If you want to do game dev’ing with the UE4 engine, then you will need 16gb RAM, a GTX980 (or equivalent), and an i7 processor. Then get a good monitor with what you have left.
If was a gaming machine, not a developer machine, then 8gb RAM, a 970, and an i5 processor. You need as much “oomph” as possible since you will be dealing with assets that are not packaged or optimized if you’re developing.
SSD is nice, but not necessary. You can get away with a small-ish sized SSD, and a bigger mechanical HDD by just putting your OS / programs on the SSD, and using the mechanical drive as your library if you really want an SSD for the fast OS and program loading. A 512gb SSD + 2TB HDD will cost as much as getting a 1TB SSD, if not less.
NewEgg lists a 1TB SSD at around $340, whereas a 512gb is $200 and a 1TB HDD is $55 ($100 dollars less for the hybrid setup). A 2TB HDD is $80 ($60 less for the hybrid)
Unfortuantely I have to keep the price below $1500 which will include the monitor in that price and the i7, 980, and an extra 8gb of ram will put me over that amount. I do plan on getting more RAM within the next few months. I’m hoping the i5 and the 970 will work ok with developing with the Unreal Engine but if I do see some issues I will try upgrading them within a year.
Adding the 970, a 1TB HDD and OS it will come to about 1106 which gives me some more money to get a good monitor which will probably put me at about $1300. So will just need to add 8GB more of RAM to get it to 16GB. Will one be a good deal and last me a while for both gaming and developing with UE4?
