Advice for gaming rig

[Chuawhe]

After trying to revive my old computer for the last couple of months and only getting it to work from time to time, I have finally decided to dip into my pockets to get a new computer.

Basically my budget is about $1500 (just rig exclude any peripherals), I have an existing monitor Dell U2311Hb which is workable but I wouldn't mind changing it. If any monitor is recommended it should be outside the original budget of the rig.

The only games that I play on the computer are maybe Hearthstone, Dota 2 and CSGO and some steam games that I feel like buying but seeing that i now own a PS4 those AAA titles will probably be played on my PS4 unless the titles are PC-exclusive.

Other work done on the PC are Microsoft Office programmes, maybe some video programmes for sports coaching purposes though I don't think this will affect the rig much. I wanted it to be slightly future proof so that I could not need to upgrade it for maybe the next 3-5 years.

Wi-Fi is not needed but if a good board comes already with it I wouldn't mind it. I will need Windows OS and have no colour preferences. I have no need for OC too as my current one has that function but I don't think i played around with it more than 5 times in the 4 years I had it.

The CPU will be placed on the floor so I will hardly get the chance to admire the beauty of your recommendations. Thanks in advance!

 

[herman1314]

mobo and cpu:b150m-d3h and i5 6400 $427
graphics card:r9 290 turboduo(bizgram)$389
ram:kingston 8gb 2133 ddr4 valueram $78
ssd:zotac 240gb premium(lazada)$109
hdd:WD 1tb blue $77
psu:seasonic s12ii 620w $99
case:coolermaster n200 $61
os:windows 7/8/10(reddit)$30
total:$1270
do ask around for price quotes and discount before buying. all prices non bracketed are from pcthemes.

 

[Chuawhe]

Hi Herman,

Thank you for your recommendations. Still got quite a bit of budget to stretch because my brothers will be chipping in this time so just wanted to see if I could get something better although I do know it might not be unnecessary. Would still appreciate other member's input though. Thanks again!

 

[Chuawhe]

Hi Herman,

Thank you for your recommendations. Still got quite a bit of budget to stretch because my brothers will be chipping in this time so just wanted to see if I could get something better although I do know it might not be unnecessary. Would still appreciate other member's input though. Thanks again!

TL;DR

Some help to maximise the budget?
Cheers!

 

[monikernemo]

TL;DR

Some help to maximise the budget?
Cheers!

Change R9 290 to GTX 970
Change casing to Define S/R4/R5
Get 16GB Ram
Get a better PSU (superflower leadex 650 Silver if using R9 290)

 

[princewenle]

Change R9 290 to GTX 970
Change casing to Define S/R4/R5
Get 16GB Ram
Get a better PSU (superflower leadex 650 Silver if using R9 290)

Come one la.
Just playing CS GO and dota 2, I don't see the need to get GTX 970.

I think GTX 950 also can max the setting

Intead of upgrading the GPU, i will suggest to upgrade his mobo to H series, HDD 2-4TB and change to nicer transparent casing to show off.

 

[herman1314]

TL;DR

Some help to maximise the budget?
Cheers!

for the ram, you can upgrade it to 16gb for $149 at videopro so that it will last longer as games keep needing more resources and horsepower to play at good settings.
for the graphics card, you can upgrade it to an r9 390 for $519 at videopro for more futureproof as it has 8gb of ram(even though 1080p dosen't need anywhere near that much ram).
for the psu, you can upgrade it to a seasonic m12ii 620w for $115 so that you can stash away the unused cables instead of hiding it in your case.
for the hdd, you can upgrade it to a 2tb WD green for $112 if you needed it(for some reason)
for the ssd, you can upgrade it to a 480gb zotac premium for $219
for the case, you can change it to a different model, but i dunno what your preference is so you'll have to decide on your own
you can also upgrade your monitor to a qnix 1440p($264) or 144hz($219) monitor for sharper image or a smoother picture, but do take note of their warranty as it is only 1 year and allows for a certain amount of dead pixels on the screen, so take note of this if you do consider it.

 

[herman1314]

Come one la.
Just playing CS GO and dota 2, I don't see the need to get GTX 970.

I think GTX 950 also can max the setting

Intead of upgrading the GPU, i will suggest to upgrade his mobo to H series, HDD 2-4TB and change to nicer transparent casing to show off.

he wants it to be futureproof, which is why i recommended the 290 and why he recommended the gtx 970.

 

[princewenle]

he wants it to be futureproof, which is why i recommended the 290 and why he recommended the gtx 970.

I don't think any futureproof with GPU.

I think some ppl are using GTX 650 (now rebrand to GTX 750) until this date and many ppl are still getting it.

So far the RAM 16GB is no use as well. I don't feel the different between 8GB and 16GB
(my situation is almost similar to TS, slightly gaming dota2, csgo etc and browsing + MS office work).


*abit regret using the 16GB now*.

 

[monikernemo]

I don't think any futureproof with GPU.

I think some ppl are using GTX 650 (now rebrand to GTX 750) until this date and many ppl are still getting it.

So far the RAM 16GB is no use as well. I don't feel the different between 8GB and 16GB
(my situation is almost similar to TS, slightly gaming dota2, csgo etc and browsing + MS office work).


*abit regret using the 16GB now*.

Come one la.
Just playing CS GO and dota 2, I don't see the need to get GTX 970.

I think GTX 950 also can max the setting

Intead of upgrading the GPU, i will suggest to upgrade his mobo to H series, HDD 2-4TB and change to nicer transparent casing to show off.

Come two la
Come three la
Come four la

He wants to saturate budget and I don't think R9 290 is readily available anymore

He also stated that he may want to play AAA titles in the future if the titles are PC exclusive. You don't need to tell me that gtx 970 is overkill for d2/csgo.

2-4TB HDD for what? Store prawn uh? Also over kill ma.

Upgrade mobo to H170 for what? For raid uh? He won't use any of those extra functions on a H170 motherboard.

Got any casing is transparent? the only few I know aee lianli PC O series full glass case. If not inwin 904, 901, 909. And those are really expensive and will be going out of his budget.

Sent from Huawei NEXUS 6P using GAGT

 

[herman1314]

Come two la
Come three la
Come four la

He wants to saturate budget and I don't think R9 290 is readily available anymore

He also stated that he may want to play AAA titles in the future if the titles are PC exclusive. You don't need to tell me that gtx 970 is overkill for d2/csgo.

2-4TB HDD for what? Store prawn uh? Also over kill ma.

Upgrade mobo to H170 for what? For raid uh? He won't use any of those extra functions on a H170 motherboard.

Got any casing is transparent? the only few I know aee lianli PC O series full glass case. If not inwin 904, 901, 909. And those are really expensive and will be going out of his budget.

Sent from Huawei NEXUS 6P using GAGT

actually, bizgram still claims to have a 290 in lazada, so store may still have stock.

 

[monikernemo]

actually, bizgram still claims to have a 290 in lazada, so store may still have stock.

Then better check lorh in case they never update inventory on Lazada. Just in case no warranty/shop warranty only like the case you reported that time. Even if on Lazada they say 3 years warranty I guess still must be careful lorh.

I still find it quite dubious that 290 stocks still available.

Sent from Huawei NEXUS 6P using GAGT

 

[MoneyFace =p]

I don't think any futureproof with GPU.

I think some ppl are using GTX 650 (now rebrand to GTX 750) until this date and many ppl are still getting it.

So far the RAM 16GB is no use as well. I don't feel the different between 8GB and 16GB
(my situation is almost similar to TS, slightly gaming dota2, csgo etc and browsing + MS office work).


*abit regret using the 16GB now*.

GTX 750 (a Maxwell GPU) is never a rebrand of GTX 650 (a Kepler GPU)

 

[herman1314]

Then better check lorh in case they never update inventory on Lazada. Just in case no warranty/shop warranty only like the case you reported that time. Even if on Lazada they say 3 years warranty I guess still must be careful lorh.

I still find it quite dubious that 290 stocks still available.

Sent from Huawei NEXUS 6P using GAGT

good point. and that 7750 i bought actually had no warranty except for 7-day exchange, just didn't want to post it cuz didn't want $$face to come and give me **** about it.

 

[trento]

Lazada has r9 290. Bizgram selling. Pc themes should have too.

All the recommended gpu like damn power man for those games. I'm thrashing my r9 280 for Crysis 3 on high settings and getting close to 60fps average on 1080p 60hz monitor.

Wonder if dota n cs will ever be as demanding as crysis? Cos i only played cs for 5 min n returned the game due to simple graphics.

 

[trento]

actually, bizgram still claims to have a 290 in lazada, so store may still have stock.

The stocks are not surprising. The 290 is not in demand due to extreme heat which may bother some. Remember it was so bad even 290x was sold ard $300 some months ago.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

for the ram, you can upgrade it to 16gb for $149 at videopro so that it will last longer as games keep needing more resources and horsepower to play at good settings.
for the graphics card, you can upgrade it to an r9 390 for $519 at videopro for more futureproof as it has 8gb of ram(even though 1080p dosen't need anywhere near that much ram).
for the psu, you can upgrade it to a seasonic m12ii 620w for $115 so that you can stash away the unused cables instead of hiding it in your case.
for the hdd, you can upgrade it to a 2tb WD green for $112 if you needed it(for some reason)
for the ssd, you can upgrade it to a 480gb zotac premium for $219
for the case, you can change it to a different model, but i dunno what your preference is so you'll have to decide on your own
you can also upgrade your monitor to a qnix 1440p($264) or 144hz($219) monitor for sharper image or a smoother picture, but do take note of their warranty as it is only 1 year and allows for a certain amount of dead pixels on the screen, so take note of this if you do consider it.

There is absolutely no rush to get 16GB of RAM right now when games can't tap while they are also going to be cheaper in the future.

Hawaii/Grenada SKU will already be performance limited by itself way before it can harness the benefit of having that extra 4.25GB of VRAM.

And the Seasonic modular PSU for that price is too exp for the kind of efficiency and electricity quality it offers, where Super Flower have something better for similar price.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

The stocks are not surprising. The 290 is not in demand due to extreme heat which may bother some. Remember it was so bad even 290x was sold ard $300 some months ago.

Not totally true since it predominantly only affect the reference cooler ones. 290/290X are going lower that period mainly to clear remaining stocks, as it always happen during gen transitioning period.

 

[herman1314]

Lazada has r9 290. Bizgram selling. Pc themes should have too.

All the recommended gpu like damn power man for those games. I'm thrashing my r9 280 for Crysis 3 on high settings and getting close to 60fps average on 1080p 60hz monitor.

Wonder if dota n cs will ever be as demanding as crysis? Cos i only played cs for 5 min n returned the game due to simple graphics.

he wanted it to be futureproof for 3-5 years, and he would be playing AAA games on his pc if they are pc exclusive, and he wanted us to reach his $1500 budget, so we recommended him those parts.

 

[herman1314]

The stocks are not surprising. The 290 is not in demand due to extreme heat which may bother some. Remember it was so bad even 290x was sold ard $300 some months ago.

the 290 not reference model leh... is the turboduo cooler from powercolor. lots of heat but still decent enough, and just $389, closest to that price besides the 290 is the 380x and 280x, both of which aren't as good as the 290, so smarter choice is the r9 290.