First gaming/software development build

M_F

Junior Member
Nov 16, 2013
3
0
0
Hello,

I'm currently picking up parts for my new gaming rig (which also will be used for software development). Currently I have a Dell l502x notebook, so I would appreciate some help with choosing proper components. I preselected some of them, I already have a monitor and SSD drive from my notebook. The budget should be close to the one I preselected - with a chance for a little boost or buying some stuff in a month or two. To target is, of course, fluent gameplay on new games, no problems when running multiple developer tools, and a chance to play with some OC.

In the future I may go for SLI, and I will add some hard drives. The sound card would also be postponed probably.

My main concerns are:
  • GPU - should it be MSI, Asus or Gigabyte? I would rather stick to GTX 760, but I'm not sure which manufacturer would be the best. I'm targeting 1080p, whit SLI in mind for the future. Additionaly maybe I will play with some OC.
  • I'm not sure about the memory - G.Skill or Kingston? 2133mhz is not much more expensive than 1600mhz in my country...
  • I picked the PSU with some backup power, so that I can use it in the future for SLI. I also thought about Corsair GS800 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139047) cause its a little cheaper and has more power.
  • Not sure about the i5 - is i7 worth the extra cash? I have an i7 on my laptop currently, and I got it only to have 4 cores - new i5 have them, but lack HT.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Hero ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($189.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($69.70 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($228.99 @ Mac Mall)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($244.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Z 70SB150200000 24-bit 192 KHz Sound Card ($89.93 @ TigerDirect)
Case: Cooler Master HAF X ATX Full Tower Case ($179.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($18.48 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1318.04
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-16 11:46 EST-0500)

Any advice would be welcome!

Edit
More information about the build accordingly to the template from http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121:
1. Usage: Gaming, software development (mainly rather heavy technologies like Java EE). I also would like to have an option to extend it in the future (wireless network adapter, fan controler etc.).
2. The budget is around 1100-1200$ (1318$ - the SSD cost)
3. Shopping will be done in Poland, from multiple vendors (because currently no vendor has all the parts I want)
4. I will not be shopping in the US, but I use newegg as a source of data and to ease of communication - I will not look for any bargains.
5. Prefered brands: Intel, Nvidia and Asus (but not sure if the graphic card should be from Asus)
6. Parts used from my previous machine: SSD drive, monitor (1080p)
7. I plan the play with overclocking.
8. 1920x1080 single monitor, maybe dual in the future (but not for gaming).
9. I plan to build the PC during the next 2-3 weeks.

Bottom line is that I don't really want to cost optimise everything accordingly to bargains or offers - my main focus is to choose the best components around the 1100$-1200$ budget
 
Last edited:

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
Welcome to the forums. Can you edit your OP with answers to these questions... http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121

You say "2133mhz is not much more expensive than 1600mhz in my country..." but then you post a build from a US website? I'm guessing you're not from the US. So please post a link to a shop you actually plan using.
 
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M_F

Junior Member
Nov 16, 2013
3
0
0
Thank you for your answer, I provided some more data accordingly to the template. Problem is that it is easier to get the parts picked in an US website, cause well - it is better than any other I know. Also there is no single vendor in my country, that will suply most/all of the parts.
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
Thank you for your answer, I provided some more data accordingly to the template. Problem is that it is easier to get the parts picked in an US website, cause well - it is better than any other I know. Also there is no single vendor in my country, that will suply most/all of the parts.

The problem with not knowing your specific vendor is that building a cost-effective PC requires choosing between very similar parts. Sometimes we will recommend a certain part because we know of a defect in a similar part, but other times we may pick a part because it's on a good sale.

Since it's basically impossible for us to enumerate every single part not to buy and every single equivalent part that is OK to buy if cheaper, we cannot make an effective recommendation based on US sites. Just because we happen to pick an item that is on a great sale on Newegg doesn't mean that it will be available for the same price in your country. So please, link us to the vendors that you're likely to use.

On a related note, please give us your budget in the currency that you'll actually be spending (Euros?).
 

M_F

Junior Member
Nov 16, 2013
3
0
0
I'll be using mainly polish vendors: http://www.x-kom.pl/, http://www.komputronik.pl/. Unfortunately they don't have any english version. My budget is around 3000zł (no Euro in Poland yet) - but this is without the SSD and the Case - I found some good offer earlier and already bought the case earlier.

Additionally does the parts I picked earlier will come along nicely? I'm wondering if I made any technical mistakes selecting them.

Thanks for your time!
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
Polish is no problem, we are well versed searching foreign websites.

I assume the case you got is the HAF X? I would not recommend it unless you got it for very cheap, it is an old design and really expensive.

What about the SSD? I hope you didn't get an 840 Pro unless you got an excellent deal; it's simply not worth the money over the 840 EVO at normal prices.

As for the rest of your parts, they are compatible, but not good choices price-wise. You are spending a lot of money in places that don't improve performance (case, mobo, expensive SSD, expensive sound card) and are really lacking in the video card.

Check this out:
i5 4670K 839zł
ASRock Z87 Pro3 364zł
Kingston DDR3 1600 8GB 278zł
Gigabyte R9 280X 1249zł
Already bought SSD 0
Lite-ON DVD Burner 78zł
XFX Core 650W 329zł
Already bought case 0
Total: 3137zł

A couple points from here:
- I didn't include an HDD because you didn't in your original build. Do you need one?
- Assuming that you didn't get absolutely fantastic deals on the two parts you already bought, we can probably tighten up the build even more if you return them and re-add their price to the budget.