Need help making a build please

J

Junior796

New Member
Hi. I am new to computer building. However, I am ready to build one and understand the different parts of a computer. However, I have no idea what decides compatibility between parts.

I want to build a gaming pc capable of playing Day Z when it gets released. I also want a computer able to run autocad relatively fast (I'm an enr major). My budget is prob sub $1000. However, it is necessary and the computer will last long enough, I'm not really worried about raising that budget a little.

Please help. I am not very knowledgeable in this field and am not sure if a graphics card capable of running autocad quickly would be able to do well with gaming. Thank you.

Edit:I have an AIO I can use as a display, as well as keyboard, mouse and copy of Windows 7, possibly 8.
 
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As far as I can work out, AutoCAD benefits from CUDA cores, and multiple CPU cores, meaning you are going to need an NVIDIA graphics card.

AMD FX-8320: $160
Corsair H60: $70 ($60 with MIB)
Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3: $110
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 2133MHz: $80
EVGA NVIDIA GTX 760 2GB: $250
Samsung 840 EVO 120GB: $110
Western Digital RED 2TB: $105
NZXT Source 210: $45
Corsair CX600M: $80 ($60 after MIB)

Total: $1010 ($980 with MIBs)

Your case would come with two included fans. One mounted in the rear and one in the front. Take the rear one, mount it in the front. Then mount the H60 in the rear and turn your PSU fan upwards. Then you'll have a very effective positive air pressure in your case.
The RAM costs about the same as 1600MHz kits (only $5 more than Ripjaws X 1600MHz) and I figure it can't hurt when it comes to AutoCAD. It won't really change much in games, maybe by 1-2 frames if you're lucky.
Normally I would recommend the Seagate Barracuda, as they're usually better priced, but WD just did something good with the RED drives in terms of pricing, and this one is one sale too. Only $5 more than a Barracuda.
I of course intend for you to overclock your CPU, should easily manage to get 4.8GHz out of it. It's very easy to overclock, if you haven't tried it before. Don't worry.
 
I'd spend slightly more on the case and get this from Fractal http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352031 that looks like a nice case (has rubber grommets over the cable management holes, not essential but nice to have).

If you can afford it, I'd recommend taking the leap up to the Define R3 or R4 or some other cases in the $80 region but if not then the Arc Midi is a nice case. Nicer than the Source 210 I think.

I'm not sure what speed the Red drive is. You want it to be 7200 RPM really. I have a 5900 RPM Caviar Green 2TB from WD for storage and I really wish I had gone for a 7200 RPM drive. Even for storage, 5900 RPM seems slow. The Reds are enterprise-grade drives which are great for running in a NAS or RAID configuration, not sure how they perform on their own. I assume they'll be fine though.

I think even though the Red is only 5 dollars more, I'd still get the Seagate http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148834 or maybe a 1TB Black if you don't need 2TB of storage since it's cheaper and the Blacks are fast drives. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533
 
Tried to keep it within budget, but yeah, the Arc Midi R2 is a great case. Didn't see it was on sale, you should definitely take advantage of that sale and put in the extra $20 it costs.
The 'Source' series is on par with Fractals 'Core' series, which is their absolute budget cases - tho still very good quality. I chose the RED drive because it has like 95% of the performance of the Barracuda, but also reduced vibrations, even if they ran at the same RPM. The Source 210 doesn't have rubber-vibration-dampening HDD cages, which the Arc Midi R2 does.
So swap out the HDD to a Barracuda and the case to the Arc Midi R2, and it'll be really nice.
 
Thanks. Are any of these including a SDD? Sorry if I don't have time to respond immediately. It's midterm week...

Nevermind, I see it now.

A few questions:
1: Is it worth getting a 4gb GPU rather than the 2gb if I have the money?

2: Is there anything coming out soon that would change your recomnedation? Just doing research now. Not buying anything for at least a couple months at least, so I have time.

3: Is there anywhere I can start reading to get caught up on all of the technical language of computers. I understand the basic components of computers. It's when people start talking about PCI's (I think its a connection, not sure) and other things that I start to get a little lost.
 
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1. If you're not gaming at a very high resolution or across multiple monitors, just stick to the 2GB card. At 1920x1080 or 1920x1200 or something similar, the 2GB card will be all you need.

2. I believe AMD are coming out with some new graphics cards soon. Not sure what the performance is going to be like but for your AutoCAD work you may be better off sticking with NVIDIA because of the CUDA software which AutoCAD can benefit.

3,. It's all about reading about. ;)
 
Ok. Referring to the 2 gb card, i was just wondering what games are going to need in the near future. I'd rather pay $50 more now than another $300 for the 4gb in a year or two (which I might do anyway...).

Thanks for the help btw.
 
I think 2GB will be fine. By the time you need to a 3GB or 4GB card I reckon you'll be wanting to replace the GTX 760 anyway.

But if a 3GB or 4GB card isn't much more than a 2GB, then you may as well go for it I guess.
 
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