Need help cutting cost of build

[errkam1]

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($204.99 @ Newegg)

CPU Cooler:CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.50)

Motherboard: ASRock Z170 Pro4S ATX LGA1151 ($112.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 ($54.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM ($51.88 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 390 8GB Double Dissipation ($313.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Sentey Stealth ATX Mid Tower Case($39.99 @ Amazon)

Power Supply:Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX ($58.98 @ Newegg)

Optical Drive:Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD ($17.75 @ OutletPC)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($89.88 @ OutletPC)

Wireless Network Adapter:TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1($36.97 @ OutletPC)

Total: $956.90 actually $1000 with case price included

Above part list is what I'm working with. Trying to cut costs where possible. Aiming for ~$900(if the build is fine as is I can live with that)

Main question is about the video card and PSU. I've had the R9 390 and R9 290 suggested -big price difference but not sure which would be best for my needs. (1080p, mostly going to use for DOTA2, fallout 4, and streaming movies)

As to the PSU, I've read good reviews on the merchant sites but in forums lots of contents list them prone to problems. Is there a better, cheaper alternative?

Trying to keep price as low as possible so not looking to increase anywhere.
Any feedback welcome. Thanks!

 

[Benjiwenji]

Cryorig h7 is awesome, but you're not going to oc so get somethings else, like the cryorig m9i @ newegg /hell you can even go with CM hyper t2.

Again, you're not OC'ing or CFX, go with a H170/b150 board. Get a one that uses DDR3 Ram, $35 for 8GB on newegg promotions.

Don't go with that Corsair CX- tier 4

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

don't cut too many corners, you might regret later.

 

[Hawkshot]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/mL3fWZ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/mL3fWZ/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($195.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($25.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3P ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($88.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($296.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Sentey Stealth ATX Mid Tower Case($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.75 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter:TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1($36.97 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1007.32
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-09 09:51 EST-0500

This next build should still run pretty much any game on 1080p at max setting but not all of them.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/nxpdkL
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/nxpdkL/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($25.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H81 Pro BTC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($87.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 380 4GB Video Card ($219.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Sentey Stealth ATX Mid Tower Case($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.75 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter:TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1($36.97 @ OutletPC)
Total: $872.31
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-09 09:57 EST-0500

 

[Benjiwenji]

I didn't know if s/he is really to go down from skylake to haswell.

^good choices. I would drop the 212 EVO, the t2u would suffice.

 

[Hawkshot]

I didn't know if s/he is really to go down from skylake to haswell.

^good choices. I would drop the 212 EVO, the t2u would suffice.

I know I really didn't want to have to do it, but price/performance for the Haswell is very good and for $25 Its totally worth it XD. on the skylake build you could take the R9 380 and drop the price I suppose, that would drop the price.

 

[Hawkshot]

you could try this

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($195.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($25.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3P ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($88.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 380 4GB Video Card ($219.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Sentey Stealth ATX Mid Tower Case($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.75 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter:TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1($36.97 @ OutletPC)
Total: $930.32

you could even get 8GB ram instead of 16GB and take off the 212EVO to drop the price below the $900 but personally I wouldn't but not my computer

 

[Benjiwenji]

Agree, there is very little performance from Haswell to Skylake, even less translates to FPS

 

[errkam1]

I'm trying to keep the Skylake if possible. But if it's going to perform just as well without that work too.
I'm trying to make decide on a build that's going to work for a while and not need upgrades for at least a few years.

Will be switching to the Seagate storage, EVGA PSU and cooler Master 212 - thanks for those suggestions.

About the RAM- I've read conflicting opinions as to the opting between going 8GB & 16GB.
Whats the main argument for going 16GB *in your opinion?

Id have to look at those suggested
Motherboards before making a decision.
anyone know of a good combo 1151 motherboard? [Don't know if one was listed already]

As to the video card, going R9 380 was something I was looking into.

Does anyone forsee this needing to be updated within the next 3 years or so to keep up with games? If not might swap to that, although the 390 sounds so nice...

Thanks for all the feedback!

 

[Hawkshot]

well for newer games it is acutally becoming more common, such as the new Starwars game its actually recommended by a lot of PC experts to have 16GB of ram to run newer games on higher settings as there is more information, ive got 8gb and I don't struggle atm but I know my ram is getting tested by newer games and with fall out 4 I want 16gb just to make sure I have enough. any other questions just let me know

 

[Benjiwenji]

If you're rendering, then more ram the merrier. If you're gaming, then 8gb is the most you'll need for the foreseeable future. Ram is easy to upgrade, you can always start with 8GB and get another 8GB as prices drop or as you need more in the future.

 

[errkam1]

Compelling arguments for the 16GB since I was considering getting that game soon. But since the RAM is relatively cheap might just stick with 8 and upgrade if/when I get a game that requires it just to decrease the cost now.

Any feedback on:[took me so long to edit on my phone I already had responses ]
Id have to look at those suggested
Motherboards before making a decision.
anyone know of a good combo 1151 motherboard? [Don't know if one was listed already]

As to the video card, going R9 380 was something I was looking into.

Does anyone forsee this needing to be updated within the next 3 years or so to keep up with games? If not might swap to that, although the 390 sounds so nice...

Thanks for all the feedback posted so far!

 

[Benjiwenji]

What do you mean by combo? CPU and Mobo combo deals?

I can't say for sure, the 380 isn't a top notch card. If are developing at the same in the next 3 years, then your 380 should still be relevant, though you might have to lower some settings. My 280 is still handling games fine, and it came out two years ago. However, I can't predict the rate which technology advances.

I would suggest go for 390 and stick with Haswell. You'll get better performanc to dollar now and the foreseeable future.

 

[Hawkshot]

well if history repeats itself then there is a fair chance that even the 390 will be outdated in 3years time, there is no more risk in getting the 380 than there is getting the 390, the 390 just preforms better, and by all means get 8GB of ram now and 8GB later it wont cause any problems for you , and for the combo it depends on where you plan to get your parts from really no where near me dose deals for CPU + Mobo (not any good ones anyway) they usually make you pay more for combo's from where I am.

 

[errkam1]

Sorry the Motherboards that accept both ddr3 and ddr4.
But that's non issue if I'm going with the haswell.
Is the performance difference between the 2 really that minimal?

 

[Benjiwenji]

Check it out, I would say that even the ivy bridge is not far behind.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9483/intel-skylake-review-6700k-6600k-ddr4-ddr3-ipc-6th-generation/16

You're be fine on the either one of the GPUs to be honest.

I still see people using the 7970, which is the same as the 280x, and the same as the 380. The 7970 and the 280x can be CFX lol

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/radeon-r9-280x-radeon-hd-7970-crossfire-compatible,24619.html

 

[errkam1]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/8mFWpg
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/8mFWpg/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper T2 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($15.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-D3V ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.32 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda ES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.90 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 390 8GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($313.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Sentey Stealth ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.75 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $868.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-09 13:29 EST-0500

So if sacrificing the Skylake.
This should still do what I need for the next few years?

Also any feedback on the chosen motherboard?

 

[Benjiwenji]

If your primary concern is gaming, then this is fine.

I feel like I am about derail your plans a bit here because I see that you chose microCenter as one the retailer.

Please disregard what I am about to say if it is outside of your budget.

You're about to spend nearly $1000 for a system that should last for the next 3 years.

If you do have access to a MicroCenter, you can find a 4690k for $199. Do it, and buy this mobo

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($87.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $87.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-09 23:06 EST-0500

This add $50 on your budget, making it around $917.

That 4690k is the top of the line Haswell i5. When you feel like it is getting dated in a couple of years, you'll have the option to overclock it a bit.