Is there a way to make this build cheaper but still maintain a good frames?

Shadowex99

Honorable
Aug 22, 2014
194
0
10,680
Hello. I'm new to tom's hardware and i think i put this in the right place. Is there a way to make this build cheaper? http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/Rs9YRB i want something like this and maintain 80+ fps to show off to my friends while maxed out and playing games like Combat Arms, Minecraft, League Of Legends, and BF3 at 1080p or 1920x1080 rez. It'd be great if this is possible. On BF3 if this is too little still maybe something close to high. I just wanna be able to play the game well. If this is too much please downtown. Help asap is much appreciated!
Edit: Also i'll be using Wired Connection and Wireless. Does this Mobo contain a good Wifi and Wireless Card i believe it's called. I have some Computer knowledge so throw me something good and cheap.
 
Solution
I changed the CPU and mobo so you can overclock the CPU in the future. (So I didn't include aftermarket cpu cooler) Notice how big the price jumps? For gaming, I'd rather have a locked i5 +270x then a unlocked i5 + 650ti. The locked system will play at higher fps and higher in game settings.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($86.99 @ Memory Express)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.50...
Lots of ways to improve and reduce the cost. Comments on your build:
1) that CPU is over 2 years old. You want to get a newer and better version.
2) RAM. found 2x4GB for cheaper. And it allows dual channel. (slightly better performance)
3) GPU. moving from a 1GB 650ti to a 2GB 270x is a massive difference. It will max out BF3 on 1080p.
4) PSU. 550W is enough power. With no overclocking of CPU it makes it easily done. And XFX is top quality.
5) Case. I'm a fan of Corsair. Good designs and performance.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($208.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.75 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($86.99 @ Memory Express)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.50 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($199.98 @ Amazon Canada)
Case: Corsair Graphite Series 230T Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.56 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($56.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.79 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $872.34
 
This will out perform your build although it won't max out BF3 at 1080p at 60fps. Since i'm guessing you have a 60hz monitor, the max you will see is 60 fps, even if your computer can put out more frames. You would probably get better results from a lower end CPU and higher end GPU though.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($256.98 @ Newegg Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.79 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($128.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($86.99 @ Memory Express)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.97 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 265 2GB Video Card ($156.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.97 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($56.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.79 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $932.23
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-22 21:58 EDT-0400
 
Just save a little on everything and pony up for a good graphics card.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($83.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.91 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Club 3D Radeon R9 280X 3GB royalQueen Video Card ($219.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 850W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $912.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-22 22:14 EDT-0400
 


Er my budget isnt huge but does that PSU give breathing space? i am planning to slightly overclock to get the performance i want. But if i overclock do you think i'd get the performance that i want in BF3 at 60 fps with this build that u gave me?
 


He's in CA not US.
 

I dont have much experience with Pentium cores so my question is, is this core unlocked and if so is it really better than the i5-4670k? Also how much breathing space will that PSU grab me? another thing that RAM is insufficient because occasionally i will be hosting a minecraft server between 12 people at the ABSOLUTE max Online (and that's pushing it). I need a pretty good CPU and Ram which is why i changed my current build to a ripjaws 2133 mhz ddr3 8gb. Honestly if i didnt play minecraft i would get this build but if u could just slightly bump it up a bit with something cheap that would be great!
 
That pentium is unlocked, but you would probably want a Z series motherboard to overclock it properly, although you can do a non-z OC on some H boards. It's not as good as an i5-k, although it is a great choice in budget builds or if you plan to upgrade later but don't have the cash right now. Also i'd say you will want 8gb of RAM, and while the 750 ti is alright, at that price a r7 265 has better perfomance. The CX series PSU's have cheap capacitors and are no good in gaming builds. You won't see much if any difference in RAM over 1600Mhz, but you want to make sure you have low CAS latency.
 


Can you go onto PC partpicker and edit that off of the first replyer because his build seemed to be nice with that 230T case. It'd be much appreciated because this is my first time and i dont know anything about building budget builds :/ if u can please try and keep it under $900
 
If you want good gaming performance then you gotta invest in a good GPU. Also, since the budget is $900 I'd suggest you skip overclocking the CPU cuz you won't get any improvement in gaming by doing so. However, by saving money, you can invest in a better GPU. A 650ti is ok, but a 2GB 270X is worlds better. I still suggest my build. And the power draw for that system is just under 400W so you have room to upgrade in future with 550W.

I have seen other builds here with weaker GPUs, try for at least a 270x.

btw guys, he is buying in Canada, not US.
 
I changed the CPU and mobo so you can overclock the CPU in the future. (So I didn't include aftermarket cpu cooler) Notice how big the price jumps? For gaming, I'd rather have a locked i5 +270x then a unlocked i5 + 650ti. The locked system will play at higher fps and higher in game settings.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($86.99 @ Memory Express)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.50 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($199.98 @ Amazon Canada)
Case: Corsair Graphite Series 230T Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.56 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($56.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.79 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $953.58
 
Solution
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($70.95 @ DirectCanada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.79 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Memory Express)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($86.99 @ Memory Express)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.97 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($279.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.97 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.79 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $853.22
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-22 22:59 EDT-0400

The 230T and the 200R have the same internals, just the external is a bit different. I've linked it below if you want to swap it with the 200R
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-cc9011042ww
 
Uhm sorry for asking so many questions but do these purchases have tax as i'm in Canada? Also on you're first build Envy14tpe i noticed that u picked the 4590. Wouldn't it be better to get a 4590k? For overclocking and stuff? EDIT: i looked at you're build twice and i also noticed you didn't have an AfterMarket Cooler? Mine will be sufficient right?
 
I have chosen Envy14tpe's answer. Thank you for all your insight! I will switch the cpu and mobo to the first one u recommended so that i can get that extra gpu fire power. I'll probably end up OC'ing the GPU if i dont get that ultra setting to test out. Will the aftermarket cooler still be necessary for gaming for under load temps though or will the stock cooler be sufficient
 




So you are getting the 4590 or 4690k? Both will game the same. GPU is where you benefit the most in gaming. Invest well here and reap the rewards of the high settings.

Stock cooler is sufficient for non overclocking. I suggested a build without it since you don't have to overclock right away.

Please list your final build. I'm always curious what people get.
 
I ended up sticking with the 950 dollar build with the unlocked cpu and mobo for overclocking to extend computer life so i dont have to go running for another pc for a while. The 270x is you're recommendation so i might as well take it and get the most kick for my bucks. I'll stick to stock cooling and eventually get that 212 evo when temps start getting high. I appreciate all replies and recommendations. Thanks! - Jay
 


You don't have to overclock right away. I wish I would have spent an extra $30 on mobo and initially skipped the aftermarket cooler. That way I could add it later and make a better choice. I probably would have wanted a better air cooler. But for value the Cooler Master Evo is awesome. So, use stock intel cooler until you are ready to overclock.