Need help building a gaming PC for my cousin

0091/2

0091/2

Well-known member
My cousin wants a gaming PC with a $1400 budget. He configured this Cyberpower PC. He'll be doing 1080 gaming.

Operating System: Windows 10 Home (64-bit Edition)
Black Friday Featured Promotions: None
Message: None
Gaming Chassis: CyberPowerPC AURON Premium Gaming Case Mid-Tower w/ Tempered Glass Window Panel (Black Color)
Laser Engraving: None
Lighting: None
Extra Case Fans: Default case fans
Noise Reduction Technology: None
CPU: Intel® Core™ Processor i7-9700K 3.60GHZ 12MB Intel Smart Cache LGA1151
Freebie of Processor: Get Call of Duty Black Ops 4 Game and More
Venom Boost Fast And Efficient Factory Overclocking: No Overclocking
CPU / Processor Cooling Fan: CyberpowerPC Asetek 550LC 120mm Liquid Cooling CPU Cooler (Single Standard 120MM Fan)
Coolant for Cyberpower Xtreme Hydro Water Cooling Kits: None
Motherboard: MSI Z370 GAMING PLUS ATX w/ RGB, USB 3.1, 2 PCIe x16, 4 PCIe x1, 6 SATA3, 1 M.2 SATA/PCIe [Intel Optane Ready]
Freebie of Motherboard: None
RAM / System Memory: 16GB (8GBx2) DDR4/3000MHz Dual Channel Memory (GEIL Super Luce RGB)
Video Card: GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti 4GB GDDR5 (Pascal) (Single Card)
Freebie of Video Card: None
Sli Bridge: None
EVGA Power: None
HTC VIVE Virtual reality Headset: None
Video Capture Card: None
Power Supply: 1,000 Watts - Standard 80 Plus Gold Power Supply
Primary Hard Drive: 240GB WD Green SSD + 1TB SATA III Hard Drive Combo (Combo Drive)
Secondary Hard Drive: None
Freebie of Hard Drive: None
Hard Drive Cooling Fan: None
External Storage: None
Optical Drive: None
External Optical Drive: None
WiDi Router: None
Internal Wireless Network Card: None
Sound: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
Monitor: None
Projector: None
Cables: None
Speakers: None
Internal Network Card: Onboard Gigabit LAN Network
Keyboard: RAZER Cynosa Chroma Infinite Color Gaming Keyboard
Mouse: RAZER Abyssus v2 Essential Ambidextrous 5,000 DPI optical Gaming Mouse
Mouse Pad: GAMDIAS NYX P1 Extended Non-slip Gaming Mouse Pad [900 x 300 x 3mm]
Headset: HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset w/ Detachable Microphone (Red Color)
Microphone: None
Gaming Apparel: None
Gaming Gear: None
Internal USB Expansion Module: None
External Wireless Network Card: None
Wireless Routers/Hubs: None
Bluetooth: None
Flash Media Reader/Writer: None
Video Camera: None
Power & Surge Protection: None
USB Hub & Port: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
External USB ADAPTER: None
Operating System: Windows 10 Home (64-bit Edition)
Professional Wiring: None
Ultra Care Option: None
Warranty: STANDARD WARRANTY: 1 Year Parts WARRANTY
Service: 3 Years FREE Service Plan (INCLUDES LABOR AND LIFETIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT)
Click to expand...
I'm out of the PC building game but this doesn't like a good build. What platform I should use? Starting off with a Intel 9700k $400 cpu looks wasteful to me.

This is all I got. He will be using this monitor and his existing Dlink 3x3 AC wifi.
OS: Windows 10 Home - $99
CPU: ?
Heatsink: ?
GPU: ?
Storage: 860EVO 500GB - $74.99
PSU: 640~700w
RAM: 16GB
Chassis: ?
MoBo: ?
Soundcard: ?
Mouse: ?
Keyboard: ?
Headset: ?
Click to expand...
 
The CPU is way too much.

I’d go with an older gen, maybe 8600K and put the saved money into a better GPU. Possibly the new RX590 refresh from AMD could be right up his alley. 650W PSU should work, EVGA is top notch in the power supply game right now.
 
Go for a full 1 TB on the 860 Evo, IMO. The 1 TBs aren't that expensive anymore and 500 GB isn't enough with larger games. Maybe even 2 TB if he can swing it. There's no need to have an additional HDD if you can get a big enough SSD now. I'd skip combo drives. If more storage is necessary just get a straight up HDD as secondary with 4+ TB. A combo drive is something you'd put into a machine without an SSD.

On the processor front an 8600K/9600K/2700X/2600X would all be more than sufficient. You get more of an upgrade path with the AMD processors and more cores for the same amount of money, just lower clock speed. That being said, I don't see 9700K or 8700K as being such bad options if he wants to stretch and plans to keep the CPU for at least five years. It's not necessary but not totally unreasonable, provided it fits within his budget.

Power supply I'd say a 650w+ EVGA or Seasonic Gold or Platinum rated. You can find some deals on these right now. You can grab an 850W EVGA Platinum for $80 right now after rebate at BH Photo.

Memory wise aim for at least 16 GB at 3200 MHz. Memory is a bit expensive right now but it should last for the life of the computer. Look at G.Skill TridentZ or Ripjaws.

For heatsink, first if you go with Ryzen there's no need as they come with an acceptable heatsink. Otherwise for Intel I'd look at getting a 120mm AIW cooler. 120mm AIWs can be had very cheaply. Check Ebay and Newegg for deals right now. For the most part a 120mm radiator is going to probably be enough unless you're seriously overclocking. For the average person a cheap 120mm rad is probably going to be enough. However, if you want more you can move up to a 240mm or 280mm radiator, it's just that price goes up considerably with those steps.

If you want to save money on Windows you can find some OEM keys on Ebay for around $30. Don't get anything that costs $5-$10 as it's probably not legitimate.

For GPU I'd aim for at least a 1070/Vega 56, and reduce the budget for other components as necessary to make it work. RX580/RX590/GTX1060 are cheaper, but you get a pretty big performance increase by stepping up to the next tier. After that you get serious diminishing returns in terms of performance/dollar.
 
Last edited:
Nunz said:
The CPU is way too much.

I’d go with an older gen, maybe 8600K and put the saved money into a better GPU. Possibly the new RX590 refresh from AMD could be right up his alley. 650W PSU should work, EVGA is top notch in the power supply game right now.
Click to expand...

this.
just upgraded to an i5-8600k + GTX 1080 and couldn't be happier.
amazing how cool the cpu runs.
 
He's gaming at 1080p then he's going to want to go with Intel. Its going to give him the best performance:

OS: Windows 10 Home - $99
CPU: 9700K
Heatsink: Corsair H115i Pro
GPU: Some form of 2070 or 2080 ( Non Ti )
Storage: 860EVO 500GB - $74.99
PSU: Don't skimp on the PSU, a Corsair RXi/RMi/AXi or EVGA Super Duper Nova G1/2
RAM: Gskil 16GB 3600MHz DDR4 CAS15
Chassis: His Choice
MoBo: Don't skimp on the motherboard. He's not overclocking so VRM is not going to be an issue. I'd still not go with a lower end Z390. Asus TUF Z390M-PRO or Asus Strix Z390 I Gaming. These come with WIFI. MSI and Gigabyte don't have WIFI/
Soundcard: LOL WUT? Onboard
Mouse: His Choice
Keyboard: His Choice
Headset: Corsair H70/HS70. Very good wireless and sound. MIC is a little meh.
 
For 1080p gaming, Intel is the better way to go. Build the PC yourself/himself and go with something like this:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/f9zYtg

will need to add in Windows (get from ebay for like $30 or less)
Add in a case
Add in headphones or speakers
Add in keyboard/Mouse
 
9600K with a z390 mobo. 2070 or used 1080 Ti. 1TB SSD. 16 GB 3000 or higher ram.
 
I thought my build was within budget. I also think that the above comment wasn't targeted at me. Btw you can get a Windows Pro key from a Hardforum gay for like 20 smacks. I gots two keys from him and they own.
 
Pairing a flagship CPU with a lower midrange GPU? He's fired. Be better off going for a lower end CPU, mid range motherboard and dumb the money saved into a 1060/1070.
 
I hope some buying was being done on this build over the past few days. There were some pretty solid deals on PC Components Friday through Monday.
 
Nagorak said:
I hope some buying was being done on this build over the past few days. There were some pretty solid deals on PC Components Friday through Monday.
Click to expand...

Right? Newegg had some petty crazy combo prices. The 2700x with a motherboard was going for around $350

I honestly question the recommendations from some here when they just throw out a line of "Oh, 1080p? Gotta go Intel!"

Do you though? Sure they may scorr the highest FPS at the resolution but at what point does it matter if you lack the display to show it? The monitor linked is a 60Hz panel. He's not going for 144Hz, so will that extra 10 or 20 FPS that you are throwing hundreds of extra dollars to achieve even matter?

As for the monitor, is he buying it refurbed or did I take it he already has it? Amazon is showing the same display new for less than the linked one.
 
If you want the top graphics score at 1080 then Intel takes the contest by a pretty good margin considering the higher clock speeds.

Truthfully though, the 2700x is still a good choice if you take into account the price of the chip.
 
andino said:
If you want the top graphics score at 1080 then Intel takes the contest by a pretty good margin considering the higher clock speeds.

Truthfully though, the 2700x is still a good choice if you take into account the price of the chip.
Click to expand...

And yet 200 FPS on a 60Hz panel will look identical to 180FPS on a 60Hz panel.

$1400 seems a bit more than needed to game at 1080p on a 60Hz monitor truthfully.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top