Hello everyone,
I am going to be building a new PC. I would like some advice about that please. I will answer the standard questions and then elaborate with more comments afterwards.
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Word processing, watching movies, browsing the web, and playing PC games.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
I am receiving funds that will cover up to $1150 CAD plus the taxes on that amount. I can go over that amount, however the difference between $1150 + tax and the final price that I pay will have to be paid out of my own pocket. I might be willing to go over by $400-500 max, but I'd somewhat prefer not to do so, because that would put me into debt for about the next 5-6 months. However, I can still get by okay if I take on that amount of debt, so I want to do that if it would be a good idea.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
I will be buying from Canada.
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.
http://www.ncix.com/ (The Canadian version)
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.
I am an Intel-fanboy and WD-Fanboy.
6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
No.
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?
1280x1024. I might go for a better resolution if I ever save enough money for a new monitor some years down the road, but that won't be any time soon.
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 10 - 20 days.
10. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
I need to purchase the Windows 10 Retail OS.
Additional comments:
I realize that my budget amount is not enough to build a good gaming PC. Therefore, I do not want this PC to be gaming-ready at the time when I buy it. Rather, I want to set up as solid of a system foundation as I can, so that I can upgrade it later with more gaming hardware, as I save more money over time.
Right now, my main priorities are to get as good of a motherboard, CPU, and case as possible. Ideally, I'd want my motherboard to last for many years into the future. I know that hardware can always fail at any time, but I'd like to pick a motherboard that will probably have the best chance of not failing for an extremely long time.
However, I do not want to buy a top-range CPU if doing so is going to start to give me diminishing returns on my dollar. I would rather settle for the mid-range CPU that will give me the best bang for my buck.
For the case, I want it to have enormous amounts of physical space, amazing cable management, amazing air cooling, and the ability to house for at least four 3.5" HDDs and at least one 5.25 optical drive. I'd prefer the USB connectors to be in the front of the case rather on top of it, but that's not a deal breaker. I never again want to have to struggle put hardware in or take it out, or to plug cables in or out, or to install or remove fans (my last case was a nightmare when doing all of those tasks because it did not provide enough physical space in which to work). I don't want any cables in my way unless absolutely necessary. If possible, I'd like to get a case which hides most of the cables in a separate compartment (like behind the motherboard). I am never going to use SSDs or water cooling, so I don't care about if a case has those features.
I'm open to either a Mid-Tower or a Full-Tower if Full will meet my needs better. Please tell me?
To summarize what I've said so far: I do not want to skimp on the motherboard, CPU, or case. As well, I don't want to skimp on the PSU.
However, I do want to skimp on the GPU: I don't want to buy any GPU right now; I'd rather use on-board graphics for now and save up money to buy a good GPU later.
I also do want to skimp on the RAM, because I'd rather save up to buy good RAM later too. As long as the RAM that I buy now will enable my system to boot and provide basic functionality, I don't care how cheap & lousy that RAM is.
Of the $1150, some of the costs are fixed. I have decided for sure to buy:
1. Windows 10 Retail (I hate OEM version OSes) for $134.99.
2. A 4TB WD Black 3.5" HDD for $259.99.
3. The NCIX system assembly and testing service for $49.98.
So, that leaves me with $705 to buy everything else, assuming I don't go over the limit out of my own pocket (which as I said, I am willing to do with up to $400-500 more, for the sake of getting a great case, motherboard and CPU).
A sales rep at NCIX recommended the following components to me:
http://www.ncix.com/detail/intel-core-i5-6400-processor-6m-84-111158.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/asus-b150-pro-gaming-aura-atx-39-122275.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/g-skill-ripjaws-v-16gb-2x8gb-c4-135223.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/corsair-cx-series-cx650m-650w-d4-125719.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/corsair-carbide-series-spec-01-red-f6-95572.htm
Do you agree with those component choices for my situation?
Would you make any better choices instead of those ones?
I was considering one these cases:
http://www.ncix.com/detail/fractal-design-define-r5-atx-70-102216.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/phanteks-enthoo-pro-m-atx-c9-122165.htm
Do you think one of those cases will be good at giving me what I need? Which case is better out of those two? Do you know of some better cases that I should consider?
Sorry that this post is so long. Thanks for any help that you can give me.
I am going to be building a new PC. I would like some advice about that please. I will answer the standard questions and then elaborate with more comments afterwards.
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Word processing, watching movies, browsing the web, and playing PC games.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
I am receiving funds that will cover up to $1150 CAD plus the taxes on that amount. I can go over that amount, however the difference between $1150 + tax and the final price that I pay will have to be paid out of my own pocket. I might be willing to go over by $400-500 max, but I'd somewhat prefer not to do so, because that would put me into debt for about the next 5-6 months. However, I can still get by okay if I take on that amount of debt, so I want to do that if it would be a good idea.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
I will be buying from Canada.
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.
http://www.ncix.com/ (The Canadian version)
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.
I am an Intel-fanboy and WD-Fanboy.
6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
No.
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?
1280x1024. I might go for a better resolution if I ever save enough money for a new monitor some years down the road, but that won't be any time soon.
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 10 - 20 days.
10. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
I need to purchase the Windows 10 Retail OS.
Additional comments:
I realize that my budget amount is not enough to build a good gaming PC. Therefore, I do not want this PC to be gaming-ready at the time when I buy it. Rather, I want to set up as solid of a system foundation as I can, so that I can upgrade it later with more gaming hardware, as I save more money over time.
Right now, my main priorities are to get as good of a motherboard, CPU, and case as possible. Ideally, I'd want my motherboard to last for many years into the future. I know that hardware can always fail at any time, but I'd like to pick a motherboard that will probably have the best chance of not failing for an extremely long time.
However, I do not want to buy a top-range CPU if doing so is going to start to give me diminishing returns on my dollar. I would rather settle for the mid-range CPU that will give me the best bang for my buck.
For the case, I want it to have enormous amounts of physical space, amazing cable management, amazing air cooling, and the ability to house for at least four 3.5" HDDs and at least one 5.25 optical drive. I'd prefer the USB connectors to be in the front of the case rather on top of it, but that's not a deal breaker. I never again want to have to struggle put hardware in or take it out, or to plug cables in or out, or to install or remove fans (my last case was a nightmare when doing all of those tasks because it did not provide enough physical space in which to work). I don't want any cables in my way unless absolutely necessary. If possible, I'd like to get a case which hides most of the cables in a separate compartment (like behind the motherboard). I am never going to use SSDs or water cooling, so I don't care about if a case has those features.
I'm open to either a Mid-Tower or a Full-Tower if Full will meet my needs better. Please tell me?
To summarize what I've said so far: I do not want to skimp on the motherboard, CPU, or case. As well, I don't want to skimp on the PSU.
However, I do want to skimp on the GPU: I don't want to buy any GPU right now; I'd rather use on-board graphics for now and save up money to buy a good GPU later.
I also do want to skimp on the RAM, because I'd rather save up to buy good RAM later too. As long as the RAM that I buy now will enable my system to boot and provide basic functionality, I don't care how cheap & lousy that RAM is.
Of the $1150, some of the costs are fixed. I have decided for sure to buy:
1. Windows 10 Retail (I hate OEM version OSes) for $134.99.
2. A 4TB WD Black 3.5" HDD for $259.99.
3. The NCIX system assembly and testing service for $49.98.
So, that leaves me with $705 to buy everything else, assuming I don't go over the limit out of my own pocket (which as I said, I am willing to do with up to $400-500 more, for the sake of getting a great case, motherboard and CPU).
A sales rep at NCIX recommended the following components to me:
http://www.ncix.com/detail/intel-core-i5-6400-processor-6m-84-111158.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/asus-b150-pro-gaming-aura-atx-39-122275.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/g-skill-ripjaws-v-16gb-2x8gb-c4-135223.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/corsair-cx-series-cx650m-650w-d4-125719.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/corsair-carbide-series-spec-01-red-f6-95572.htm
Do you agree with those component choices for my situation?
Would you make any better choices instead of those ones?
I was considering one these cases:
http://www.ncix.com/detail/fractal-design-define-r5-atx-70-102216.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/phanteks-enthoo-pro-m-atx-c9-122165.htm
Do you think one of those cases will be good at giving me what I need? Which case is better out of those two? Do you know of some better cases that I should consider?
Sorry that this post is so long. Thanks for any help that you can give me.
Last edited:
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