recommend a cheap haswell rig

[xboxer]

This kid is gonna have a PC that most likely gonna last him a lifetime. Till he finds his money to buy a new one. You give him such a bare minimum PC. And plus the budget of 1.2k you gonna cut cost by giving $886 PC. Whao that's a budget pc you recommend. I bet with you you take the gtx650ti to fair the latest game, you won't get a decent experience for a 1080p display.

If this PC is gonna last him for a good 3-5years till he steps out to find a job I don't see why can't we recommend him a mainstream gfx card. Rather than each time his cards cannot support any new titles out there he has to crack his head to find a new card.

I'm sorry. But I don't buy your recommendations.

Find me a PC which can last me a lifetime. I buy one for you and everyone else here.

You talked about lasting 3 to 5 years. You look at how much a Nvidia 4 and 5 series are in used market now compared to years ago.

What you are recommended is a LUXURY which most people do not need. I recommend what people need rather than wasteful luxuries like SSD and GTX 760 nonsense.

The problem with you is that you looked at reviews which, most of the time, ramped everything to ULTRA with 16x AA AF to bench. Of course a 650 Ti sucks in this way.

A 650 GTX Ti can handle medium to high settings with lower AA AF for EVERY single game out there. I used a much lower spec card till recently on a 1080p resolution and I had no problem whatsoever with games.

You see my steam account got what kind of games then come and talk to me about needing a luxurious 760 GTX. I can play every title in my library with a lower spec card. without even needing a 650 GTX Ti.

Steam Community :: *BoXeR*

 

[tensaixp]

Yes. So I included MSI in my recommendation above. I was looking at the 87 chipset earlier.

As for GPU, if TS can wait then 2nd hand would be better. But it takes time and effort to source for a used one.

For monitor I recommend Dell U2312HM. Still within TS's budget.

If cannot wait then use haswell igpu for the time being, being, my past 3 cards are all 2nd hand and really saved a lot. I think games nowadays are more gpu intensive so should grab a higher spec gpu, at least it could last the guy long enough and still play on high settings. I rather get WD 1tb blue because its only a few $ diff and WD have better rep.

 

[aerosmiths]

thanks all for the help.
xboxer, i thank you for your advice, but this time, i would like to give a better spec pc to the poor kid because i feel he deserve it. I don't want to give him something that reflects his condition. i don't have time to fix his computer so that is why i insist all bnib. the ssd is to speed up everything from gaming to doing homework.

i will choose the 760 and plat combo because it just seems so worth it at the bundle price of $399.


but i have a few more questions.

1. will the b85 mobo bottleneck the GPU or other hardware?

2. would the z87 fit the spec better or not?

3. for the 1tb hdd, why choose wd blue over seagate?

4. for the case, sharkoon t28 looks very good for the money, is there any other suggestion so that i can let the boy choose from 2.

5. can someone recommend a 2.1 speaker

 

[shadow84]

thanks all for the help.
xboxer, i thank you for your advice, but this time, i would like to give a better spec pc to the poor kid because i feel he deserve it. I don't want to give him something that reflects his condition. i don't have time to fix his computer so that is why i insist all bnib. the ssd is to speed up everything from gaming to doing homework.

i will choose the 760 and plat combo because it just seems so worth it at the bundle price of $399.


but i have a few more questions.

1. will the b85 mobo bottleneck the GPU or other hardware?

2. would the z87 fit the spec better or not?

3. for the 1tb hdd, why choose wd blue over seagate?

4. for the case, sharkoon t28 looks very good for the money, is there any other suggestion so that i can let the boy choose from 2.

5. can someone recommend a 2.1 speaker

If playing games, GPU more impt. B85 serve the purpose of providing basic usage. If he is not gonna OC, then Z87 is wasted. Might as well channel the $$ difference into something else.

WD blue is more for mainstream, and they have longer warranty. Seaget seems to have some problems recently.

As for case, best is to set a budget and see which case fits in.

 

[ragnarok95]

Actually, a GTX650ti or a HD7850 should be/more than enough for him. And i will skip the SSD. This is the boy first PC, doubt he will know how to handle it the first time, mean most likely he will choke everything at the small size SSD. I would just get him a 1TB hdd.

Cool guys, there is no wrong and right here. It's just that each of our views are diff that's all.

 

[aerosmiths]

If playing games, GPU more impt. B85 serve the purpose of providing basic usage. If he is not gonna OC, then Z87 is wasted. Might as well channel the $$ difference into something else.

WD blue is more for mainstream, and they have longer warranty. Seaget seems to have some problems recently.

As for case, best is to set a budget and see which case fits in.

thanks, budget would be same as the sharkoon t28

Actually, a GTX650ti or a HD7850 should be/more than enough for him. And i will skip the SSD. This is the boy first PC, doubt he will know how to handle it the first time, mean most likely he will choke everything at the small size SSD. I would just get him a 1TB hdd.

Cool guys, there is no wrong and right here. It's just that each of our views are diff that's all.

thanks for advice.


anyone can recommend a cheap 2.1 speaker?

 

[royfrosty]

thanks all for the help.
xboxer, i thank you for your advice, but this time, i would like to give a better spec pc to the poor kid because i feel he deserve it. I don't want to give him something that reflects his condition. i don't have time to fix his computer so that is why i insist all bnib. the ssd is to speed up everything from gaming to doing homework.

i will choose the 760 and plat combo because it just seems so worth it at the bundle price of $399.


but i have a few more questions.

1. will the b85 mobo bottleneck the GPU or other hardware?

2. would the z87 fit the spec better or not?

3. for the 1tb hdd, why choose wd blue over seagate?

4. for the case, sharkoon t28 looks very good for the money, is there any other suggestion so that i can let the boy choose from 2.

5. can someone recommend a 2.1 speaker

No it would not bottleneck the GPU.

The z boards are meant for overclocking. If ain't overclocking it is best to keep it at B or H. Z is also used for SLI functions.


H has more sata ports than b. good to support raid for multiple HDD.


WD or Seagate. To me it might be the same. But both of them I had multiple failure rates, don't ask why, cause I have not been lucky enough on HDD till date. So I cant conclude which is better. Only last time my 80gb Maxtor HDD lasted the longest 6years. lol


t28 is a value buy. Maybe can give the boy his personal preferences. show him a photo of a t28, nzxt 410 and the fractal design arc mini. see which he likes.

multimedia speakers I leave it to the rest to recommend. Have not keep track on it for a long time.

 

[ragnarok95]

Cheap 2.1. Just go for the one within the budget. Really nothing to discuss on this i feel. lol

 

[hoven00]

4. for the case, sharkoon t28 looks very good for the money, is there any other suggestion so that i can let the boy choose from 2.

I quite like this:

Fractal Design Core 3000

Around $90, comes with 3 fans (same as the T28), a fan controller, no window nor bling bling LED fans.
Dunno if SLS have the USB 3.0 version one though.

Bitfenix Shinobi

Non-Windowed around $75 iirc. Windowed version for around $10 more. Comes with 1 exhaust fan.


I think a SSD is more of a 'want' than a 'need'.. If he doesn't know how to maintain a SSD it's possible that he would wear the SSD out fast.
Other than that..that 1.2k gift is gonna last him for a long time.

 

[aerosmiths]

I quite like this:

Fractal Design Core 3000

Around $90, comes with 3 fans (same as the T28), a fan controller, no window nor bling bling LED fans.
Dunno if SLS have the USB 3.0 version one though.

Bitfenix Shinobi

Non-Windowed around $75 iirc. Windowed version for around $10 more. Comes with 1 exhaust fan.


I think a SSD is more of a 'want' than a 'need'.. If he doesn't know how to maintain a SSD it's possible that he would wear the SSD out fast.
Other than that..that 1.2k gift is gonna last him for a long time.

i will try to teach him basic things that i know. like only installing apps and games to the ssd leaving bigger data like video media to the hdd, and only leaving things he is working on on desktop. not to defragment ssd.

and since he is playing games, he has to prioritize and only install his most current and intensive game on the ssd. games like LOL or dota just leave in on HDD because they are not bottlenecked by hdd speeds.

 

[lamtheboy]

thanks, budget would be same as the sharkoon t28



thanks for advice.


anyone can recommend a cheap 2.1 speaker?

Hi, might want to check out amazon for speakers. Might be slightly cheaper
Amazon.com: computer speakers - AmazonGlobal Eligible

 

[addthewin]

i intend to give my mum's friend's son a free computer. they are low income family and the boy has been dreaming for a computer for a long time now.

i was quite the tech geek 1 year back, but now busy with things and with the new haswell and mobo, and fluctuations in ssd and hdd prices (come on, 1tb hdd last year is still cheaper than now), i am a bit noob lol.

basically, my budget is $1200 for a gaming rig. i can stretch to $1400 if it is worth it. no need to include OS, keyboard, mouse because i just bought them.

i intend to go for the latest series, haswell chip, latest mobo series etc.

CPU
intel i5-4430 (is this the best bang for buck?)
Processor is quite overkill nowadays, close to any processor can run any stuff a kid would ever need.

MOBO
msi B85M-E33 (should be cheapest right? will it bottleneck CPU, RAM or GPU?)
B85 is good since you only need Z87 if you intend to overclock and since your processor is non K so a B85 is more than suffice


RAM
ram would be either 1600hz either 2x4GB or single 8gb (whichever cheapest)
get Kingston value RAM. Whatever is the cheapest that comes in a pair
so you can run dual channel. a higher "speed" ram doesn't warren a higher performance. tried and tested.

GPU
This is difficult because i do not know much cause i do not game extensively. but is there a $200 GPU that can handle all current games at 1920x1080 now?
GPU i abit off track liao i remember i think a GTX 650 would be good
since giving him a too high end card will only "chong huai" him, as i think if he can play games good enough liao.. this card is way more than sufficient to play most games a med settings.

PSU
cheapest platinum grade, should be FSP, but i don't know how many watts is best (depends on GPU right?). i spend more here so that the family spend less on electricity.
Honestly platinum grade doesn't really make too much diff you are only saving a few cents.. i would rather you spend the money on a ie. a better graphic card or processor than a platinum rated PSU.

HDD
will give him 128 SSD and 1TB HDD. SSD probably will be plextor m5pro cause i heard great reviews. 1TB i still don't know one.
HDD it think you should stick with HDD. SSD is not a necessity but a luxury.


SPEAKER
Probably the cheapest 2.1 setup just for his games, he no listen music.
any one that u like

CASE
many would say its up to individual. but he does not care much about case design. so is there a bang for buck one that has good features, followed by design. I did show him some pics of cases, he did mention the NZXT predator caught his attention. but thats an overkill no?
case just get a one that suits your budget, look, feel, size, ports and buttons. best to go to store and take a look.




I would really appreciate you experts help, and i will let that kid know that this forum helped him !!!
Thanks.

really admire your act of kindness
*salute*

 

[ayeong]

Saw some of the bros recommend Tradepac, I always see their pricelist seems to be on the "cheaper" side.

For example, MSI H87M-G43+i5-4430 @ $380 with PC Themes and Tradepac is only $350 ($30 savings). Likewise, for the same bundle, Fuwell is charging $403 ($53 savings).

Anything I should be aware of when making my purchase from tradepac (e.g. parallel import with no warranty from distro & etc) ?

 

[simon45op]

Actually, a GTX650ti or a HD7850 should be/more than enough for him. And i will skip the SSD. This is the boy first PC, doubt he will know how to handle it the first time, mean most likely he will choke everything at the small size SSD. I would just get him a 1TB hdd.

Cool guys, there is no wrong and right here. It's just that each of our views are diff that's all.

i agree on this. a gtx650ti can handle cs:go , dota2 , d3,sc2,tf2, final fantasy lastest mmo mediums-high setting++ on full hd(1920x1080).. these are the commonly played games for a teenager. i dont really see a need for overkill like gtx760.. the extra money can maybe go for a computer chair/ table ? .

 

[aerosmiths]

But the thing is the package of gtx760 and fsp aurum 550w platinum seems too good at $399. Unless your recommendated gpu is $100 cheaper?

 

[royfrosty]

But the thing is the package of gtx760 and fsp aurum 550w platinum seems too good at $399. Unless your recommendated gpu is $100 cheaper?

Is a good deal. $369 is the gfx card rrp. You only pay $30 for a platinum psu lol.