Is There Anywhere I can Save Money?

[James Crockett]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9psNvK

Is there anywhere I can save money with the above build? I intend on playing Skyrim on ultra and want it to stay that way, but I also want a good, new monitor. My budget can not go over $850. Right now, that seems impossible. If anyone can make it possible, I'd be much obliged.

 

[enemy1g]

Skyrim, on Ultra, with a 6300. Good luck. Skyrim runs better with an Intel CPU. Period.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vTWHRB

Swapped the 6300 out with an i5-4690, and a H97 board. You still won't be running on Ultra (due to the GPU) but you won't have a completely terrible experience playing as you would with the 6300.

 

[gmevans95]

Skyrim, on Ultra, with a 6300. Good luck. Skyrim runs better with an Intel CPU. Period.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vTWHRB

Swapped the 6300 out with an i5-4690, and a H97 board. You still won't be running on Ultra (due to the GPU) but you won't have a completely terrible experience playing as you would with the 6300.

Actually, I run Skyrim completely maxed out with 60FPS+ on an AMD Phenom II x 4 965 Black Edition @3.6Ghz (5 years old). So that absolutely pisses on your theory.

@OP, if I could give you one bit of advice, it would be to stick with Windows 7, that is all. Other than that, you have a decent rig there.

 

[James Crockett]

There's just no hope, is there? One person says the build is good for playing Skyrim on ultra and another says it's not. Plus, once more, I only have $850 to spend. I was looking to make it cheaper, while it still having the high performance I believed it did. You make it sound like Skyrim wouldn't do anything better than 'alright' on this build. That Intel processor just ain't happenin'. Entirely too much money.

 

[Eduello]

Skyrim, on Ultra, with a 6300. Good luck. Skyrim runs better with an Intel CPU. Period.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vTWHRB

Swapped the 6300 out with an i5-4690, and a H97 board. You still won't be running on Ultra (due to the GPU) but you won't have a completely terrible experience playing as you would with the 6300.

The game doesn't use more than 4 cores AFAIK (so you are kind of right), but my system can run it all maxed out @ ~80fps (high-res texture pack downloaded).

 

[Onus]

Hmmm, Skyrim apparently runs a lot better on Intel CPUs. You could therefor cut down the cost by using a H81 motherboard with an i3 processor. Those two don't cut much if any cost, but you can then omit the cooler.
If you keep the FX-6300, I'd actually need to recommend a more expensive motherboard, one with heatsinks on its VRMs (other than the cheap MSI 970A-G4x, which have weak VRMs regardless of heat sinks).
You could also get this 520W Seasonic PSU for $60: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094

 

[Eduello]

I 100% guarantee that this build will run Skyrim everything maxed out at about 60fps while you are fighting 10 dragons at once:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.43 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Enermax OSTROG ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $825.31
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-30 14:20 EDT-0400)

 

[Onus]

I believe the OP needs to include the monitor in his $850 budget, making this a $700-$720 PC. Needing Windows, it's a $610-$630 PC; getting tougher. I5, no, but i3 yes. Do you need the wireless adapter?
I think there's an EVGA GTX750Ti available for $139 with a promo code from Newegg; you'll need to check (and be signed up for their email to use it). Note that the XFX PSU is an excellent, Seasonic-built unit, but that price includes a MIR, which is a game you need to play, and to win, in order to get it. Your out-of-pocket cost will be higher.

 

[James Crockett]

Okay. So, I should instead go with windows 7 and an Intel CPU? I just do not want to spend any more than I have to. I literally only have $850 to spend, and as I said, I was hoping to get a better monitor, but it seems like that's not going to happen.

Perhaps I'll stick with my old monitor.

 

[Eduello]

I believe the OP needs to include the monitor in his $850 budget, making this a $700-$720 PC. Needing Windows, it's a $610-$630 PC; getting tougher. I5, no, but i3 yes. Do you need the wireless adapter?
I think there's an EVGA GTX750Ti available for $139 with a promo code from Newegg; you'll need to check (and be signed up for their email to use it). Note that the XFX PSU is an excellent, Seasonic-built unit, but that price includes a MIR, which is a game you need to play, and to win, in order to get it. Your out-of-pocket cost will be higher.

Damn... Updated version:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.43 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Enermax OSTROG ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer G226HQLBbd 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($108.92 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $822.23
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-30 14:35 EDT-0400)

Includes monitor and OS and is exactly $850 without the MIR code of the XFX 550W.

@James Crockett: I want to stress that you absolutely do not need an Intel CPU to play Skyrim maxed out with constant 60+ fps.

 

[James Crockett]

I believe the OP needs to include the monitor in his $850 budget, making this a $700-$720 PC. Needing Windows, it's a $610-$630 PC; getting tougher. I5, no, but i3 yes. Do you need the wireless adapter?
I think there's an EVGA GTX750Ti available for $139 with a promo code from Newegg; you'll need to check (and be signed up for their email to use it). Note that the XFX PSU is an excellent, Seasonic-built unit, but that price includes a MIR, which is a game you need to play, and to win, in order to get it. Your out-of-pocket cost will be higher.

Damn... Updated version:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.43 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Enermax OSTROG ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer G226HQLBbd 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($108.92 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $822.23
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-30 14:35 EDT-0400)

Includes monitor and OS and is exactly $850 without the MIR code of the XFX 550W.

And this will play Skyrim on ultra? I'm about to head off to college, and it'd be nice to have something to do during all my free time. Plus, I simply need a new desktop.

 

[enemy1g]

Skyrim, on Ultra, with a 6300. Good luck. Skyrim runs better with an Intel CPU. Period.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vTWHRB

Swapped the 6300 out with an i5-4690, and a H97 board. You still won't be running on Ultra (due to the GPU) but you won't have a completely terrible experience playing as you would with the 6300.

Actually, I run Skyrim completely maxed out with 60FPS+ on an AMD Phenom II x 4 965 Black Edition @3.6Ghz (5 years old). So that absolutely pisses on your theory.

@OP, if I could give you one bit of advice, it would be to stick with Windows 7, that is all. Other than that, you have a decent rig there.

My theory being that Skyrim performs better on an Intel CPU than an AMD CPU? There have been plenty of people on this very forum that are avid Skyrim players, that have switched from their AMD CPU (usually 8320/8350), and gone with an Intel, and have had an incredibly better experience than they did with their AMD CPU.

Is that also why a third generation i3 outperforms an 8350 in Skyrim as well?

 

[Onus]

With an i3 and a GTX750Ti, you'll only need a 300W-350W PSU, and can get a good Seasonic for around $40. You won't need a cooler. That graphics card might not let you play with ALL eye candy cranked up, but you should be on high-very high settings, which should be quite enjoyable.

 

[James Crockett]

I swear, if I had more money, I'd go with your first suggestion Eduello. I just want the best for the money I have. It was all a graduation present, and I doubt I'm getting more. It seems Intel is what I should go with if I expect to get the best out of Skyrim.

I can hold off on the monitor, if it means making Skyrim run better.

Just wish my first suggestion would do the job. It seemed golden until now.

 

[Eduello]

Well if you want to go Intel, this is a good one if you're comfortable with MIRs:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H81 Pro BTC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($54.00 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.43 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Raidmax ATX-249B (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer G226HQLBbd 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($108.92 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $833.25
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-30 14:58 EDT-0400)

 

[James Crockett]

Brand me a noob, but what is an MIR?

 

[Eduello]

Mail-in-rebate. Some people have had good experiences with them and others, not so much:

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071114132802AAU8tRc

 

[James Crockett]

Oh...duh, James. I'm cool with them. Onus mentioned something about a game I needed to play and win, so that's what threw me off.

You and Onus have been a big help, so, out of all the builds you've recommended me, which do you deem the best for my price range? You can exclude the monitor if need be. I can always try working somewhere before college starts, so I can buy one for around $150.


Of course, the first one you mentioned must be the best. I mean...10 dragons at once and about 60+ FPS is quite good. Lol.

Also, I'm curious, Eduello, what is your system? The first you recommended?

 

[kenny1007]

What about something like this?

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rp2XnQ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rp2XnQ/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rp2XnQ/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($59.99 @ Mwave)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.44 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Club 3D Radeon R9 270X 2GB royalQueen Video Card ($179.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cougar Archon ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN851ND 802.11b/g/n PCI Wi-Fi Adapter ($19.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $771.36
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-30 15:12 EDT-0400)

 

[Onus]

Eduello's last build will do well, although I'd recommend a better case than a Raidmax. People positively howled when Don used one in a SBM build last year because it was so cheesy. An inexpensive Rosewill, though likely more plain, should be sturdier as well.

 

[Eduello]

@James Crockett: Well the latest one I posted should do as well, the 1st one just has a better CPU (and a few other more expensive parts).

My system (in my signature) can do that so a 4-core Intel + a slightly stronger GPU should be fine.

 

[Eduello]

UPDATE: Just did some testing with everything at low (testing how much the CPU bottlenecks).

Outside of cities I got 180fps.

20 dragons flying around = still over 100fps.

20 dragons + 100 Stormcloaks took the fps down to ~30.

Note that Vsync has to be manually turned off in the INI files to get over 60fp in Skyrim and going over 120fps causes some major graphical/lighting issues, at least for me.

 

[James Crockett]

@Eduello: I'm really considering going with your first recommendation. I'll just have to work for more money before college.

To be sure I'm not misinterpreting you, your latest suggestion should do as well as the first?

 

[Eduello]

@Eduello: I'm really considering going with your first recommendation. I'll just have to work for more money before college.

To be sure I'm not misinterpreting you, your latest suggestion should do as well as the first?

Well the CPU in the latest one is 0.5GHz slower, but you won't really notice it while gaming; Both builds will surpass 60fps on the highest settings.

 

[James Crockett]

It's probably wiser to go with the most recent suggestion then, isn't it? Since it contains a monitor. Speaking of which, is it one you'd recommend? If not, what do you advise as a good monitor?

By the way, thanks for your help everyone, especially Onus and Eduello.