Building a new computer

♦Laws016♠[DJ]

I'm New Here
Hey guys! I was trying to build a new computer(Old one really sucks). I have an $800 budget and was looking at these parts.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xvBLLk
I think this is what I'm going with but if you guys have any other suggestions that may be more cost efficient, just plain better, etc. Just reply :P.
 

Cock

Cockilicious
Staff member
Good choices, I would change the case to something with better front airflow.

Also from experience open top air intake can be a problem, with say a beer being poured into it dripping all over your components and causing general mayhem.
 
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Cock

Cockilicious
Staff member
For $15 more you could get one of the better SSD's around.

http://tinyurl.com/pxpu2on

http://ssd.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Samsung-850-Evo-120GB-vs-Kingston-HyperX-3K-120GB/3484vs1894

The 120GB Kingston HyperX 3K is nearly two years old, several generations of SSD have passed since its original release. Better 120GB SSDs have more NAND modules than the old HyperX and are able to write faster than the peak 234 Mb/s achieved by the HyperX 3K. The HyperX 3K also has aSandforce 2281 controller which is unable to write compressed data as well as its more recent competition. All that said the HyperX still has an effective speed of 367 MBps which is respectable and far faster than even the best mechanical drive. With peak 4K read/write speeds of 33/110 MB/s the HyperX 3K also has competent small file performance. To summarize as a current value proposition the HyperX 3K struggles, simply because the likes of Samsung and OCZ have innovated and moved forward in the two years since the HyperX 3K was released
 

MetalLobster

TD Admin
It blows my mind how cheap SSDs are now.

Looks like a good build, but I think $144 for a motherboard is a bit much for a budget build. How about this as an alternative?
 

Cock

Cockilicious
Staff member
Looks like a good build, but I think $144 for a motherboard is a bit much for a budget build. How about this as an alternative?

Z87 boards need a BIOS update before using the Haswell Refresh CPUs, sooooo that's a bad idea unless he has another LGA1150 processor around to do the update
 

Glocky

Drinking your tears
Hey guys! I was trying to build a new computer(Old one really sucks). I have an $800 budget and was looking at these parts.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xvBLLk
I think this is what I'm going with but if you guys have any other suggestions that may be more cost efficient, just plain better, etc. Just reply :P.
I've got to ask...

1) did you review this thread? (some of the date specific builds may be dates, but the references, resources are not)
2a) is this a gaming build? If so, spending nearly double on your CPU than your GPU doesn't give you the return you may be looking for on a limited budget.
2b) that's a K sku Intel CPU - that's for overclocking but I don't see cooling in your build. If you're not overclocking, you can cut back here a bit. If you are, you should at least spend $35 on a 212 Evo HSF.
3) 120 GB SSD is literally OS plus one game, maybe depending on its DLC. Depending on your answers to the above, might be able to squeeze the budget for a 256GB SSD
 

♦Laws016♠[DJ]

I'm New Here
I've got to ask...

1) did you review this thread? (some of the date specific builds may be dates, but the references, resources are not)
2a) is this a gaming build? If so, spending nearly double on your CPU than your GPU doesn't give you the return you may be looking for on a limited budget.
2b) that's a K sku Intel CPU - that's for overclocking but I don't see cooling in your build. If you're not overclocking, you can cut back here a bit. If you are, you should at least spend $35 on a 212 Evo HSF.
3) 120 GB SSD is literally OS plus one game, maybe depending on its DLC. Depending on your answers to the above, might be able to squeeze the budget for a 256GB SSD
1) Thanks, that helps
2a) Yes, it is a gaming build
2b) Thanks for the suggestion
3) I'll look at that
 

Yukidesu

I'm New Here
Nice build!

I'd suggest getting 2x 4GB ram sticks so you have dual channel config, vs 1x 8GB stick unless you plan to upgrade :)
 

Glocky

Drinking your tears
Why do you recommend a 256GB SDD for a budget gaming build?
OMG Italics, he must be serious.

Because 120GB is OS and little else and buying 120GB and then a larger SSD later is more expensive. If with the other various answers, the same gaming performance is achievable, it might save long term dollars to buy a 256GB instead of 120GB. And I didn't "recommend it" I just said if some of the other Qs and As support it, it could be an option, as most people hate reinstalling OSs and stuff. Alternatively, (but I don't have any personal experience to recommend with), a single SSHD could work as well and/or be cheaper. [ this would be a useful chime in ]

Literacy, it matters.

20/20 hindsight - every new build thread, I should just post http://www.logicalincrements.com/ and http://www.hardware-revolution.com/computer-systems/ and then let the builders' bias (Intel/AMD, AMD/Nvdia) do what it will do and not get trolled for asking questions to min-max on a set budget by people who are not the builder.

Buy best quality for your budget, and buy either to upgrade on a budget sustainable path or to dispose (sell/trade/give away) on a frequent basis; you can't do both. Never skimp on the PSU quality, economize elsewhere.
 

OG buckshot jr

TD Admin
Why do you recommend a 256GB SDD for a budget gaming build?
Space and speed. 256+GB ssd's are much faster and allow some space for games. 120GB is just not viable anymore unless it's just for boot, but price us becoming negligeable.

Agree with cock/glocky
 
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Glocky

Drinking your tears
So much amusement, so little time, but at least now I know why my phone was buzzing today while I was at work.

Anyway, back to the PC build, I've prepared a new parts list that reflects the collective advice here, and maximizes the gaming potential:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/jV7nBm

Notes: $760 + tax
- changed 4690K to 4690 to reflect the uncertainty about overclocking and CPU cooling (stock HSF)
- changed the motherboard to save a few $$
- changed the case to add some airflow but keep USB 3.0 front ports, but realistically you can pick almost any case that meets these two requirements and looks nice to *your* eye
- changed the RAM from 1x8GB to dual channel 2x4GB=8GB for max theoretical speed
- changed the 750ti to a R9 370 that will improve gaming, should provide DX12 support when it's available, 1080p gaming at +/- 60fps depending on the games & settings
- changed the PSU as Corsair subcontracts its PSUs, and not all are created equal, Seasonic is the best around that wattage (620w should be sufficient for at least 5 years with 15% capacitor aging, 7 years with 10% capacitor aging - but without oc'ing the CPU nor GPU, unlikely to accelerate the capacitor aging to that degree)
- changed the SSD + 1 TB HDD to 1TB Hybrid drive (well reviewed) - this option I am on the fence about, if you're set on a SSD and HDD, can drop down the CPU to a 4590 and get 1 TB HDD and a 240GB SSD http://pcpartpicker.com/p/M9N9dC $798 + tax
 

♦Laws016♠[DJ]

I'm New Here
So much amusement, so little time, but at least now I know why my phone was buzzing today while I was at work.

Anyway, back to the PC build, I've prepared a new parts list that reflects the collective advice here, and maximizes the gaming potential:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/jV7nBm

Notes: $760 + tax
- changed 4690K to 4690 to reflect the uncertainty about overclocking and CPU cooling (stock HSF)
- changed the motherboard to save a few $$
- changed the case to add some airflow but keep USB 3.0 front ports, but realistically you can pick almost any case that meets these two requirements and looks nice to *your* eye
- changed the RAM from 1x8GB to dual channel 2x4GB=8GB for max theoretical speed
- changed the 750ti to a R9 370 that will improve gaming, should provide DX12 support when it's available, 1080p gaming at +/- 60fps depending on the games & settings
- changed the PSU as Corsair subcontracts its PSUs, and not all are created equal, Seasonic is the best around that wattage (620w should be sufficient for at least 5 years with 15% capacitor aging, 7 years with 10% capacitor aging - but without oc'ing the CPU nor GPU, unlikely to accelerate the capacitor aging to that degree)
- changed the SSD + 1 TB HDD to 1TB Hybrid drive (well reviewed) - this option I am on the fence about, if you're set on a SSD and HDD, can drop down the CPU to a 4590 and get 1 TB HDD and a 240GB SSD http://pcpartpicker.com/p/M9N9dC $798 + tax
Sorry I was gone for a few weeks. But thank you for taking the time to make this! Extremely helpful!~
 
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