New Gaming PC Build

[HorseShoe]

Hello everyone,

I'm ready to build a new computer and here is what I was thinking:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
I will mostly be using it for gaming (DOTA 2, latest FPS, SC2, D3, Terra, Civ)

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$1,500 CND

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

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
Will post links as I write up build

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.
No preference

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
I will be using a few HDs I have as storage drives as well as my soundcard

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I will want the system to be overclockable

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
I will be keeping my 27" monitor for the moment

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.
Within the next couple of weeks.

CPU/MOBO/RAM: INTEL I7 4770K/ASUS Z87-A/8GB DDR3 BUNDLE - $615.99 (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...&Sku=E145-0766) - I'm not sure if the CPU may be overkill but I have seen it reviewed quite highly.

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 Suplerclocked Video Card - 2GB GDDR5 - $269.97(http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...&Sku=E145-0766)

SSD: Kingston V300 240GB SSD - $189.97 (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...8&Sku=K24-0302)

Case: Cooler Master HAF 932 - $159.99 (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811119160)

OS: Can I use my current Windows 8 CD Key on this build?

I'm unsure of what PSU & Heatsink/Fan to get for the CPU as well. As for an optical drive I can't remember the last time I have used one on my computer so I'll opt to not get one for the moment.

The total cost comes out to $1,235 but I still need a PSU & HSF so I'll budget another $250 on top of that bringing the total final cost to $1,485 (not including taxes)

Let me know what you guys thing of this build. I'm still not sure whether I should opt for a ~$200 video card now and upgrade it a couple of years down the line to another ~$200 card or should I stick with the current one I've chosen, would the current ~$200 card be able to play the games I've listed above at their max settings on a 1080p monitor?

I'm open to suggestions and ideas and I don't mind pushing my build up by another $200 if need be.

 

[mfenn]

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
I will be keeping my 27" monitor for the moment

Resolution refers to the number of pixels your monitor has. Usually express as horizontal x vertical. Your 27" monitor could be 1920x1080 or 2560x1440. A GTX 760 is borderline for a $1500 1920x1080 gaming PC, and is totally unsuitable for a 2560x1440 one.

Overall you're spending too much on ancillary parts and not enough on the real meat of your system, the GPU.

i5 4670K $255
GA-Z87X-HD3 $120 AR
G.Skill DDR3 1600 8GB $70
Gigabyte GTX 780 $520
Seagate 600 240GB $190
Reuse HDDs $0
No ODD $0
Rosewill Capstone 650W $100
Fractal Design R4 $90 AP
Noctua U12P $75
Reuse Windows 8 $0
Total: $1420 AR AP

 

[HorseShoe]

That sounds fair - I was thinking of keeping the whole thing balanced but I supposed I should spend where it matters most.

How about a CPU? I didn't see it the list you have there, what would you recommend.

As for monitor resolution I will be running a 1920x1080 resolution.

 

[Charlie98]

How about a CPU? I didn't see it the list you have there, what would you recommend.

The i5 4670K is the CPU...

A system that emphases gaming specifically is usually just a mid-level computer with a really good GPU because most games depend on the GPU for good performance. I would buy the best GPU you can afford now...

 

[HorseShoe]

That's interesting - I actually have an i5 CPU at the moment perhaps I could just upgrade my current computer with a really good gpu like the gtx 780 and pick up an ssd and live with that for the next few years....

Are there really no games that would benefit from a higher end CPU? I would imagine certain RTS could benefit no?

 

[Charlie98]

That's interesting - I actually have an i5 CPU at the moment perhaps I could just upgrade my current computer with a really good gpu like the gtx 780 and pick up an ssd and live with that for the next few years....

Are there really no games that would benefit from a higher end CPU? I would imagine certain RTS could benefit no?

What are the specs of your current rig?

There are a few games that are using more of the CPU (BF4, for example,) but not most.

 

[HorseShoe]

I actually don't remember it off the top of my head, it's an Ivey Bridge quad core but don't remember the clock rate. I believe it's around 3.2ghz (I haven't OCed it yet so there's always that possibility)

 

[mfenn]

That's interesting - I actually have an i5 CPU at the moment perhaps I could just upgrade my current computer with a really good gpu like the gtx 780 and pick up an ssd and live with that for the next few years....

Are there really no games that would benefit from a higher end CPU? I would imagine certain RTS could benefit no?

If by "higher end" you mean "i7", then yes there are some games that will benefit minutely. However, the couple percent you get is absolutely not worth the cost when compared to spending that same money on the GPU.

I actually don't remember it off the top of my head, it's an Ivey Bridge quad core but don't remember the clock rate. I believe it's around 3.2ghz (I haven't OCed it yet so there's always that possibility)

A 3.2 GHz Ivy Bridge i5 would be the i5 3470. You absolutely do not need to upgrade that. What are your full specs?

 

[HorseShoe]

Sorry I got a little mixed up there - I actually have a Core i5 760 Lynnfield @ 2.8ghz. My GPU is a Radeon HD 7850.

 

[mfenn]

Ah OK, in that case the i5 4670K and GTX 780 would be a big upgrade.

 

[HorseShoe]

Would upgrading just my video card not be enough? Would my current CPU completely bottleneck the system?

 

[mfenn]

Would upgrading just my video card not be enough? Would my current CPU completely bottleneck the system?

You would get some benefit from upgrading to a GTX 780, but it would be severely bottlenecked by a stock-clocked i5 760 in most situations.