Mid - High End PC Advice / Opinion

[Spectra4]

Hi all,

I am new to DIY PC and looking for opinions to build one with budget of up to 3k.

This PC would be used to play some games such as Total Wars (including future and upcoming ones. Also would be used for work and some photo editing. Will not be overclocking though.

A setup that I am thinking of is as below:

Process and Motherboard - 4970K + H97 Gaming 3
Storage - SSD - Samsung EVO 250 M.2 SSD
HDD - WD BLACK 3 TB 7200 rpm
Graphic - MSI GTX 970 4 GB
Windows 7 Home Premium
Power Supply - Seasonic G -Series 650 W Gold Modular
Casing - Not too sure on this one, but would like to have one with Window and multiple USB slots.
Ram - Corsair Vengence 1866 MHZ - 16 GB
Network Card - ASUS NX 1101 Gigabit (Not too sure about this)
Speaker Card - Creative SB Z Model 1500 (Not too sure about this)
Monitor - If can included in the 3k.

All suggestions are welcome. Thanks all.

 

[idjekyll]

let me be the first to say what everyone would say anyway. with 3k budget, dont settle for a 970. get a 980ti or fury x.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Hi all,

I am new to DIY PC and looking for opinions to build one with budget of up to 3k.

This PC would be used to play some games such as Total Wars (including future and upcoming ones. Also would be used for work and some photo editing. Will not be overclocking though.

A setup that I am thinking of is as below:

Process and Motherboard - 4970K + H97 Gaming 3
Storage - SSD - Samsung EVO 250 M.2 SSD
HDD - WD BLACK 3 TB 7200 rpm
Graphic - MSI GTX 970 4 GB
Windows 7 Home Premium
Power Supply - Seasonic G -Series 650 W Gold Modular
Casing - Not too sure on this one, but would like to have one with Window and multiple USB slots.
Ram - Corsair Vengence 1866 MHZ - 16 GB
Network Card - ASUS NX 1101 Gigabit (Not too sure about this)
Speaker Card - Creative SB Z Model 1500 (Not too sure about this)
Monitor - If can included in the 3k.

All suggestions are welcome. Thanks all.

There's already gaming LAN and high-end onboard audio on the motherboard, so there's no need for separate ones.
And also no need for K CPU and H97 for non-overclocking.

Looks like you don't even need to step out of your house to build a new PC.

The following is ideal especially if using Photoshop for image editing.

Here's a cool looking red, white and black themed ASUS ROG-feel PC.

CPU+MB: Intel Core i5-4460 + ASRock Fatal1ty B85 Killer @ $342
RAM: Kingston HyperX Fury DDR3-1866 CL10 16GB Dual Channel Kit [Red] @ $179*** (Lazada Singapore)
GPU: Palit GTX 980 Ti 6GB Super JetStream @ $999*** (Lazada Singapore)
SSD: Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB X2 @ $294*** (Lazada Singapore)
1 as main OS and programs drive, and the other as scratch disk.
HDD: HGST Deskstar NAS 3TB @ $179*** (Lazada Singapore)
For secondary storage.
ODD: Samsung 24X CD/DVD Writer [OEM] @ $21
PSU: Super Flower Leadex Gold 650W [80 Plus Gold] @ $149*** (Lazada Singapore)
CASE: Fractal Design Define R5 Blackout Edition [Window] @ $169*** (Lazada Singapore)
OS: Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit [OEM] @ $33 (G2A)
DSP: Dell UltraSharp U2515H 25" 1440p 60Hz W-LED [AH-IPS] @ $599

Total: $2964

Optional:
CASE: NZXT H440 [Red & Black] @ $199
CASE: Sharkoon T28 [Red] @ $73
This could be another great choice with 2X USB 3.0 & 2X USB 2.0, just that it is a value-oriented chassis.

Buy others from Tradepac, #05-18.

***Wait for upcoming Lazada discount coupons for massive savings

 

[soufigo]

You don't need k series cpu if not overclocking. And with that budget might as well get 980ti or furyx or upcoming fury.

 

[firezero10]

There's already gaming LAN and high-end onboard audio on the motherboard, so there's no need for separate ones.
And also no need for K CPU and H97 for non-overclocking.

Looks like you don't even need to step out of your house to build a new PC.

The following is ideal especially if using Photoshop for image editing.

Here's a cool looking red, white and black themed ASUS ROG-feel PC.

CPU+MB: Intel Core i5-4460 + ASRock Fatal1ty B85 Killer @ $342
RAM: Kingston HyperX Fury DDR3-1866 CL10 16GB Dual Channel Kit [Red] @ $179*** (Lazada Singapore)
GPU: Palit GTX 980 Ti 6GB Super JetStream @ $999*** (Lazada Singapore)
SSD: Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB X2 @ $294*** (Lazada Singapore)
1 as main OS and programs drive, and the other as scratch disk.
HDD: HGST Deskstar NAS 3TB @ $179*** (Lazada Singapore)
For secondary storage.
ODD: Samsung 24X CD/DVD Writer [OEM] @ $21
PSU: Super Flower Leadex Gold 650W [80 Plus Gold] @ $149*** (Lazada Singapore)
CASE: Fractal Design Define R5 Blackout Edition [Window] @ $169*** (Lazada Singapore)
OS: Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit [OEM] @ $33 (G2A)
DSP: Dell UltraSharp U2515H 25" 1440p 60Hz W-LED [AH-IPS] @ $599

Total: $2964

Optional:
CASE: NZXT H440 [Red & Black] @ $199
CASE: Sharkoon T28 [Red] @ $73
This could be another great choice with 2X USB 3.0 & 2X USB 2.0, just that it is a value-oriented chassis.

Buy others from Tradepac, #05-18.

***Wait for upcoming Lazada discount coupons for massive savings

Damn nice sia

 

[Spectra4]

Thanks all for the suggestion. I noticed that most of the builds uses i5 cores instead of i7. I understand that the i7 cores are more faster?

By the way,would it be good that I swap one of the SSDs and put into the CPU/MOBO?

 

[royfrosty]

Thanks all for the suggestion. I noticed that most of the builds uses i5 cores instead of i7. I understand that the i7 cores are more faster?

By the way,would it be good that I swap one of the SSDs and put into the CPU/MOBO?

i7 and i5 is about the same performance when it comes to gaming.

Both is still a quad core processor, and only difference is i7 has hyper threading in it and more cache memory. Whats hyper threading? Read below...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper-threading

The only thing why we here would recommend an i5 over an i7, is because games usually do not utilize Hyper Threading. There are very very very very limited games that can utilize more cores and more Hyper threads.

It wont benefit you in any ways. And NO it is not advisable to swap an SSD for a higher end Mobo + CPU. Its the worse choice to do so.

SSD gives a much more responsive Operating System. Not just overall increase in responsiveness, it gives you faster loading times. There are games that will benefit you from SSD. And seamlessly move from checkpoint to checkpoint without any laggy or sluggish performance.

Games like MMORPG, FPS, will benefit from it.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Thanks all for the suggestion. I noticed that most of the builds uses i5 cores instead of i7. I understand that the i7 cores are more faster?

By the way,would it be good that I swap one of the SSDs and put into the CPU/MOBO?

Just take a look at the games performance chart:

http://anandtech.com/bench/CPU/1289

Core i7-4770K offers little to no advantage over Core i5-4690K of the same clock in most games.

 

[GrimaH]

Eh, I'd beg to differ on the i7 vs i5 comparison. OP is talking about future Total War games (the Warhammer one I'm guessing being the important one? ). They're going to be using DX12 for sure, and will be heavily optimized for multi-core operations, and TW games can be very CPU-heavy. The i7 is going to do a lot more than the i5 in this regard.

Also, do take note, if your image editing requires color accuracy and is important enough to take priority, you'll need a wide-gamut monitor. Those are expensive.

 

[Free_MaN]

Is ASrock a good performance mobo which is value for money? MoneyFace seems to recommend it quite often. Wouldn't mind getting a Z series from ASrock instead of the H97 Pro from Asus.

 

[Spectra4]

Yep GrimaH, I was thinking more of the Total War: Warhammer and the likes

The image editing would not be quite a lot. So perhaps 1 SSD for OS is good enuf? Instead of an extra SSD for scratch disk?

Saw the images of the casings too..... NZXT looks great

 

[royfrosty]

Is ASrock a good performance mobo which is value for money? MoneyFace seems to recommend it quite often. Wouldn't mind getting a Z series from ASrock instead of the H97 Pro from Asus.

Buy what you need. Not jumping from Z or H series. Think carefully of what you need instead. Jumping over from H81 all the way to Z97 does not mean anything other than paying more for something that you dont even use or need.

ASRock is an value oriented Motherboard. Not all ASRock boards are value for money. But MOST of it is. So pick the right one.

Note that there is a reason why we would recommend ASRock or other brands etc. It could be due to the lack of stock availability in SLS, such as Tradepac has totally nothing from Corbell related products. They have only Asus, Giga and ASRock.

 

[Free_MaN]

Buy what you need. Not jumping from Z or H series. Think carefully of what you need instead. Jumping over from H81 all the way to Z97 does not mean anything other than paying more for something that you dont even use or need.

ASRock is an value oriented Motherboard. Not all ASRock boards are value for money. But MOST of it is. So pick the right one.

Note that there is a reason why we would recommend ASRock or other brands etc. It could be due to the lack of stock availability in SLS, such as Tradepac has totally nothing from Corbell related products. They have only Asus, Giga and ASRock.

Yeah. Thanks. Understand where u are coming from. Will probably stick with H series since i am unlikely to do any overclocking. If ASrock can produce decent level of performance as compared to the Asus board I wouldn't mind switching over to help me save some money.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Eh, I'd beg to differ on the i7 vs i5 comparison. OP is talking about future Total War games (the Warhammer one I'm guessing being the important one? ). They're going to be using DX12 for sure, and will be heavily optimized for multi-core operations, and TW games can be very CPU-heavy. The i7 is going to do a lot more than the i5 in this regard.

Also, do take note, if your image editing requires color accuracy and is important enough to take priority, you'll need a wide-gamut monitor. Those are expensive.

That is just a conjecture. What if it turns out to be minimal advantageous for i7 yet again? $150 is quite a heavy premium topup for an i7 though. 4 years back AMD fanboys ranted and blasted here for their superior FX 8 core flagship that should be recommended for upcoming applications/games that will surely be more multi-threaded within next few years (2012, 2013, 2014, etc..). 4 years on, look at where we are now (still)?

CPU bound games are definitely going to gain from more threads, but they are just a small quantity among the entire games lineup. So i would rather go for something that offers more assurance for performance for most games/applications without gambling (for possible advantage) and breaking the bank.


U2515H is using an 10 bit (8 bit + FRC) LG AH-IPS panel btw...
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/dell_u2515h.htm

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Yep GrimaH, I was thinking more of the Total War: Warhammer and the likes

The image editing would not be quite a lot. So perhaps 1 SSD for OS is good enuf? Instead of an extra SSD for scratch disk?

Saw the images of the casings too..... NZXT looks great

Typical image sizes? RAW files i presume? If not then just hoot 1x 500GB SSD @ $279 instead.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Buy what you need. Not jumping from Z or H series. Think carefully of what you need instead. Jumping over from H81 all the way to Z97 does not mean anything other than paying more for something that you dont even use or need.

ASRock is an value oriented Motherboard. Not all ASRock boards are value for money. But MOST of it is. So pick the right one.

Note that there is a reason why we would recommend ASRock or other brands etc. It could be due to the lack of stock availability in SLS, such as Tradepac has totally nothing from Corbell related products. They have only Asus, Giga and ASRock.

They no longer taking stocks for MSI??

 

[Free_MaN]

As of 11 July, their price list still got MSI boards

 

[MoneyFace =p]

As of 11 July, their price list still got MSI boards

Price list most of the time don't mean availability.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Yeah. Thanks. Understand where u are coming from. Will probably stick with H series since i am unlikely to do any overclocking. If ASrock can produce decent level of performance as compared to the Asus board I wouldn't mind switching over to help me save some money.

You should even consider B85 especially when you don't even need that many SATA 6 Gbps ports for SSDs, nor are you going to do any GPU crossfiring.

 

[royfrosty]

They no longer taking stocks for MSI??

Most likely they got issues.

Look at all the Ah neh shops.

Bizgram, Best Bargain, TP all purposely no MSI. Even Gigabyte some also no stocks.

Really terrible.

All Corbell related stuffs went to all the bigger/older shops instead. Cybermind, PCT (no.1 MSI supported), Fuwell, Infinity, Laser, Video Pro, Best Price. Just ah neh shop dont have.