• Help with new gaming build please? ~$2,500 AUD budget (maybe more)
    6 replies, posted
Hey guys, I'm thinking of making a brand new build. I'm a hardcore gamer, when I'm home, I'm on the computer, everything else I do is to make sure I'm full, hydrated and clean at the computer. My current PC is ageing and I think it's time to pull the plug. Thing is, I know in a couple years, a lot of top tier hardware are considered outdated. So how much of a good gaming rig should I build? I want to go all out and spend quite a fair bit (~$2,000AUD to even maybe ~$3000AUD). I would like a build that will last me many years to come, is this realistic or is making such a monster build not worth it? If it's not really worth it, then my budget will be around $2,000 AUD .... but if building a beast of a machine is worth the money and won't be considered ancient within 4 years then I'm willing to hit the $3,000AUD mark, but that's definitely my max. I might add that my current monitor is a Samsung S23C350, if this monitor is way too underpowered for a nice build then I guess I would like any suggestions for a new monitor. Might be a given but I'd like to play games that require high end graphics to full potential. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Full disclosure: I haven't come up with a build for these parts in quite a while, so other people should chime in. Trying to futureproof is a waste of your money 99 times out of 100 (and we've had fights over this in the past between someone insisting another OP spend loads more than necessary and the rest of the section's members). This is probably the best kick-ass build that I could come up with that is also rational [sp](somewhat?)[/sp]: [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/QNK499]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/QNK499/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] [b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54690k]Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($275.00 @ CPL Online) [b]CPU Cooler:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-cpu-cooler-h100i]Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler[/url] ($149.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-maximusviiformula]Asus MAXIMUS VII FORMULA ATX LGA1150 Motherboard[/url] ($475.00 @ PLE Computers) [b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f310666cl9d16gbxl]G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory[/url] ($139.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-internal-hard-drive-ssdsc2cw240a310]Intel 520 Series Cherryville 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive[/url] ($135.00 @ PCCaseGear) [b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd2003fzex]Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($162.00 @ Centre Com) [b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-04gp42983kr]EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card[/url] ($779.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Case:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-500rbk]Corsair 500R Black ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] ($149.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx600m]Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply[/url] ($103.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Total:[/b] $2366.00 [i]Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-07 16:12 EST+1100[/i] [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Nuvola_apps_important_recycle.svg/35px-Nuvola_apps_important_recycle.svg.png[/img] An OS isn't included, as the site indicated you're already on a copy of 7 when you made the thread - simply re-use the key used on your current machine if you have something with the product key on it (or use NirSoft's ProduKey to get at it, be sure to write it down). I also left out an optical drive as [url=http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool]you can install from a USB drive[/url]. Installation literally took under 10 minutes for me when installing from USB to SSD on my rig. If for whatever reason you need an optical drive of some sort, add ~AU$20 for regular CD/DVD, ~AU$80 for Blu-Ray (if your current rig has one already, you could also just re-use that). [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Gtk-dialog-info.svg/35px-Gtk-dialog-info.svg.png[/img] On the other hand...if you're up for trying Windows 8, you'll want to tack on another AU$100, but if I were you, I'd hold out on your 7 key until 10 releases. Your choice in the OS department at the end of the day, we won't judge. [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Nuvola_apps_important_blue.svg/35px-Nuvola_apps_important_blue.svg.png[/img] Chrome generally tends to suck up RAM. A lot. I decided to go with 16 GB instead of the typical 8 as 8 GB is pretty much pushing the limit with having Chrome and a game open, plus who knows what in between. This way, you'll have a bit of breathing room to work with. The other things I can say is that the 500R is a great case, I have a white version (which you can swap too if you want to, no price difference) with an H100 on top of a 3570K. Everything stays cool. Use the SSD for your Windows install, day-to-day programs (such as Chrome), other frequently used programs as well as frequently played games, use the HDD for everything else, etc etc. If you need guides of some sort, say something and I'll cough them up for you.
My only real issues with that build is you went WAY overboard on the motherboard and cheaped out on a subpar PSU. [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/pZ4nNG]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/pZ4nNG/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] [b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54690k]Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($269.00 @ Centre Com) [b]CPU Cooler:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-cpu-cooler-h100i]Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler[/url] ($149.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz97xud5h]Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard[/url] ($215.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-memory-hx316c10fk216]Kingston Fury Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($175.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7te250bw]Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive[/url] ($135.00 @ Centre Com) [b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex]Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($61.00 @ Centre Com) [b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-04gp42983kr]EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card[/url] ($779.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Case:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-500rwt]Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] ($149.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1650bbefx]XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply[/url] ($144.00 @ Mwave Australia) [b]Total:[/b] $2076.00 [i]Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available[/i] [i]Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-07 19:17 EST+1100[/i]
[QUOTE=Levelog;46172135]My only real issues with that build is you went WAY overboard on the motherboard and cheaped out on a subpar PSU. [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/pZ4nNG]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/pZ4nNG/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] [b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54690k]Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($269.00 @ Centre Com) [b]CPU Cooler:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-cpu-cooler-h100i]Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler[/url] ($149.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz97xud5h]Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard[/url] ($215.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-memory-hx316c10fk216]Kingston Fury Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($175.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7te250bw]Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive[/url] ($135.00 @ Centre Com) [b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex]Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($61.00 @ Centre Com) [b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-04gp42983kr]EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card[/url] ($779.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Case:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-500rwt]Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] ($149.00 @ CPL Online) [b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1650bbefx]XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply[/url] ($144.00 @ Mwave Australia) [b]Total:[/b] $2076.00 [i]Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available[/i] [i]Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-07 19:17 EST+1100[/i][/QUOTE] Okay, that build is the clear winner here.
Awesome cheers guys! Especially for the sources on where to obtain them too, I've actually never heard of those sites so it's good to know about them. I'm gonna head down to a local computer store tomorrow to see if they have the parts aswell, just incase I can get them on the spot. I'm a complete novice at building computers (I've never done it before) but I'm determined to get this one done myself ... anybody think this is a good idea? I'm willing to do it but if you guys have stories about first-timers screwing up, I best not do it lol. Putting 2k at risk at my novice hands sounds a bit scary.
probably the main things to be careful of: try to stay earthed so you dont go frying stuff with static, id install the psu first and plug it in (leave it switched off) so you earth out when you touch the case make sure you screw the stand-offs (little brass things the motherboard screws into) into the case if they arent already be careful not to bend the pins on the cpu i dont know much about liquid coolers but id be making sure it doesn't leak & make sure you put thermal paste on it if it doesnt have it on already
Okay, sounds like you want guides barfed up. [img]http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-barf.gif[/img] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4Js2A1qdB8[/media] Newegg gave their popular guide a refresh not very long ago: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIF43-0mDk4[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zAdwedmj1M[/media] Linus (from NCIX Tech Tips) [url=https://www.youtube.com/user/LinusTechTips/]also has a few guides[/url] that are tailored to more specific build types as well if you're curious.
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