PC Build Advice/Review Thread

[vagus]

Looking to build a new rig. Mainly to play the new Sims. Haven't had a new rig in about 5 years. NCIX is within driving distance. Anyone bored want to make a system? Don't need monitor.

[Melena]

So after many delays, spending money to take the wife on a nice anniversary trip instead of a new computer, I'm probably going to be able to start buying parts sometime in the next two months. This is what i'm looking at. Just looking at suggestions. All prices are from Amazon with prime. The only thing I have two of is the case, I'm not sure which one I want to go with. Was looking at some of the cheaper cooler masters but they just look boring. I do like the thermaltake one I have listed though as it's on feet, and the case will be on carpet so I think that may help. I won't be doing SLI as this PC will mainly be for web browsing, D3, and gaming, nothing that needs to be on super high end ultra graphics or anything like that.

NZXT Guardian 921 RB ATX Mid Tower Case 69.99
Thermaltake Chaser MK-1 139.99
Intel Core I5 4690 223.99
Cooler Master Hyper N520 CPU Cooler 28.99
Samsung Evo 840 250gb 139.99
Western Digital 2TB Green 81.69
ASRock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer LGA MOBO 124.99
ASUS DRW-24F1ST DVD SATA Supermulti Burner 20.95
G.Skill 8gb Ripjaws X Series DDR3 1600mhz 99.99
Thermaltake Smart Standard 650W 80 Plus Bronze 59.46
Windows 8.1 94.68
EVGA Geforce GTX 760 244.99

[Jojimbo]

I assume you mean 4690k, a Hyper 212 EVO is a better cooler than the N520 and pretty much the same price, a Crucial MX100 is the best value SSD you can get now by far. You can also get better value MBs, Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H or GA-Z97X-Gaming 3 and MSI Z97-G45 Gaming are all in the same price range and more feature complete, although the Fatal1ty does have some benefits if you don't mind lack of SLI/CFX etc. I would also try and avoid Thermaltake PSUs, they don't have a good reputation and you could probably get better, an R9-280(X) would be better value if you don't mind AMD.

So something like: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ps6qrH, case is up to you but there are a lot of very good cases in the $140 range. Quite a bit cheaper, and tbh you could probably make it even cheaper by ditching the -k CPU, Cooler and Z97 chipset like this http://pcpartpicker.com/p/4Z4Bzy without losing much if any performance.

[Melena]

I thought the 4690k could was more expensive. I'll have to look again. How is the reliability of msi and gigabyte? Last time I built on my own they were a bit sketchy.

[Obiron]

I thought the 4690k could was more expensive. I'll have to look again. How is the reliability of msi and gigabyte? Last time I built on my own they were a bit sketchy.

I've used Gigabyte boards on every one of my builds, with the exception of one ASUS. In about 7 years of builds, they have all been rock solid with zero problems. Well, there was a chipset fan that died and had to be replaced, but I can't remember if that was on the ASUS, and either way the board was 4-5 years old when it happened. I almost bought an ASRock on my last build, about 2 years ago, due to its popularity. There were enough reviews claiming faulty boards though that I decided to stick with Gigabyte. I may just be on a lucky streak, but I have zero complaints with their boards. For reference, I've used them in roughly 8 builds (my own and for friends/family members), and my current board is the GA-Z77X-UD5H.

Now that I've said that, my next Gigabyte will be a complete failure.

[Jojimbo]

You need a -k CPU to OC, which is the only reason you need a Z97 MB + heatsink, otherwise cheaper locked CPU, H series chipset and stock cooler are good enough. I think they are considered better than ASRock, hardly say they are sketchy (other than MSI was known for having a poor BIOS)

[Kalmado]

I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to SSDs and what makes X better than Y, but if you (Melena) can bump your SSD budget up a tad NCIX has a Crucial 512gb SSD for $180 right now. It's on back order, but I'd be hard pressed to find a better overall deal.
http://www.ncixus.com/products/index...5&promoid=1297

[Melena]

The reason I chose the Z97 mobo, it was one of the cheaper high rated ones that appeared to take 1600 or 1866 ram chips.

I'll take a look at some of the Gigabyte boards. I think i'm partially jaded from when I worked at Fry's and we had to do a mobo replacement, we had to go with cheapest available, which was typically either ECS or the super budget Gigabytes. You can imagine how well that went over.

Reason I don't want a stock CPU fan for my computer is airflow where my desk is set up at in my apartment. That along with no air conditioning, even with windows open and fans running, the ambient temperature in the afternoon is easily in the 70's, and if we have a heat wave, much higher. My current computer, just about every fucking fan in the case has failed, so I'm actually relying on the aftermarket cpu fan to keep things cool lol.

How is the performance of the Crucial 512gb SSD versus the Samsung's? Samsung seems to be getting the collective blow jobs from friends who have bought their SSD's, but i'd jump an extra 40 bucks for a 512gb if the performance is on par with the Samsung EVO's.

[Kalmado]

Below are some reviews. If anyone else could chime in with more knowledge that would be great. I've been trying to make an excuse to get one, but I just flat out don't need it.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...view,3772.html

http://ssd.userbenchmark.com/Compare...6GB/1594vs2000

http://ssdboss.com/ssds/Samsung-840-EVO-vs-Crucial-M550

[Melena]

Heh, that site readjusted the price back up to 289.99 for that SSD as well.

[Kalmado]

Heh, that site readjusted the price back up to 289.99 for that SSD as well.

damn...that really was a killer deal. While I do think the evo is technically better, in real time how much better is it truly?! I really wish I had a reason to buy it. I had just installed the 3tb hdd I specifically bought for steam games. Oh well...

[Pirian]

Finally getting around to building something. It's basically a fun box, but I'm also going to need to be running some heavy statistical software. I don't really know what I'm doing in building this, but I do have an interest in learning. A friend helped me put this together for a preliminary build:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/GsDn99

Trying to work in a 1.1k budget, so what is not included in there is an OS (planning on windows 7), and 2 22"-24" monitors that I'm hoping I'll be able to pick up for around $50 a pop on craigslist. Thoughts?

[synistar]

I'll speak for experience on the case. The USB 3.0 on the front is wonky in that you have to run the wire to the mobo's USB 3.0 slot in the back on the outside of the case. Have no idea what they were thinking when designing the case. Also trying to fit a case fan to the front is a crapshoot although it says it supports one. I settled for bottom inflow and top exhaust. Probably can get a better case at the very least.

[Pirian]

I'll look into a different case, thanks

[Oreth]

Need help picking out a full tower case. I had the HAF-X previously and while a great case i found it took in alot of dust.

Currently torn between NZXT Phantom 820 White, Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition ,Corsair Obsidian 750D & Coolermaster Stryker.... Open to suggestions and has to be able to accomodate 2 x GTX770 Gigante OC 4GB Edition and a Corsair H110.

[jinkazama]

I've built many of PC's and this is by far my favorite casehttp://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...762&CatId=1509

Gives you so much room for HDD's, SSD's, and power supply and cord management on backside of the motherboard.

[Oreth]

Thanks for the suggestion. Been reading some reviews on it and while roomy some seem to suggest that if you plan on running two GPUs that you go full tower. The GTX770 that i have at the moment is massive. You rand two large GPUs in there before?

Thanks

[jinkazama]

Yeah there are plenty of room for two 770's in it. I ran two for a while before realizing I didnt need two for League of Legends so I sold it to a friend to SLI with his and he's still running both of them. No sagging issues or heat issues.

[Melena]

So I pulled the trigger yesterday after two more system crashes and failures. Parts will arrive tomorrow. I also sprung for a new 24" monitor, total cost before rebates and after sales tax is 1531.21. Curious as to what you guys think

Raidmax Vampire ATX001WBTI Full Size Case
Asus VX248H 24" LED Monitor
MSI Z87-G41 ATX Motherboard
EVGA 600B 80 Bronze PSU
Intel I5 4690
Asus R9 280 3GB Graphics Card
Samsung 840 Evo 250gb (Newegg had a email promo dropping this to 118 dollars)
WD Green 2TB Sata 3 HDD
Win 7
Samsung OEM DVDRW
G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB DDR3 2133

[Thuronn]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&leaderboard=1

My computer of 5 years finally died about a month ago. Saw this on newegg today.

Not looking to spend more than 700ish and also don't need superultramaxsettings.

Decent purchase? Playing ffxi/xiv/wow mostly