Attention Mid-Range System Builders - Updated 08/01/2015

[mfenn]

Yes, you can run two monitors on the Z87 Pro3, one via DVI and the other via HDMI. The onboard video of the i5 4670K is more than sufficient for normal desktop work.

 

[mfenn]

New build, mostly minor tweaks to the HDD, ODD, GPU, and case.

 

[NiKeFiDO]

Howdy! I check in on this thread once or twice a year to see what might be interesting for a new mid-range build. This resource continues to be awesome!

Are people usually only choosing to buy 8gb of ram still now a days? Or is good ram in a period of higher cost?

 

[lehtv]

Those who need more than 8GB of RAM are still in the very small minority of power users.

RAM is quite expensive at the moment, about $75-80 for a 2x4GB 1600 kit. It's been as low as $50-60 about a year ago.

 

[mfenn]

Howdy! I check in on this thread once or twice a year to see what might be interesting for a new mid-range build. This resource continues to be awesome!

Thank you!

Are people usually only choosing to buy 8gb of ram still now a days? Or is good ram in a period of higher cost?

Luckily, there are awesome members like lehtv around to answer questions before I even see them. I agree with his assessment.

Those who need more than 8GB of RAM are still in the very small minority of power users.

RAM is quite expensive at the moment, about $75-80 for a 2x4GB 1600 kit. It's been as low as $50-60 about a year ago.

 

[ponyo]

Howdy! I check in on this thread once or twice a year to see what might be interesting for a new mid-range build. This resource continues to be awesome!

I concur! I'm in beginning stages of building a new PC gaming rig and this guide has been great starting point and excellent cheat sheet. It's been about 9-10 years since I last built a gaming PC. I've been using Dells and other pre built since I lost interest in PC hardware and gaming. But I'm ready to comeback, and I'm slowing piecing together hardware as it goes on sale.

 

[Torn Mind]

Thank you!



Luckily, there are awesome members like lehtv around to answer questions before I even see them. I agree with his assessment.

A shared family computer can easily use over 8GB of RAM. If the users use Fast User Switching and don't bother to close their programs(web browsers ), RAM space gets consumed real quickly.

 

[Deadjester451]

This will be my first post here, I have been lurking on this site for about a decade and its this thread here that has made me want to finely sign up. I have 0 education when it comes to PC's etc, and the 3 I have built was all do to reading the advice in this forum and threads such as this.

So thanks again for the advice and work that many of you have posted here, it has been of great help for those of us who are not PC savy. Take care.

 

[mfenn]

This will be my first post here, I have been lurking on this site for about a decade and its this thread here that has made me want to finely sign up. I have 0 education when it comes to PC's etc, and the 3 I have built was all do to reading the advice in this forum and threads such as this.

So thanks again for the advice and work that many of you have posted here, it has been of great help for those of us who are not PC savy. Take care.

And now you know the true reason I made this thread. Fishing for lurkers! :twisted:

But seriously, I'm glad that we've been able to help you out, even if it was indirectly.

 

[mfenn]

New build posted, some good PSU and case deals this week.

 

[vailr]

The Rosewill Hive 650W is now "sold out".
The Corsair 550W CSM550M is currently $61 AP/AR (ends 2/15):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139059

 

[mfenn]

The Rosewill Hive 650W is now "sold out".
The Corsair 550W CSM550M is currently $61 AP/AR (ends 2/15):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139059

Thanks!

 

[007ELmO]

That is not true, Rosewill is in stock and additional $20 instant coupon brings it to $59.99 - $10 mail in rebate = $49.99.

Thanks!

 

[mfenn]

That is not true, Rosewill is in stock and additional $20 instant coupon brings it to $59.99 - $10 mail in rebate = $49.99.

Thanks!

It must be flipping back and forth tonight.

 

[mfenn]

New build posted. It has a pretty decent combo deal on the CPU, a very nice price on the SSD, and a nice case deal as well. However, high-end GPU pricing sucks due to cryptocoin miners. They're driving up the cost of AMD cards to ridiculous levels (the R9 280X is at $500 when it is supposed to be a $300 card). Without any competitive pressure, Nvidia cards like the GTX 770 are slowly but surely rising in price.

 

[lambyduke]

I would like to add WiFi, a mouse, a key board, and i7. No overclocking, for approximately $1200.00. Is that possible?

 

[mfenn]

I would like to add WiFi, a mouse, a key board, and i7. No overclocking, for approximately $1200.00. Is that possible?

Yes, it is possible. Go ahead and start a thread for help.

 

[ZGR]

Would your mid-range picks ever include a non-K CPU and an H87 motherboard? I feel like the costs saved could be significant to some users who don't need to overclock.

Trying to help a friend overseas build a new PC and the we keep looking at H87 over Z87 because of the cost savings to put into the GPU.

It's not an easy choice IMO.

 

[mfenn]

Would your mid-range picks ever include a non-K CPU and an H87 motherboard? I feel like the costs saved could be significant to some users who don't need to overclock.

Trying to help a friend overseas build a new PC and the we keep looking at H87 over Z87 because of the cost savings to put into the GPU.

It's not an easy choice IMO.

The intent of this build is to be overclockable with the addition of the option HSF. So no, I won't be including an H series board or non-K CPU. That doesn't mean those aren't valid choices, and can in fact save a nice chunk of change if you know the user (or yourself) has no intention to ever overclock.

 

[mfenn]

New build posted. There are some pretty nice deals on the CPU/mobo/RAM combo as well as the 240GB SSD option. AMD GPU pricing has finally gotten so ridiculous that I'm not recommending one at any price point, which I think is a first.

 

[Chapbass]

Whats your thoughts on the Seagate SSD? For some reason I'm feeling reluctant to go that route, I feel more comfortable spending a little extra on a more well known SSD brand (crucial, samsung, etc), but I don't know the underlying tech of the seagate.

 

[mfenn]

Whats your thoughts on the Seagate SSD? For some reason I'm feeling reluctant to go that route, I feel more comfortable spending a little extra on a more well known SSD brand (crucial, samsung, etc), but I don't know the underlying tech of the seagate.

I would never put a part in my build that I didn't think was solid. Seagate 600 is based on the same LAMD controller as the Corsair Neutron, but with Seagate's validation behind it. IMHO, the negatives that exist (high idle power and no encryption) are outweighed by the positives (price and performance consistentcy) for a desktop build.

 

[Chapbass]

I would never put a part in my build that I didn't think was solid. Seagate 600 is based on the same LAMD controller as the Corsair Neutron, but with Seagate's validation behind it. IMHO, the negatives that exist (high idle power and no encryption) are outweighed by the positives (price and performance consistentcy) for a desktop build.

Alright, maybe I worded it wrong, I didn't mean it as an attack or that you would put something you didn't trust, I was more asking about why, which you answered.

 

[mfenn]

Alright, maybe I worded it wrong, I didn't mean it as an attack or that you would put something you didn't trust, I was more asking about why, which you answered.

No worries, no offense taken. I just wanted to clarify that for anybody who might be casually reading.

 

[mfenn]

New build posted, the MSI Z87-G55 combo really increased in price, so I went back to the old standby Z87 Pro3. Minor tweaking of other parts as well.