"Budget" gaming and streaming build help

[lehtv]

I hadn't heard that before. Link?

Damn you mfenn.

You made me check the primary source instead of trusting the secondary one. An article by a Finnish site www.mbnet.fi states: "The Start button can be configured so that instead of the Metro screen, the user is shown a menu listing all the applications." Yet their source, www.ghacks.net, just says that right clicking on the Start button brings up a Windows-X-like menu (a non-configurable menu that lists some links to useful tools, but not applications, see more here).

 

[Techhog]

So guys, how does this look? (Still not 100% sure on Windows 8.1 vs 7)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.20 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87M-D3H 1.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master NSE-200-KKN1 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($57.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-118BB DVD/CD Drive ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Acer S220HQLAbd 21.5" Monitor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1008.07
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-17 08:19 EDT-0400)

I might still upgrade the monitor to the Asus. It depends on how much it costs next week.

 

[lehtv]

CPU: Good
Cooler: Good ($30)
Thermal Compound: Unneeded
Motherboard: Good but buy the CPU+mobo combo ($335)
Memory: Overpriced. Team Vulcan 2x4GB ($53)
Storage: Seagate ST1000DM003 ($70 minus promo discount EMCXLWT23, doesn't say how much)
Video Card: Good ($200 AR)
Case: Good ($30 AR AP)
Power Supply: Newegg has a much better price at $38 AR AP. But it has only 3 yr warranty and mediocre capacitors... I'd be inclined to buy a Hive 650W semi-modular ($60 AR)
Optical Drive: I'd get Samsung 224DB ($16 AP)
Operating System: Whichever you want ($90, I'd buy it from Amazon)

= about $880 AR AP so far. The monitor: Asus VE247H ($130 AR AP)

Note that many of the promos in this build and the one you linked end on Thursday.

 

[Techhog]

CPU: Good
Cooler: Goodà($30)
Thermal Compound: Unneeded
Motherboard: Good but buy the CPU+mobo combo ($335)
Memory: Overpriced. Team Vulcan 2x4GB ($53)
Storage: Seagate ST1000DM003 ($70 minus promo discount EMCXLWT23, doesn't say how much)
Video Card: Good ($200 AR)
Case: Good ($30 AR AP)
Power Supply: Newegg has a much better price at $38 AR AP. But it has only 3 yr warranty and mediocre capacitors... I'd be inclined to buy a Hive 650W semi-modular ($60 AR)
Optical Drive: I'd get Samsung 224DB ($16 AP)
Operating System: Whichever you want ($90, I'd buy it from Amazon)

= about $880 AR AP so far. The monitor: Asus VE247H ($130 AR AP)

Note that many of the promos in this build and the one you linked end on Thursday.

Yeah, I already planned on getting the combo.

The stock paste with the cooler is good? Okay then.

Oh yeah, I forgot to update the ram choice.

Unfortunately, yeah, I won't be able to start buying until next week, so the Thursday deals are out. :/

 

[Techhog]

Wow, I forgot something important for later. Does going with mATX mean that I won't have room to add a capture card later? If not it's perfectly fine, but I'd still like to know.

 

[lehtv]

The Z87M-D3H has a PCIe x4 slot on that you can use. However, I found some amazing combos for ATX stuffs:

4670K $240
ST1000DM003 + Rosewill R5 $100 AR AP
Asrock Z87 Pro4 + 2x4GB Corsair $130 AR AP (almost free memory after combo&rebate!)
(the mobo also has a 2.0 x4 slot... not sure how much bandwidth a capture card requires but it should be fine)

-> total $996 AR AP with monitor

 

[Techhog]

The Z87M-D3H has a PCIe x4 slot on that you can use. However, I found some amazing combos for ATX stuffs:

4670K $240
ST1000DM003 + Rosewill R5 $100 AR AP
Asrock Z87 Pro4 + 2x4GB Corsair $130 AR AP (almost free memory after combo&rebate!)
(the mobo also has a 2.0 x4 slot... not sure how much bandwidth a capture card requires but it should be fine)

-> total $996 AR AP with monitor

:O Amazing! Is ASRock a reliable company, though? I'm not familiar with them.

 

[lehtv]

Yes, their boards are solid. They used to have mediocre reputation but that was way back when they were still a subsidiary of Asus. Now they're as good as the other big ones

 

[Techhog]

Yes, their boards are solid. They used to have mediocre reputation but that was way back when they were still a subsidiary of Asus. Now they're as good as the other big ones

That's good! I wish I had known that all along lol

Thanks! This price is seriously amazing right now. Some nice money to save until the Steam winter sale to get some real use out of this.

 

[mfenn]

Damn you mfenn.

You made me check the primary source instead of trusting the secondary one. An article by a Finnish site www.mbnet.fi states: "The Start button can be configured so that instead of the Metro screen, the user is shown a menu listing all the applications." Yet their source, www.ghacks.net, just says that right clicking on the Start button brings up a Windows-X-like menu (a non-configurable menu that lists some links to useful tools, but not applications, see more here).

And here I was getting my hopes up for a complete return to sanity. :'( 8.1 is certainly a step (back) in the right direction, but a full normal start menu would have sealed the deal.

Storage: Seagate ST1000DM003 ($70 minus promo discount EMCXLWT23, doesn't say how much)

The promo should be $10, at least it was the last time I checked (Sunday).

 

[Techhog]

Searching around a bit, I'm concerned about Seagate's reliability...

Also, random question, but does CPU or GPU overclocking always void the warranty, or only if voltages are changed?

 

[lehtv]

Seagate is just as reliable as any other HDD manufacturer. The failure rates are about the same.

Not even overvolting voids the warranty. Intel endorses overclockability by providing CPUs with unlocked multipliers, and chipsets that can control clock speeds. Most graphics card manufacturers also advertise overclockability, some (EVGA) even allow third party cooling. Your warranty is void only if you break your card while overclocking it (it's your fault, not a manufacturing error).

 

[Torn Mind]

Wow, that mobo+RAM combo is pretty crazy good. I'm going to put it in as a option for my budget build thread.

 

[Techhog]

Seagate is just as reliable as any other HDD manufacturer. The failure rates are about the same.

Not even overvolting voids the warranty. Intel endorses overclockability by providing CPUs with unlocked multipliers, and chipsets that can control clock speeds. Most graphics card manufacturers also advertise overclockability, some (EVGA) even allow third party cooling. Your warranty is void only if you break your card while overclocking it (it's your fault, not a manufacturing error).

Well, okay then.

Also, assuming that the student pricing for Windows 8.1 stays the same and offers the full version like everything else, I'm saving $20! :biggrin: Though, something tells me it won't be like that lol

 

[BrightSideSC]

Do you have a Fry's near you? They have good prices on hardware. And of course, there's always newegg and amazon. Both don't take terribly long to ship, plus newegg always has SOME kind of sale going on. Good luck to you.

ps - what game will you be streaming on twitch?

 

[Techhog]

Do you have a Fry's near you? They have good prices on hardware. And of course, there's always newegg and amazon. Both don't take terribly long to ship, plus newegg always has SOME kind of sale going on. Good luck to you.

ps - what game will you be streaming on twitch?

I'm pretty sure that I don't have a Fry's around here.

A decent variety. A lot of it is speedruns, but now that I'll have a computer that can handle it, I'll stream whatever I want! I don't know about MOBAs, but I can see myself trying to stream some BF3/4 multiplayer.

 

[Ichigo]

I think running a $1k computer through a shitty 20 inch monitor is a huge waste. It's honestly more worth it to step the CPU down just to get a nicer monitor. At the end of the day you're staring at this thing for hours at a time. It needs to be something worth your time.

 

[Techhog]

I think running a $1k computer through a shitty 20 inch monitor is a huge waste. It's honestly more worth it to step the CPU down just to get a nicer monitor. At the end of the day you're staring at this thing for hours at a time. It needs to be something worth your time.

Upgrading the monitor is a hell of a lot easier than upgrading the GPU. I understand your point, but... I just don't know. You have a point, and maybe I should be spending $200+ on the monitor, but I don't know if a weaker i5 can really handle streaming all that well with certain games. If I didn't need to get this done by a certain time, maybe I'd save up, but I don't really have that luxury.

However, if you have a suggestion, feel free. Just don't go crazy.

 

[Techhog]

I think I'm gonna go with this monitor, since I need to wait until next week to buy the first batch of parts. http://us.ncix.com/products/?usaffi...81&vpn=VS238H-P&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1258

 

[Techhog]

Well, the 7950 is now out of my budget. I have to downgrade. -.-7870 recommendations?

Edit: Wait, maybe this is okay? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125414

 

[lehtv]

Powercolor 7950 PCS+ $190 AR

 

[Techhog]

Powercolor 7950 PCS+ $190 AR

Well, either of those cards work, so it comes down to which has the better cooler. Also, when I asked about that card in the graphics forum, some people said that Powercolor quality isn't that great

Edit: Nevermind, got mixed up lol. Now, the question is, should I buy it in the first batch of parts to take advantage of the rebate or not? Hm...

I'm really afraid of this price jumping up too! But if it's DOA then I can't replace it! Though, I guess the warranty would take care of that...

Edit2: It already jumped. :/ *sigh* 7870 it is...

Edit3: Found this, getting it ASAP, not even gonna chance it. http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?...T-79503GB&c=CJ

 

[Techhog]

And now the Powercolor price went down again.

I'm insanely confused. ._. I think I'll just get the card next week to avoid headaches.

Also, I assume getting this open-box would be a bad idea, right? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121716R

 

[mfenn]

Welcome to computer parts pricing! Most big retailers use automated price-setting algorithms that react to demand and current stock levels in real time. At current prices, I'd grab the Powercolor PCS+ version.

As for open-box, no I would not personally buy an open-box GPU. You have no idea what the original owner did to it (insane voltages or whatever).

 

[Techhog]

Welcome to computer parts pricing! Most big retailers use automated price-setting algorithms that react to demand and current stock levels in real time. At current prices, I'd grab the Powercolor PCS+ version.

As for open-box, no I would not personally buy an open-box GPU. You have no idea what the original owner did to it (insane voltages or whatever).

Yeah, that's what I thought. Okay, it's settled then! Maybe...

I don't know. :S I can't get everything at once (and I want to take full advantage of MIRs), so it would be smarter to get the monitor first since I can actually use that as soon as I get it. But I'm pretty afraid of prices going up on the 7950 again lol. I'd only have to wait two weeks, and with Hawaii being announced prices should either stay the same or go down. Crazy.