Good for Gaming or should I go bigger?

[MonKENy]

Want to throw together a new build for my son

hes going into high school and will be using it for school work of course but also gaming

He plays Skyrim, is starting to play witcher 3, and will prob use it for a wide range of other games but those give you an idea of the bigger titles he needs to run

I am thinking (I will be stealing the case though lol)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($201.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth Z87 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($96.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($58.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($54.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $489.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-17 23:03 EDT-0400

With an R9 270x that we already have.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

16 GB isn't "too much" if the extra $50 doesn't much matter to you, but I'm thinking day in and day out he would be more likely to appreciate it if the extra $50 were spent on more raw CPU power.

Unless of course he has some good reason to think he would actually use the 9th through 16th GB of RAM, rather than just let it sit in the slots unused.

Yep to the SSD.

 

[danEboy83]

I personally game with 4 gb of RAM and 2 gigs on my Video Card. I've read that 8 gigs is plenty for the current generation of video games.

16 gbs is more suitable for video editing and other memory taxing work station type computers.

If you were to go the 16 gb route , it would be to have the latest and greatest computer that can handle 4K resolution textures, which would be a year or two away.

The R9 270x is an entry level video card and would not necessarily reap the benefits of 16gbs of ram.

The witcher 3 is a beautiful game and does not run at it's maximum potential on a r9 270x. Even a top of the line r9 290x would drop down to the 40 frames per second zone occasionally and top out at 80fps. The standard for smooth gaming is typically 60fps depending on your gaming monitor,120-140 is where the gaming market is headed. Creating a smooth gaming experience with high fluidity.

If gaming at 1920x1080 resolutions with high resolution textures, ie. high definition gaming, isn't a priority then stick with 8gbs and that video card.

I would recommend 8gbs of ram, an R9 290, and a Haswell CPU + motherboard, preferably a z97 that can potentially overclock.

https://pcpartpicker.com/ also has plenty of recommendations.

 

[danEboy83]

I would recommend this if price were not an issue. 1000$ computer.

https://pcpartpicker.com/guide/DtnTwP/core-i5-4690k-radeon-r9-290x-gaming-pc

 

[VirtualLarry]

I am thinking

i5 3470 ivy bridge
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115234

With I think an R9 270x that we already have.

Ill upgrade the MB with 16GB of RAM and add a SSD unless you guys thing 16 is to much.

No, just no, on Ivy Bridge for a new build, unless you already have the mobo or CPU laying around. Go with Haswell at the minimum, these days. Z77 mobos are starting to really dry up. (Z77 is the high-end chipset for Socket 1155, which for Ivy Bridge.) Get a Z97 mobo, preferably one with newer features (M.2, SATAexpress, USB3.1). That's Socket 1150, for Haswell and Broadwell. One of the big advantages of 1150 over 1155, is six SATA6G ports, rather than two.

CPU is up to you. If you wanted to save money, a locked quad-core is fine. Just make sure to get a quad.

 

[Enigmoid]

Grab some more storage. 128 GB is not enough to install windows + utilities and more than a couple games.

8 GB RAM is fine.

Keep the 270X until its really not enough. He's in school and he should be focusing on that (gaming is a lesser priority). If he really needs more GPU power get the GPU then. 270X will play witcher 3 fine unless you insist on max details + AA @ 60 fps which a lot of this forum is going to push you to.

 

[danEboy83]

I'd like to add, if your son likes sky rim, fall out 4 is just around the corner. Maybe barter some good grades for a newer better video card.

 

[MonKENy]

No, just no, on Ivy Bridge for a new build, unless you already have the mobo or CPU laying around. Go with Haswell at the minimum, these days. Z77 mobos are starting to really dry up. (Z77 is the high-end chipset for Socket 1155, which for Ivy Bridge.) Get a Z97 mobo, preferably one with newer features (M.2, SATAexpress, USB3.1). That's Socket 1150, for Haswell and Broadwell. One of the big advantages of 1150 over 1155, is six SATA6G ports, rather than two.

CPU is up to you. If you wanted to save money, a locked quad-core is fine. Just make sure to get a quad.

Yeah I changed the build quite a bit

Grab some more storage. 128 GB is not enough to install windows + utilities and more than a couple games.

8 GB RAM is fine.

Keep the 270X until its really not enough. He's in school and he should be focusing on that (gaming is a lesser priority). If he really needs more GPU power get the GPU then. 270X will play witcher 3 fine unless you insist on max details + AA @ 60 fps which a lot of this forum is going to push you to.

Forgot to add that he already also has a 1tb 7200rpm platter drive as well. Nope he doesnt need to ultra setting anything. As he gets older and picks up odd jobs he can build himself a better machine if he wants it,

 

[MonKENy]

I would recommend this if price were not an issue. 1000$ computer.

https://pcpartpicker.com/guide/DtnTwP/core-i5-4690k-radeon-r9-290x-gaming-pc

Price def is an issue lol

 

[SPBHM]

8GB is enough and ram is easy to upgrade,
since you have a z87 board I would consider the extra for the unlocked i5,
if you don't really want OC it's also worth considering the e3 1230 v3 I think

 

[Enigmoid]

Forgot to add that he already also has a 1tb 7200rpm platter drive as well. Nope he doesnt need to ultra setting anything. As he gets older and picks up odd jobs he can build himself a better machine if he wants it,

Great. The 270X should be plenty considering you already have it. Upgrade down the road when he needs more gpu power.

 

[TeknoBug]

Yes i5 4590 is one of the best CPU's you can pick up (if you aren't into OC'ing obviously), but upgrade that SSD to 240-250GB as 120GB just doesn't cut it these days, the SSDNow V300 is one of the slowest too. And drop that memory down to 8GB if it starts costing too much after changing SSD to 240-250GB.

 

[sm625]

It takes next to no effort to get a 4.0GHz overclock on the K version, for little extra money. At 4GHz it should be enough to last till graduation.

 

[MonKENy]

Yes i5 4590 is one of the best CPU's you can pick up (if you aren't into OC'ing obviously), but upgrade that SSD to 240-250GB as 120GB just doesn't cut it these days, the SSDNow V300 is one of the slowest too. And drop that memory down to 8GB if it starts costing too much after changing SSD to 240-250GB.

I dont want him installing a whole lot to the SSD, Just the OS (20GB) , basic apps, and whatever couple games he is actively playing Skyrim (6GB) and Assassins creed 3 (17GB) maybe Arkham Asylum/City (8/17GB) so all together that isnt even 75GB That leaves plenty of wiggle room for odds and ends.

Most of his games he can run off of the 1TB drive

 

[ShintaiDK]

Change the SSD to a 240/256GB at least. A BX100 is like 90$. And you want everything you can on it.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Change the SSD to a 240/256GB at least. A BX100 is like 90$. And you want everything you can on it.

Well, we agree on something. OP, if you can swing it at all, go for a 240/256GB SSD. The 120GB models get cramped pretty quickly.

 

[MonKENy]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth Z87 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($116.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($58.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.00 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $551.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-18 18:36 EDT-0400

 

[MonKENy]

there I made the SSD change lol, man I like it better when it was under $500

 

[Enigmoid]

there I made the SSD change lol, man I like it better when it was under $500

128 GB goes by really fast, especially with ballooning game sizes (star citizen recommends 100 GB free space - in all likelyhood it will use less but still take up a lot of room). When you consider windows + files + applications (word and such) and the fact that you need to leave the SSD about 15% empty for performance reasons, 128 GB is not a lot of space.

 

[MonKENy]

its done, I made a change to the MD but other than that its what I listed, Total was 605.06 ugh

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($88.85 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($58.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.00 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($118.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $565.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-18 19:22 EDT-0400

Free shipping with amazon prime and willcall with newegg

I dont understand how I paid the prices listed here (actually 109 for the case) and I paid more than what is shown?

 

[escrow4]

I'd spend the extra $25 for the 4690. 200MHz extra base + turbo. Since you won't be overclocking. That board also doesn't have MCE. If you want all core 3.9GHz you'll want something Z97.

 

[MonKENy]

I'd spend the extra $25 for the 4690. 200MHz extra base + turbo. Since you won't be overclocking. That board also doesn't have MCE. If you want all core 3.9GHz you'll want something Z97.

I thought the z97 was only for k class cpus? Since this one isnt unlocked and im not OC does it matter?

 

[Sonikku]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth Z87 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($116.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($58.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.00 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $551.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-18 18:36 EDT-0400

Wise choice on going with a bigger ssd, all the better going with Crucial. But if I may make a suggestion, go with this one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...48&cm_re=Crucial_MX200-_-20-148-948-_-Product
And apply this coupon code.
EMCATKW24

More speed, lower price.

Hurry! Code is good only through today.

 

[escrow4]

I thought the z97 was only for k class cpus? Since this one isnt unlocked and im not OC does it matter?

Z97 can be run with a locked CPU if you want the extra slots/ports/features. MCE will turbo all cores to 3.9GHz with that CPU on any load. Asrock and probably Asus has that feature. Gigabyte doesn't. At least not on my Z87 board.

 

[beginner99]

I would wait till August and get a skylake build.