carolcat is finally getting a new computer

[carolcat]

and i'd like a tad of help.

so i've had my current computer for close to 6 years now, but a dual core CPU with DDR2 RAM and >1gb gtx460 just won't cut it anymore. since it's tax month or something, my dad is giving me a budget of $2000 ($1800 from him+$200 from winning that poetry contest) to buy/build a new computer.

honestly, i'd rather just buy a prebuilt gaming rig (i'm leaning towards one from origin because my dad's new computer from them is hella lovey, but i feel it's a bit out of budget even on their lowest intel tech kit). i'm fully capable of building one myself and i'm fully aware that you get more bang for your buck that way, i'd just rather take the computer out of the box, plug stuff up, and get going. basically i'm too lazy for a custom built.

so here's the one i threw together on http://originpc.com as a starting point:
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI
CPU: Intel Core i5 4460 Quad-Core 3.2GHz (3.4GHz TurboBoost)
COOLER: ORIGIN FROSTBYTE 120 Sealed Liquid Cooling System for 1150 Socket
GPU:  Single 2GB NVIDIA GTX 960   
RAM: 8GB ORIGIN PC powered by HyperX 1866Mhz (2x4GB) 
SSD: 120GB ORIGIN PC Approved Solid State Drive
HDD: 1TB ORIGIN PC Approved Hard Drive 
PSU: 850 Watt Corsair RM850
OS: Genuine MS Windows 8.1 64-Bit Edition
CASE: millennium mid-size
CD: 12X Blu-ray Reader and DVD Combo
TOTAL: $1,990

i also apparently had one thrown together on pcpartpicker, which is a bit cheaper and looks a bit more powerful (???):
MOBO: Asus X99-DELUXE ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard
CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor
COOLER: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (i'm clueless with coolers)
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC ACX 2.0 Video Card
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory
SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
HDD: Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
PSU: Corsair RM 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)
CASE: NZXT Phantom 630 Windowed Edition (White) ATX Full Tower Case
CD: LG UH12NS30 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer
TOTAL: $1840.20

opinions/suggestions? i've never chosen the parts for a computer before so i'm just kind of brainstorming here.

[Ad Bot]

[Jaxx]

looks good overall if you've picked it to spec for what you want, but the only change i would make is futureproofing this

PSU: Corsair RM 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply

up to an 850w as well. PSU's are the one thing you want to get bigger, earlier, they don't change nearly as much as other hardware.

[Comatose]

I kind of went the custom pre-built route, so I can't provide a ton of advice other than to not use Origin PC. They have insane markups on their builds that you could easily get for a few hundred dollars less.

[Quote Story]

I kind of went the custom pre-built route, so I can't provide a ton of advice other than to not use Origin PC. They have insane markups on their builds that you could easily get for a few hundred dollars less.

the only reason you should buy origin pc is for how badass their cases look

[Daswiruch]

2k for a 960, locked processor
or 2k for a 980 and an overclockable processor

[carolcat]

the only reason you should buy origin pc is for how badass their cases look

they're super lovey holy stuff. and the color changing lighting. mm.

but the NZXT case i picked out is along the alley of their cases. the only problem with that case is the door orientation. i keep my computer to my left, and the NZXT opens to the right...

[Daswiruch]

they're super lovey holy stuff. and the color changing lighting. mm.

you can install/mod rgb leds into any case mate

[carolcat]

you can install/mod rgb leds into any case mate

i could but that requires work and nehhh

[ZERØ]

they're super lovey holy stuff. and the color changing lighting. mm.

but the NZXT case i picked out is along the alley of their cases. the only problem with that case is the door orientation. i keep my computer to my left, and the NZXT opens to the right...

Your PC orientation seems like if its going to be problematic for you as long as you keep it to the left, I don't know if you noticed but nearly all case have their window on the left and to make it even worse most doors are fixed on their opening directions.

Honestly I say screw 5.25 drives, I never needed any so I got the NZXT H440, I honestly think it looks badass, the only problem was did not have any led's installed inside so the window was really dark, but that wasn't really a problem, as I bought some leds for it.

Its also available in matte black with accent coloring, and ifyou ever need to read a cd you can always get an external usb reader.
Theres also a razer edition one, but I'll let you look that one up.

Almost forgot: the most important thing! Make sure the case your getting has filters, it is way much less pain of an ass then getting dustoff or a vacuum.

[Daswiruch]

i could but that requires work and nehhh

so you'd be willing to fork over $800+ just because it's too much work?
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($178.89 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($113.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Intel 530 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($69.09 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card  ($190.88 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 450D ATX Mid Tower Case  ($114.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDC-207DBK Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer  ($44.45 @ Adorama)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($87.79 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1109.54
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-16 21:01 EDT-0400

[carolcat]

edit: forget wait hold on

[AtlasBlue]

ORIGIN PC's cases are nice, and extremely modifiable too. But it's what's inside that counts, and the build you have going in PCPartPicker is more powerful than the one you put together on ORIGIN PC, so I'd go with the second option.

[Freek]

lol looks like some are luckier than others

anyways, I like that case and the parts

[ZERØ]

i did some google searching for builds other people have made, how's this one sound?

Honestly like I said before Optical drives are kind of useless unless your the type of person who plays music through a cd in your computer or dvds, you can install Windows using a flashdrive.

Other than that I say its a solid build.

[Daswiruch]

you can install Windows using a flashdrive.

i hope you realize that some people still buy the disk versions