Need advice building a Gaming PC

[Vritra]

Hello everyone,

As the title states, I require your advice in compiling specs for a powerful gaming PC. Now, my experience with building PCs is minimal at best: the most I've done in the past is pick out certain components (GFX card, sound card) and I've trusted a local vendor to pick out the rest of the components. Planning to do something similar now: there's a local retailer who is known for building really good gaming systems, and I will be relying on them, as well as sourcing most components from them. However, I'd like to be well informed about what sort of specs I should be looking for, and so I come to you for your advice.

To start with, I've picked out the video card I'd like to build the system around. Based on my budget (and whatever I've picked up from reading articles about current GPUs), I'd like to build a PC around either the nVidia Geforce GTX 980 TI, or the soon to be released AMD Radeon R9 Fury X. Is this a good place to start when building a PC?

Anyway, I've tried to answer the build questions to the best of my ability below:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Gaming, mostly. Some Photoshop and Illustrator here and there (for brochure work, digital painting, etc.), and the occasional movie.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

Rs. 120,000 - 150,000 (which amounts to $2350, according to xe.com)

But I hasten to add: I'd like the build to be as cheap as possible! I don't need a fancy case (just something with decent cooling), and I don't need a sound card (I'll be using a USB Creative sound card), blu-ray drives, massive SSD, etc. I'm perfectly happy with an ordinary looking CPU case, a 120GB SSD, etc. I'd much rather that the internals were very capable, and even here, with my budget, I understand that compromises will be required.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

India.

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
We can't be expected to scour the internet on your behalf, chasing down deals in your specific country... Again, help us, help YOU.

Most parts will be sourced primarily from Golchait Computers. They've got a fairly large catalogue of products available (from what I can tell, anyway). I can also access the following online retailers:

Amazon India
Flipkart
Snapdeal

There are a few more local stores I can access, that don't have websites/online catalogues, but they too have a fairly good selection of stuff available.

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Nothing.

With the GPU, I'm happy with either nVidia or ATI. No other specific preference.

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Sound card: Creative Sound Blaster XFI HD sound card
Keyboard and Mouse

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Default speeds.

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?

1440p QHD resolution (preferable).

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.

September of this year.

10. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

Windows.
Nothing else.


I hope that answers everything.

Thanks in advance

 

[lehtv]

Since you're not buying until Septemper, there's no point in locking into specific parts just yet. For now, all you need is a general outline of what sort of PC your budget can buy. For instance, here's what I'd be looking at for a 1440p gaming build:

Monitor - BenQ XL2430Z 1440p 144hz FreeSync monitor, Rs 50,000, should be available in India sooner or later: http://www.digit.in/monitors/benq-unveils-two-new-gaming-monitors-xl2430t-xl2730z-26369.html, other 1440p FreeSync monitors are also worth considering

CPU - locked Intel Haswell i5-4460 or i5-4590, or possibly Skylake i5-6500 or i5-6600 ~ Rs 16,000
Cooling - basic 90-120mm tower cooler to keep the CPU cool and quiet, e.g. TX3 Evo Rs. 2,000 (optional)
RAM - 2x4GB DDR3-1600 ~ Rs 5,000
Motherboard - basic ATX/microATX H97 board or upcoming LGA1151 board ~ Rs 8,000-10,000
GPU - R9 Fury X ~ Rs 42,000
SSD - 240-256GB ~ Rs 8,500
HDD - 1TB WD Blue or Seagate ~ Rs 4,200
Power - reliable 650W unit from Seasonic, Antec, XFX, EVGA ~ Rs 7,000-8,000
Case - microATX or ATX case with basic modern features, e.g. Cooler Master N400 Rs 5,000

Total cost around Rs 140,000. Plus Windows license.

 

[Vritra]

Since you're not buying until Septemper....

Thanks so much for the quick response! This is exactly what I was looking for, a picture of what to expect for the budget

That monitor though... Those damn import taxes. Didn't expect a third of the budget to go towards it! 50K is way steeper than I was expecting the monitor to be, honestly; that's like a third of my budget. Oh well... Anyway, Is there a viable replacement that Asus, LG, or Acer make that I can look into? BenQ presence here seems to be rather limited.

Again, thanks!

 

[lehtv]

Well, a WQHD FreeSync/G-Sync 144hz monitor is going to cost a lot wherever you buy it, but it will be worth it. A powerful single GPU like Fury X or 980 Ti running that resolution at an adaptive refresh rate is going to look stunning and run smooth as butter.

Not sure what other adaptive sync monitors are or will be available in India, but google "list of Freesync monitors" and "list of G-Sync monitors" and you should find relatively new info

 

[Berryracer]

I just bought an ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q in Dubai but it cost me $870 USD. This is the best looking monitor my eyes have ever seen....

I highly recommend you get a monitor with built in G-Sync support to experience ultra smoothness in games. Even a 24" would do, maybe ACER or ASUS

 

[Vritra]

Well, a WQHD FreeSync/G-Sync 144hz monitor...

I'll look into it, thanks. The market for such monitors here is pretty low at the moment, so I'm wondering if I should settle for a 1080p monitor until more options become available.

I just bought an ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q in Dubai but it cost me $870 USD. This is the best looking monitor my eyes have ever seen....

The Asus is the only WQHD G-Sync monitor I can seem to find available in the local market right now. The importer's asking for 65 grand (just over $1000), with no EMI option available. There's literally nothing else: that BenQ hasn't made it ashore yet, nor have any of the others I can find online. So even a 24 inch substitute isn't really an option at the moment.

Again, thanks for the help folks

 

[Berryracer]

I'll look into it, thanks. The market for such monitors here is pretty low at the moment, so I'm wondering if I should settle for a 1080p monitor until more options become available.



The Asus is the only WQHD G-Sync monitor I can seem to find available in the local market right now. The importer's asking for 65 grand (just over $1000), with no EMI option available. There's literally nothing else: that BenQ hasn't made it ashore yet, nor have any of the others I can find online. So even a 24 inch substitute isn't really an option at the moment.

Again, thanks for the help folks

Gosh! That's very expensive! I thought you guys would have stuff a bit cheaper there as the government will take into consideration the average income of an individual.

Perhaps if you have an Indian friend here I can tell you where to find this monitor so he can deliver it to you by hand