Help building my first gaming rig

[Shogun]

The PC vs Console thread really got me going (although, I've been wanting to do this for some time) I want to build a nice gaming rig that I can use to play some PC exclusives on as well as not having to worry about it being slow as hell compared to my POS laptop.

What I want -

1. Must be able to run graphics at med/high settings. (770 card?)
2. I'd like to have good storage for movies/music (I don't know the advantages/differences of an SSD/HDD.
3. I'd like to have an HDMI port so I can move it into my living room on the big screen.
4. I do need a monitor. Undecided whether or not I want to run a dual/tri monitor setup yet.
5. I still burn CD's and Dvds. Will need a drive that supports both.
6. 8 GB of Ram at least with options to upgrade to 16gb in the future.

To sum It up I want a Rig that can do it all with little to no issues speed wise. I have a budget of around $1000, which is pretty flexible.

I also like pretty things. So I'm not afraid to spend a little more on a nicer case. Am a big fan of the Cooler Master Stryker case, I love the cases with the windows in the side with LEDS.

If anybody would like to help me I would greatly appreciate it. I just want to be apart of the PC master race.



EDIT:

This is build I am going with, unless I find good deals on better components.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/287w2
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/287w2/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/287w2/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-PRO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($174.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($86.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($312.99 @ B&H)
Case: Corsair Vengeance C70 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series SP120 Quiet Edition (2-Pack) 37.9 CFM 120mm Fans ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.00 @ Amazon)
Total: $1268.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-26 20:46 EST-0500)

[SuperChief]

If anyone is interested, I've been hanging on to this mobo for a little while now, but have since decided to do an Intel build. If you're interested, I'd sell it for pretty cheap. Just looking to get rid of it, really.

[Buck]

When does the new gen of Nvidia cards come out?

I want to upgrade my GPU, I'm thinking of SLI'ing my current 660 ti because I see I can get them for less than $200 now, but I don't know if it would just be better to upgrade to 1 kick ass card. I want to wait til the new gen is out so it will be cheaper.

[Nightfyre]

I have read that the new gen will offer little performance benefit over the present gen.

[hometeam]

New gen is announced soon, if you had a 680 it wont be much difference, 660/670/760 have different architecture than 680/770/780+

Since you have a 660 my thought is to upgrade to at least a 770 or 770s, when it does announce, since it will drive 770s down further.

I will likely add another 780 at that time.

[Blankey]

Looking to build my first rig here in the next couple months. Here's what I'm looking at:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yx8WJx
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yx8WJx/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.66 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z97-G55 SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($118.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.23 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280X 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($284.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Cooler Master R4-MFJR-07FK-R1 110.0 CFM 200mm Fan ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $930.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-02 19:31 EDT-0400

- Decided to just spend the extra money and go Intel CPU over AMD
- will get a SSD later down the road
- right now I'm liking the r9 280x over gtx 770/760 even though the motherboard says it's SLI-ready
- I already have the HAF 912 case so I will use that
- according to my research the 600w supply should be enough

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Blankey

Looking to build my first rig here in the next couple months. Here's what I'm looking at:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yx8WJx
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yx8WJx/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.66 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z97-G55 SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($118.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.23 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280X 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($284.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Cooler Master R4-MFJR-07FK-R1 110.0 CFM 200mm Fan ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $930.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-02 19:31 EDT-0400

- Decided to just spend the extra money and go Intel CPU over AMD
- will get a SSD later down the road
- right now I'm liking the r9 280x over gtx 770/760 even though the motherboard says it's SLI-ready
- I already have the HAF 912 case so I will use that
- according to my research the 600w supply should be enough

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I'd be weary of that WD HDD. I was going to pick one up and then i saw the failure rate is stupidly high. Hitachi HDD's have the best failure rates so it may be worth the price increase to pick one up.

Also, i'd think long and hard about skipping the SSD. I didn't realize how much of a performance increase it really is until i put one into my work computer. Now im considering putting a SSD in both my home computers as well. At this point, they're pretty cheap. You might spend $100-$150 on a decent 240GB SSD, but the extra $$$ is well worth it imo.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

I'd be weary of that WD HDD. I was going to pick one up and then i saw the failure rate is stupidly high. Hitachi HDD's have the best failure rates so it may be worth the price increase to pick one up.

Also, i'd think long and hard about skipping the SSD. I didn't realize how much of a performance increase it really is until i put one into my work computer. Now im considering putting a SSD in both my home computers as well. At this point, they're pretty cheap. You might spend $100-$150 on a decent 240GB SSD, but the extra $$$ is well worth it imo.

I'd love to see where you got your info on WD drives having "stupidly high" failure rates.

Hitachi has slightly lower failure rates, but WD is not "stupidly high."

[ModSocks]

I put this in my new work build and am strongly considering putting it in my two home machines too.

http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Hyper.../dp/B007R67FTY

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by jd1020

I'd love to see where you got your info on WD drives having "stupidly high" failure rates.

Hitachi has slightly lower failure rates, but WD is not "stupidly high."

I'd have to find it again, but it was at around a 25% failure rate after two years, compared to the Hitachi that i picked up that was around 5%. Maybe it's a model specific thing, idk, but im guessing that HDD that he picked out was the cheapest 1TB he could find....which was the same one i initially picked out.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

I'd have to find it again, but it was at around a 25% failure rate after two years, compared to the Hitachi that i picked up that was around 5%. Maybe it's a model specific thing, idk, but im guessing that HDD that he picked out was the cheapest 1TB he could find....which was the same one i initially picked out.

WD owns Hitachi.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by jd1020

WD owns Hitachi.

Ahhhh that's what it was, Seagate. I was thinking of a Seagate drive, my fault. Thanks.

[jd1020]

Really not much to say about that build, it's pretty solid.

The only thing I would do would be to get rid of that memory and get memory with low profile heat sinks. With that CPU cooler you will either have to get new memory or get a new fan if you ever decide to add more memory.

[Blankey]

Yeah I probably get this ram instead
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037TO5C0/...XRA4HNU7&psc=1

[kcxiv]

http://www.amazon.com/BenQ-GW2750HM-...7+inch+monitor

ordered that monitor over the weekend. I bought it because im addicted to Street Fighter IV and its one of the best monitors for lag input. All the big Fighting game Tournaments use BenQ monitors. I cant wait for mine to come in. This old 19 inch doesnt cut it. the resolution is ass.


a good website for lag input or display lag.... it matters in games especially twitch based games.....

http://www.displaylag.com/display-database/

[SuperChief]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

I'd be weary of that WD HDD. I was going to pick one up and then i saw the failure rate is stupidly high. Hitachi HDD's have the best failure rates so it may be worth the price increase to pick one up.

Also, i'd think long and hard about skipping the SSD. I didn't realize how much of a performance increase it really is until i put one into my work computer. Now im considering putting a SSD in both my home computers as well. At this point, they're pretty cheap. You might spend $100-$150 on a decent 240GB SSD, but the extra $$$ is well worth it imo.

I can't echo this enough. The performance increase is staggering, especially when you do a side-by-side. Spend the extra dough - it's worth it in the end. Currently rocking a Samsung 500gb SSD that kicks so much ass.