Help with building a new PC

[Zack Fair]

1. This computer will be used for Internet browsing, Word programs, and moderate gaming. (most intensive would be World of Tanks and Minecraft)

2. The budget for this computer would be around 1100 US dollars

3. The parts will be purchased in America

4. I would like an Intel processor

5. I won't be overclocking any part of this computer.

6. The monitor pixel count is 1600x900, but I can upgrade if need be.

9. I hope to be able to build this by late May (27-31), and use it as soon as construction is done.

I would appreciate any sort of help that you would be able to give, and I can change my expectations if necessary.

Moved from CPUs to General Hardware (GH is our designated build forum)
-ViRGE

 

[Burpo]

Getting parts that are made in the US isn't an option, but a decent bare bones system with 3 yr warranty is do-able. Just add RAM hard drive & ROM (under $1000)
There's more available on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/INTEL-Gen4-...131003132420&rk=2&rkt=6&sd=151089001021&rt=nc

 

[Yuriman]

That's a very generous budget if you already have a monitor. For WoT and Minecraft, a Pentium or i3 would be plenty and in total would probably run around $600, leaving you with plenty to upgrade your screen, get a nice pair of headphones + mouse, or maybe take a cheap vacation.

I don't think any computer parts are made in the US. Example: It was a big deal when Motorola announced that the Moto X would be the first smartphone (ever?) assembled in the US, even though all of the components are still coming from Asia. We don't really make much here anymore.

 

[DSF]

I'm assuming he meant that he'll be assembling the computer in America, not that he wants all the parts to be made in the U.S.

Is that right OP?

 

[piasabird]

I take it you want to purchase the parts in the USA. That makes sense. Not much of any computer parts are actually made in the USA.

Most new monitors are at least HD at 1080p at minimum. However, if you like a different resolution to make it easy on your eyes that is fine. An HD monitor is a lot easier on the eyes as well.

 

[lehtv]

On your budget I'd upgrade the monitor. The games you play aren't very intensive, so you don't need to spend a ton on the graphics card, instead you can allocate this to a better monitor.

Can you also use your existing mouse, keyboard, speakers etc?

Also, the end of May is still ways out, I would recommend you reply to this thread or create a new one about a week in advance of when you plan to purchase.

4. I would like an Intel operating system and a compatible motherboard

You probably mean Intel processor. Intel doesn't make operating systems

 

[mfenn]

You probably mean Intel processor. Intel doesn't make operating systems

Well, they tried, but it didn't go too well. :awe.

OP, I want to chime in to follow up on lehtv's question. Do you mean that you want to be done by the end of May and can start any time? Or do you mean that you can't start until the end of May?

 

[Zack Fair]

Thanks for all the help!

 

[NewYorksFinest]

Let me give it a shot...

Intel Core i5-4440: $90

ASRock Extreme 3: $115

8GB Samsung DDR3-1600 RAM (@ Memory4Less. For a cheaper option, you could go on Newegg and find Corsair of Crucial RAM. Im not doing it, however.) The Samsung is the fastest, IMHO: $120


1TB Western Digital Black: $90

EVGA GeForce GTX 650 1GB GDDR5 Graphics: $120

Fractal Design R4: $100

Corsair 550W PSU: $100

Some DVD Burner

Dell 23" S2340L 1920 x 1080p: $200 (Price has been jumping; it was $175 yesterday, $200 today.)



Im not doing the math. Do it yourself.

Ah crap I forgot to add the SSD. Go to Newegg and find a 120, 250, 120, 256, 500GB SSD fo0r yourself. Im not doing it .

 

[Essence_of_War]

The Samsung is the fastest, IMHO: $120

What a bizarre thing to say. It's DDR3-1600. It isn't particularly "fast" and it isn't a matter of opinion.

Also, the CPU is $190, not $90, and if you're dropping $190 and getting a z87 MoBo, why aren't you just getting the i5-4670k from amazon for the same price.

I also don't get the attitude re: the SSD, or adding up numbers.

 

[Charlie98]

What a bizarre thing to say. It's DDR3-1600. It isn't particularly "fast" and it isn't a matter of opinion.

Jeepers... a set of 2x4GB RAM @1600 is $61 (Team Zeus @ Newegg)... why on earth would anyone suggest a $125 single card RAM?

I'm not doing the math, but you can figure it out for yourself... :ninja:

Also, the end of May is still ways out, I would recommend you reply to this thread or create a new one about a week in advance of when you plan to purchase.

Zack, that is correct...^^^^ your budget is ample, there won't be a problem. Wait until you are ready to build and try it then...

 

[Zack Fair]

Thanks, I didn't know how long it would take to order the parts and then assemble them.

 

[DSF]

Thanks, I didn't know how long it would take to order the parts and then assemble them.

If you can sign up for a free trial of ShopRunner you can get free 2-day shipping from Newegg. Do the same thing with Amazon Prime and you've got free 2-day shipping on just about all your parts, except for the odd deal you may grab from somewhere else. Then assembly is just one afternoon.

Plan on a week for delivery worst case, and then a day for building.

 

[Charlie98]

Plan on a week for delivery worst case, and then a day for building.

Yup! :biggrin:

 

[artemicion]

Processor:
Intel Core i5-4430 Haswell
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116895
$190

Motherboard:
MSI B85M-P33 LGA 1150 Intel B85 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130703
$63

Case:
Fractal Design Core 1000
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352032
$35

Memory:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231314
$75

Storage:
PNY XLR8 SSD9SC120GMDF-RB 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820178455
$70
(or larger capacity as needed)

PSU:
EVGA 100-W1-500-KR 500W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817438016
$40

Optical Drive:
None (if possible--install OS via flash drive)
-or- cheapest available (e.g., http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135305 @ $20)

Operating System:
Windows 7 or 8
$100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832416776
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116986

Total thus far: $573 w/o optical drive ($593 with)
Mouse/Keyboard/Speakers/Monitor as desired

You can drive that price down further by scouring the Hot Deals forum or Slickdeals.net for computer hardware deals on a daily basis. Start today, buy what you can on sale, buy the rest in May (or whenever you need it).

Edit: No discrete GPU, I'm sure the HD 4600 can handle Minecraft, but you might want to check re: World of Tanks as I'm not familiar with that game. I'm sure it'll meet min. requirements.

 

[mfenn]

Let me give it a shot...

Intel Core i5-4440: $90

ASRock Extreme 3: $115

8GB Samsung DDR3-1600 RAM (@ Memory4Less. For a cheaper option, you could go on Newegg and find Corsair of Crucial RAM. Im not doing it, however.) The Samsung is the fastest, IMHO: $120


1TB Western Digital Black: $90

EVGA GeForce GTX 650 1GB GDDR5 Graphics: $120

Fractal Design R4: $100

Corsair 550W PSU: $100

Some DVD Burner

Dell 23" S2340L 1920 x 1080p: $200 (Price has been jumping; it was $175 yesterday, $200 today.)



Im not doing the math. Do it yourself.

Ah crap I forgot to add the SSD. Go to Newegg and find a 120, 250, 120, 256, 500GB SSD fo0r yourself. Im not doing it .

Who is going to trust a build from a person who can't even be bothered to sum some figures? How do you know it's a good deal (hint: it's not when you're paying $120 for 8GB of DDR3 1600).

Here's a bit of friendly advice: If you're going to do a build for somebody, don't be lazy. It just makes you look bad.

 

[mfenn]

Artemicion's build looks pretty good, but I'd make a few changes:

Storage:
PNY XLR8 SSD9SC120GMDF-RB 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820178455
$70
(or larger capacity as needed)

Given how far the OP's budget this build is, I think I'd get a bigger SSD as well as one that wasn't based on Sandforce. The bigger drive will be faster (more NAND die) and easier to keep fast (less relative utilization). Something like the M500 240GB for $120 would fit the bill.

PSU:
EVGA 100-W1-500-KR 500W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817438016
$40

The Corsair CX430 is higher efficiency and only costs $20 AR.

Edit: No discrete GPU, I'm sure the HD 4600 can handle Minecraft, but you might want to check re: World of Tanks as I'm not familiar with that game. I'm sure it'll meet min. requirements.

You can run WoT on an IGP if you turn the graphics down. If you want to enable all the eye candy they've added in recent(ish) updates, you'll need a discrete GPU. Something moderate like the R7 260X for $120 would be perfectly sufficient.

 

[artemicion]

Artemicion's build looks pretty good, but I'd make a few changes:



Given how far the OP's budget this build is, I think I'd get a bigger SSD as well as one that wasn't based on Sandforce. The bigger drive will be faster (more NAND die) and easier to keep fast (less relative utilization). Something like the M500 240GB for $120 would fit the bill.



The Corsair CX430 is higher efficiency and only costs $20 AR.



You can run WoT on an IGP if you turn the graphics down. If you want to enable all the eye candy they've added in recent(ish) updates, you'll need a discrete GPU. Something moderate like the R7 260X for $120 would be perfectly sufficient.

Agree with the Corsair CX430, so disregard my suggestion. That's actually the one I was thinking of, but I couldn't remember the name, so I just threw in some other semi reputable PSU I found on Newegg.