I Need Help Building a $1000-$1500 Workstation/Gaming PC (with OS, Monitor, keyboard and mouse)

[KW22]

I'm not having luck with this pc stuff. I'm trying my best to build a good workstation/gaming pc for at the most $1500, but I keep running into dead ends. I don't think my cpu is good enough for 3d render (blender, 3ds max, maya) or editing, but it's the lowest I'm willing to go (would it be better if I got a Xeon? I don't think I'll be overclocking). As for my gpu, I wasn't even able to put it into my budget since PCPartPicker hasn't updated the latest Nvidia cards yet. I want a GTX 970, but it's not available through this site yet.

I guess my question is that could any of you make a better rig that'll fit my budget (also with the GTX 970)? Here's what I got so far:


PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VVVRnQ

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VVVRnQ/by_merchant/


CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.74 @ NCIX US)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Micro Center)

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($89.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($150.98 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Case: Corsair Vengeance C70 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)

Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($57.99 @ Newegg)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($94.99 @ B&H)

Monitor: Acer GN246HL 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($245.98 @ SuperBiiz)

Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Red 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($15.84 @ OutletPC)

Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Red 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($15.84 @ OutletPC)

Keyboard: Corsair Vengeance K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($114.99 @ B&H)

Mouse: Corsair Raptor M45 Wired Optical Mouse ($39.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $1448.28

 

[LukaBoki]

IF the PC is used for 3D rendering,then this would be a better build:
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VyvCCJ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VyvCCJ/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.65 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99X EVO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($150.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($47.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($56.00 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($94.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: Acer GN246HL 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($239.99 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Red 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($15.84 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Red 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($15.84 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Corsair Vengeance K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($114.99 @ B&H)
Mouse: Corsair Raptor M45 Wired Optical Mouse ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1300.21
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-19 12:47 EDT-0400

 

[KW22]

IF the PC is used for 3D rendering,then this would be a better build:
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VyvCCJ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VyvCCJ/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.65 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99X EVO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($150.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($47.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($56.00 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($94.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: Acer GN246HL 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($239.99 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Red 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($15.84 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Red 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($15.84 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Corsair Vengeance K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($114.99 @ B&H)
Mouse: Corsair Raptor M45 Wired Optical Mouse ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1300.21
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-19 12:47 EDT-0400

That would still go over my budget since the gtx 970 wasn't included :/

 

[LukaBoki]

Yea,but your original build will go $300 over the budget,while mine will go $150 over the budget.(since the 970 costs about $350)
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hNXpD3
(Just showing how much it would go over the budget )

 

[KW22]

Yea,but your original build will go $300 over the budget,while mine will go $150 over the budget.(since the 970 costs about $350)
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hNXpD3
(Just showing how much it would go over the budget )

Just how good are these AMD processors? They seem like they are only useful for gaming, judging from reviews and such. Are they even reliable as a "workstation" (because if you're using an i5 level cpu it's far from being a workstation) processor?

 

[LukaBoki]

i5 will demolish an FX 8350 when gaming at stock FX speeds.Overclocking the 8350 to 4.5 GHz will make it perform nearly the same as the i5 4690K.
Also,the i5 4690K has 4 cores,while the 8350 has 8. For editing and rendering,the more cores,the better.

 

[KW22]

i5 will demolish an FX 8350 when gaming at stock FX speeds.Overclocking the 8350 to 4.5 GHz will make it perform nearly the same as the i5 4690K.
Also,the i5 4690K has 4 cores,while the 8350 has 8. For editing and rendering,the more cores,the better.

Damn it, I didn't mean to select "solved". Okay, more cores, better cpu...but I thought threads were important as well. Why are AMD's processors cheaper if they offer such a high amount of cores? Intel's cards cost an arm and a leg to get a cpu with just six cores. Could it be because of the built quality, power consumption, and cooling?

 

[LukaBoki]

AMD CPUs are cheaper because AMD is basically "poor man's Intel".
In other words,AMD CPUs arent as powerful as Intel CPUs,they are more mid and some are high range,so that's why they're cheaper.
Don't get me wrong,the 8350 is still a powerful CPU,and when you OC it,it packs even more punch and it can compete with the 4690K.

 

[KW22]

Do anyone else have an idea of what kind of pc could be built? I really need help...

 

[LukaBoki]

The FX-8350 build is pretty much the default CPU to use for workstations and gaming.
If you have money for an i7,then that one would be a better choice.