the 960

 

[Cryio]

The cheapest i5 will performance exactly the same as the fastest i7 for both the 380 and 960. An i5 is more than enough for them. Therefore, get the cheaper CPU and the better GPU, in this case the 380.

 

[madmatt30]

^ that's what I was basing the build towards.

 

[Sbwarren]

So the cpu doesn't matter? I'm confused

 

[Cryio]

So the cpu doesn't matter? I'm confused

You're not getting it. You initially wanted to buy an i5 4590. But it's not worth it. Both the 960 and 380 will perform to their maximum of their extent with the cheapest Haswell i5 you can find, in this case, the i5 4460.

You can use that 20 dollar difference between the 4590 and 4460 and buy the 380 4 GB instead of the 960 4 GB.

 

[Sbwarren]

So update I put in a 970 instead of a 960 and downgraded to a 4460 and also got an ssd for windows. Anything else I should add?