Rig recommendation

[trickle_on]

I am looking to upgrade my current rig, which is close to 5 years old.

I will be reusing my current DELL 22 inch monitor (1680x1050 native resolution) so there is no need for a monitor.

Will be using the rig for general web surfing, the occasional FPS game, and some light photoshop work from time to time.

Not planning to overclock and would appreciate a relatively quiet system. Have been reading about cube systems, so that could be an option.

Budget about 1.2-1.5k inclusive of OS.

Please share your recommendations.

Thanks!

 

[Taveren]

Pulled this specs from another thread, courtesy of Jian19 but I modified it a bit:

i5-4460 + Msi b85m g43 ~ $335
Value RAM 8gb ddr3 ~ $100
Crucial MX100 256gb ssd ~ $155
Wd blue 1tb ~ $68
Zotac gtx970 ~ $490
Superflower hx 600W ~ $108
Any DVD optical drive ~ $24
Win7 64 oem ~ $115
Case ~ up to your preference

Total ~ 1,395 + case of your choice

Buy at Tradepac and DIY

 

[royfrosty]

1.5k why not include a monitor at full HD?

MSI B85M G43 + i5-4460 ~ $336
Kingston HyperX 1600mhz 2x4gb kit Blue ~ $112
WD Blue 1tb ~ $67
Crucial mx100 256gb ~ $155
Sapphire R9 280 3gb Dual X ~ $256.5 (After Mastercard discount on Monday @ Lazada SG website)
Superflower HX600 600w 80+ Gold Semi Modular PSU ~ $108
Sharkoon BD28 ~ $72
LG DVD Drive ~ $21
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OEM ~ $115
Dell S2340L 23inch eIPS Panel ~ $198

Total ~ $1419.5. Buy at tradepac. DIY

 

[scsim002]

Agreed. Should just get a monitor 23" 1920 x 1080. Don't think the price is alot more than the 22" one.

 

[trickle_on]

Pulled this specs from another thread, courtesy of Jian19 but I modified it a bit:

i5-4460 + Msi b85m g43 ~ $335
Value RAM 8gb ddr3 ~ $100
Crucial MX100 256gb ssd ~ $155
Wd blue 1tb ~ $68
Zotac gtx970 ~ $490
Superflower hx 600W ~ $108
Any DVD optical drive ~ $24
Win7 64 oem ~ $115
Case ~ up to your preference

Total ~ 1,395 + case of your choice

Buy at Tradepac and DIY

Thanks. Would the gtx970 be overkill in the case of my monitor not being Full HD?

1.5k why not include a monitor at full HD?

MSI B85M G43 + i5-4460 ~ $336
Kingston HyperX 1600mhz 2x4gb kit Blue ~ $112
WD Blue 1tb ~ $67
Crucial mx100 256gb ~ $155
Sapphire R9 280 3gb Dual X ~ $256.5 (After Mastercard discount on Monday @ Lazada SG website)
Superflower HX600 600w 80+ Gold Semi Modular PSU ~ $108
Sharkoon BD28 ~ $72
LG DVD Drive ~ $21
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OEM ~ $115
Dell S2340L 23inch eIPS Panel ~ $198

Total ~ $1419.5. Buy at tradepac. DIY

Thanks. I am eyeing either the DELL 2412 or 2713HM but am still on the fence as I feel that the 22 inch is about the max I can tolerate.

Any idea if the R9 280 runs hot?

 

[Taveren]

Currently the GTX 970 is currently the best bang for the buck price to performance GPU and I would recommend it in any new build in your price range.

 

[Jian19]

If u dun game much the 280 will be good enough

Can consider fractal design r4 as ur case or Nzxt h440 if u dun use optical drive

 

[royfrosty]

Buying a 970 is really overkill be it on anything below or 1080p aka full hd.

Consider the fact on screen tearing issues also as generally normal 1080p screens are between 60hz and 75hz unless a gaming monitor such as TN panels 1080p at 144hz.

Hence the decision is up to TS. If you aint gaming much 280 will be more than enoughfor your needs. Furthermore even grade AA titles this card still can fair.

Buy something that is worth your needs.

As for heat output 280 is fine. Given that sapphire cooler is quite top notch. Should go around 75deg. Not unless its 280x 290 290x.

 

[royfrosty]

As for monitor choice is yours to make. Im assuming that the dell 22inch monitor can really put to retire. 1080p screens are getting cheaper.

23inch difference from 22inch you cant tell the difference much. Not unless it is factory at 21.5inches.

The perfect pixel density nowadays people will go for 23inch - 24inch being sharper and remain crisp.

27inch will go for 1440p instead.

 

[trickle_on]

If u dun game much the 280 will be good enough

Can consider fractal design r4 as ur case or Nzxt h440 if u dun use optical drive

Thanks for the casing recommendations. Googled and found that both have noise dampening materials. Great!

Buying a 970 is really overkill be it on anything below or 1080p aka full hd.

Consider the fact on screen tearing issues also as generally normal 1080p screens are between 60hz and 75hz unless a gaming monitor such as TN panels 1080p at 144hz.

Hence the decision is up to TS. If you aint gaming much 280 will be more than enoughfor your needs. Furthermore even grade AA titles this card still can fair.

Buy something that is worth your needs.

As for heat output 280 is fine. Given that sapphire cooler is quite top notch. Should go around 75deg. Not unless its 280x 290 290x.

Thanks for the detailed thoughts. I was using a gtx 275 some time back and that card's fan goes nuts each time I was gaming and it ran quite hot too, so am trying to avoid a similar situation.

 

[trickle_on]

As for monitor choice is yours to make. Im assuming that the dell 22inch monitor can really put to retire. 1080p screens are getting cheaper.

23inch difference from 22inch you cant tell the difference much. Not unless it is factory at 21.5inches.

The perfect pixel density nowadays people will go for 23inch - 24inch being sharper and remain crisp.

27inch will go for 1440p instead.

Did not know about the 27 inch/1440p thing.

Guess, I'll be sticking with 24" max should I go ahead with a monitor purchase cos I assume that a bigger monitor requires a higher end card to drive the framerate while gaming.

Between the U2412M and U2414H, which would you say is better?

 

[royfrosty]

Did not know about the 27 inch/1440p thing.

Guess, I'll be sticking with 24" max should I go ahead with a monitor purchase cos I assume that a bigger monitor requires a higher end card to drive the framerate while gaming.

Between the U2412M and U2414H, which would you say is better?

Doesnt mean that the bigger the monitor means you will need a better gpu. It goes by the resolution of the monitor. The higher the resolution the more gpu horsepower is needed. As of now, the gpu market quite easy to drive games at 1080p.

2412m is a older model. U2414h will be a newer model. 2414h has slimmer bezels, tilt, swivel and have various connectivity output. Which might come in handy.

It comes with a 5 years warranty.

 

[trickle_on]

Doesnt mean that the bigger the monitor means you will need a better gpu. It goes by the resolution of the monitor. The higher the resolution the more gpu horsepower is needed. As of now, the gpu market quite easy to drive games at 1080p.

2412m is a older model. U2414h will be a newer model. 2414h has slimmer bezels, tilt, swivel and have various connectivity output. Which might come in handy.

It comes with a 5 years warranty.

Ah ok.

Also looks like the 2412M has been removed from Dell's site. Darn it. Wanted the 16:10 resolution. The newer U2415 is a whole $200 more than the 2414. Too much of a premium.

Back to the rig. The recommendations look good. Will buy tonight if I can get to SLS in time from work.

 

[deepblue_82]

As for monitor choice is yours to make. Im assuming that the dell 22inch monitor can really put to retire. 1080p screens are getting cheaper.

23inch difference from 22inch you cant tell the difference much. Not unless it is factory at 21.5inches.

The perfect pixel density nowadays people will go for 23inch - 24inch being sharper and remain crisp.

27inch will go for 1440p instead.

i am still on a 19"......
i am looking at the dell 23" next...
what u all think? looking for input too..

 

[trickle_on]

Thanks for the advice guys. Got most of the rig parts today. Only left with video card, which I'll get soon.

Difference from the recommendations was I got an AsRock B85M Pro4, Corsair vengeance rams, 750W Leadex, and the Fractal Node 804 as I felt the R4 was too tall to sit on my workspace.

 

[trickle_on]

Long overdue update of hoots. Thanks for the recommendations guys.