Gaming PC from scratch

[TordTorden]

Hello there!

A friend of mine wanted a new computer for gaming, and I said that I'd build it for him, as I enjoy tinkering with computers. However, I've only upgraded one computer, which I build from scratch. But those parts were already picked out. So I've never created whole build all by myself, so I was afraid that it might end up being unbalanced, and thus I'm asking for advice.

First of all, we are following a budget, but we are living in Norway, so both currency and prices are entirely different. But I'll try to give an estimate, and eventually tune it up or down. He's planning to spend 2.000 USD (12.000 NOK) on both computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse.

So far we have picked out a screen for 270 USD (1.600 NOK) and a mouse for 85 USD (500 NOK). And we also ended up with a keyboard for 220 USD (1.300 NOK). And that leaves us with 1450 USD for the rest (8600 NOK), but everything can be changed if it's too much.

The only part of the computer I've looked at so far is the case, but I'm not sure if it's a good one, or of it's overkill for this build, or if we should use a full tower at all.

Then I need help with the rest of this build. Keep in mind that it's more expensive in Norway. (I'd also like to have an SSD in there)

 

[Jiniix]

Kabinet: Fractal Design Arc Midi R2: 798,-
Link: http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=773754
PSU: Corsair CX 600M: 635,-
Link: http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=773376
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming: 1249,-
Link: http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=782065
Diskdrev: Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB OEM: 779,-
Link: http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=791617
Diskdrev: Seagate Barracuda® 1TB: 499,-
Link: http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=653050
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K: 1799,-
Link: http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=780485
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz 8GB CL9: 699,-
Link: http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=640646
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 760 2GB: 2099,-
Link: http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=790895

Total price: 8557,-

It's without Windows, which costs around 849,-
With a bit of tweaking, the price could get below 8500,- without losing any noticeable performance.
The MSI Z87-G43 is only 949,- as an example, and you wouldn't lose any performance really.

For anyone wanting to chip in, www.komplett.no (or .dk/.se) is the best Scandinavian e-tailer by far.

 

[TordTorden]

Awesome! Looks really good what you have there! Will adjust it a little to get WIN7 and transport covered, but other that that it's great! I also agree that komplett is the best e-tailer for electronics, and especially computers and hardware.

 

[Jiniix]

You could look at:
Intel i5-4570S: 1449,-
Sapphire HD 7950 3GB: 1795,- (10% on sale, slightly better than the GTX 760 actually)
MSI Z87-G43 I linked earlier.

Total for entire build without Windows: 7603kr (with Windows 7: 8452kr)

Then you won't need a CPU cooler, since it's not gonna be overclocked.

In the future when the second generation of Haswell CPUs arrive, your friend will probably be able to afford an overclockable CPU and a cooler - unless he's satisfied with the performance he already has. Which I think he will

 

[TordTorden]

As, he's currently using a horrible laptop, I'm sure he will notice the difference pretty hard. But I think that should do it! Thanks for the help! And I think I'll go for the GTX card instead of the Radeon one because of bad experience with one of them, causing games to crash and not working... Probably going to turn my own in to get a GTX 760 instead of the Radeon HD 7950... (Also, I like your arvatar )

 

[Jiniix]

Thanks
A benefit from going with NVIDIA is also Geforce Experience. It's an NVIDIA GPU-only software that'll update your GPU drivers automatically, as well as setting up the configuration of your games to maximize the quality at a playable framerate - specific to your GPU.
This might be a good addition if your friend isn't PC savvy.
I gotta say though, I've almost used AMD in all my personal builds exclusively. Only non-AMD card is a GTX 460, in a mix of 6870, 6950, 5770s, 6570s and 5450s.