We've decided to pool resources and get my dear friend a gaming machine. Unfortunately we live in China at the moment and parts are quite expensive here.
Ideal budget is CNY 5000 = which is $820. I've been out of the building game for a while and really want to get this right for my friend, your help is much appreciated. Build below is in budget (4923 / $803 ) if i go with an i3 CPU, Asrock mobo and cheaper case.
I've carefully read the "attention mid-range builders" and "low-end" sticky's. Here's a preliminary i came up with. I really need advise around mobo, case and PSU.
CPU - i5 4690k 1549 / $253 this seems ideal. The savings for going down to a Intel i3 4150 759 / $123 would be welcome budget help. Will that bottle neck the GPU?
Mobo - this is more difficult. The build recommended ASUS Z97M-Plus is 899 / $147. Shouldn't i just go ATX board if i've got an ATX case anyway? All LGA1150 ATX motherboards . Asrock extreme 3 for 699? Asrock Z97 Pro4 for 739? Those aren't the exact models recommended in the mid-range guide..
GPU - Sapphire R9 280 3G - 1399 / $228 -
- All GPU's
- R9 280 seems to be ideal balance for value?
SSD - SSD Crucial MX100 739 / $121
- Recommended previously in the guide and comparatively reasonable. I can save 200/$32 or so by going with a Panasonic/Maxwell but not sure if i want some walkman/dishwasher brand doing his SSD'ing ?
- All 256 GB SSD's
Gskill Ripjaws 8GB
- I need DDR3 1600 right? All 4GBx2 DDR3 1600 kits
- Corsair vengence? Kingston hyperx? I took RipJaws because they look and sound the most gaming. Their marketing is working on me.
I really need help with case
- There's a specific requirement here. I know he'll want "gamer looks". He's got all the Razer stuff etc. LED fans, windows etc. He prefers a large case, probably from years of terrible gaming on his wife's all-in-one PC.
Corsair Carbide 230T - 549 / $89
- This case is recommended in the build guide, but it's expensive here? Below are cheaper cases with the right looks, any thoughts on this?
- Antec GX900 - 229 / $37
- Coolermaster RC-KC600-N
- Corsair Carbide Spec-01
Thoughts? The Carbide Spec-01 is probably my favourite.. All cases
PSU - How much power do i need? 650W ? Antec Neo ECO 650W 499 / $81Antec Neo Eco’s are named differently… Here's the PSU page
- This comp will be used for gaming (and porn, i suspect).
- I think value is important here, i don't want to get him a compromised crappy computer just to fit the budget. I want good value for gaming, if that needs to break the budget do let me know.
- All purchases need to be made on http://www.jd.com in China. $100 = 600 CNY - typing any part name/number into the search box works.
- I prefer to avoid chinese brands or any brand that isn't common in the US/EU
- Default speeds.
- 1080p gaming.
- Looking to get this ordered asap.
Ideal budget is CNY 5000 = which is $820. I've been out of the building game for a while and really want to get this right for my friend, your help is much appreciated. Build below is in budget (4923 / $803 ) if i go with an i3 CPU, Asrock mobo and cheaper case.
I've carefully read the "attention mid-range builders" and "low-end" sticky's. Here's a preliminary i came up with. I really need advise around mobo, case and PSU.
CPU - i5 4690k 1549 / $253 this seems ideal. The savings for going down to a Intel i3 4150 759 / $123 would be welcome budget help. Will that bottle neck the GPU?
Mobo - this is more difficult. The build recommended ASUS Z97M-Plus is 899 / $147. Shouldn't i just go ATX board if i've got an ATX case anyway? All LGA1150 ATX motherboards . Asrock extreme 3 for 699? Asrock Z97 Pro4 for 739? Those aren't the exact models recommended in the mid-range guide..
GPU - Sapphire R9 280 3G - 1399 / $228 -
- All GPU's
- R9 280 seems to be ideal balance for value?
SSD - SSD Crucial MX100 739 / $121
- Recommended previously in the guide and comparatively reasonable. I can save 200/$32 or so by going with a Panasonic/Maxwell but not sure if i want some walkman/dishwasher brand doing his SSD'ing ?
- All 256 GB SSD's
Gskill Ripjaws 8GB
- I need DDR3 1600 right? All 4GBx2 DDR3 1600 kits
- Corsair vengence? Kingston hyperx? I took RipJaws because they look and sound the most gaming. Their marketing is working on me.
I really need help with case
- There's a specific requirement here. I know he'll want "gamer looks". He's got all the Razer stuff etc. LED fans, windows etc. He prefers a large case, probably from years of terrible gaming on his wife's all-in-one PC.
Corsair Carbide 230T - 549 / $89
- This case is recommended in the build guide, but it's expensive here? Below are cheaper cases with the right looks, any thoughts on this?
- Antec GX900 - 229 / $37
- Coolermaster RC-KC600-N
- Corsair Carbide Spec-01
Thoughts? The Carbide Spec-01 is probably my favourite.. All cases
PSU - How much power do i need? 650W ? Antec Neo ECO 650W 499 / $81Antec Neo Eco’s are named differently… Here's the PSU page
- This comp will be used for gaming (and porn, i suspect).
- I think value is important here, i don't want to get him a compromised crappy computer just to fit the budget. I want good value for gaming, if that needs to break the budget do let me know.
- All purchases need to be made on http://www.jd.com in China. $100 = 600 CNY - typing any part name/number into the search box works.
- I prefer to avoid chinese brands or any brand that isn't common in the US/EU
- Default speeds.
- 1080p gaming.
- Looking to get this ordered asap.
Last edited:
