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Budget Conscious Build

Post Date: 2014-05-14
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elletu View Drop Down
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Posts: 3 		  Quote elletu Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Budget Conscious Build
    Posted: 14 May 2014 at 3:05pm
Budget:
Between $1200 and $1300, though that's semi-arbitrary. I had planned to DIY my next computer, but my dad thinks very highly of DS and offered to make up the difference in a DIY build and ordering a comparable machine from DS so that I would have the warranty and support to fall back on. I'd priced out the parts for my DIY to be around $915, and when the topic came up, I said I figured it would be an extra $300 or so to order one, so that's around where we're aiming. I also just got back from vacation with leftover cash and got a bonus at work, so now is a good time for me to buy.

I'll be keeping my monitor, speakers, keyboard, wifi adapter, and mouse from my current computer.

Expectations:
Because I'm not a big gamer, I don't need top notch performance. That said, I do want the games I do play to perform well.   What I would like, though, is a decent enough build to last me for around six years, bearing in mind that I won't be playing the newest, biggest, and brightest (see below).

Usage:
I don't do online gaming or first-person shooters. Just throwing a few titles out there - StarCraft 2, Crusader Kings 2, Mass Effect, The Sims 3. My current computer is a Dell with a Pentium 4 (I think) and it's eking by with most of these, but it's definitely showing its age. Most of the games I play are a few years old because I just take my dad's hand-me-downs/am still playing the same games I played in college (I'm looking at you, Sims 3). I highly doubt I will ever need or want to overclock. I will want to be able to surf the web but I've got a Mac for my word processing and photo editing needs. This is really strictly a gaming PC that might be lightly used for web surfing when I can't find my laptop.

Special Needs:
I live alone and have a dedicated office/computer room, so noise isn't an issue. Again, overclocking isn't an issue. I'm partial to NVIDIA and Intel. I'm also not a fan of Windows 8. Oh, and my dad insists that I get the lights. "Because they're cool." He did let me pick the color, though.

Saved Ticket #: 964779
This is my modification of my dad's modification of my original proposed build. I dropped down on the processor to get the price below $1300, but I could begrudgingly be convinced to come back up if I'm being penny wise, pound foolish for future proofing.

Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Digital Storm VIRTUE
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i5 4590 3.30 GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS Z97M-PLUS (Intel Z97 Chipset) (MATX)
System Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W Corsair CX750M
Expansion Bay: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Storage Set 1: 1x Storage (1TB Seagate)
Storage Set 2: - No Thanks
Storage Set 3: - No Thanks
RAID Config: - No Thanks
RAID Card: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Graphics Card(s): 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB (Includes PhysX)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
HPC Processor: - No Thanks
Extreme Cooling: Standard Factory Heat-sink and Fan
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Fans: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (Green)
Airflow Control: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - No Thanks
LaserMark: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Standard Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Automatic Overclocking
Boost Graphics Card(s): - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows CD)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Game: - No Thanks
Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
Portable Gaming: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 10-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty (3 Year Labor & 1 Year Part Replacement)

-----
Saved Ticket #: 964712
This is my dad's original choice.

Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Digital Storm VIRTUE
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i5 4670K 3.40 GHz (Unlocked CPU) (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS Z97M-PLUS (Intel Z97 Chipset) (MATX)
System Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W Corsair CX750M
Expansion Bay: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Storage Set 1: 1x Storage (1TB Seagate)
Storage Set 2: - No Thanks
Storage Set 3: - No Thanks
RAID Config: - No Thanks
RAID Card: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Graphics Card(s): 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB (Includes PhysX)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
HPC Processor: - No Thanks
Extreme Cooling: Standard Factory Heat-sink and Fan
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Fans: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (Red)
Airflow Control: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - No Thanks
LaserMark: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Standard Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Automatic Overclocking
Boost Graphics Card(s): - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows CD)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Game: - No Thanks
Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
Portable Gaming: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: Digital Storm Premium T-Shirt - Black (Extra Large)
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 10-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty (3 Year Labor & 1 Year Part Replacement)
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bprat22 View Drop Down
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 14 May 2014 at 3:35pm
Hi elletu... Welcome to the forums.    You and your Dad put together very nice builds. If you don't want overclocking then I would go with your build. Pick your Dad's build if you decide to overclock with stage 1.

My only suggestion is to drop to 8 gb ram , really all you need for gaming, and put the money into the gtx 760. It is about 40% better gaming than the 750ti. The 750ti will play nice on a 1920x1080 monitor but the 760 does give more longevity and better fps.

Pick the Western Digital Caviar Black HDD for another $19. A better drive with longer warranty.

Either way you go, you'll have excellent gaming.

Good luck and stay in touch.
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danjw1 View Drop Down
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Posts: 667 		  Quote danjw1 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 14 May 2014 at 3:42pm
With the Devil's Canyon CPUs expected to launch on June 2nd, it might be worth waiting a few weeks. If nothing else, I would expect the cost of the older processors to come down a little. I would go with the better processor.

Asus offers tools that will auto overclock the system for you, as well as tune the fans. So, you can still benefit from the 'K' processor without much work on your part.

Also, if you can stretch the budget at bit, I would add an SSD for the boot drive. Alternatively, you could do the SSD later, since you will have the Windows install media.

Edited by danjw1 - 14 May 2014 at 3:46pm
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ArkansasWoman777 View Drop Down
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Posts: 4314 		  Quote ArkansasWoman777 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 14 May 2014 at 4:41pm
Just to add a comment, 16 gigs is nice to have though in case the sims 3 ever bogs down due to low memory.

I've always lived by the rule "i rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it"

Edited by ArkansasWoman777 - 14 May 2014 at 4:42pm
"Captain Sirius Black"
Storm Trooper
i5 3570k

Ordered: 11-27-12
Stage 1: 11-29-12
Stage 2: 12-2-12
Stage 3: 12-2-12
Stage 4: 12-4-12
Stage 5: 12-4-12
Stage 6: 12-10-12
Stage 7: 12-12-12
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elletu View Drop Down
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Posts: 3 		  Quote elletu Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 14 May 2014 at 5:23pm
I had originally planned for 8GB, but my dad nudged me toward getting 16 up front rather than going back and adding it in later.  I go back and forth, because I've added RAM to a computer before (granted, it was a 2001 Mac iBook), but it didn't strike me as all that difficult.

That's good advice about waiting for Devil's Canyon, but I have to wonder if I would notice a difference from 3.40 GHz with the i5 4670K as my dad suggested and the i5 4690K 3.50 GHz that Devil's Canyon is reported to bring.  Is the jump from 3.30 GHz (as I have picked out) or 3.40 GHz (as my dad has) to 3.50 GHz coming in June that big of a difference?  I doubt the i7 4790K 4.00 GHz will be in my budget.

P.S. This kind of "get this, not that" is exactly what I was hoping for!
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bprat22 View Drop Down
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 15 May 2014 at 4:09am
I can't say no difference with a small speed increase in overclock, but doubtful you'd notice it. The difference, by several percentage points with the right game, is if you went with overclocking to 4.4 or so. Overclocking puts the faster clock on all four cpu cores, where the cpu's Turbo oc is only on a single core at its max.

As far as ram amount, if the budget allows, do both the 16gb and the gtx 760. If not then 8gb with the 760 is the much better choice. We can no longer claim no games use over 8gb but they are few and I've never seen testing show much penalty.

Hope this helps.    
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danjw1 View Drop Down
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Posts: 667 		  Quote danjw1 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 15 May 2014 at 5:33am
Devil's Canyon will bring a change in the thermal interface within the package. This will lead to cooler running CPUs and more room for overclocking. Even if you aren't interested in an overclock, the cooler CPU would likely live longer.
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elletu View Drop Down
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Posts: 3 		  Quote elletu Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 1:00pm
Decision made, trigger pulled this morning.

https://www.digitalstormonline.com/configurator.asp?id=1011801

I made a few tweaks from the builds listed above, namely I went with the Devil's Canyon i5 CPU, the Gryphon Z97 motherboard, and the remote control chassis lighting because I couldn't pick a color for lighting, but most everything else is the same.

Thanks again for all your help!

Edited by elletu - 15 Jul 2014 at 1:01pm
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bprat22 View Drop Down
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 1:22pm
Congrats.   
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Snaike View Drop Down
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Posts: 9462 		  Quote Snaike Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Jul 2014 at 12:35am
Congrats....  hope you really enjoy your rig.. Big%20Smile
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nskojo View Drop Down
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Posts: 39 		  Quote nskojo Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Jul 2014 at 6:53am
bought a virtue also, looks good congrats!
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