Building a new PC. Need advice!

[Kaltrops]

Hi there,

I am new to this forum and would like to say a big HI to everyone! I hope to be a regular here and help other members in the future, now that i've made my way back to PC.

I am currently looking to get back to using a PC and would like some input on some of my choices. This is my potential setup -

Intel i7 4790

Gigabyte GA-H97-D3H / Gigabyte GA-Z97-D3H / Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H-BK ( Black Edition ) / ASUS H97-PRO / ASUS H97-PLUS / ASUS Z97 A,K,C

Antec TP 650 PSU

Samsung EVO 850 250GB SSD

Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3 RAM

HP Pavilion 22fi IPS LED Monitor

Cooler Master 690 III cabinet



As you can see, it's the motherboard that has be all bothered. This guy at Lamington Road scared me and I am really confused now. He told me that India has really bad power fluctuations and no matter which MOBO I buy, it will fail at least twice within the 3 year warranty period.

He said Motherboard Manufacturers have not found a way to tackle the power issue in India. Now, I live in Mumbai and I would like to know if that rule applies to people over here? Is he talking out of his ass or is it in fact true?

Oh and he also said that even if I were to use a UPS or Surge Protector, even that won't prevent Voltage fluctuation damage and the motherboard will still fail.

So which of the motherboards mentioned above do you recommend, which is the most reliable of brands and which manufacturer has the best customer service in Mumbai?

Thanks in advance for your input!




1. What is the purpose of the computer? What all applications and games are you going to run? (Stupid answers like 'gaming' or 'office work' will not work. Be exact. Which games? Which applications? Avoid the word 'et cetera.')
Ans: I will be using the PC primarily for Web Design, Graphic Design, Photo and Video editing, Video encoding, HD video streaming via PLEX, Moderate gaming ( The Witcher 3, Mortal Kombat X, Far Cry 4, Dragon Age Inquisition, Batman Arkham Knight, Dying Light, Battlefield 4 ) for two hours every weeknight.

2. What is your overall budget? If you can extend a bit for a more balanced configuration, then mention this too.
Ans: Rs 60,000 but can go as high as Rs70,000

3. Planning to overclock?
Ans: NO

4. Which Operating System are you planning to use?
Ans: Windows 7/10

5. How much hard drive space is needed?
Ans: I've made the decision to go for a 250gb SSD and a 1tb HDD

6. Do you want to buy a monitor? If yes, please mention which screen size and resolution do you want. If you already have a monitor and want to reuse it, again mention the size and resolution of monitor you have.
Ans: I would like an IPS display with 1080p resolution, 21.5" to 23" screen size.

7. Which components you DON'T want to buy or which components you already have and plan on reusing?
Ans: I won't be using any Water coolers and I also won't be reusing anything apart from my 80GB HDD

8. When are you planning to buy the system?
Ans: Before the end of June 2015

9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
Ans: I have built one years ago and I will be building this one too. I have seen quite a few online videos and it looks quite easy.

10. Where do you live? Are you buying locally? Are you open to buying stuff from online shops if you don't get locally?
Ans: I live in Mumbai and yes, I will be buying the parts from Lamington Road (Grant Rd)

11. Anything else which you would like to say?
Ans: Which of these two motherboard manufacturers do you recommend in India based on Customer Service, Service Centers in Mumbai and overall build quality and brand reliability - Gigabyte or ASUS?

 

[ASHISH65]

Welcome to Tdf . You need to fill up this form to get best Pc suggestions - *www.digit.in/forum/pc-components-c...new-pc-help-answer-these-questions-first.html

 

[whitestar_999]

You actually believed a shopkeeper in India!

Take a look here.buying i7 is only recommended if you are into heavy cpu utilization tasks like video encoding,multiple VMs,Auto CAD etc. & fill the questionnaire as mentioned in above post.
*www.digit.in/forum/pc-components-c...c-buying-guide-suggested-configs-2015-q2.html

 

[Kaltrops]

Welcome to Tdf . You need to fill up this form to get best Pc suggestions - *www.digit.in/forum/pc-components-c...new-pc-help-answer-these-questions-first.html

Hey thanks and Done! OP amended

You actually believed a shopkeeper in India!

Take a look here.buying i7 is only recommended if you are into heavy cpu utilization tasks like video encoding,multiple VMs,Auto CAD etc. & fill the questionnaire as mentioned in above post.
*www.digit.in/forum/pc-components-c...c-buying-guide-suggested-configs-2015-q2.html

Lol, well I usually don't (not in India anyway) but it was surprisingly effective at planting a seed of doubt in my brain and now I can't get it out.

He also told me to stay away from Seasonic because they're all imported and if the seller disappears, then processing the warranty will become a problem and I would have to send the PSU to the company itself. How true is that? I mean I highly doubt Antec, CM and Corsair are manufactured here.

I really had my heart set on this one - The Seasonic X-650 KM3 - Seasonic X-650 KM3 650W Review

It has a 7 YEAR WARRANTY!!! Seasonic SS-650KM3 X-Series 650W Modular Power Supply with 80+ Gold Certification


Yeah I updated the OP so you will have a better idea of why I need the additional threads. I also don't plan on upgrading my PC for the next 6 years so I wanna go big now. I actually wanted to go for the i7 4790K for the base frequency of 4.0Ghz, even though I won't OC.

 

[Kaltrops]

Any help with the questionnaire would be great, especially Ans 11.

 

[Faun]

^^Seasonic is the OEM. Corsair and others rebrand Seasonic PSUs.

Use a good PSU which satisfies the power requirements. And a good UPS with a surge protector will help your system in long run.

Looks like your posts under moderation effect will get lifted with your next post.

11. ASUS is better in my opinion. Though I haven't had the chance to avail their service but their presence was more prominent. All items (motherboard, sound card) are still working fine.

 

[bssunilreddy]

Processor	Intel Xeon E3 1246 v3	23,000
CPU Cooler	Cooler Master Hyper TX3 EVO	1,600
Motherboard	GIGABYTE GA-H81M-S1	3,500
Memory	Kingston HyperX Fury 8GB 1600MHz	4,500
GPU	Asus Strix GTX 750Ti 2GB	9,000
Power Supply	Antec VP500PC	3,500
Cabinet	Cooler Master Elite 311	2,300
Internal Storage	WD Caviar Black 1TB HDD	4,500
Optical Drive	Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD/RW	1,000
Monitor	AOC i2276VWM 22" LED IPS	8,800
Keyboard	Dell MK200 Keyboard and Mouse	800
SSD	Samsung 850 EVO 250GB	8500
	Total	71,000

 

[SaiyanGoku]

^ 750 Ti won't be enough as per the requirements. Get a GTX 960 minimum.

 

[bssunilreddy]

^ 750 Ti won't be enough as per the requirements. Get a GTX 960 minimum.

Processor	Intel Core i5 4440	12,500
CPU Cooler	Cooler Master Hyper TX3 EVO	1,600
Motherboard	GIGABYTE GA-B85M-D3H	5,500
Memory	Kingston HyperX Fury 8GB 1600MHz	4,500
GPU	Asus Strix GTX 960 2GB	16,000
Power Supply	Antec VP500PC	3,500
Cabinet	Corsair SPEC-01	3,400
Internal Storage	WD Caviar Black 1TB HDD	6,500
Optical Drive	Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD/RW	1,100
Monitor	AOC i2276VWM 22" LED IPS	8,800
Keyboard	Dell MK200 Keyboard and Mouse	800
SSD	Samsung 850 EVO 250GB	8500
	Total	72,700

 

[Kaltrops]

Thanks for the detailed responses guys. I really appreciate your time.

[MENTION=20614]Faun[/MENTION] - Thanks bud. I am a big fan of Asus and would love to go that route. What are your thoughts on Asrock?

[MENTION=105611]bssunil[/MENTION] - I will take what you told me and make a few changes -


Intel i5 4690 CPU
= Rs 16000

Asrock H97 Pro4 Motherboard
= Rs 7500

ASUS Strix Direct CU II GTX 970 GPU
= Rs 26000

Kingston HyperX Fury 8GB 1600MHz
= Rs 4500

Antec VP500PC
= Rs 3500

Samsung EVO 850 250 GB SSD
= Rs 8200

AOC i2276VWM 22" LED IPS Monitor
= Rs 8800

Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD/RW
= Rs 1000

Dell MK200 Keyboard and Mouse
= Rs 800

Corsair Spec 01 Cabinet
= Rs 3300

Total = Rs 79,600


I had to make a few cuts to the CPU, PSU and Cabinet to accommodate the GTX 970.

I could substitute the Asrock with the Gigabyte DA-H97-D3H(Rs 8000) or the Asus H97-PRO (Rs 10000) or Asus H97-Plus (Rs 9000). Which one of those Mobo's should I go for? I will be going to Lamington Rd tomorrow to purchase the stuff.

Thanks again guys.

P.S - I will be buying the stuff from Prime Abgb. Anyone have a bad experience with them? Is there a particular store you recommend?

 

[whitestar_999]

go with asus H97 pro or plus,asus & gigabyte in general have better quality than asrock mobos.primeabgb is a major store & in general is recommended by many.

edit:also change the cabinet,side fans are must for big gfx cards.adjust some budget & get corsair carbide 300R but still check dimensions of gfx card & cabinet from official site to confirm compatibility.

 

[bssunilreddy]

Processor	Intel Core i5 4690	16,000
CPU Cooler	None	0
Motherboard	Asrock H97 Pro4	7,500
Memory	Kingston HyperX Fury 8GB 1600MHz	4,500
GPU	Asus Strix GTX 970 4GB	26,000
Power Supply	Antec VP500PC	3,500
Cabinet	Corsair SPEC-01	3,300
Internal Storage	None	0
Optical Drive	Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD/RW	1000
Monitor	AOC i2276VWM 22" LED IPS	8,800
Keyboard	Dell MK200 Keyboard and Mouse	800
SSD	Samsung 850 EVO 250GB	8200
	Total	79,600

The above config is not a very well balanced rig with all the components but some components left out so its better to go with the this below config I suggested:

Processor	Intel Core i5 4440	12,500
CPU Cooler	Cooler Master Hyper TX3 EVO	1,600
Motherboard	GIGABYTE GA-B85M-D3H	5,500
Memory	Kingston HyperX Fury 8GB 1600MHz	4,500
GPU	Asus Strix GTX 960 2GB	16,000
Power Supply	Antec VP500PC	3,500
Cabinet	Corsair SPEC-01	3,400
Internal Storage	WD Caviar Black 1TB HDD	6,500
Optical Drive	Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD/RW	1,100
Monitor	AOC i2276VWM 22" LED IPS	8,800
Keyboard	Dell MK200 Keyboard and Mouse	800
SSD	Samsung 850 EVO 250GB	8500
	Total	72,700

 

[whitestar_999]

[MENTION=105611]bssunil[/MENTION],stop being so forceful.why are you questioning @op's config with increased budget,it is his money.on the other hand you keep recommending a cheaper cabinet with no side fan option which is must for big gfx cards that produce more heat?giving you a 1 day ban & don't repeat this behaviour anymore.

 

[harshilsharma63]

Thanks for the detailed responses guys. I really appreciate your time.

@Faun - Thanks bud. I am a big fan of Asus and would love to go that route. What are your thoughts on Asrock?

@bssunil - I will take what you told me and make a few changes -


Intel i5 4690 CPU
= Rs 16000

Asrock H97 Pro4 Motherboard
= Rs 7500

ASUS Strix Direct CU II GTX 970 GPU
= Rs 26000

Kingston HyperX Fury 8GB 1600MHz
= Rs 4500

Antec VP500PC
= Rs 3500

Samsung EVO 850 250 GB SSD
= Rs 8200

AOC i2276VWM 22" LED IPS Monitor
= Rs 8800

Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD/RW
= Rs 1000

Dell MK200 Keyboard and Mouse
= Rs 800

Corsair Spec 01 Cabinet
= Rs 3300

Total = Rs 79,600


I had to make a few cuts to the CPU, PSU and Cabinet to accommodate the GTX 970.

I could substitute the Asrock with the Gigabyte DA-H97-D3H(Rs 8000) or the Asus H97-PRO (Rs 10000) or Asus H97-Plus (Rs 9000). Which one of those Mobo's should I go for? I will be going to Lamington Rd tomorrow to purchase the stuff.

Thanks again guys.

P.S - I will be buying the stuff from Prime Abgb. Anyone have a bad experience with them? Is there a particular store you recommend?

You can instead get a cheaper i5. The performance difference between various models is barely noticeable. That PSU is not very good IMO. Take a look at 70k config in this thread - *www.digit.in/forum/pc-components-c...c-buying-guide-suggested-configs-2015-q2.html

It fits yor requirements, includes a GTX 970 and is in your budget.

 

[Kaltrops]

You can instead get a cheaper i5. The performance difference between various models is barely noticeable. That PSU is not very good IMO. Take a look at 70k config in this thread - *www.digit.in/forum/pc-components-c...c-buying-guide-suggested-configs-2015-q2.html

It fits yor requirements, includes a GTX 970 and is in your budget.

Thanks buddy. The PSU was recommended by bssunil. I had my doubts. It only has a two year warranty and is really cheap. The PSU you recommend is actually the one I wanted for my budget (Seasonic S12II 520).

Will the i5 4440 be adequate for gaming, Web and graphic design as well as photo editing? I'm not sure if the 400mhz extra in the 4690 will make a difference?

Thanks again!

 

[harshilsharma63]

Thanks buddy. The PSU was recommended by bssunil. I had my doubts. It only has a two year warranty and is really cheap. The PSU you recommend is actually the one I wanted for my budget (Seasonic S12II 520).

Will the i5 4440 be adequate for gaming, Web and graphic design as well as photo editing? I'm not sure if the 400mhz extra in the 4690 will make a difference?

Thanks again!

4440 will be enough.

 

[Kaltrops]

Hey guys. I would like to thank you for your input. I went with the Asus H97 PRO, the Seasonic S12II 520W and the Asus DRW DVD/RW thanks to you

My final setup. All purchased from Prime Abgb -

i5 4690 3.5 ghz CPU

Asus H97-Pro Motherboard

ASUS Strix Direct CU II GTX 970 GPU

G.Skill Ripjaw 8GB DDR3 RAM

Seasonic S12II 520W PSU

Samsung EVO 850 250 GB SSD

Dell S2240L LED IPS Monitor

Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD/RW

Logitec Keyboard and Mouse

= Rs 73,650

I went with the 4690 as opposed to the 4440 because it didn't meet the requirements for the Oculus Rift.

My biggest problem now is the cabinet. I have no idea which one to get. All of the ones I've seen with side fans have no dust filters on the side. I don't feel comfortable letting unfiltered air flow through the cabinet. Not with the dust in this country.

The Asus Strix gtx 970 is also just over 12 inches long so I will need at least 13" clearance. So do you have any cabinet that sorts those two issues out?

Thanks again.

P.S - the box for the Seasonic PSU isn't in good shape. Should I return it? It's also non-modular. I didn't realize that.

 

[harshilsharma63]

Hey guys. I would like to thank you for your input. I went with the Asus H97 PRO, the Seasonic S12II 520W and the Asus DRW DVD/RW thanks to you

My final setup. All purchased from Prime Abgb -

i5 4690 3.5 ghz CPU

Asus H97-Pro Motherboard

ASUS Strix Direct CU II GTX 970 GPU

G.Skill Ripjaw 8GB DDR3 RAM

Seasonic S12II 520W PSU

Samsung EVO 850 250 GB SSD

Dell S2240L LED IPS Monitor

Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD/RW

Logitec Keyboard and Mouse

= Rs 73,650

I went with the 4690 as opposed to the 4440 because it didn't meet the requirements for the Oculus Rift.

My biggest problem now is the cabinet. I have no idea which one to get. All of the ones I've seen with side fans have no dust filters on the side. I don't feel comfortable letting unfiltered air flow through the cabinet. Not with the dust in this country.

The Asus Strix gtx 970 is also just over 12 inches long so I will need at least 13" clearance. So do you have any cabinet that sorts those two issues out?

Thanks again.

P.S - the box for the Seasonic PSU isn't in good shape. Should I return it? It's also non-modular. I didn't realize that.

> Congrats on the purchase. Can you post individual prices?

> Take a look at Corsair 300R or 400R. Air filters dramatically reduce the air flow. This is not recommended especially in summers. You can build DIY air filters form AC filters available in any air conditioner showroom.

 

[bssunilreddy]

Congrats on your purchase.

 

[Kaltrops]

Thanks guys!

Here you go Harshil -

Intel i5 4690 CPU
= Rs 15000

Asus H97-Pro Motherboard
= Rs 8000

ASUS Strix Direct CU II GTX 970 GPU (Free Batman Arkham Knight game)
= Rs 25500

G.Skill Ripjaw 8GB DDR3 RAM
= Rs 3800

Seasonic S12II 520W
= Rs 4800

Samsung EVO 850 250GB SSD
= Rs 8000

Dell S2240L LED Monitor
= Rs 7750

Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD/RW
= Rs 1000

Logitec Keyboard and Mouse
= Rs 800

Total = Rs 74,650

Cheers!

Harshil, wouldn't dust be more detrimental to the GPU and CPU in the long run? Couldn't I just let the side fan vents simply allow the hot air to escape?