Buyer's Guide II: Extreme, High-End, Mid-Range, Budget, and Entry Level Systems - Part 2

[nippp0n]

Hello, I'm a newbie when it comes to building a PC.

I will like to make a PC which is capable of playing dota 2 at max settings. Occasionally i will be playing some fps like bf3 and crysis 3. I am fine with medium settings for such intensive fps games. Please advise and recommend me on the suitable parts for a PC capable to handle such games.

I do need an OS as well as keyboard and monitor. I will prefer a 1080p screen.

My budget will be anything from 1.2 to 1.5k.

Thank you!

CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75-DGS @ $291
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ $82
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $22
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB @ $80
SSD: Plextor M5S 128GB @ $139
GPU: Palit GTX 760 Jetstream @ $379
Case: Sharkoon T5 @ $63
PSU: Seasonic S12 520W @ $78
OS: Windows 7 Home 64bit OEM @ $110
Monitor: Dell U2312HM @ $250
KB & Mouse: Logitech Mk120 @ $18

Total: $1512
Buy and build at Tradepac.

 

[nippp0n]

Dear Bro nippon and all gurus,

i took in bro nippon advice and make some changes.. need some comment

CPU+Mobo: i5-3450 + ASrock b75m-DGS: 291
Ram: 1600mhz value ram 8Gb: 80
SSD: plextor m5s 128GB: 139
Case: Sharkoon MS140 / CM Elite 361-usb3.0 : 52 (Dont know Tradepac got sell cm361 anot and what price?)
PSU: FSP hexa 500W: 58 (whats major diff against FSP 450W raider? should i change?)
GPU: PowerColor 7790 1GB oc: 190 (you guys know tradepac sell sapphire 7790 how much? should i change?)
Hitachi 1TB: 80

without changing case/power/GPU: the total will be 890...

I upped my budget to 900.. so trying to make full use of it.. thanks

If you really want to squeeze the best value out of it,

CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75M-DGS @ $291
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 4GB @ $42
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $22
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 500GB @ $60
SSD: Plextor M5S 128GB @ $139
GPU: Powercolor 7850 PCS @ $240
Case: Sharkoon MS140 @ $52
PSU: FSP Hexa 500W @ $58

Total: $904

 

[flingstar]

Hi,
Been lurking and trying to find the right rig built here but most i see is 1500 range. Can someone please advice me on a CPU + monitor built?

Budget is 2000-2500 without peripherals.
Need OS and good size monitor.
Main thing she do is Kpop video HD spammming, Dota2(mostly), starcraft 2 and studying(mostly reading). Hope the system can support the 3rd expension for sc2.

I went to sim lim square to buy but was surprised they all close at 8pm although it is Sunday @@. Can recommend me a shop and a built? Will be going this few days.

 

[rAcEr]

Intel i5 cpu 4670
Asrock h87
256gb plextor m5p
2x8 gb value ram
Gtx 760
Dell u2412m

Other parts n pricing you can check other recommendations. The questions on shop have been addressed many times here. Pc themes n bargain to almost tradepac pricing

 

[GrimaH]

Hi,
Been lurking and trying to find the right rig built here but most i see is 1500 range. Can someone please advice me on a CPU + monitor built?

Budget is 2000-2500 without peripherals.
Need OS and good size monitor.
Main thing she do is Kpop video HD spammming, Dota2(mostly), starcraft 2 and studying(mostly reading). Hope the system can support the 3rd expension for sc2.

I went to sim lim square to buy but was surprised they all close at 8pm although it is Sunday @@. Can recommend me a shop and a built? Will be going this few days.

Intel Core i5 4570 + Asrock B75M-Pro 4 - $388
G.Skill Ripjaws-X 1600MHz CL9 4GBx2 - $95
Crucial M500 128GB SATA-3 SSD - $179
Seagate 2TB 64MB SATA-3 HDD - $117
HIS HD7850 2GB - $249
Seasonic S12II 520W - $89
Antec Solo USB3.0 ATX - $59
Windows 7 Home Premium x64 - $120
Dell U2713M 27" eIPS LED - $779

Total = $2075

Enjoy the awesome visuals on that monitor.

 

[nippp0n]

Hi,
Been lurking and trying to find the right rig built here but most i see is 1500 range. Can someone please advice me on a CPU + monitor built?

Budget is 2000-2500 without peripherals.
Need OS and good size monitor.
Main thing she do is Kpop video HD spammming, Dota2(mostly), starcraft 2 and studying(mostly reading). Hope the system can support the 3rd expension for sc2.

I went to sim lim square to buy but was surprised they all close at 8pm although it is Sunday @@. Can recommend me a shop and a built? Will be going this few days.

The user is a female? Any preferred chassis color etc (girls are pretty fussy )

 

[wuweiz]

Hi,
Been lurking and trying to find the right rig built here but most i see is 1500 range. Can someone please advice me on a CPU + monitor built?

Budget is 2000-2500 without peripherals.
Need OS and good size monitor.
Main thing she do is Kpop video HD spammming, Dota2(mostly), starcraft 2 and studying(mostly reading). Hope the system can support the 3rd expension for sc2.

I went to sim lim square to buy but was surprised they all close at 8pm although it is Sunday @@. Can recommend me a shop and a built? Will be going this few days.

My recommendations:

Mobo+CPU: Asus H87M-E + i5-4570 - $412
GPU: Sapphire HD7950 3GB OC with Boost - $415
Mem: G.Skill Ripjaws-X 1600MHZ 16GB (8GBx2) CL9 - $199
SSD: Plextor M5P 128GB - $172
HDD: WD Caviar Blue (1TB) - $85
PSU: Seasonic M12II-620W - $125
Casing: NZXT Phantom 210 (White) - $155
ROM: LG 24x DVD-RW Sata OEM - $25
Monitor: Dell 27" U2713M - $779
OS: Win 7 Home Premium (64bit) - $120

Total: $2,487

Prices quoted from PCThemes. Can always try to bargain down.

Quite an over-kill for your sister needs.. But since you have the budget, why not?

 

[RoLanTo]

If you really want to squeeze the best value out of it,

CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75M-DGS @ $291
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 4GB @ $42
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $22
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 500GB @ $60
SSD: Plextor M5S 128GB @ $139
GPU: Powercolor 7850 PCS @ $240
Case: Sharkoon MS140 @ $52
PSU: FSP Hexa 500W @ $58

Total: $904

I no need the DVD drive, will use USB to boot windows setup/ portable dvd drive which i can borrow.

The PSU no problem with handling additional 1 more HDD for my existing old one right?
sharkoon MS140 vs CM elite 361, same price better feature?

CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75M-DGS @ $291
Ram: 1x Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ $82
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 500GB @ $60
SSD: Plextor M5S 128GB @ $139
GPU: Powercolor 7850 PCS @ $240
Case: Sharkoon MS140 @ $52
PSU: FSP Hexa 500W @ $58

Total: 922. slightly exceed

 

[wuweiz]

I no need the DVD drive, will use USB to boot windows setup/ portable dvd drive which i can borrow.

The PSU no problem with handling additional 1 more HDD for my existing old one right?
sharkoon MS140 vs CM elite 361, same price better feature?

CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75M-DGS @ $291
Ram: 1x Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ $82
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 500GB @ $60
SSD: Plextor M5S 128GB @ $139
GPU: Powercolor 7850 PCS @ $240
Case: Sharkoon MS140 @ $52
PSU: FSP Hexa 500W @ $58

Total: 922. slightly exceed

U can just use 4GB of Ram. It's enough for most stuffs. Just don't run any applications when u r gaming.

U can always add on RAM in future when u have the budget.

 

[zzzzzzz]

Do you need OS? What is your budget?

need windows 7
budget $500
how come now this kind of budget can only build intel dual core?
last time on this budget i managed to build a cheap amd quad core

 

[slashiroth]

Need another recommedations for a desktop for game and multitasking like photoshop and many programs on for work.
Not looking to OC.
Looking at the gtx 760 msi graphic card.
Budget includes win 7 about $1.5k or lower
If possible to squeeze in a ssd within the budget

Keyboards, mouse not required.
Thank you.

 

[wuweiz]

Need another recommedations for a desktop for game and multitasking like photoshop and many programs on for work.
Not looking to OC.
Looking at the gtx 760 msi graphic card.
Budget includes win 7 about $1.5k or lower
If possible to squeeze in a ssd within the budget

Keyboards, mouse not required.
Thank you.

My recommendations:

Mobo+CPU: Asrock B85M-Pro4 + i5-4570 - $388
Gfx: MSI GTX 760 2GB Twin Frozr - $409
Mem: Corsair Vengence 1600MHZ 8 GB (2x4GB) - $95
SSD: Plextor M5S 256GB - $259 (Not sure if you need or a 128GB will do?)
HDD: WD Caviar Blue (1TB) - $85
Casing + PSU: Asgard XP - Non-Windowed + Seasonic S12II-Non Modular 520W - $129 (Bundle from PCTheme)
ROM: LG 24x DVD-RW Sata OEM - $25
OS: Win 7 Home Premium (64bit) - $120

Total: $1,510

Quote taken from PCTheme pricelist. Can go down and bargain bah.

If your applications doesn't need up to 256GB of SSD, you can consider lowering it to 128 GB and then maybe you can use the savings for 2x8GB of RAM, since u r doing photoshop (though idk how intense your PS is..)

Graphics card wise, maybe you can consider Power color 7950 3GB OC DDR5 @ $399.. Since I believe Radeon is better for photoshop..

 

[slashiroth]

Alright thanks wuweiz.
A mix between having to game on it and work on it.
Might just stick with your original proposed setup. Many thanks.
Just curious , will it be ok to use a z87 series mobo on a non k series CPU? If so, any recommendations?
And also, is having2x8gb ram better or 4x4gb ram?

 

[wuweiz]

Alright thanks wuweiz.
A mix between having to game on it and work on it.
Might just stick with your original proposed setup. Many thanks.
Just curious , will it be ok to use a z87 series mobo on a non k series CPU? If so, any recommendations?
And also, is having2x8gb ram better or 4x4gb ram?

It's fine to use a non-k cpu on a z board.. Just that u can't over-clock.. Kinda waste of money.. Unless you might wanna OC in future when newer CPUs are released..

But for aesthetics, I can understand.. You can choose MSI gaming boards and umm.. G.Skill Ripjaws X rams for the Red to complement your MSI gfx colours..

Extend your budget a little more... Get a windowed casing.. throw in some red led case fans (front and rear)... It will be visually pleasing when u use it I guess.. Well, at least it's the case for me.. My Scout 2 black gave me a red led rear fan.. And I just threw in 2 red led front fans.. I like how it looks.. Just lazy to go and buy LED strips for the internals.. If I ever did it, I will name my desktop "Inferno".. Well.. Maybe not since my mobo is gold.. :x

Since RAM is lifetime warranty, u can re-use 2x8gb rams on future mobos too if u ever need 32Gb of RAM.. You can go with 4x4GB if u like.. But again, the more hardware, the more heat generated and more power consumption..

If you think u can go with 2x4Gb using Photoshop, go ahead.. I am using PS for basic designing and photoediting at 8gb of ram.. Seems ok to me..

 

[slashiroth]

Alright. Thanks a lot again for your advises.

 

[nippp0n]

need windows 7
budget $500
how come now this kind of budget can only build intel dual core?
last time on this budget i managed to build a cheap amd quad core

What is the purpose of the rig again? AMD CPU architecture is different from Intel. Intel dual core i3 processor CPU performance is comparable to AMD quad core processor such as the A10-5800K.

 

[nippp0n]

Need another recommedations for a desktop for game and multitasking like photoshop and many programs on for work.
Not looking to OC.
Looking at the gtx 760 msi graphic card.
Budget includes win 7 about $1.5k or lower
If possible to squeeze in a ssd within the budget

Keyboards, mouse not required.
Thank you.

Do you need monitor?

 

[transparos]

I got some question to ask about casings.. what is the difference between choosing a mid tower chasis and a mini itx casing? do people choose mini itx casing because it saves spaces and is smaller? can all the components like motherboard and graphic card fit in the mini itx casing?

 

[wuweiz]

I got some question to ask about casings.. what is the difference between choosing a mid tower chasis and a mini itx casing? do people choose mini itx casing because it saves spaces and is smaller? can all the components like motherboard and graphic card fit in the mini itx casing?

Mid tower chassis more for better air ventilation and for those who throws in lots of hardware like 2 or more graphics cards and/or many HDDs.. Or over-clockers or for intense gamers..

ITX for saving space. Generally, air ventilation is poor and so the temp will go quite high. But it's fine for everyday usages like surfing web, watching movies/videos, listening to music and MS Office work..

Some (Maybe most) ITX casings can hold mATX motherboards and accommodate average-sized graphics cards nowadays. Just gotta google for the main website of the ITX case and see its specs..

 

[royfrosty]

I got some question to ask about casings.. what is the difference between choosing a mid tower chasis and a mini itx casing? do people choose mini itx casing because it saves spaces and is smaller? can all the components like motherboard and graphic card fit in the mini itx casing?

Yes it does. BUT not all case can fit everything. Some itx can put in a FULL size gfx card. Standard ATX PSU. This 2 are one of the most impt factors to decide on the itx chassis. Also lastly the implementation of it.