Help with a Gaming PC build $1500-2000!

immortal111

Hi guys,

I recommended this site to a friend to help with his pc build as I had a lot of help here when I built mine years ago. He isn't able to post a new thread though, assuming his account is too new, so I'm posting for him. He will reply to comments after I make the thread for him. His username is Samee25.

 He wants to build a new computer and his budget is approximately $1500-2000. He is a newbie when it comes to computer tech stuff so he isn't very familiar with parts,terminology or knowledge of specific parts (other than ram and the basics). He was wondering on where/how to start for this build, what parts he needs, the prices for each part and everything to build a really good gaming computer!

Thanks in advance for the help, he really appreciates it.

Nightlite

I definitely prefer MicroATX low power processor and high power graphics card builds.

Some things to probably mention, which will be asked; OS? Peripherals? Main use?

samee25

hey thanks for replying! as for OS I am gonna be purchasing windows 10, main use will be for gaming (currently playing overwatch, mad max, racing games such as forza motorsport ect ) so i will be gaming a LOT, and also just general usage.. browsing, music and such. i have purchased a gaming monitor, keyboard & mouse already. 

Vynt

I would check out the forums over at tomshardware. Usually good info. They even have an article on builds at certain prices, but it was back from May and kind of obsolete now with the new video cards out. The comments are actually more informative, about what is wrong with them lol.

Your build also depends on what kind of monitor you got. If you're going for 4k gaming, you're going to need some powerful video cards. The new gtx 1080 should be able to handle 4k solo, although not sure if you'll always get 60fps. Could do sli, but 2 of those are costly. Titan X probably best on market, can easily do it, but those run $1000 heh. The 1080ti could do it np based on the specs, almost as good as the titanx, but that isn't out until January.

The 980ti can play a lot of games at 4k, but not maxed settings, not even in sli. Your best bet for 4k and keeping the cost down is probably the gtx 1080, which runs around 650.

I don't really keep up on the other stuff until I actually build my own, then I research like crazy, heh. I tend to build around the video card, with the rest being good enough for the next video card a few years down the road.

Nightlite

I wish I could link a build.. not working atm.

I personally would go an ASUS 1151 socket board with an EVGA 1080 FTW, add a Samsung m.2 and Corsair 16gb DDR4. Fit under your budget and be a solid performer for a long time.

I'm very big on branding certain components : /

samee25

i got the  ASUS PG279Q ROG Swift 27in G-SYNC monitor   

DarkHigh

samee25 does the budget include the ASUS monitor or is the 1500-2000 for tower only?

DarkHigh

Case: https://www.amazon.com/NZXT-H440-Tower-Black-Window/dp/B015401I06/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474338652&sr=8-1&keywords=h440

Power Supply: https://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-CX750M-BRONZE-Haswell-Modular/dp/B00ALK3KEM/ref=sr_1_16?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1474338718&sr=1-16&keywords=power+supply

Motherboard: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012NH05UW/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

CPU: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012M8LXQW/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

CPU COOLER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L0YLJJG/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

RAM (x2) for a total of 32GB: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0143UM4TC/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

Primary SSDs to be set in RAID 0(you need 2): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M8ABFX6/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Secondary HDD for backup of important files: https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Cache-Desktop-Drive-WD10EZEX/dp/B0088PUEPK/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1474338788&sr=1-1&keywords=hdd

Case Lighting because your a pro PC builder now: https://www.amazon.com/NZXT-Hue-Advanced-Lighting-AC-HUEPS-M1/dp/B018YZ0H1O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474338801&sr=8-1&keywords=hue+

Video Card currently runs any game max 1080, also anything I play 60fps at 4k (including BDO with maybe exception being node wars) I went with EVGA for the great warranty they have. Personally I have a Gigabyte G1 but I was a day 1 buyer and that's all that was out lol : https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Support-Graphics-08G-P4-6173-KR/dp/B01IA9HLMM/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1474339092&sr=1-1&keywords=gtx+1070&th=1

Last but not least, lets keep it safe with a battery: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019804U8?ref_=ams_ad_dp_asin_1

Total cost as of writing: $1778.66 with prime shipping

For operating system if you have a windows 7 pc you don't use anymore or even just a key you don't use you can still install windows 10 with standard installation media and use that key. The free upgrade is over but the key will pass activation. Learned this with windows 7 pro keys and Windows 10 ISO created through the media creation tool. This build does not have a CD/DVD drive but install through USB drive is a great experience.

all of this should add up to a power house for any normal gamer, some will throw way over the top builds at you, and some will say this is over the top. 

VicodinTaco

Checking http://www.DigitalStorm.com too can get you a good idea of all the different builds available and the their cost minus the money you save doing it yourself of course.  I'm racked for time personally so I plan to actually just order a good rig from them soon  

Vrika

immortal111 said:

 He wants to build a new computer and his budget is approximately $1500-2000.

You know you could get quite good build at $1000 - 1500 price range?

It's easy to build a computer more expensive than that, but going over $1500 isn't very cost effective any more.

Here's an example build with I5-6600K processor, GTX 1070 graphic card, 1 TB SSD drive, and 16 GB of RAM for bit over 1 200$
 http://pcpartpicker.com/list/YhhRKZ


That build has only 1 TB SSD for storage. If you want more storage space, you can also add a hard disk for a lot of cheap but slower storage space. I don't know if you want to have more storage space than that 1 TB, and how much more, so I didn't add one now. It's about personal preference on how much stuff you normally have on your drive at once.

Also the build doesn't include optical drive because I don't know if you want one.

I'll make a separate post about operating systems below.



EDIT: Here's a more expensive version of that build to get price over $1500 dollars:
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/q87kJV

I switched the processor and graphic card to faster versions, added a little better power supply, blu-ray drive, and extra 2TB hard disk for storage space. The blu-ray drive is on sale only until 21th, after that I likely would not recommend that model.

That build should get you maybe 25% better frame rates than the 1 200$ build.

Vrika

For operating system. If you get optical drive you can buy something that comes on a DVD:
 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416892

Make sure you get 64 bit version of that package. That license linked above is OEM version, which means it'll be tied to your hardware. If you ever decide to purchase a new computer, Microsoft may ask you to buy another Windows license.



Another alternative is to get Windows on USB stick:
  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832588528&cm_re=windows_10_home-_-32-588-528-_-Product

The version above is not an OEM version, so you may transfer it from one computer to another if your computer ever breaks down, you need to upgrade, etc. The only limitation is that it can only be installed on one computer at a time.



If you want, you can also get license for downloading Windows, and install it on your own USB stick. It's a bit more work than buying one that comes on USB stick, but it's cheaper.

Windows 10 license available online here: 

 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832588506&cm_re=windows_10_home-_-32-588-506-_-Product
 This version above is not an OEM version, so you may transfer it from one computer to another.

The USB stick will need to be at least 4GB. Something like this should work fine:
 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA76H3V67718

You can get the program for downloading Windows installation media, and creating Windows installation USB stick, from here:
  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

g0m0rrah

I'm assuming that monitor is a 1440p so get a 1070 or 80. Get a good rating power supply over 700w. Get a case you think looks decent with room to build in. Buy 8 to 16 gig of ram. Buy 2 ssd, one for the os and the other for games/media. I have a nuc set up as a plex server for tv/movies/music. I have a 3 tb external hd connected to the nuc for media and I stream to 3 roku with it.  The nuc would also be useful for twitch streaming. A loge tech 1080p webcam is the best cam I've owned so far...

 Most of PC building is preferencd. I don't like lighted cases with windows. I like silent cases so I opt for either large slow fans or liquid or both. 16 gig of ram is i the sweet spot for me because I do have moderate amount of shit always running. Ram speed really isn't that important and I prefer cheaper lower speed lower latency ram. Ssd make a huge difference. A quality power supply is almost always over looked. Super high wattage isn't important but reliability is. I prefer one big gpu over 2 weaker gpu. A good desk and chair is important to me because I have arthritis issues. So much subjectivity in pc building...

13lake

Something like this is probably the best money to performance to aesthetics combination you can get for that money :

http://pcpartpicker.com/list/RdxZJV

It's about ~$130 more expensive than the cheapest parts on every component, but it's pushing the best option in every parts price range.

Except the cpu, but you can easily fit the i7-6700k in this price range ( it's $100 more expensive), though i personally feel you do not need it.

If you don't like the white color scheme, everything is available in red or black as well. The cpu cooler and motherboard are insanely good for that price, so that's why the white came together because of those 2 parts

And that pc case is really really good (also comes in black and a good looking gray color).

Also found the black fan replacement for the cpu cooler :
http://pcpartpicker.com/product/cBcMnQ/phanteks-case-fan-phf140mpbbkpwm

gervaise1

Key questions:

1. How big a monitor does he want or does he want to connect it to a (smart) "monitor / TV" or even a large screen TV. Size of screen is usually a key question. And if some sort of monitor is needed then this may also be a budget consideration. (Answered in above. As mention above monitor option is a factor.)

2. Location, location, location:

2a. Location - space. Is size a factor. Whilst tower cases are still common (and desktops as well) there is e.g. Intel's NUC form factor. Small and discrete and these days small does not mean low in computing power. (Most new motherboards now accept M.2 hard drives so you don't need bays.)

2b. Location - noise. If you use a PC in a room with e.g. your husband / wife and they are watching TV this can be a factor. Or in a room with someone else - double the noise. Or listening to music on speakers whilst using your PC. And so on.

If noise is a factor then this would point to some components over others; in particular the power supply. A good quality power supply which can deliver more watts than you need will idle along. Means less heat as well - so less cooling - so less noise! You want a good power supply anyway. 

2c. Location - heat. Shouldn't be an issue and modern PCs are much more efficient but, as with noise, some places are warmer than others. The extra heat of a PC could be a factor. See 2b!

3. Are you planning to buy a "pre-built" rig (from a store or company) or build it yourself? If pre-built this is obviously a constraint. You will often get an OEM copy of Win10 of course.