Budget gaming build $600ish

[Kehl]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
I spend about 80-90% of my time doing office work (Excel, Word, Photoshop, and Publisher) and my current system is more then enough to handle the majority of what I do. As much as I would like to find a way to extend the life of my C2D E8400 / 8800 GT system with more modern games, I know it is bottle necked pretty badly by the CPU and memory. The most demanding at the moment would be Skyrim, which I would like to increase the in game graphic settings along with incorporate some additional graphic and world mods that currently bring the system to a halt in large open areas.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
My budget is around $600 including taxes and shipping, but really the less I can spend the better.

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Dallas, TX. At least once a week I am near a Micro Center and Fry's due to work.

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
CPU, motherboard, memory, and video card. I currently have a Antec Neo Power 500 power supply that may need to be upgraded also: http://www.antec.com/specs/NeoPower500_spe.html

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
WD Black 2TB hard drive, DVD+RW drive (sata), HT Omega CLARO plus (PCI), monitor, keyboard, mouse, and possibly my power supply.
A SSD drive would be a future upgrade, but I would rather use the money elsewhere at this time.

6) Will you be overclocking?
No immediate plans, but if the cost difference is small enough I would not mind having the option. The last system I kept overclocked was a celeron 600, so it has been a while.

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
24" at 1920x1200

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Next week unless there is something in the next few months worth waiting for.

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
One PCI slot unless onboard sound is better then my HT Omega CLARO plus. USB 3 and at least three SATA 6 ports seems to be pretty standard on most modern motherboards.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Legit / transferable Windows 7 Pro


These are the parts I was thinking about, but I am pretty open to suggestions:
- i5-4670K OR i5-4570
- Motherboard: No clue here
- GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB - Brand undecided
- Memory: 2 x 4GB kit - Brand undecided


Other thoughts / questions:

Just based on past experiences I prefer an Intel processor and Nvidia based graphics card. An i5 also seems like it might be worth the additional cost over an i3 considering this build will probably tide me over for 4-5 years based on my current usage. Any thoughts here on an i3 vs i5?

This is a budget build compared to past systems, so is the upgrade to a 'k' version and Z87 motherboard worth the cost versus a H87 setup? I know this question is subjective, but I am wondering what the saving might be since I have not looked at motherboards in a very long time.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

[Dangman]

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
CPU, motherboard, memory, and video card. [

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
WD Black 2TB hard drive, DVD+RW drive (sata), HT Omega CLARO plus (PCI), monitor, keyboard, mouse, and possibly my power supply.
A SSD drive would be a future upgrade, but I would rather use the money elsewhere at this time.

What about the case? It's missing from your answers.

I currently have a Antec Neo Power 500 power supply that may need to be upgraded also: http://www.antec.com/specs/NeoPower500_spe.html[/COLOR]

How long have you had that PSU?

Just based on past experiences I prefer an Intel processor and Nvidia based graphics card. An i5 also seems like it might be worth the additional cost over an i3 considering this build will probably tide me over for 4-5 years based on my current usage. Any thoughts here on an i3 vs i5?

COnsidering that you'll be near a Microcenter, Core i5 hands down.

This is a budget build compared to past systems, so is the upgrade to a 'k' version and Z87 motherboard worth the cost versus a H87 setup? I know this question is subjective, but I am wondering what the saving might be since I have not looked at motherboards in a very long time.

In general, the answer to that question is a "No" if you are not going to overclock at all. You'd have to be extremely sure that you will be overclocking in order for the higher costs for the Z87, "K" series CPUs, and good quality 3rd party HSF to be justified. It cannot be a "maybe in the future". It's a yes or a no.

With that said, your situation is a tad different: The choice of CPU is already a clear one: The Core i5 4670K since you're near a Microcenter. MC offers a $30 discount off any LGA 1150 mobo as long as you buy any of the LGA 1150 "K" series CPUs or the Core i3 4340. As such, the 4670K will end up costing the same as the 4570 route once you factor in the motherboard costs.

As for the HSF, considering that you live in Texas, from what I know of the the state, it's a hot area. So the inclusion of a 3rd party HSF is a given in that case IMO unless you plan on running the AC all day long during the summer and other warmer periods. So in reality, the only real savings you'll be getting from going with a H87 over a Z87 setup is a lot smaller than usual: Probably around $20 to $30 give or take.

 

[rastaban]

Edit: Dangman beat me to it
___
Since the Nehalem microarchitecture in 2009, Intel has locked CPU multipliers unless the chip has a K or X suffix, so overclocking a cheap chip is no longer an option (actually, the Anniversary edition Pentium coming this year will be an exception). The i5-4570 is already a very capable chip, and I don't think the premium on the 4670K + Z87 board is justified on your budget. The only other advantage of Z87 over H87 is the ability to split PCIe lanes for SLI/Xfire. This is irrelevant to your budget, especially since the 750 Ti is not capable of SLI.

I don't know about the quality of your PSU, but if it's from the C2D generation, it is about time for a replacement anyways. Cases have also gotten a lot better in the last 3 years, so you may want a new one to take advantage of front panel USB 3.0.

Do you have a form factor in mind so we can narrow down mobo options?

 

[Kehl]

Thank you for the replies!

What about the case? It's missing from your answers.

I am sorry, I forgot about the case. I do have a spare Antec case in storage that will work with any normal atx or matx based motherboard. I forget which model it is, but the case is about 5 years old from a system that I parted out. The front USB ports are still USB 2, but the way my desk is setup I just snaked a USB extension cable from the rear I/O plate of my current case and have it next to my monitor so that should not be an issue.

How long have you had that PSU?

I actually have two of the same power supply. One has been used for at least 4 or 5 years. The second is still brand new in the box, and this is the one I planned on using if it would work. I picked both up for free from a friend and cannot remember the exact year I got them.

In general, the answer to that question is a "No" if you are not going to overclock at all. You'd have to be extremely sure that you will be overclocking in order for the higher costs for the Z87, "K" series CPUs, and good quality 3rd party HSF to be justified. It cannot be a "maybe in the future". It's a yes or a no.

With that said, your situation is a tad different: The choice of CPU is already a clear one: The Core i5 4670K since you're near a Microcenter. MC offers a $30 discount off any LGA 1150 mobo as long as you buy any of the LGA 1150 "K" series CPUs or the Core i3 4340. As such, the 4670K will end up costing the same as the 4570 route once you factor in the motherboard costs.

This is what I kind of figured you might say. After checking out the CPU/Motherboard combo discount and realizing it only seemed to apply to 'K' series processors and 'Z87' motherboards, I mostly just asked in case I had missed an obvious alternative.

Do you have a form factor in mind so we can narrow down mobo options?

I would prefer an ATX motherboard since these generally have additional PCI and PCI Express slots.

 

[Dangman]

I am sorry, I forgot about the case. I do have a spare Antec case in storage that will work with any normal atx or matx based motherboard. I forget which model it is, but the case is about 5 years old from a system that I parted out. The front USB ports are still USB 2, but the way my desk is setup I just snaked a USB extension cable from the rear I/O plate of my current case and have it next to my monitor so that should not be an issue.

More than likely you'll have to get a new case as well. A lot of those older Antec cases are pretty crap by today's standards in terms of cooling, quality, and cable management. If you really want to reuse that Antec case, find out the model.

I actually have two of the same power supply. One has been used for at least 4 or 5 years. The second is still brand new in the box, and this is the one I planned on using if it would work. I picked both up for free from a friend and cannot remember the exact year I got them.

Try removing your old PSU and hooking up the new PSU and use it until you buy. There's a chance that PSU could have been DOA or really deteriorated while in storage. Yes deterioration can still happen even if the part isn't being used.

This is what I kind of figured you might say. After checking out the CPU/Motherboard combo discount and realizing it only seemed to apply to 'K' series processors and 'Z87' motherboards, I mostly just asked in case I had missed an obvious alternative.

Just for clarification: the discount applies to ANY LGA 1150 mobo, not just the Z87 ones. There have been plenty of times where I've recommended a K series CPU with a H87 or even B85 mobo.

 

[rastaban]

From what I see on the MC website, the Asrock Z87 Pro4 at $100 ($90 MIR) has the best value. It should be able to handle a light overclock with its 6 power phases to the CPU. It also has higher quality caps than the Pro3.

The MSI G41 has a slightly better audio codec (ALC 887 > ALC 892) but only 4 power phases which I wouldn't OC on.

The Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 and GA-Z87-D3HP are essentially the same except the former has a Realtek NIC while the latter has an Intel NIC. Both only have 4 power phases. Same goes for the Asus Z87-C.

So the next step up would be the ASRock Z87 Extreme4 at $145 ($125 MIR) and MSI Z87 G45 Gaming at $150 ($140 MIR). Both have enough power phases for a sizable overclock, and both step up to the Realtek ALC 1150 which is currently the best onboard audio codec available. The MSI uses a Qualcomm/Atheros Killer NIC while the ASRock uses an Intel NIC. The ASRock also gets an additional 2 SATA ports with an ASMedia chip. Everything else boils down to aesthetics and brand loyalty.

I'd decide on one of these 3 boards depending on how you use the rest of your budget, they are all great values.

 

[Kehl]

If you really want to reuse that Antec case, find out the model.

I finally found a link: Antec SLK3700-BQE


How does the ASRock Z87 PRO4 seem from a quality standpoint? The price with the combo discount is less than I was expecting. I have had a lot of experience with Asus, Gigabyte, and MSI motherboards over the years, but never with any of ASRock's products.

Here is also what I am thinking based on both of your recommendations:
$270.60 - Intel i5 4670K + ASRock Z87 PRO4
$64.99 - Kingston Hyper X Blu 8 GB 1600MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL9 XMP
$154.99 - EVGA GeForce GTX 750Ti Superclock w/G-SYNC Support 2GB GDDR5: Clocked slightly faster
OR
$149.99 - ASUS GTX750TI-OC-2GD5 GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB: Seems to have better cooling
Subtotal: $485.58 - 490.58

Power supplies I am considering as alternatives to the one I have, the links are based on other posts I found:
$69.99 - SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze
$79.99 - SeaSonic G Series 550-Watt

If I am also looking at buying a new power supply at this point, I would want to take into consideration that at I plan to upgrade from the 750 TI to something in the $250-300 price point next year, at which time the 750 TI would be moved to another system that could use the upgrade. Should I be looking at something more powerful then one of these two?


Cases I am considering as alternatives to the one I have:
$55.98 - NZXT Source 220: Cheapest, no other reason for adding besides that.
$62.77 - Corsair Carbide Series 200R: My favorite of the three based on looks
$69.99 - Corsair Graphite Series Black 230T: Seems like it would offer the best cooling

Grand total with case and power supply: $616.55 - 640.56
This would be slightly over budget, but I am adding in an additional two pieces I did not think much about at first.

 

[Dangman]

I'm not a fan of the Pro series of AsRock mobos. They just seem really really cheap even by AsRock standards. I'd spend the extra $10 for the AsRock Z87 Extreme3 as it's better built.

Yeah, you're looking at a new case for sure. I have the updated version of that case (the Sonata II) and it didn't cool all that well in my experience. For the case, the 220 is just too overpriced at its $56 shipped price tag. $50 shipped? Yes. $56 shipped? No considering that the 200R is not that much more. The 230T is a very solid case and I would highly recommend springing the extra cash for it if possible.

IN regards to the PSU, while the Seasonic M12II is of better quality than your current PSU, the G Series 550W is a significant jump in quality and performance over the M12II that's well worth the extra $10.

Finally, for the video card, I'd go with the eVGA card due to their better customer support and warranty out of those two choices. WIth that said, I would go with the MSI R7 265 since it's faster than the 750 Ti while costing the same price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127790

 

[rastaban]

The Pro4 is essentially identical to the Extreme3, with the latter having 2 additional power phases and a second PCIe 3.0 slot. A feature comparison of the entry level ASRock Z87 boards goes like this:
Pro3 < Pro4 = Extreme3 < Extreme4, which is why I skipped the Extreme3 in my previous post.

 

[Dangman]

The Pro4 is essentially identical to the Extreme3, with the latter having 2 additional power phases and a second PCIe 3.0 slot. A feature comparison of the entry level ASRock Z87 boards goes like this:
Pro3 < Pro4 = Extreme3 < Extreme4, which is why I skipped the Extreme3 in my previous post.

Technically, yes they're identical. But I've actually handled both motherboards in the past week. The Pro 4 just feels flimsier than the Extreme3.

 

[rastaban]

Technically, yes they're identical. But I've actually handled both motherboards in the past week. The Pro 4 just feels flimsier than the Extreme3.

Interesting. I've worked with a Pro4 (FM2) once but haven't seen an Extreme in person. Admittedly, the first board was DOA from Newegg :|

 

[Kehl]

Dangman and rastaban, thank you both for your advice and recommendations so far.

I will be picking up an i5 4670K and an ASRock Z87 Extreme4 tomorrow (it was only $10 more than the Extreme3 with the rebate). I also have the Kingston memory on order and will be ordering a case along with a power supply in the next day or two.

I do have one last question about the power supply before I order the SeaSonic G Series 550-Watt, if I am planning to upgrade to a new video card in the $250-350 dollar range next year and move the current video card I purchase to my HTPC, do you think 550w will be enough? I would hate to buy two power supplies just because I picked up a GTX 760, GTX 770, or some new model in that range.

 

[Dangman]

I do have one last question about the power supply before I order the SeaSonic G Series 550-Watt, if I am planning to upgrade to a new video card in the $250-350 dollar range next year and move the current video card I purchase to my HTPC, do you think 550w will be enough? I would hate to buy two power supplies just because I picked up a GTX 760, GTX 770, or some new model in that range.

It will be more than enough power.