[New Build Help] $1500 Gaming/Editing Box

rironin

n00b
Joined
Feb 23, 2009
Messages
39
Hello again, [H]ardForum! It's been nearly seven years since my last personal PC build, and since then you've helped me build a machine for my parents and make a few upgrades. Thanks! You haven't steered me wrong yet, so I'd like to ask for your recommendations on a new machine. I'll be moving the current machine into the living room to serve as a Home Theater PC, so apart from its storage drive, nothing can be cannibalized from it. I'm not sure where the template is for these requests, but I'll just go with the old questions I've answered in the past:

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
  • Gaming: I like being able to run slightly older games at maximum settings, and I don't usually buy games right when they're released, so I don't need the absolute best of the best. For reference, I upgraded my graphics card on the current machine in 2015, and I've been pretty happy with its ability to run most of the games I play. So now I want something better, but the absolute best isn't required. If my budget allows for the best? Then sure.
  • Image/Video Editing: I now use the Adobe suite of products for image and video editing, so a graphics card that works well for that is needed, as well as plenty of RAM and local storage.
  • Music/Movies: I'll be managing my MP3 library and watching BluRay movies. I assume that most modern systems will be able to output multichannel surround sound, which would be nice, even though I don't use it right now.
  • Other: Web browsing, word processing, communication apps, all your basic home computing needs not already listed above.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?

Let's ballpark it at $1500, including rebates, not including tax, shipping, or any other costs. As before, if you think that there's a particular part that could be upgraded if I splurged a few hundred dollars more, let me know. I can flex a little if there's a nice upgrade that just can't fit into the $1500 budget with everything else.

3) Where do you live?

New England, USA.

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.

Basically, the case and everything that goes in it.

  • Case - I'd like a case that's dark or black in color. The last case that I got is great, and I love that it's roomy, has easy access panels, and the ports on the front are good. I have a cat, though, so I'd like to avoid a case that has fabric covers over any of the vents. All metal is good. Unlike in the past, this machine will just sit on the floor next to my desk, and there's plenty of clearance, so size shouldn't be an issue. If it's super tall (significantly taller than the average case) then it could be a problem, but I'd need to measure the table it's under to see the maximum height.
  • Motherboard
  • CPU
  • Video Card & Sound Card
  • Power Supply
  • RAM - The current machine has lots (the old build says 16 but I think I have 32 GB) and even though I don't think I've ever truly needed all of it, I love not having to worry about it. So please include another stupid amount of RAM.
  • Hard Disk - I have a 1 TB SSD to mirror my Dropbox files, and I plan to just transfer that over from the old machine. For running the OS and programs, my 256 GB SSD is a little cramped and I have to swap out installed games a lot, so let's go bigger. I assume/hope that storage has gone up and costs have gone down in the SSD world since then.
  • Bluray/DVD writer
  • Any other devices/slots (extra USB ports, etc) that I might need - I do tend to plug in a lot of peripherals like connectors for phones, microphones, a scanner, etc, so extra USB 3 ports might be a good idea.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.

I have a 1 TB SSD to mirror my Dropbox files, and I plan to just transfer that over from the old machine.

6) Will you be overclocking?

I'm not into overclocking or exotic cooling systems, so just something that's good out of the box is best for me.

7) What size monitor do you have or plan to have?

I have 2 monitors, one at 4K resolution and the other at HD 1920x1080. That's not likely to change anytime soon. I'd like to run games at max resolution on the main monitor when it's supported.

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?

Over the next month.

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
  • I need a Firewire port for an old camcorder.
  • I'm connected to the internet via ethernet cable and the next machine will be too, but if they have motherboards or cards that include Wifi capability, that might be handy (but it's not a must-have if it's pricey)
  • I use a wireless LG mouse and wired headphones, but it looks like most wireless mice use Bluetooth these days, and I have bluetooth headsets too, so assuming it's a common enough feature, I'd like Bluetooth support built in to this machine.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?

I'll buy a new Windows 10 license, which we do not need to include in the $1500 budget.

I think that's about it! Thanks in advance!
 
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7 GHz 8-Core Processor ($308.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI - B450 GAMING PRO CARBON AC ATX AM4 Motherboard ($139.99 @ B&H)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($234.99 @ Newegg Business)
Storage: ADATA - XPG SX6000 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Blue 4 TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($98.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire - Radeon RX VEGA 64 8 GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg Business)
Case: Corsair - 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA - SuperNOVA G2 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ B&H)
Total: $1482.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-01-10 14:28 EST-0500
 
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7 GHz 8-Core Processor ($308.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI - B450 GAMING PRO CARBON AC ATX AM4 Motherboard ($139.99 @ B&H)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($234.99 @ Newegg Business)
Storage: ADATA - XPG SX6000 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Blue 4 TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($98.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire - Radeon RX VEGA 64 8 GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg Business)
Case: Corsair - 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA - SuperNOVA G2 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ B&H)
Total: $1482.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-01-10 14:28 EST-0500

Thanks for the build! I'm having trouble telling from the motherboard specs though - does it have a firewire port? I guess there are Firewire to USB 3 adapters out there so that might actually be a better option. But it'd be good to know if I should pick one of those up.

It looks like the motherboard has a decent number of USB ports, but I'd like more. Can anyone recommend a good expansion card to add a bunch of USB 3 ports to the back of the case? Say, 5-6 additional slots? Anything that's good quality and that will fit the above motherboard and case? Thanks!
 
Thanks for the build! I'm having trouble telling from the motherboard specs though - does it have a firewire port? I guess there are Firewire to USB 3 adapters out there so that might actually be a better option. But it'd be good to know if I should pick one of those up.

It looks like the motherboard has a decent number of USB ports, but I'd like more. Can anyone recommend a good expansion card to add a bunch of USB 3 ports to the back of the case? Say, 5-6 additional slots? Anything that's good quality and that will fit the above motherboard and case? Thanks!

I think firewire died some time ago? Apple killed firewire by charging a licensing fee for its use. Now we have usb 3 and usb type c and thunderbolt.

You could get a usb expansion card like this :
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAJ8W8M64068

Or an external usb hub:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6PF55P8286&Description=usb hub&cm_re=usb_hub-_-9SIA6PF55P8286-_-Product

The advantage with that hub is it has switches so you can leave your devices plugged in but switched off.
 
I think firewire died some time ago? Apple killed firewire by charging a licensing fee for its use. Now we have usb 3 and usb type c and thunderbolt.

You could get a usb expansion card like this :
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAJ8W8M64068

Or an external usb hub:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6PF55P8286&Description=usb hub&cm_re=usb_hub-_-9SIA6PF55P8286-_-Product

The advantage with that hub is it has switches so you can leave your devices plugged in but switched off.
Thanks! Yeah, firewire is gone, but my old camcorder uses it to stream video when it's transferring to a computer, so I need something to connect. However, since adapters exist, I'll just get one of those. When I added the CPU to my Amazon cart it suggested buying thermal paste - do I need to buy that separately, or will the CPU/heat sink come with all the paste I'll need to put'em together? Thanks again!
 
Thanks! Yeah, firewire is gone, but my old camcorder uses it to stream video when it's transferring to a computer, so I need something to connect. However, since adapters exist, I'll just get one of those. When I added the CPU to my Amazon cart it suggested buying thermal paste - do I need to buy that separately, or will the CPU/heat sink come with all the paste I'll need to put'em together? Thanks again!

Should be fine with what is on the heatsink but having some on hand can be handy.
 
Get a tube of decent stuff. It doesn't go bad, it doesn't cost an arm & leg, and a tube has enough paste in it to build about 5+ computers. It's handy to have around if you ever need to reseat your HSF, or you do decide to buy another computer.

I still have tubes of Arctic Silver from back in the day, and still use them.
 
Thanks for the build! I'm having trouble telling from the motherboard specs though - does it have a firewire port? I guess there are Firewire to USB 3 adapters out there so that might actually be a better option. But it'd be good to know if I should pick one of those up.

It looks like the motherboard has a decent number of USB ports, but I'd like more. Can anyone recommend a good expansion card to add a bunch of USB 3 ports to the back of the case? Say, 5-6 additional slots? Anything that's good quality and that will fit the above motherboard and case? Thanks!
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7 GHz 8-Core Processor ($308.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI - B450 GAMING PRO CARBON AC ATX AM4 Motherboard ($139.99 @ B&H)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($234.99 @ Newegg Business)
Storage: ADATA - XPG SX6000 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Blue 4 TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($98.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire - Radeon RX VEGA 64 8 GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg Business)
Case: Corsair - 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA - SuperNOVA G2 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ B&H)
Total: $1482.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-01-10 14:28 EST-0500
One thing I just noticed this build is missing is an optical drive. I'd like to have a bluray writer for playing some old discs and potentially writing bluray video discs. Can someone recommend a good drive?
 
One thing I just noticed this build is missing is an optical drive. I'd like to have a bluray writer for playing some old discs and potentially writing bluray video discs. Can someone recommend a good drive?
For what its worth......Im kinda in the market for a newer optical drive myself. (Something that can handle Ultra HD Blu-ray) https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...UHD_Blu-Ray_Burner-_-9SIAG1H7UZ2651-_-Product OF course specific needs i have might be nothing for you...The non UHD ones are pretty cheap and im kinda an Asus fan
 
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7 GHz 8-Core Processor ($308.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI - B450 GAMING PRO CARBON AC ATX AM4 Motherboard ($139.99 @ B&H)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($234.99 @ Newegg Business)
Storage: ADATA - XPG SX6000 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Blue 4 TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($98.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire - Radeon RX VEGA 64 8 GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg Business)
Case: Corsair - 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA - SuperNOVA G2 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ B&H)
Total: $1482.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-01-10 14:28 EST-0500
That's a start. But since Premiere Pro (one of the major components of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite) still performs much better in CUDA than in OpenCL, the OP is better off with a comparably priced GeForce GPU. It's not because the Vega 64 is inferior per se, it's because for that program I see little reason whatsoever to spend $400-ish on a GPU that actually underperforms a competitor that costs half as much.
 
I know nothing about Adobe Creative Cloud suite. The Vega 64 seems like a good deal at $400. I guess you could swap it for a 1070ti or an rtx 2070 or 2060 when they launch.
 
I know nothing about Adobe Creative Cloud suite. The Vega 64 seems like a good deal at $400. I guess you could swap it for a 1070ti or an rtx 2070 or 2060 when they launch.
certainly is a good deal and the free games:)
 
That's a start. But since Premiere Pro (one of the major components of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite) still performs much better in CUDA than in OpenCL, the OP is better off with a comparably priced GeForce GPU. It's not because the Vega 64 is inferior per se, it's because for that program I see little reason whatsoever to spend $400-ish on a GPU that actually underperforms a competitor that costs half as much.
Thanks for the advice regarding performance with Adobe Creative Cloud. So GeForce GPU performs better with Adobe stuff than the Vega 64 does? How do the two cards compare on gaming performance? Thanks!
 
Dang it. I waited too long and now the motherboard listed above is no longer available. Can anyone point me to a comparable board? I can see several similar models listed there but I'm not sure if the board we had selected was the best of the bunch. Any recommendations?

EDIT: Well, I should say it's not available on NewEgg at the moment. It looks like I can get it on Amazon (that's the same board, right?) though.
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
Back
Top