Gaming PC build - around $1,200 budget

Robert Rodriguez2 said:and it's even more $167 expensive...🙄

Actually, it is $83.

Alexander Moore67 said:Actually, it’s more like $83.

🙄

Robert Rodriguez2 said:http://www.walmart.com/product_info.php?c...4c922e4833e9a1

http://www.walmart.com/product_info.php?c...4c922e4833e9a1

🙄

http://www.homedepot.com/details_product...C9C9F46E1.aspx
Which one of you guys is crazy?

So, I finally pulled the trigger on this build:

AMD
1 x DDR3 8GB (2x4GB) Kingston, HyperX Blue, 1600MHz, CL9
1 x Sapphire R9 280X 3GB VAPOR-X OC, 3GB GDDR5 384bit, 28nm, 2xDVI
1 x Kingston SSD 120GB V300, 2.5" 7mm, SATA 3 6G, 7mm to 9.5mm
1 x HDD WD 1TB, Caviar Blue 10EZEX, 1000 GB, SATA3,64 MB, 3,5", 24mj
1 x AMD Radeon RX series 80+ 550W PSU - EasyRail technology
1 x ASUS DRW-24F1ST/BLK/B/AS SATA, DVD-R 24x, DVD-RW 6x, DVD+R 24x
1 x Zalman Z3 PLUS mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. MB standa
1 x Noctua NH-D15 Evo,2011,1366/1156/775/AM3/ 626g,13-32dB
1 x LG 23EA63V-P, 23", 16:9, 1920x1080, IPS matrica, 250 cd/m2
1 x Gigabyte 990XA-UD3, AM3+, AMD 990X SB950, 4x DDR3
1 x Procesor AMD FX-Series X8 8320 3.5GHz,16MB,125W,AM3+, FD8320FRHK

Anyone know if I can score a better deal than Micro Center? I'm looking to grab this with cash in hand. Someone mentioned Best Buy might have something?

vividtiger3 said:I've settled on this build:

AMD
1 x DDR3 8GB (2x4GB) Kingston, HyperX Blue, 1600MHz, CL9
1 x Sapphire R9 280X 3GB VAPOR-X OC, 3GB GDDR5 384bit, 28nm, 2xDVI
1 x Kingston SSD 120GB V300, 2.5" 7mm, SATA 3 6G, 7mm to 9.5mm
1 x HDD WD 1TB, Caviar Blue 10EZEX, 1000 GB, SATA3,64 MB, 3,5", 24mj
1 x AMD Radeon RX series 80+ 550W PSU - EasyRail technology
1 x ASUS DRW-24F1ST/BLK/B/AS SATA, DVD-R 24x, DVD-RW 6x, DVD+R 24x
1 x Zalman Z3 PLUS mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. MB standa
1 x Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo,2011,1366/1156/775/AM3/ 626g,13-32dB
1 x LG 23EA63V-P, 23", 16:9, 1920x1080, IPS matrica, 250 cd/m2
1 x Gigabyte 990XA-UD3, AM3+, AMD 990X SB950, 4x DDR3
1 x Procesor AMD FX-Series X8 8320 3.5GHz,16MB,125W,AM3+, FD8320FRHK

Does anyone know if I can find a better deal than at Micro Center? I'm paying cash. Someone mentioned Best Buy?

bestbuy.com

Honestly, you've got a killer budget here—I don't see why you'd even bother settling for the cheap stuff. Plus, stock at most shops has actually gotten better lately. From what I can tell, Adm doesn't even have the Vapor anymore, just the standard Dual-X 280-tku, which is honestly pretty loud compared to the slightly pricier Asus—which, by the way, comes with a much better warranty.

Bottom line? My take is that if you put together a build with slightly higher-quality parts, you’re basically buying yourself peace of mind with better warranties:

FX 8320
ENERMAX ETS T40 WHITE CLUSTER
ASUS M5A97 R2.0 EVO
PATRIOT VIPER 2X4 GB 1600 MHZ (8GB)
KINGSTON V300 120 GB SSD
WD BLUE 1TB SATA 3
ASUS R9 280X 3GB DC2T
LG GH24NS95 SATA
SEASONIC SS 550G 80+ GOLD
ZALMAN Z5 PLUS

BENQ 27" VA LED or LG 24" IPS or ASUS 24"

$9.5k — including assembly and shipping from Best Buy

What's improved:
- cooler (better overclocking potential, runs quieter)
- motherboard: way less noise, better BIOS, tons of features thanks to that 990 chipset, plus more stability when pushing clocks higher
- graphics card is quieter, has a better warranty, and better OC headroom
- case looks nicer and offers a bit more room, though the internals are basically the same
- power supply — I mean, what is there to say about Seasonic's G series? It's perfect in every way
- suggested monitors are a nice step up given the budget

graniteharbor85 said:Look, you’ve got a solid budget here, so I don't get why you're settling for cheap parts. Plus, availability at other shops has leveled up lately. From what I can see, Adm doesn't even have the Vapor anymore, just that standard Dual-X 280-tku which runs pretty loud compared to the pricier Asus, which actually comes with a better warranty.

Bottom line? My take is you build this setup using slightly higher-end, better components to bump up that warranty coverage:

FX 8320
ENERMAX ETS T40 WHITE CLUSTER
ASUS M5A97 R2.0 EVO
PATRIOT VIPER 2X4 GB 1600 MHZ (8GB)
KINGSTON V300 120 GB SSD
WD BLUE 1TB SATA 3
ASUS R9 280X 3GB DC2T
LG 24
SEASONIC SS 550G 80+ GOLD
ZALMAN Z5 PLUS

BENQ 27" VA LED or LG 24" IPS or ASUS 24"

$9.5k - including assembly and shipping from Best Buy

The upgrades:
- cooler (better overclocking potential, quieter operation)
- motherboard: way less noise, cleaner BIOS, tons of features with the 990 chipset, more stability at high clock speeds
- quieter GPU, better warranty, better OC ceiling
- case looks better and offers more room, though the internal specs are basically the same
- power supply - no need to go on about Seasonic's G series because it's basically perfect in every way
- suggested monitors are an upgrade given the budget

Wait, how does Adm not have the Vapor? And out of these monitors, only one is an IPS, so how are they "higher quality"?
Alright, fine, we bumped the price from $8.5k to $9.5k—that's roughly an 11% jump. But did we actually improve the quality of the rig by that much?

vividtiger3 said:How can Micro Center not have Vaporic? Out of these monitors, only one is an IPS, so how are they better?
We just bumped the price from $850 to $950—an 11% jump. Did we actually get 11% more quality out of this build?

If you aren't chasing extreme overclocking, you don't need a high-end motherboard or a massive cooler. Honestly, even the GTX 760 originally in this rig will run everything fine.
In my book, paying extra $333 for marginal performance gains
isn't worth it. 1 x Gigabyte 990 XA-UD3, AM3+, AMD 990X SB950, 4x DDR3
1 x AMD FX-Series X8 8320 3.5GHz,16MB,125W,AM3+, FD8320FRHK
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Kingston, HyperX Blue, 1600MHz, CL10
1 x MSI GTX 760 Gaming 2GB GDDR5, N760 TF 2GD5/OC, Dual-link DVI
1 x TOSHIBA 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA100
1 x Kingston SSD 120GB V300, 2.5" 7mm, SATA 3 6G, 7mm to 9.5mm
1 x XFX Core Edition 80+ 550W PSU - EasyRail technology
1 x Zalman Z3 PLUS mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. MB standard
1 x Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo,2011,1366/1156/775/AM3/ 626g,13-32dB
1 x ASUS DRW-24F1ST/BLK/B/AS SATA, DVD-R 24x, DVD-RW 6x, DVD+R 24x
1 x LG 23EA63V-P, 23", 16:9, 1920x1080, IPS panel, 250 cd/m2

$2682
Nothing worse than what McLovin put together for you.
a) The board has 8+2 phase regulation, which is plenty for overclocking, and the cooler handles the CPU heat just fine.
b) That power supply is basically a rebranded Seasonic with a 2-year warranty; you register it on the XFX site and get 5 years easily.

The GPU isn't far behind an R9 280X, but $167 the performance gap definitely doesn't justify the cost.

That’s my take. If you really want a 280X, grab this from Micro Center instead:
http://www.microcenter.com/product_info.php?c...52b296f2c6926c

But like I said, those performance gains don't justify $167 the extra cash.

You stay within budget and don't have to shell out $333 extra money.

EDIT

A build with identical performance to the Micro Center one is going to cost $50 more down the road.

Alexander Moore67 said:Look, one guy works for Newegg and the other for Micro Center. You can get all this cheaper at Best Buy, and an R9 280X is $733 at Best Buy.
http://www.bestbuy.com/product-details/example-link
plus a GTX 1060 struggles way too much.

lol, first off, I don't work for either of those places. I actually recommend Newegg because a) I’ve dropped over $3,000 there, my own money and clients'. Never had a single issue with them.
If you actually read the posts, you'd see they're based in Seattle and I'm in Chicago—no way am I working there.

b) check if the card is even in stock before you start spamming links, because in your case, it isn't.

c) a 280X is maybe 15% better in SOME games... so don't be a bullshitter claiming it's WAY better when it's not.

Your own uncle is the one bullshitting you. I grew up in St. Louis, so I could handle marketing and sales for anyone on the planet just as easily as you handle it for CNN. $653 This card is actually 20% better; if you look at the math, a GTX 1060 costs $2400 while this card is only $2200, and you can always order it if it isn't currently in stock.

graniteharbor85

Dude, don't talk nonsense like that—I'm reporting this to the mod right now because this isn't the first time someone’s pulled this kind of crap with me. You’re out here offering him stuff that isn't even available and acting like you're some genius when I'm just suggesting things from a different shop.

Elon Musk

Always with the "expert" advice, huh? There’s honestly zero difference between a GTX 760 and an AMD Radeon R9 280X, and let's be real—where is the overclocking potential of that 280X compared to what the GTX 760 can do? If we're talking about price gaps and those famous $167 differences, then let me ask you this—why didn't you suggest the AMD Radeon R9 270X? It's way cheaper and gives almost identical performance to the GTX 760.

And earlier, weren't you telling him that if he doesn't go for extreme overclocking with his CPU, he could save money on a cheaper cooler and motherboard? Well, why not suggest the ASUS M5A97 R2 and the ZALMAN CPS10X Optima? They’re more than enough for a decent mid-range OC like 4.2GHz, which would have saved him even more cash.

If you actually knew your components and understood what makes a build work, you'd realize my suggestions end up being cheaper in the long run—except everything isn't at one single store, it's just a better overall deal. People around here always get worked up whenever I make a suggestion they can't beat.

With a few clicks, he gets a 5-year warranty that actually works through XFX directly rather than dealing with local headaches in the US, which means if something breaks after the initial 2 years, he won't be wasting time and shipping money back and forth.

Frost

Take a closer look at their website and you'll see it's not there. Just so you know, IPS isn't the only panel that offers great picture quality, and it's definitely not a magic bullet for "perfect" visuals—you've got to consider a bunch of other factors too.

I suggested the BenQ because of the large panel size, which is great for a gaming/multimedia PC. It has a solid VA panel that sits right between TN and IPS in terms of quality (closer to IPS), a sturdy, adjustable stand, and a fast refresh rate which is huge for high FPS gaming.

LG has been on the market longer and it's a safe bet. Not much to say there—it's an obvious choice for builds like this given the budget and what you get for such a low price on a 24" screen.

ASUS is probably the worst of the bunch regarding image quality (don't think it's a massive difference, though), but they do offer a 4-year warranty.

The build is refined because the Sapphire and XFX models I picked are among the quietest 280X cards out there (I'm talking under full load, obviously; every card is quiet at idle). Plus, the warranties are extended and fully valid in the US, and the component quality is stepped up across the board (like I mentioned for the mobo, cooler, GPU, PSU, case, and monitor).

I gave you my recommendation and explained it all based on my own experience. If you want to listen, do it—you'll come out ahead and won't regret the choice. If not, fine, go follow suggestions from other shops; I don't care where you buy your gear. My goal is just to suggest the best possible setup. And if I happen to prefer a specific shop because they treat you like royalty and fix any issues immediately, then honestly, forgive me for pointing you in that direction.

Look, if you compare places like Micro Center or Discount24—where individual items are often slightly cheaper than Best Buy or Micro Center's online store—it all evens out once you factor in a single overpriced item plus shipping fees. For instance, take Micro Center; they charge three separate handling fees (one for the case, one for the monitor, and one for the box of boxes), so by the end, the total price ends up being roughly the same, maybe off by a few bucks either way. It basically doesn't matter where you buy from. That’s assuming we ignore those unreliable sites that are currently down or the sketchy shops that might give you a headache. Even then, they aren't always the better deal since their prices fluctuate constantly, much like how Newegg handles things sometimes.

On top of that, there's the practical side: a specific shop might just be out of stock on what you need, or someone might prefer certain payment terms, or perhaps a location is just more convenient to visit on a whim.

graniteharbor85 said:gogoklepci

Look, man, stop talking nonsense. I'm reporting this to the mods immediately because this isn't the first time you've pulled this kind of crap with me. You're out here peddling stuff that doesn't even exist and acting like you're some genius, pretending I'm trying to upsell him at some overpriced Best Buy.

Robert Rodriguez2

Always the expert, aren't you? There's basically no difference between a GTX 980 and an R9 280 x, and let's be real—where is the overclocking potential of that card compared to what the GTX 980 can actually do? If we're going to obsess over the price gap and those famous $167 differences, then let me ask you something: why didn't you suggest the R9 270 x? It’s significantly cheaper and performs almost identically to the GTX 980.

And earlier, you were telling him if he doesn't go for extreme overclocking with his CPU, he could save money on a cheaper cooler and motherboard? Why didn't you just recommend the ASUS M5A97 R2 and the ZALMAN CPS10X Optima? They're plenty for a mid-range 4.2GHz overclock, and it would have saved him more cash.

If you actually knew your hardware and understood which builds work, you'd end up being cheaper in the long run. The thing is, everything I'm suggesting isn't found in one single store, but the selection is better. People around here always get salty whenever I make a suggestion they can't top.

With a few clicks, he gets a 5-year warranty that actually works directly through XFX instead of some local shop in the US where it's useless. That means if something breaks after the initial 2 years, he won't be wasting time and shipping money back and forth.

Frost

Take a closer look at their website; you'll see it's not there. Just so you know, IPS isn't the only panel type that delivers great image quality, and it's definitely not the only factor in getting a perfect picture—you have to consider other variables too.

I suggested the BenQ because of the large panel size, which is ideal for a gaming/multimedia PC. It has a solid VA panel that sits right between TN and IPS in terms of quality, plus it has a sturdy, adjustable stand and a fast refresh rate, which is crucial for FPS games.

LG has been on the market longer, making it a safe bet. There isn't much to say about it; it's just the obvious choice for this kind of build given the budget and everything it offers for a 24" screen at that price point.

ASUS is the worst of the bunch regarding picture quality—not that there's a massive difference—but they do offer a 4-year warranty.

The build is quiet because the Sapphire and XFX models I picked are among the quietest 280X cards out there (under full load, obviously; everything is quiet at idle). I also bumped up the warranties, which are all valid in the US, and upgraded the component quality across the board: motherboard, cooler, GPU, PSU, case, and monitor.

I gave you my recommendation and explained it based on my own experience. If you want to listen, do it; you'll end up with a great setup and avoid mistakes. If not, fine—go follow whatever suggestions you find at other retailers. I don't care where you buy it. My goal is to suggest the best possible configuration. If I happen to prefer a specific shop because they treat you like royalty and fix any issues immediately, then honestly, forgive me for pointing you in that direction.

First off, I never said there was NO difference between those cards, I just said the difference doesn't justify the $167 price gap
And if we're going down that road, not everyone buys a GPU specifically to overclock it, so arguing about it is pointless.
Look, I threw in a motherboard and a cooler that'll definitely handle his gaming needs just fine. They aren't high-end luxury parts, sure, but they get the job done. Compared to the rig you put together, there's a $333 difference. There’s zero reason to blow past the budget someone actually set; you can build a machine that crushes every game and runs smooth as silk even if you stay right on target or slightly under.
And who are you to question my expertise? You don't have the standing, and frankly, you don't have the chops to be doing it anyway...
At the end of the day, it's the customer's call. We gave him our best suggestions so he can make his own decision.
Between your build and mine, the only thing he'd actually feel is the GPU, nothing else...
EDIT: When you build your own PC, go ahead and spend a million bucks if you want...
But while I'm building rigs for other people, I'm going to try to save them some cash whenever possible. Between your setup and mine, you can definitely shave some money off without losing any performance (aside from the GPU).

I went ahead and did some digging to compare everything side-by-side. When you look at the power supply, motherboard, cooler, and case, the price gap between the Microsoft and Dell builds is basically peanuts. It’s such a tiny difference that it won't move the needle on the total cost, so I'm just going to grab the higher-quality parts—no point stressing over those pennies. Honestly, the ENIAC looks way better aesthetically than the Z3 anyway, so I was already leaning toward making that swap. The real price drivers are the beefier NVIDIA card and the larger monitor. I'm pretty much set on that 24" Samsung they suggested; from what I've read online, that IPv6 tech makes the picture quality pop. You can see everything clearly from any angle. Sure, ViewSonic has a 27" option, but it lacks the IPv6. I'd probably skip the ASUS stuff entirely.
The biggest headache right now is the GPU. Yeah, I'm pulling the trigger on an Radeon R9 280X, but I'm stuck wondering if it's actually worth dropping $0.90 extra for the ASUS R9280X-DC2T. It's sitting at $67 more than the XFX or Sapphire versions. Plus, the XFX R9-290A-ENFC is only $117 more.
I checked prices at both Future and AMD, and they’re basically identical, except AMD doesn't carry that EVGA power supply. The massive outlier is that ASUS motherboard; it's $202 at AMD, but it'll run you $67 more over at Future!

vividtiger3 said:I went through the trouble of comparing everything. For the PSU, motherboard, cooler, and case, the price gap between McLovinov's build and Flatronov's build is tiny. It barely moves the needle, so I’m just going for higher quality parts—not worth stressing over. Besides, I dig the look of the Z5 more than the Z3 anyway, so I was already thinking about making that swap. The main price drivers are the beefier GPU and the bigger monitor. I'm leaning toward that 24" LG; from what I read online, that IPV tech looks superior. Better picture, better viewing angles... BenQ has a 27", but it lacks IPV. I'd skip Asus.
The big question mark is the GPU. Sure, I'll grab an R9 280 x, but I'm debating if it's worth paying $0.90 extra for the Asus R9280X-DC2T, since it's $67 more expensive than the XFX or Sapphire options. And honestly, the XFX R9-290A-ENFC is only $117 more.
I checked prices at Micro Center and Best Buy; they're basically identical, except Best Buy doesn't carry that Enermax power supply. The biggest discrepancy is that Asus motherboard—at Best Buy it's $202, but at Micro Center, it's actually $67 more!

The one at Best Buy is basic, but the one at Micro Center is the high-end version—better specs, better features, etc.
As for graphics, just grab whatever you feel like... you've got the suggestions... now it's just down to you deciding which one 🙂

I'd pass on the R9 290 and 290x for now. I haven't seen any with decent aftermarket coolers yet; the stock ones are loud as hell. You can find links to YouTube videos in some PDFs showing just how noisy they are.

Alright, thanks for the heads-up. I’m gonna shoot some inquiries over to Future and ADM to see who gives me a better deal, then I'll weigh them against each other. Any chance you guys could also give me a hand with peripherals? Like, what’s actually worth the money when it comes to keyboards, mice, speakers, and stuff like that?

vividtiger3 said:Got it, thanks for the heads-up. I’m going to reach out to Future and ADM to see what kind of quotes they can give me, then I'll compare them. Could you also help me pick out some gear? Like, what are the best deals on keyboards, mice, speakers, stuff like that?

If you're gaming, check out Steelseries keyboards. They aren't nearly as pricey as something from Razer, for example, but the quality is still solid.
Mechanical ones are definitely the way to go, though they do bite into the wallet a bit...

For a mouse, honestly, you can't go wrong with something like these - Logitech G100 or the Logitech G300.
I've also heard great things about the G500 model, which usually goes for around $140.

As for speakers, it really just depends on how much you care about audio quality, since there are tons of decent options out there for cheap.
What kind of budget are we looking at for the peripherals?

Wait, what??? 🙂 If someone just happens to prefer one store over another, they’re allowed to agree with you—it doesn't mean they actually work there, let alone that they're being paid to promote them, haha! Seriously though, folks, let's try to see things from a different perspective for once. ☕

Drew Sanchez82 said:For gaming, I’d go with Steelseries keyboards. They aren't nearly as pricey as something from Razer, for instance, but the build quality is solid.
Mechanical ones would be the dream, but they definitely break the bank..

Personally, I think you'd find a great value in something like the Logitech G100 or the Logitech G300.
I've also heard good things about the G500 model, which usually runs around $140.

Now I'm starting to wonder if Hades just works in a print shop. 😁
The G300 is actually a pretty decent mouse—one of those rare symmetrical designs that works for both lefties and righties. Its main drawbacks are that it feels a bit too light, and the side buttons are positioned in a way that makes them hard to hit with your thumb...

Timothy Fisher79 said:Wait, what??? 🙂 Look, if someone says they prefer one shop over another, that’s just an opinion. It doesn't mean they work there, and it definitely doesn't mean they're getting a kickback to promote them, haha. Seriously though, people need to chill and look at the big picture for a second. ☕

Seriously, what is this even? Just more blatant advertising. 😕
I posted the cheapest meat I could find on Amazon, so if those two items from the same store aren't what you were looking for, that's really not on me.
You’re still a bit green.

If we’re really going there, I’d definitely point you toward ADM. Honestly, I’ve always preferred them over Protis anyway.

David Sanders4 said:I’m starting to think Drew Sanchez82 might actually be working for the opposition. 😁
The G-300 is actually a pretty solid mouse. It’s one of those rare symmetrical designs that works just as well if you're left-handed as it does if you're right-handed. My only real gripes are that it feels a little too light for my taste, and those side buttons? Yeah, they're positioned in a spot where you can't really hit them with your thumb without doing some weird finger gymnastics.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk

Look, there are plenty of downsides to consider, but you can't have your cake and eat it too, right? 😁
Honestly, for that kind of money, you really can't beat a mouse. It's a steal.