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Attention Mid-Range System Builders - Updated 08/01/2015

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@DreadBelch

290X is somewhat faster than GTX 970, on average. In terms of performance per dollar, it is indeed better, even when you factor in the 100W higher power consumption while gaming. Personally I'd rather pay a little extra for the more efficient technology used in GTX 970 which not only saves running costs but allows the card to run quieter and cooler.
 
lehtv said:
@DreadBelch

290X is somewhat faster than GTX 970, on average. In terms of performance per dollar, it is indeed better, even when you factor in the 100W higher power consumption while gaming. Personally I'd rather pay a little extra for the more efficient technology used in GTX 970 which not only saves running costs but allows the card to run quieter and cooler.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: There are always tradeoffs, and the budget can handle a GTX 970, if you value low heat and noise over performance and price.
 
New build posted. The big change this week is that I've included 16 GB of RAM in the base config. Prices are low enough now that it makes sense to do so.
 
New build posted. Switched the motherboard and PSU up to follow some deals but managed to keep 16 GB in the machine. The Radeon 300 series is coming closer to parity with the 200 series, but it still there yet. TSMC 1Xnm can't come soon enough.
 
New build posted. Pretty similar to last week except for with a very nice deal on an R9 290X and some price adjustments.
 
Hey look, a Saturday update! It comes along with an announcement as well. I'm taking a break from moderation, the builder's guide, and the forums in general. I'll probably be back at some point in the future, but I can't say when.

Looking back, I've been doing this build every week since September 2011. The way I put it in perspective for myself is: someone could have been just starting out as a freshman in college when I did the first one, and could have graduated and have started their career for the last one. It's been a very fun ride, and has been a constant for me through three different jobs in three different states. The list of people to thank is so long that I'm sure I'd leave somebody out, but it's safe to say that you know who you are. 🙂 Thank You!

Adios amigos! :awe:
 
Wow mfenn, this place won't be the same without your contributions, but it sounds like you're ready for a break, or at least some different ventures..
All the best bud.. 🙂
 
MFenn, I want to give you a gold medal or something, this thread has helped thousands of people, perhaps more. I refer everyone to this thread whenever they think about building a gaming rig. Go on a vacation, mate! Essence o War and LehTv will foot the bill for ya.

ELmO
 
mfenn is a great example of dedication and consistency. Hard to believe how long it has been since I joined and you still kept chugging along.
 
Hey, look, another Saturday update! (Sort of.)

Before he left, mfenn asked me about updating this thread. I can't edit the first post, but we'll see how adding posts at the end goes.

So, here goes, my first "official" midrange build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($251.98 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: *Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: *Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($105.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: *G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: *Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: *Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($38.95 @ Amazon)
Video Card: *PowerColor Radeon R9 290X 4GB PCS+ Video Card ($292.98 @ Newegg)
Case: *Fractal Design Core 2300 ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: *XFX TS 650W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($58.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: *LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($11.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1008.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-08 16:51 EDT-0400

And the usual addendum:
- There is an R9 280X 3GB for $190 AR and an R9 290 4GB for $233 AR if you want to spend less but still get good gaming performance.

I think I see why mfenn left when he did. Between new Intel processors and AMD GPU price upheavals, it's going to be a very different world. I had to skimp a little on the RAM and CPU cooler to get this down near $1000. Hopefully next week will be easier. And I think I'll try to aim for Friday updates with my other thread.
 
If this thread could be archived for posterity, I think it would be better for you to start your own sticky in the tried and true style.I appreciate all that mfenn has done, and think that you will make a worthy successor.
 
And I already have a stickied thread. So I guess it makes sense to combine them.
 
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