Help me build a 1200$ Gaming PC

[Jdub8208]

Hello all,

First off id like to thank you for taking the time to read my post. 2nd, this machine im wanting to build i plan to do within the next couple of week. my computer just isnt cutting it any more. I really appreciate any help that you can offer. thank you! Approximate Purchase Date: within 2 weeks

Budget Range: 1000-1200 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (Bf4, WoW, SC2) surfing the net, school

Are you buying a new Monitor? No



Parts to Upgrade: Everything

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg/frys

Location: Sacramento California (Roseville area)

Parts Preferences: No preference

Overclocking: Maybe, not very knowledgeable on that subject

SLI or Crossfire: not in the near future

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920 X 1080

Additional Comments: I plan on playing WoW,Bf4, SC2, and like games on this machine. Id like to run it at ultra on every game.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: my laptop im using is currently 3 years old and games are having a hard time running on this machine.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.96 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($328.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($75.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1199.81
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-03 16:09 EST-0500)

 

[bigshootr8]

I went with a non overclocking system. This enabled me to keep the cost down and enable you to get a higher end R9 card the 280x I was trying to put the 290 in however the cost was too high after rebates was around 1250 before 1300. The R9 280x should be good for high end BF4 with mantle turned on. SC2 and WoW easily ran on Ultra with a card like the 280x.

I added a CPU cooler to keep things a little cooler and a little quieter as well.

Hard Drives. With the games you are playing I felt that a SSD was essential to get the most boost out of the hardware. With WoW and SC2 especially having a SSD makes all the difference with load times. So you would install the OS on the SSD and WoW, and perhaps SC2 as well and then the rest of your programs on the storage drive I've included within the build.

Case: Solid case at a budget price.

PSU: Solid PSU as well OEM Seasonic.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus B85M-G Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Kingston Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.89 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card ($328.99 @ Staples)
Case: Corsair 350D MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHDS118-04 DVD/CD Drive ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1065.75
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-03 16:20 EST-0500)

 

[Dblkk]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.96 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($328.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($75.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1199.81
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-03 16:09 EST-0500)

For the most part great advice/build. Covered every essential, with a good well rated component.

For OP, the gpu/the asus gtx 770 that he picked out, for $350. It should run most games at high/ultra, but if you really want ultra graphics, you'll need a $500 gtx 780 gpu. I looked at theres really no where i'd cut on the proposed build that would net you enough left over for the graphics difference in price.

On that note, the 770 is great, and I have the evga sc 770. But if you want ultra all the way around, the 770 cant deliver every time. So ultra you'd need a 780, otherwise, the 770 on high graphics with all goodies on, looks damn good. Cant really tell you ultra is really worth shooting for and paying that $150 difference. Especially if your not playing on a top end monitor.

 

[bigshootr8]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.96 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($328.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($75.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1199.81
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-03 16:09 EST-0500)

For the most part great advice/build. Covered every essential, with a good well rated component.

For OP, the gpu/the asus gtx 770 that he picked out, for $350. It should run most games at high/ultra, but if you really want ultra graphics, you'll need a $500 gtx 780 gpu. I looked at theres really no where i'd cut on the proposed build that would net you enough left over for the graphics difference in price.

On that note, the 770 is great, and I have the evga sc 770. But if you want ultra all the way around, the 770 cant deliver every time. So ultra you'd need a 780, otherwise, the 770 on high graphics with all goodies on, looks damn good. Cant really tell you ultra is really worth shooting for and paying that $150 difference. Especially if your not playing on a top end monitor.

The only game that really requires a higher end card for ultra is BF4 in his game list which is why I suggested the r9 280x for the purpose of mantle.

 

[bigshootr8]

You could also go with this build as well its a AMD build but gives you access to the R9 290. Although its 1245 before rebates.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($154.14 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($54.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Kingston Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.89 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Video Card ($499.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 350D MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHDS118-04 DVD/CD Drive ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1185.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-03 16:39 EST-0500)

 

[Jdub8208]

Thank you all for your quick responses!

Okay, so say i decide never to play BF4... How would that change things around?

 

[Dblkk]

Thank you all for your quick responses!

Okay, so say i decide never to play BF4... How would that change things around?

Then a 770 is still great. Even playing BF4 the 770 is great. I was just saying if 'Ultra' was your thing, youd probably need a 780. But I have and love my 770 with no problems whatsoever.

 

[bigshootr8]

Thank you all for your quick responses!

Okay, so say i decide never to play BF4... How would that change things around?

Then I would suggest a modified version of shorts build which is a little over budget before rebates, and savings.

+Changed the memory to be cheaper
+Changed the SSD to be cheaper
+Changed PSU due to amount of power needed and cost.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.96 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($98.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.89 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($328.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1122.71
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-03 17:00 EST-0500)