Recommendations for rig! (1.8k budget)

[Azerius]

Okay, I have a $1800 budget for a gaming rig (should be able to last 2 years for playing games). The games I will be playing would be Dota 2, FPS games, Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft and other Steam games. I do not need a mouse, mousepad, monitor and speakers.

It would be good if the following criteria could be fulfilled!

- Good graphics card
- Decent cooling (just so as long the rig does not overheat easily)
- A case to contain all the PC components
- A wifi card for receiving wifi
- A decent mechanical keyboard
- A pair of decent headphones with decent mic
- Windows 8 <- due to Windows Defender (or would 7 be better?)

I think that is about it! Furthermore, it would help if someone can recommend me a person who can help assemble the PC together as well as the fees!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Alternative X]

1) State model of monitor used.

2) State internet plan and model of router used.

3) Malwarebytes might be a superior alternative to Windows Defender.

 

[Azerius]

1) I'm using the 23 inch Acer P235H monitor!

2) I am using Starhub's Max Infinity Plan (100 mbps if I'm not wrong), using huawei/dlink routers!

3) In that case I'm fine with it! However is Windows 8 worth the upgrade to Windows 7?

Thanks a lot!

 

[Alternative X]

CPU+ Mobo: MSI B85-G41 PC MATE + i5 4460 (357)
RAM: G.SKILL RIPJAWS-X 1600MHZ ( 4GBx2pcs ) CL9 (115)
GPU: ZOTAC GTX 970 4GB TWIN FAN (509)
SSD: CRUCIAL MX100 256GB (160)
HDD: TOSHIBA 1TB 7200RPM (69)
DVD-RW: LG 24X DVD-RW SATA OEM (25)
PSU: SUPERFLOWER HX 600M GOLD MODULAR (109)
Case: CORSAIR 200R (85)
OS: WINDOWS 7 HOME PREM (125)
Keyboard: TESORO DURANDAL G1N(Red/Blue/Brown Cherry MX switch) (99)(Tecdrome)
Headphones: LOGITECH G230 (85)
Networking: ASUS PCE-N53 (75)

Total cost: $1813

Unless otherwise stated, buy at PC Themes, #04-15, and ask for discounts. DIY yourself. If you can't into DIY, get PC Themes to assemble for you for a fee.

Notes:

1) The GTX 970 is capable of playing most games smoothly in 1080p at max settings. However, in the fast changing techonological enviroment of today, there is no guarantee that the GTX 970 will be able to play future AAA games smoothly in 1080p at max settings and you may have to game at high settings instead.

2) Got Mastercard? Consider buying the GPU, SSD and PSU at lazada.com on a Monday and enjoy 10% discounts when you pay with a Mastercard. Do note that discounts are capped at $50 and it is best that you buy these items seperately.

3) Are your routers capable of dual band? If not, get an Asus PCE-N15 instead for $59 as there is no point in getting a dual band wireless adapter if your router can't support dual band.

4) Whether you use Windows 7 or 8 depends on how well you are able to adapt to the graphical user interface of Windows 8 as it is vastly different from previous OSes. If you are unable to get used to the interface of Windows 8, Windows 7 may be a better choice. Do note that Windows 8 Home Premium will cost you $138.

 

[Azerius]

CPU+ Mobo: MSI B85-G41 PC MATE + i5 4460 (357)
RAM: G.SKILL RIPJAWS-X 1600MHZ ( 4GBx2pcs ) CL9 (115)
GPU: ZOTAC GTX 970 4GB TWIN FAN (509)
SSD: CRUCIAL MX100 256GB (160)
HDD: TOSHIBA 1TB 7200RPM (69)
DVD-RW: LG 24X DVD-RW SATA OEM (25)
PSU: SUPERFLOWER HX 600M GOLD MODULAR (109)
Case: CORSAIR 200R (85)
OS: WINDOWS 7 HOME PREM (125)
Keyboard: TESORO DURANDAL G1N(Red/Blue/Brown Cherry MX switch) (99)(Tecdrome)
Headphones: LOGITECH G230 (85)
Networking: ASUS PCE-N53 (75)

Total cost: $1813

Unless otherwise stated, buy at PC Themes, #04-15, and ask for discounts. DIY yourself. If you can't into DIY, get PC Themes to assemble for you for a fee.

Notes:

1) The GTX 970 is capable of playing most games smoothly in 1080p at max settings. However, in the fast changing techonological enviroment of today, there is no guarantee that the GTX 970 will be able to play future AAA games smoothly in 1080p at max settings and you may have to game at high settings instead.

2) Got Mastercard? Consider buying the GPU, SSD and PSU at lazada.com on a Monday and enjoy 10% discounts when you pay with a Mastercard. Do note that discounts are capped at $50 and it is best that you buy these items seperately.

3) Are your routers capable of dual band? If not, get an Asus PCE-N15 instead for $59 as there is no point in getting a dual band wireless adapter if your router can't support dual band.

4) Whether you use Windows 7 or 8 depends on how well you are able to adapt to the graphical user interface of Windows 8 as it is vastly different from previous OSes. If you are unable to get used to the interface of Windows 8, Windows 7 may be a better choice. Do note that Windows 8 Home Premium will cost you $138.

Hey man, thanks for the build! I'm just wondering, is PC Themes a reputable shop? This is because I did some searching on the shop online and there was a thread in 2007 that had a very bad experience with the shop!

 

[Alternative X]

Hey man, thanks for the build! I'm just wondering, is PC Themes a reputable shop? This is because I did some searching on the shop online and there was a thread in 2007 that had a very bad experience with the shop!

PC Themes is known to be one of the more reliable shops around with good service. Think there was someone here who got a badly scratched Silverstone casing 2-3 months ago. The shop personnel promptly apologised to him profusely and later personally delievered a replacement casing to him. If this level of service is not good enough for you, I am not sure which other shops will offer a better level of service than PC Themes.

 

[shadow84]

Jus dun expect much discounts.

 

[Azerius]

PC Themes is known to be one of the more reliable shops around with good service. Think there was someone here who got a badly scratched Silverstone casing 2-3 months ago. The shop personnel promptly apologised to him profusely and later personally delievered a replacement casing to him. If this level of service is not good enough for you, I am not sure which other shops will offer a better level of service than PC Themes.

Ah okay then, I guess it should be okay! I think I'll get the GPU, SSD and PSU from Lazada! It'll save me about $80+!

Lastly, how much will the assembling fee be about? And how much of a discount can I haggle for realistically?

Thanks a lot guys!

 

[shadow84]

Ah okay then, I guess it should be okay! I think I'll get the GPU, SSD and PSU from Lazada! It'll save me about $80+!

Lastly, how much will the assembling fee be about? And how much of a discount can I haggle for realistically?

Thanks a lot guys!

Assemble fee is around $30? As for bargaining, need see hw much you are buying lor. And hw well u can bargain. U can try asking for discounts, and if they dun budge, den tell them u consider and walk off. If they call u back, then maybe gt chance. But, if nvr, den u also cant go back coz paiseh.. lol.

 

[Jian19]

Sli in future but recommend gtx750ti ?

Hmmmm

 

[shadow84]

Loads of bullsh*t with spelling errors....

H97 does nt have SLI issues, it CANNOT SLI at all....

 

[Azerius]

Assemble fee is around $30? As for bargaining, need see hw much you are buying lor. And hw well u can bargain. U can try asking for discounts, and if they dun budge, den tell them u consider and walk off. If they call u back, then maybe gt chance. But, if nvr, den u also cant go back coz paiseh.. lol.

Haha okay, got it! Thank you so much for your help guys! See how much I can haggle for discounts! Haha...

 

[zenniz]

Sounds like a typical sales person at any tech show, they will recommend something that you don't really need than sugarcoat it as if it is really a game changer.

The MSI B85-G41 PC MATE + i5 4460 will still stay strong for about 4 years times.

Look at the 2nd gen i5 2400 released in 2011, it still perform around the same as a i5 4460 release in 2014 except that the power efficiency 1.15x more than i5 4460.

 

[Azerius]

Gonna purchase the rig in a few days...

May I check for these two things?

1. Do I need to bring a trolley or it is provided after I purchase and assemble the rig at the shop?

2. For the Corsair 200R chasis, how many other USB ports does it have other than 2 at the front?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Alternative X]

Gonna purchase the rig in a few days...

May I check for these two things?

1. Do I need to bring a trolley or it is provided after I purchase and assemble the rig at the shop?

2. For the Corsair 200R chasis, how many other USB ports does it have other than 2 at the front?

Thanks in advance!

1) No trolley is provided. Got SAF field pack? (The newer ones, not the older and smaller ones.) Maybe can consider stuffing the rig in your field pack and leaving your hands free for other things.

2) The Corsair 200R has only 2 USB ports. The rear ones are also the ones on the motherboard.

 

[shadow84]

Gonna purchase the rig in a few days...

May I check for these two things?

1. Do I need to bring a trolley or it is provided after I purchase and assemble the rig at the shop?

2. For the Corsair 200R chasis, how many other USB ports does it have other than 2 at the front?

Thanks in advance!

If u assemble at pct or at nigel's shop, it would be wise to bring a trolley. Those that you get when buying printer. Some mentioned that such trolley can be bought at $10 or so, not sure which shop in SLS.

After assembly, you can ask them put ur case back into case box with all components installed. then put remaining boxes inside ur bag or handcarry.

But do note that it will be very heavy to drag the case around. I would suggest u bring a fren along to help u. Treat him makan.

For the 200r, it only got 2x usb 3.0 ports at the front. The rear i/o is dependant on the mobo that you purchase.

 

[Azerius]

If u assemble at pct or at nigel's shop, it would be wise to bring a trolley. Those that you get when buying printer. Some mentioned that such trolley can be bought at $10 or so, not sure which shop in SLS.

After assembly, you can ask them put ur case back into case box with all components installed. then put remaining boxes inside ur bag or handcarry.

But do note that it will be very heavy to drag the case around. I would suggest u bring a fren along to help u. Treat him makan.

For the 200r, it only got 2x usb 3.0 ports at the front. The rear i/o is dependant on the mobo that you purchase.

I see...if the mobo is MSI B85-G41 PC MATE, there should be an additional 2 USB 3.0 ports on the front and rear and 4 USB 2.0 ports on the front and rear, right?

Hmm in that case I'll try to plan a way to bring everything home (a lot of boxes...haha)!

Thanks for your input man!

 

[Azerius]

1) No trolley is provided. Got SAF field pack? (The newer ones, not the older and smaller ones.) Maybe can consider stuffing the rig in your field pack and leaving your hands free for other things.

2) The Corsair 200R has only 2 USB ports. The rear ones are also the ones on the motherboard.

I just saw this...thanks for the input too! I don't have the SAF fieldpack, so I guess I'll try to come up with alternatives...

 

[shadow84]

I see...if the mobo is MSI B85-G41 PC MATE, there should be an additional 2 USB 3.0 ports on the front and rear and 4 USB 2.0 ports on the front and rear, right?

Hmm in that case I'll try to plan a way to bring everything home (a lot of boxes...haha)!

Thanks for your input man!

The front usb 3.0 port on ur mobo shld b near to the 24 pin. This will be connected to your front panel usb 3.0 header. Note that 1 header can support 2x usb3.0.