What Do You Think? An RTS Only Build

[noname2020x]

A buddy of mine was thinking about buying a computer at Best Buy to play some RTS games. Thankfully, I successfully persuaded him to let me build him a computer. (Goody! A new build!)

He tells me he'd like to spend between $600 and $900 on the build. I am close to certain I can put together a build for $600 that will play most any RTS on close to max (other than RTW 2 which is a crapshoot), but I'd like to give him some wiggle room for the future (3-4 years).

He wants a silent case, bluetooth, and wireless lan.

My main concern is the motherboard. I can't seem to find a decent cheap board with bluetooth and wireless lan. Any suggestions on the build? RTS games like to hog GFX memory and CPU right, so I was thinking a quad core cpu is key and a 2gb GFX is good too.

 

[Mr.Scott]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130751

 

[ATMINSIDE]

This has a GTX 970, and is ~$900.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/BWLmRB

This has an R9 280X, and is ~$790.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/N7FDf7

Better CPU for an RTS machine, since I assume he won't be OCing (assumed since he was planning to buy from Best Buy).

 

[noname2020x]

You guys are magicians.
Thanks!

I'm thinking maybe the second option you gave ATMINSIDE with a different case.

 

[bob4933]

Spend the 20$ and step up to a 290, skip the 280x unless you get it used or ridiculously on sale imo.

 

[noname2020x]

Spend the 20$ and step up to a 290, skip the 280x unless you get it used or ridiculously on sale imo.

Cheapest upgrade seems to be ~30 or 35 plus a bigger power supply might then be warranted. Hmmmm

 

[noname2020x]

Ended up snagging ATMINSIDE's build with a SilverStone Temjin Series TJ08B-E case and SAPPHIRE DUAL-X Radeon R9 280 video card (the graphics card seemed appropriate for an RTS build at $180. Easily upgraded for the future if needed and solid reviewed card)

Thanks for all of the help guys!

 

[bob4933]

Ended up snagging ATMINSIDE's build with a SilverStone Temjin Series TJ08B-E case and SAPPHIRE DUAL-X Radeon R9 280 video card (the graphics card seemed appropriate for an RTS build at $180. Easily upgraded for the future if needed and solid reviewed card)

Thanks for all of the help guys!

Thats not what he suggested at all. The 290 didn't need a bigger power supply, the 550 was more than enough.

*sigh... your money hombre. That money you spent on your fancy case could have went to a 290 and split the difference and then some...


The 290 isn't just a "little stronger", its a LOT stronger. Your 280 will be irrelevant before the end of the year.

http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/AMD-R9-290-vs-AMD-R9-280/2171vs2241

 

[noname2020x]

Thats not what he suggested at all. The 290 didn't need a bigger power supply, the 550 was more than enough.

*sigh... your money hombre. That money you spent on your fancy case could have went to a 290 and split the difference and then some...


The 290 isn't just a "little stronger", its a LOT stronger. Your 280 will be irrelevant before the end of the year.

http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/AMD-R9-290-vs-AMD-R9-280/2171vs2241

Honestly I don't see it as THAT big of a deal. Mainly because I doubt my friend will be playing any actually demanding games. That said, I explained the situation to him, and he said he'd rather just pay more now and not worry about maybe upgrading for a while.

Sooooo, snagged a SAPPHIRE TRI-X OC R9 290 4GB

 

[Theocnoob]

Honestly I don't see it as THAT big of a deal. Mainly because I doubt my friend will be playing any actually demanding games. That said, I explained the situation to him, and he said he'd rather just pay more now and not worry about maybe upgrading for a while.

Sooooo, snagged a SAPPHIRE TRI-X OC R9 290 4GB

Good call..