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[BPoole]

If you want DDR4 right now, you have to go X99, which means the 5820k.

Really though, an overclocked 2500k will perform as well as a 4790k in most games. Are there any games in particular you're not happy with the performance of?



There are currently no mobo's that support both DDR3 and DDR4, so you're right. To use DDR4 you need to use X99/Haswell-E. Maybe with Intel's next consumer socket they'll have mobo's that use both DDR3 and DDR4 but that's just speculation.

Damn, I didn't know DDR3 was not already backwards compatible.

My main reason is it seems like in any type of open world game or any CPU intensive games, my system seems to struggle. I have an R9 290 and when I compare my performance to benchmarks with better CPUs, they seem to have significant gains over my system. I have my 2500k overclocked to 4.2Ghz on air cooling and I don't feel as if pushing it another .2 or .3 more Ghz will make much of a difference.

Seems like I should just wait and see how Broadwell and Sky Lake turn out

 

[The Llama]

Damn, I didn't know DDR3 was not already backwards compatible.

My main reason is it seems like in any type of open world game or any CPU intensive games, my system seems to struggle. I have an R9 290 and when I compare my performance to benchmarks with better CPUs, they seem to have significant gains over my system. I have my 2500k overclocked to 4.2Ghz on air cooling and I don't feel as if pushing it another .2 or .3 more Ghz will make much of a difference.

Seems like I should just wait and see how Broadwell and Sky Lake turn out

Yeah, sadly RAM is not backwards compatible.

What games? Have you looked up how well they run for other people with 2500k's? Maybe there's something wrong with your system, somehow? Bit of a longshot, but can't hurt to do some extra troubleshooting if you think your system isn't performing up to par.

 

[BPoole]

Yeah, sadly RAM is not backwards compatible.

What games? Have you looked up how well they run for other people with 2500k's? Maybe there's something wrong with your system, somehow? Bit of a longshot, but can't hurt to do some extra troubleshooting if you think your system isn't performing up to par.

Mainly open world games, like as of late Far Cry 4. In benchmarks it shows I should be able to play the game pretty comfortably at High/Very High in 1440p, yet I ended up bumping the res down to 1080p and running on a mix of Medium and High to maintain a constant 60fps.

With GTAV and The Witcher 3 coming out this year, I think my CPU is holding back my GPU. Considering my 750W PSU is insufficient for running an R9 290 Crossfire setup, my best course of action would be up just upgrade my CPU/motherboard.

 

[louiedog]

Hello friends of Neogaf.

I spend a lot of time over in the Steam thread but this is my first trip here because it's frankly been way too long since I've built a new PC. I mean like 6+ years. I upgraded my GPU and PSU about 18 months ago because I was getting to the point where nothing played and needed a boost.

Well, today my motherboard (I think) died. I swapped in the old GPU and PSU and the problem persists so it's at least not them. I'm using this as a good excuse to upgrade though.

So right now I need a new case, motherboard, CPU, and RAM. I've got a Part Picker page up here. It includes:

• Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
• ASRock Z97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
• G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory
• Silverstone PS10B ATX Mid Tower Case

Which will be added to my PowerColor 7870 and ~600w PSU as well as storage and peripherals. It's going in my living room so quiet is good and no led fans.

Does anyone have any input on how I should shuffle things around to spend my money a bit more wisely? At $440 it's right about at my budget ceiling, but I could squeeze out a few more bucks if it would make a lot of sense in the long run.

 

[RGM79]

Hello friends of Neogaf.

I spend a lot of time over in the Steam thread but this is my first trip here because it's frankly been way too long since I've built a new PC. I mean like 6+ years. I upgraded my GPU and PSU about 18 months ago because I was getting to the point where nothing played and needed a boost.

Well, today my motherboard (I think) died. I swapped in the old GPU and PSU and the problem persists so it's at least not them. I'm using this as a good excuse to upgrade though.

So right now I need a new case, motherboard, CPU, and RAM. I've got a Part Picker page up here. It includes:

• Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
• ASRock Z97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
• G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory
• Silverstone PS10B ATX Mid Tower Case

Which will be added to my PowerColor 7870 and ~600w PSU as well as storage and peripherals. It's going in my living room so quiet is good and no led fans.

Does anyone have any input on how I should shuffle things around to spend my money a bit more wisely? At $440 it's right about at my budget ceiling, but I could squeeze out a few more bucks if it would make a lot of sense in the long run.

Is there a reason why you only want to buy from Newegg? Some of these parts can be had for cheaper from other retailers.

 

[BeatnikGunsoo]

is it better to have 1 stick of ram or 2? i.e 1 stick of 8GB ram or is 2 4GB sticks of ram better?

 

[RGM79]

is it better to have 1 stick of ram or 2? i.e 1 stick of 8GB ram or is 2 4GB sticks of ram better?

Generally if possible, two sticks for dual channel is preferred, but if you plan to upgrade in the future and need the room (some smaller motherboards only have 2 RAM slots, for example) then going with a single stick isn't a problem at all.

http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/1349-ram-how-dual-channel-works-vs-single-channel/Page-3?showall=
http://www.behardware.com/articles/814-3/ddr3-impact-of-channels-timings.html

The difference in benchmarking is no more than 5~10%, but it's on a scale so small that you'll never notice it in real life use.

 

[BeatnikGunsoo]

Generally if possible, two sticks for dual channel is preferred, but if you plan to upgrade in the future and need the room (some smaller motherboards only have 2 RAM slots, for example) then going with a single stick isn't a problem at all.

http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/1349-ram-how-dual-channel-works-vs-single-channel/Page-3?showall=
http://www.behardware.com/articles/814-3/ddr3-impact-of-channels-timings.html

The difference in benchmarking is no more than 5~10%, but it's on a scale so small that you'll never notice it in real life use.

Ah I see, thanks for the answer

 

[jfoul]

Lookout for new versions of the EVGA GTX 970 SC & FTW. The new models go under SSC & FTW +. The SSC is already on sale at Newegg. It's nice to see EVGA listen to their customers and make changes to the product line. I'll be returning my Gygabyte G1 and buying the FTW +.

EVGA GTX 970 SSC (04G-P4-3973-KR) Video

HEXUS:
"The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0 is due to ship in the first week of January 2015, according to company representatives. EVGA is also releasing updated versions of the reference (04G-P4-3973-KR) and FTW+ (04G-P4-3978-KR) GTX 970 cards at the same time. The latter is significant because it features a full-length backplate as well as MMCP cooling."

EVGA:
"The new generation of EVGA GeForce GTX 970s have arrived with the SSC and FTW+. These enhanced models offer improved cooling, double BIOS support, new display output configuration and 6 power phases for robust overclocking support. The FTW+ model even has an included backplate."

FTW+ (04G-P4-3978-KR) Summary:

• Includes Backplate
• Full Coverage Memory and MOSFET Cooling Plate
• Dual BIOS
• Copper Plate & Heatpipes
• 6+2 Power Phase + Higher Power Target
• 6+8 Pin Power Connectors
• New Display Output Configuration (1 x Dual-link DVI-I - 1 x HDMI - 3 x DisplayPort)

 

[hipbabboom]

Did DDR4 happen when i blinked?!

 

[nightmare-slain]

alright so i've finally decided on all the parts i'm gonna get for my first pc. i just need to decide on a case.

specs:

Intel i5-4690K
MSI Z97 Gaming 5
Corsair Vengeance 8GB
MSI GTX 970 4GB
Samsung 250GB SSD
EVGA 750W Supernova G2

I can't decide on a case! At first it was the carbide 300r then i went for the 200r. After that it was the NZXT S340 or Carbide 330r. Now it's between the Corsair Graphite 230T or Spec-03.

what do you think of the build and what case do you think is best? if there are any other cases within this price range (<£65/$100) that you think i should look at let me know!

thank you

 

[McBryBry]

alright so i've finally decided on all the parts i'm gonna get for my first pc. i just need to decide on a case.

specs:

Intel i5-4690K
MSI Z97 Gaming 5
Corsair Vengeance 8GB
MSI GTX 970 4GB
Samsung 250GB SSD
EVGA 750W Supernova G2

I can't decide on a case! At first it was the carbide 300r then i went for the 200r. After that it was the NZXT S340 or Carbide 330r. Now it's between the Corsair Graphite 230T or Spec-03.

what do you think of the build and what case do you think is best? if there are any other cases within this price range (<£65/$100) that you think i should look at let me know!

thank you

Your build looks good to me. My only recommendation would be to go 16GB of RAM if you have the cash.

As for the case, I don't know much about either of those. However, I'm very happy with my Define R4. The R5 is out now but over $100. You can find the R4 for ~$80 if you look around some.

Edit: what's the price difference between the Samsung SSD and Crucial's? That could be a good switch.

 

[nightmare-slain]

Your build looks good to me. My only recommendation would be to go 16GB of RAM if you have the cash.

As for the case, I don't know much about either of those. However, I'm very happy with my Define R4. The R5 is out now but over $100. You can find the R4 for ~$80 if you look around some.

Edit: what's the price difference between the Samsung SSD and Crucial's? That could be a good switch.

i will definitely be upgrading to 16GB. just can't afford to at the moment without cutting back on some parts. i'll have a look at that case, thanks!

the samsung 250gb is £88 and the crucial 256gb is £78. i noticed that the samsung has 540mb/520mb and the crucial has 550mb/300mb. is that extra 220mb/s worth the extra £10?

 

[kharma45]

i will definitely be upgrading to 16GB. just can't afford to at the moment without cutting back on some parts. i'll have a look at that case, thanks!

the samsung 250gb is £88 and the crucial 256gb is £78. i noticed that the samsung has 540mb/520mb and the crucial has 550mb/300mb. is that extra 220mb/s worth the extra £10?

No. In real world usage both will feel equally as fast.

 

[Femmeworth]

Looking at motherboards. How does this compare to this? Not really sure what my needs are and why Haz seems to prefer Gigabyte in general over ASUS. Looking at motherboard stats makes my head spin.

What I currently have bought so far:
CPU: Intel i7 4790K
RAM: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory

Looking to spend $125 - maybe $200 for a motherboard. I might not even need a $200 motherboard.

 

[Currygan]

so guys, what are the best IPS monitors for the money? I'm looking for a 24" tops, budget is about 200. thanks for the help!

 

[kharma45]

so guys, what are the best IPS monitors for the money? I'm looking for a 24" tops, budget is about 200. thanks for the help!

Not to be an arse, but next time mention what currency. If you hadn't listed your location on your profile we wouldn't know whether you meant 200 quid or 200 sea shells.

Are you looking something that's 16:9, 16:10 or even 21:9?

 

[fwpx]

Your Current Specs: This is a totally new box
Budget: No more than 1k USD
Main Use: Light Gaming 5, Gaming 4, Emulation (PS2/Wii) 3, Video Editing 0, Streaming games in HD 2, 3D/Model work (and what program) 0, General Usage 1 (Word, Web, 1080p playback).
Monitor Resolution: For TV hookup mostly, 1080p
List SPECIFIC games or applications that you MUST be able to run well: Any casual MP game. I'm looking for 60fps 1080p rock solid no issues for couch/competitive casual MP, MAME emulation, etc
Looking to reuse any parts?: No
When will you build?: Before June
Will you be overclocking?: Yes
Sidenote: I want the smallest form factor for easy transport

Thanks guys!

 

[kharma45]

Your Current Specs: This is a totally new box
Budget: No more than 1k
Main Use: Light Gaming 5, Gaming 4, Emulation (PS2/Wii) 3, Video Editing 0, Streaming games in HD 2, 3D/Model work (and what program) 0, General Usage 1 (Word, Web, 1080p playback).
Monitor Resolution: For TV hookup mostly, 1080p
List SPECIFIC games or applications that you MUST be able to run well: Any casual MP game. I'm looking for 60fps 1080p rock solid no issues for couch/competitive casual MP, MAME emulation, etc
Looking to reuse any parts?: No
When will you build?: Before June
Will you be overclocking?: Yes
Sidenote: I want the smallest form factor for easy transport

Thanks guys!

1000 what? USD, GBP, Euro?

 

[fwpx]

1000 what? USD, GBP, Euro?

Sorry, USD!

 

[Addnan]

See the SFF builds, third post of the thread. Mix and match, throw a 970 in there instead of the dated cards that are on there right now.

 

[Currygan]

Not to be an arse, but next time mention what currency. If you hadn't listed your location on your profile we wouldn't know whether you meant 200 quid or 200 sea shells.

Are you looking something that's 16:9, 16:10 or even 21:9?

oh my bad, I wrote that in a hurry, yeah its £, 16:9 would be preferable as I always used it up until recently

 

[Femmeworth]

Is TigerDirect a reliable place to buy from? I see they are still running that VISA Checkout deal. http://www.tigerdirect.com/SECTORS/...ffiliateID=Es5Ekr9eEBk-TpikUtDnRPSqODqFwBh1Cw

 

[kharma45]

Sorry, USD!

Is the Node 304 the sort of size you'd be looking?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.85 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($329.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1012.76
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-02 09:26 EST-0500

I've went a smidgen over budget but barely.

Is TigerDirect a reliable place to buy from? I see they are still running that VISA Checkout deal. http://www.tigerdirect.com/SECTORS/...ffiliateID=Es5Ekr9eEBk-TpikUtDnRPSqODqFwBh1Cw

Usually when I see complaints on here it's to do with them, but it's mainly around rebates rather than straight voucher deals.

 

[Femmeworth]

Usually when I see complaints on here it's to do with them, but it's mainly around rebates rather than straight voucher deals.

Yeah, I was just reading something about rebates.

 

[Easy_D]

Found a cheap-ish Gigabyte Geforce GTX 750 Ti OC, looking at benchmarks and videos it seems to be comfortable running games like Battlefield 4 at Ultra 1080p 4xMSAA

Worth it for 1200 SEK / 120 Euros? Or should I save up a little more and go for the 760 instead?

The 760 by comparison seems to dip into the 40s rather than the high 20s and costs 1700/ 170 euros

It seems to be handling itself way better and I guess I could wait an extra month to replace my current GPU

 

[kharma45]

oh my bad, I wrote that in a hurry, yeah its £, 16:9 would be preferable as I always used it up until recently

Dell U2414H for £150 http://www.nrgit.biz/product/dell-2...sharp-just-in-at-nrg-it-ltd.html?c=130&p=1065 although if you're looking to use DisplayPort with it and daisy chain it, there are some issues http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/2oe2sf/discussion_builders_beware_overwhelming_evidence/

If you're not looking to do that it's a great monitor from what I've read on it. That one is a refurb. Brand new you're talking the guts of £188 http://www.cclonline.com/product/13...57/?siteID=8BacdVP0GFs-dreyiUdfCpl1GbHsYv4e2g

LG also do decent IPS panels at reasonable money. Let me know if you want me to throw some more suggestions your way.

 

[Currygan]

Dell U2414H for £150 http://www.nrgit.biz/product/dell-2...sharp-just-in-at-nrg-it-ltd.html?c=130&p=1065 although if you're looking to use DisplayPort with it and daisy chain it, there are some issues http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/2oe2sf/discussion_builders_beware_overwhelming_evidence/

If you're not looking to do that it's a great monitor from what I've read on it. That one is a refurb. Brand new you're talking the guts of £188 http://www.cclonline.com/product/13...57/?siteID=8BacdVP0GFs-dreyiUdfCpl1GbHsYv4e2g

LG also do decent IPS panels at reasonable money. Let me know if you want me to throw some more suggestions your way.

I actually come from a LG, the IPS237L-BN. It died when power went out in my area a couple days ago.
that Dell looks excellent, man, I plan to use it for single screen gaming and surfing web, so it seems great just for that. My eye fell on this one, too
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CP0YUA4/
is it good? do you have any other model you could suggest me?

 

[kharma45]

I actually come from a LG, the IPS237L-BN. It died when power went out in my area a couple days ago.
that Dell looks excellent, man, I plan to use it for single screen gaming and surfing web, so it seems great just for that. My eye fell on this one, too
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CP0YUA4/
is it good? do you have any other model you could suggest me?

I can only find one review on it, and I'm generally a bit wary of Philips' stuff so I'd probably not go for that one.

There is this ASUS which has a couple of reviews http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00D6L4Y9I/ Looks to be the successor to the VS239H

 

[Currygan]

I can only find one review on it, and I'm generally a bit wary of Philips' stuff so I'd probably not go for that one.

There is this ASUS which has a couple of reviews http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00D6L4Y9I/ Looks to be the successor to the VS239H

scratch that Philips then! This Asus looks really good as well, but in all honesty that dell seems the most popular/best reviewed of all the one we've seen so far, so I guess i'm gonna buy that one... thanks man, you've been extremely helpful !

 

[louiedog]

Is there a reason why you only want to buy from Newegg? Some of these parts can be had for cheaper from other retailers.

SuperBiiz has the CPU for $3 cheaper, but I've never dealt with them and I'm okay paying that small difference to make one order and get it form Newegg who usually gets things to me in 1-2 days.

I hadn't checked yet to see if the mobo rebate was good at other retailers (I know it's $10 cheaper at Amazon) because I typed it up at night and really wanted to get to bed.

Did I miss any other deals?

I was mostly just looking for advice on actual parts.

 

[MUnited83]

This is what i would build for that money:

The gpu is the tricky part,i would spend 100€ extra and get a 970Gtx, but for now i would wait for janurary 22nd to see the performance and price of 960gtx.

CPU: i5 4590K - http://www.globaldata.pt/processador-intel-core-i5-4690k-3-5ghz-socket-1150.html - 234,91 €

MB: http://www.globaldata.pt/motherboard-msi-z97-pc-mate.html - 82,90€

HDD: Seagate 1TB - http://www.globaldata.pt/disco-seagate-1tb-sata-iii-64mb.html - 52,90 €

SSD: Crucial MX100 128GB - http://www.globaldata.pt/disco-ssd-crucial-mx100-128gb-sata-iii.html - 66,90€

Case: CoolerMaster N300 - http://www.globaldata.pt/caixa-atx-cooler-master-n300-n2-usb-3-0.html - 38,90 €

RAM : 8GB Gskill 1600 - http://www.globaldata.pt/g-skill-kit-8gb-ddr3-1600mhz-ripjawsx-cl9.html - 73,90€

PSU - Corsair CX600W - http://www.globaldata.pt/fonte-corsair-cx-600w-80.html - 64,90€

Monitor - BenQ 24' GL2460 2ms http://www.globaldata.pt/monitor-benq-24-gl2460-2ms.html - 124,79€

Total without GPU: 740,10 €

Obrigado, I will wait a bit more and see about the GTX 760.

Btw, is it worth it to pay 10€ more and get a i5 4690k instead?

 

[Inkvoterad]

Yo fellas, i need some help. My friend is looking for a monitor that displays FullHD and 60hz. Preferably something relatively budget, he doesnt really want to pay 3000kr for a screen. You fellas have an idea? In dollars i guess the budget would be on something like 2--300 dollars.

 

[RGM79]

SuperBiiz has the CPU for $3 cheaper, but I've never dealt with them and I'm okay paying that small difference to make one order and get it form Newegg who usually gets things to me in 1-2 days.

I hadn't checked yet to see if the mobo rebate was good at other retailers (I know it's $10 cheaper at Amazon) because I typed it up at night and really wanted to get to bed.

Did I miss any other deals?

I was mostly just looking for advice on actual parts.

Your parts are fine. A few weeks back there were better deals, December holiday sales, stuff like that.

I recommend a CPU cooler like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo (about $30) for that processor.

Here's my version of your build, a few parts changed for price.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($63.98 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Neos White ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $454.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-02 11:29 EST-0500

 

[louiedog]

Your parts are fine. A few weeks back there were better deals, December holiday sales, stuff like that.

I recommend a CPU cooler like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo (about $30) for that processor.

Here's my version of your build, a few parts changed for price.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($63.98 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Neos White ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $454.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-02 11:29 EST-0500

Thanks. I was actually looking at that case but it's unfortunately out of stock at the moment.

Other than SLI and the slightly cheaper AR price, does that motherboard have any other advantages over the ASRock?

 

[RGM79]

Thanks. I was actually looking at that case but it's unfortunately out of stock at the moment.

Other than SLI and the slightly cheaper AR price, does that motherboard have any other advantages over the ASRock?

Sorry, give me a few minutes. I just noticed that two or three of the parts in that list are out of stock.

I'm remaking the list.. I think I can get you a better deal through NCIX pricematching.

 

[Blitzhex]

I'm thinking of going SLI with x2 asus 970 dcu2 in my 350d case with asus gene vii matx mobo. This is what's going to end up happening.

Is it ok for the 970 dcu2 in particular to be sandwiched like that (non-blower design)? Worried about the heat.

 

[The Llama]

I'm thinking of going SLI with x2 asus 970 dcu2 in my 350d case with asus gene vii matx mobo. This is what's going to end up happening.



Is it ok for the 970 dcu2 in particular to be sandwiched like that (non-blower design)? Worried about the heat.

They'll run a bit hot but should be fine. Just check the temps to make sure they're not dangerously hot. I'd also refrain from overclocking much, just to be safe.

 

[RGM79]

Sorry, give me a few minutes. I just noticed that two or three of the parts in that list are out of stock.

I'm remaking the list.. I think I can get you a better deal through NCIX pricematching.

Anyway, here's the revised list. Couldn't be sure if NCIXUS offered free shipping or not, so decided not to bother with it.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($66.30 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $467.25
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-02 12:15 EST-0500

Well, $467.25 doesn't seem too bad when you consider that it includes a $30 CPU cooler that's good for overclocking. If you don't intend to overclock, you could go with some cheaper parts and save around $50, perhaps a bit more.

For $6 less, the MSI Z97S SLI Plus offers more USB 3.0 ports, a third long PCI-E slot, and 2 extra SATA ports. reviews are quite good, and for $90 it's a good price.

 

[louiedog]

Anyway, here's the revised list. Couldn't be sure if NCIXUS offered free shipping or not, so decided not to bother with it.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Plus ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($66.30 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $467.25
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-02 12:15 EST-0500

Well, $467.25 doesn't seem too bad when you consider that it includes a $30 CPU cooler that's good for overclocking. If you don't intend to overclock, you could go with some cheaper parts and save around $50, perhaps a bit more.

For $6 less, the MSI Z97S SLI Plus offers more USB 3.0 ports, a third long PCI-E slot, and 2 extra SATA ports. reviews are quite good, and for $90 it's a good price.

I think I'll skip the cooler for now. Overclocking will come in the future, but not right away. I'll also double the RAM in a few months when I can.

Thanks a lot for the help. I used to be more on top of this stuff but other things got in the way and I've gone way too long without an upgrade. This helps a lot. I just wish my desktop had died at another time as the last month has been probably the most expensive of my life.

 

[RGM79]

I think I'll skip the cooler for now. Overclocking will come in the future, but not right away. I'll also double the RAM in a few months when I can.

Thanks a lot for the help. I used to be more on top of this stuff but other things got in the way and I've gone way too long without an upgrade. This helps a lot. I just wish my desktop had died at another time as the last month has been probably the most expensive of my life.

Well, that cooler isn't just for overclocking. It'll run quieter than the stock Intel cooler which is known for being loud when running fast at high temperatures. But yeah, you can definitely just get it later when it's more convenient for you.

 

[rtcn63]

I think I'll skip the cooler for now. Overclocking will come in the future, but not right away. I'll also double the RAM in a few months when I can.

I wouldn't. The Hyper (and I'm guessing most other aftermarket coolers) require you to install back plates on the motherboard to the mount the coolers effectively. It may be easier to do it before your build is complete, for space to work and to prevent things from accidentally being whacked during the process. Or not, it's been a few years for me.

Also, do the stock coolers still use push pins? I've had them snap on me twice randomly during operation. The broken leg can be a hassle to remove from the motherboard.

 

[zyxwvu4321]

I think I'm going to stick with a 4.8GHz overclock on my i7-4790k. Tried hitting 4.9GHz with VCore = 1.340V and VRing = 1.280V, but it failed Intel Extreme Tuning stress test after 20 minutes or so, temps getting up to 76 for one core.

 

[Ryne]

Lookout for new versions of the EVGA GTX 970 SC & FTW. The new models go under SSC & FTW +.

I read this news, I was 3 days away from purchasing a EVGA GTX 970. Now I'm putting it on hold and waiting for that new card.

I may end up saving up enough during the wait to afford a GTX 980.

 

[Novel Mike]

So I'm ready to get a new gaming PC made, one that will be 4K ready when 4K monitors drop in price a bit more (likely get the monitor around/before Witcher 3 comes out) but I don't have a way to build one myself (I wouldn't trust myself not to screw something up, and I don't have much free time as it is anyway) so I've been looking around to see what sites build them and I know of http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/ they have a lot of specials going on for new years and while my late uncle used to buy PC's from them I don't have any experience with them or buying PC's in general, so my question becomes does anyone have any experience buying from them or know of their reputation?

I'm aware since they build the computers themselves they are likely going to charge more but at the same time I don't know of other places to buy from and I noticed they do let you customize what you want in it, after messing around with that for awhile I ended up with the following...

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/saved/1GN4V2

So some help would be appreciated...

1) Again I am inexperienced in specifics so first off, how does that setup look? Is it 4k ready? Did I go overboard on some selections and under on others? The setup says I would only need a 420 watt power supply, does that sound right?

2) The Price is already quite high but I'm interested to know if there are any other sites that people know of that let you customize what you want in the PC (and they build it/ship it for/to you) and how the prices might compare.

3) Anything additional you would suggest for someone who isn't very experienced in this sort of thing.

Thanks in advance!

 

[RGM79]

I wouldn't. The Hyper (and I'm guessing most other aftermarket coolers) require you to install back plates on the motherboard to the mount the coolers effectively. It may be easier to do it before your build is complete, for space to work and to prevent things from accidentally being whacked during the process. Or not, it's been a few years for me.

Also, do the stock coolers still use push pins? I've had them snap on me twice randomly during operation. The broken leg can be a hassle to remove from the motherboard.

The NZXT Source 220 should have a large enough opening to access and install the backplate.

Pushpins are still standard for stock and cheap/small coolers, but I've never snapped any.

 

[haveheart]

I just cannot decide: These are my three favs and I know they differ in every aspect.

- the Dell P2414h. Modern IPS (!= U2414) and according to reviews decent input lag and responsiveness.
- the Iiyama XB2483. AMVA+ panel, no ips problems, also decent lag/ms for gaming
- and a 144hz display, maybe also a iiyama (prolite GB2773HS-GB1), since it comes cheapest (I ignore acer products)

Primarily, I play CS:GO and occasionally a Blizzard game. I also do lots of office work, i.e. writing/word and statistics/excel.
I've read a 144hz display is really good for office work because it's comfy for the eyes. On the other hand there a reports that excel work on 144hz TNs is horrible due to bad contrast and viewing angle so that u can't even see the cell lines...

 

[RGM79]

So I'm ready to get a new gaming PC made, one that will be 4K ready when 4K monitors drop in price a bit more (likely get the monitor around/before Witcher 3 comes out) but I don't have a way to build one myself (I wouldn't trust myself not to screw something up, and I don't have much free time as it is anyway) so I've been looking around to see what sites build them and I know of http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/ they have a lot of specials going on for new years and while my late uncle used to buy PC's from them I don't have any experience with them or buying PC's in general, so my question becomes does anyone have any experience buying from them or know of their reputation?

I'm aware since they build the computers themselves they are likely going to charge more but at the same time I don't know of other places to buy from and I noticed they do let you customize what you want in it, after messing around with that for awhile I ended up with the following...

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/saved/1GN4V2

So some help would be appreciated...

1) Again I am inexperienced in specifics so first off, how does that setup look? Is it 4k ready? Did I go overboard on some selections and under on others? The setup says I would only need a 420 watt power supply, does that sound right?

2) The Price is already quite high but I'm interested to know if there are any other sites that people know of that let you customize what you want in the PC (and they build it/ship it for/to you) and how the prices might compare.

3) Anything additional you would suggest for someone who isn't very experienced in this sort of thing.

Thanks in advance!

1. It looks very overpriced. It is "4k ready", you can expect the following framerates for 4K resolution (3840x2160) with these benchmark results. With a computer with those specs, 420 watts is about the minimum wattage that it would generally use, I'd recommend 500-550 watts, or 700-750 watts if you want to run SLI GTX 970 in the future.

2. For a $60 charge NCIX will do parts assembly, some testing and put a 1 year warranty on the complete system. Just add the parts you want to the shopping cart. They will give you all of the original packaging in case you need the manufacturer's warranty on parts.

3. Here, I'll analyze the cost of the CyberPowerPC parts for you. This is what it'd cost if you were to buy the parts separately and assemble them yourself. Some parts weren't in the parts database, so I chose the cheapest equivalent in performance/function.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($317.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H50 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-K/CSM ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($127.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($181.50 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Toshiba Product SeriesT01ACA 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($72.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB FTW ACX 2.0 Video Card ($369.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 530 ATX Full Tower Case ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Optical Drive: Asus BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Fan Controller: Aerocool Touch-1000 Fan Controller ($38.98 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($26.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1550.24
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-02 13:22 EST-0500

Although the CyberPowerPC build is listed at $1733, don't forget the mandatory $75 shipping fee, so it's more like ~$1810. You're overpaying by $250 just going by the cost of the parts alone, and the computer has a bunch of stuff (low end water cooling, fan controller, multiple disc drives, wireless adaptor) that you probably don't need and just tack on additional cost. For $1800, you can definitely build a much stronger PC with dual high end graphics cards instead of just one, and get a stronger processor too.

 

[TheSpoiler]

Here's the rub: My PC is dead and my mom wants to buy me one as a late christmas gift. She refuses to buy me the pieces to make one, so a prebuilt is my only option. However, I'm looking for one I can upgrade relatively soon, so in short, I need a good "starting point" for an okay gaming computer.

The most optimal thing would be something with a quad core right from the get go. I can buy a graphics card and ram later. I was looking at this:

http://www.microcenter.com/product/442222/GX990_Desktop_Computer_Off_Lease_Refurbished

I don't even know if it can be upgraded with a graphics card, but this is about what I'm looking for.

Does this work, GAF?

 

[Smooth Criminal]

Figured this was the best place to ask, so here goes. I've recently come across an old PS3 fat console that hasn't been in use for a year or two. The thing stopped reading discs but that's as much as I can remember about its faults. Is there anything in there, bar the HDD or Blu Ray drive (which must be broken in some capacity), that might be worth keeping? If there are useful parts inside the machine I'd rather put them towards something before throwing it out.

Apologies if stoopid.