First time PC Build

miralize

Hey, I'm looking to build a gaming PC/Plex server machine that can play games at ideally 1440p, but 1080p is fine too.

I'm using a retina MBP right now for my Windows gaming and while its not bad. (Specs below), I don't like rebooting every time I want to load up a game.

16GB DDR3, 2.6 Core i7, 650M NVIDIA (1GB)

The budget is a weird one for me, not exactly sure what I'd like to spend on it but I'm guessing between 800-900? to be honest I'm just exploring it, not really sure I need the PC. But advice is more than welcome!

Questionnaire

1. What is your budget? 800-900? Cheapest preferable :P

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? Gaming/HTPC of sorts

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? No

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? No

5. Do you need a monitor? No

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? 2560x1440

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? No

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? No

8. How can you pay? Credit Card

9. When are you purchasing? [In x days]

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [South Dublin City/Cork City/Kerry/etc.]

yawhat!

Item|Price
MSI R9 290 4GD5, AMD Radeon R9 290, 4GB DDR5|€363.33
Intel Core i5-4570 Box, LGA1150|€170.66
Gigabyte GA-H81M-D2V , mATX, Sockel 1150|€47.51
8GB Corsair Vengeance PC3-12800U CL10-10-10-27|€71.51
WD Blue 1TB 6Gb's|€51.18
Corsair CX Series Modular CX500M, 500W|€58.60
Corsair Carbide Series 200R, ATX, ohne Netzteil|€50.93
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€832.71

I couldn't fit an overclockable processor, SSD, Better Motherboard and power supply for corssfire into the build for the price. It would come to around 1100 for them.

EDIT: Acutally see you have no plans for overclocking so an SSD would bring the price up to 900

miralize

Do I need the 4570? I was recommeded in getting the Xeon 1230v3

The Xeon is as fast as a 4770/k. But only costs around 200€. 100€ less than a 4770k. You can't overclock the xeon, and it hasn't a igpu. But who needs an igpu if you have a R9 290?
The Xeon also has Hyperthreading. Which, i think, will be very important in newer games. New consoles have some sort of hyperthreading with their 4/8core cpu hybrids.

Is that a load of ****e?

Also isnt crossfire for dual monitors? I only have 1.

yawhat!

No could get the Xeon either. Crossfire is adding a second card to the computer for more power the line. You would get three times the performance instead of having a single card.

marco_polo

miralize wrote: »

Do I need the 4570? I was recommeded in getting the Xeon 1230v3



Is that a load of ****e?

Also isnt crossfire for dual monitors? I only have 1.

1440P is much more gpu intensive than 1080p though and the r9 290 is probably the entry level point for getting near 60fps at max settings in current games, so it might be no harm to leave the crossfire option open for future updates

eoin91

Crossfire is basically using two graphics cards of a similar type together to improve the performance of the system. You do not need two monitors to use a crossfire set up, it can be used to improve the game performance on a single monitor. What this mean's is that you can use two cheaper graphics cards together to possibly get better performance or similar performance to a more expensive graphics card.

yawhat! wrote: »

Crossfire is adding a second card to the computer for more power the line. You would get three times the performance instead of having a single card.

Wait what??in response to three times the performance, that is no where near true. In an ideal world adding a second card would double the performance in games (two graphics cards = doubles the performance, it could not possibly be triple the performance as stated above). But in the real world this is not true and with a crossfire set up you are going to probably get between 50%-85% of the performance from adding a second card.

Also I'd say stick to an i5 instead of the xeon, it will be alot more difficult to find motherboards that will accept a xeon and unless you really need the power, for gaming an i5 will be fine.

yawhat!

eoin91 wrote: »

Crossfire is basically using two graphics cards of a similar type together to improve the performance of the system. You do not need two monitors to use a crossfire set up, it can be used to improve the game performance on a single monitor. What this mean's is that you can use two cheaper graphics cards together to possibly get better performance or similar performance to a more expensive graphics card.



Wait what??in response to three times the performance, that is no where near true. In an ideal world adding a second card would double the performance in games (two graphics cards = doubles the performance, it could not possibly be triple the performance as stated above). But in the real world this is not true and with a crossfire set up you are going to probably get between 50%-85% of the performance from adding a second card.

Also I'd say stick to an i5 instead of the xeon, it will be alot more difficult to find motherboards that will accept a xeon and unless you really need the power, for gaming an i5 will be fine.

Maybe I overstated the graphics capacity but nearly all 1150 socket boards will take a xeon