Mid to high-end gaming build to last next few years

[Galen Schultz]

Hi, I'm quite set on getting the Intel Core i5 4570 with the aim to upgrade my GTX 460 sometime down the line. I've been looking at boards and wanted to ask a couple of things:

1. What considerations are there (if any) between socket 1150 and 1155 boards?

2. I'm not looking to overclock (much) and understand that more expensive boards are for this purpose. I'm simply looking for good compatibility between said CPU, GTX graphics cards, good audio support and Corsair RAM.

Any recommendations? Thanks so much in advance!

 

[AxlFone]

1. Intel LGA 1150 is new and better. More protection and better quality. More sata ports and so on.
http://www.gigabyte.eu/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4822#ov

And Z87.
http://www.gigabyte.eu/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4489#ov

2. Then best buy is Xeon 1230V3.

Any recommendations? Thanks so much in advance!

Yes. Here. Good luck with building nice PC

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($244.48 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Macho-120 73.6 CFM CPU Cooler ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($88.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Team Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($92.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($329.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1128.34
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-26 12:47 EST-0500)

With 50$ more you can buy nice soundcard.

Or other way. Buy Asus PRO and you have nice audio on board. + wifi and bluetooth. Bit pricy mobo but it is good.

Then build looks like this. And you can OC this really good. And really easy to OC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoaAT5TkXc4

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Macho-120 73.6 CFM CPU Cooler ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-PRO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($92.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($329.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1269.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-26 13:08 EST-0500)

 

[Galen Schultz]

Thank you so much, this is super useful and gives me some much-needed direction!

I'm in South Africa, so will most likely be buying locally from the site linked to below. I have short-listed the following (from lowest to highest price) and was wondering what your thoughts are regarding the following mobos?

1. http://www.takealot.com/computers/gigabyte-ga-b85m-hd3-motherboard-socket-lga1150,29789848

2. http://www.takealot.com/computers/gigabyte-ga-h87m-hd3-socket-1150-motherboard,29930849

3. http://www.takealot.com/computers/asus-h87-motherboard-socket-1150,29943213

4. http://www.takealot.com/computers/gigabyte-sniper-b5-atx-gaming-motherboard-socket-1150,30051584

5. http://www.takealot.com/computers/gigabyte-z87m-d3h-m-atx-motherboard-socket-1150,29793560

6. http://www.takealot.com/computers/gigabyte-g1-sniper-m3-intel-z77-extreme-gaming-motherboard,28051850

7. http://www.takealot.com/computers/gigabyte-z87m-socket-1150-motherboard-thor-mouse,29973298

8. http://www.takealot.com/computers/asus-p8z77-m-pro-iz77-u-atx-motherboard,29750819

So are the LGA 1150 sockets newer than the 1155 ones? Also, do you think my puny 550w PSU will give enough power to operate this new mobo and CPU?

Thanks again, this site rocks!!

 

[AxlFone]

Maybe best thing to do is look mobo size first. If you have mATX case. Or plan to buy one. Then buy mATX mobo.
If you buy ATX case buy ATX mobo. First tell us what case you plan use then we can look best components for that one.
Look mobos like how much memory slots they do have and sata + pci-e ports. USB ports are importatant too.
So calculate how many you need. And take couple more than you need

550w PSU is enough for new cpu mobo combo + video card.

Yes. LGA 1150 is new. 1155 isi old. There is coming out new Intel in couple months.

 

[Galen Schultz]

Thanks again. I have a full-sized, Cooler Master chassis so keen to go for a 'full-sized' mobo. I can't recall the exact specs as my PC is not with me at the moment.

So... I'm looking to upgrade my CPU to a Intel Core i5 4570 using Corsair XMS3 - 16GB ( 4 x 4GB ) DDR3 1333MHz and a Gigabyte nVidia GeForce Graphics Card GTX460 - 1GB 256Bit GDDR5 - PCI-E. I'm using 2 Internal HDDs at the moment but looking to get a SSD at some stage.

I'm planning to upgrade my GPU to a GTX 780 or 760 once the price drops 🙂 I'm sure I'll need to upgrade my 550w PSU as well when that time comes. So with no major intention to overclock, I'm starting to think that I shouldn't pay more than $100 for the mobo? I'm a fan of Gigabyte, so happy to go with them.

 

[AxlFone]

Maybe best buy is gigabyte ATX Z-87 mobo then.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz87hd3

If you are sure you do NOT OC then B-85 is fine.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gab85hd3

For memory look 2*8GB memory. 1600MHz for B-85 mobo and faster with Z87. 1866 / 2133MHz. 2400MHz is OK too.

Best buy GTX are 760 or 770. Id look for 4GB video card.
Asus , Gigabyte MSI pr Zotac are good. They do have best cooling solutions.
For example this is good.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zotac-video-card-zt7040610p

R9 280X - R9 290 is good choice too.

You can use good 550w PSU with one GTX 780.