Help for Building a PC

[Prime21]

Hi guys,

To be blunt, I'm a complete beginner when it comes to building computers. I know what the parts are, etc., but I have little to no practical experience. Luckily, I have some friends who are willing to help me out, but before I take the plunge I need an estimate on price.

I want it to be optimized for gaming.

I'd like it to be able to run games like Minecraft and Next Gens (Battlefield, ESO, AC4, etc.), along with some older games such as Skyrim and Team Fortress 2 at 1020p, 60fps.

Any estimates on how much I can expect to spend on JUST the computer and monitor (not counting keyboards, mouses, etc.)?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

 

[Gamma2Tech]

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

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($189.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.94 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($134.38 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 2GB Vapor-X Video Card ($205.66 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX750B BRONZE 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VN248H 23.8" Monitor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $900.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-05 17:51 EDT-0400)

Hope this helps!! This is a build made to last about 4-6 years.

 

[Guest]

950 pounds for intel 4570, amd 290 gpu , 8 gig ram, 250 gig ssd, mb , case , psu, 24 inch monitor
dont ask why i those parts

 

[Guest]

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3EyMy) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3EyMy/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3EyMy/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54670k) | $189.99 @ Micro Center
**Motherboard** | [Intel DH87MC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-motherboard-boxdh87mc) | $116.98 @ SuperBiiz
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cml8gx3m2a1600c9) | $75.58 @ Amazon
**Video Card** | [EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Dual Superclocked ACX Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp42776kr) | $339.99 @ NCIX US
**Case** | [NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-s210001) | $32.99 @ Micro Center
**Power Supply** | [Antec EarthWatts Platinum 650W 80+ Platinum Certified ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-ea650platinum) | $84.99 @ NCIX US
**Optical Drive** | [LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-gh24nsb0) | $15.98 @ OutletPC
**Monitor** | [Dell ST2421L 24.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/dell-monitor-st2421l) | $149.99 @ TigerDirect
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $1006.49
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-05 17:58 EDT-0400 |

You can get a cheaper CPU, like the i5 3570K or the plain 3570, if you aren't planning on overclocking.

 

[Gamma2Tech]

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3EyMy) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3EyMy/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3EyMy/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54670k) | $189.99 @ Micro Center
**Motherboard** | [Intel DH87MC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-motherboard-boxdh87mc) | $116.98 @ SuperBiiz
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cml8gx3m2a1600c9) | $75.58 @ Amazon
**Video Card** | [EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Dual Superclocked ACX Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp42776kr) | $339.99 @ NCIX US
**Case** | [NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-s210001) | $32.99 @ Micro Center
**Power Supply** | [Antec EarthWatts Platinum 650W 80+ Platinum Certified ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-ea650platinum) | $84.99 @ NCIX US
**Optical Drive** | [LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-gh24nsb0) | $15.98 @ OutletPC
**Monitor** | [Dell ST2421L 24.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/dell-monitor-st2421l) | $149.99 @ TigerDirect
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $1006.49
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-05 17:58 EDT-0400 |

You can get a cheaper CPU, like the i5 3570K or the plain 3570, if you aren't planning on overclocking.

Sorry, Just had to :3

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Intel DH87MC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($116.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Dual Superclocked ACX Video Card ($339.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($32.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Platinum 650W 80+ Platinum Certified ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Dell ST2421L 24.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $1055.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-05 18:00 EDT-0400)

 

[Prime21]

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3EyMy) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3EyMy/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3EyMy/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54670k) | $189.99 @ Micro Center
**Motherboard** | [Intel DH87MC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-motherboard-boxdh87mc) | $116.98 @ SuperBiiz
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cml8gx3m2a1600c9) | $75.58 @ Amazon
**Video Card** | [EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Dual Superclocked ACX Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp42776kr) | $339.99 @ NCIX US
**Case** | [NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-s210001) | $32.99 @ Micro Center
**Power Supply** | [Antec EarthWatts Platinum 650W 80+ Platinum Certified ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-ea650platinum) | $84.99 @ NCIX US
**Optical Drive** | [LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-gh24nsb0) | $15.98 @ OutletPC
**Monitor** | [Dell ST2421L 24.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/dell-monitor-st2421l) | $149.99 @ TigerDirect
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $1006.49
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-05 17:58 EDT-0400 |

You can get a cheaper CPU, like the i5 3570K or the plain 3570, if you aren't planning on overclocking.

Would there by any benefit to using an i7 and getting two 8 gig sticks?

 

[Guest]

@prime21

For games, VERY little. You would be much better off spending the extra money on a bigger GPU, like the HD 290 or the GTX 780.

 

[Prime21]

@prime21

For games, VERY little. You would be much better off spending the extra money on a bigger GPU, like the HD 290 or the GTX 780.

Thanks, additionally, I'd like an SSD, how much storage should I go for?

 

[logainofhades]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($244.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock B85 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($399.99 @ TigerDirect)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($57.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($79.74 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Dell ST2421L 24.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $1087.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-07 14:24 EDT-0400)

 

[Guest]

@prime21

For games, VERY little. You would be much better off spending the extra money on a bigger GPU, like the HD 290 or the GTX 780.

Thanks, additionally, I'd like an SSD, how much storage should I go for?

I would go for the Intel DC S3500 Series 160GB 2.5" SSD at around $170. Intel SSDs may not be the fastest, but they are certainly some of the most reliable and come with power failure data protection that actually works.

Remember that SSDs are best used for installing the OS and to some extant, games or other apps - for bulk data storage, HDDs still provide the best compromise between price, speed and reliability.