Help with 3 monitor gaming PC build, $2k budget

Erik508 · Dec 14, 2013

Approximate Purchase Date: within a week or whenever I get the build sorted out properly

Budget Range: $2k ish. I have some flexibility with this. I would love to spend less. I could talk myself into spending more if I have to. I have another $1k set aside for monitors, if anyone wants to toss in some suggestions there as well.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming. Email. Netflix. Movies. Reddit. Porn. Mostly Gaming though.
Are you buying a monitor: 3 of them, separate from this build though (see comments in budget!)
Parts to Upgrade: Build from scratch
Do you need to buy OS: Yes. Windows 7 pro likely.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon, anywhere reputable is fine. I don't necessarily need specific links to items, just brand/model recommendations would be great.
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, Nvidia graphics. I prefer proven, popular components
Overclocking: No, I don't have the energy for it anymore. I prefer system stability.
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe, if I need it to drive 3 monitors. Would like to at least have the option to add a second one at a later date.
Your Monitor Resolution: At least 1080. Considering 2560 x 1600/1440 monitors as well.
Additional Comments: Quiet is a huge bonus. I prefer function over form in general.
And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Boredom. My gaming laptop is 3 years old and I decided to switch over to a desktop this time. Bioshock Infinite is first in line.
Currently thinking:
CPU: Ivy Bridge Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5 GHz 8 MB Cache
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i7-3770K-Quad-Core-Processor-Cache/dp/B007SZ0EOW/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1386911728&sr=1-2
Mobo: ASUS P8Z77-V LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131820
GPU: GTX780 (considering the 770 or a 780 TI as well)
PSU: Some sort of modular PSU - 850w maybe. Picked this one at random
OCZ 850W ZX Series Fully-Modular 80PLUS
http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-Fully-Modular-Performance-compatible-OCZ-ZX850W/dp/B004NMF9ES/
Case - ?? (would like to spend less than $150-ish here)
HDD- already have an SSD EVO 840.
RAM - 16GB or 32GB. Doubt I would need 32, though, I don't even use the 8GB in my current laptop
Bluray reader drive - Asus Black Blu Ray
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247
Keyboard/Mouse: Already have these covered

Codyha12 · Dec 14, 2013

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2klZo
I like AMD if you dont change it. It has all the monitors also.

Marcopolo123 · Dec 14, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($222.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($519.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($519.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Arctic White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.08 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 760W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDC-207DBK Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: QNIX QX2710 Matte 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($344.50 @ Newegg)
Total: $2261.49
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-14 19:16 EST-0500)

1x 1440p monitor (1 gtx 780 would be ok)
or
3x 1080p monitor (would add a second gpu)

g-unit1111 · Dec 14, 2013

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2klZo
I like AMD if you dont change it. It has all the monitors also.

Just so you know - you throw money away buying thermal compound especially if you're using a liquid cooler.

There is no need for a BD-R burner for gaming - anymore - games will never use the format. It's all downloading and online distribution. A waste of money if you ask me.

If you've got $2K for a gaming rig you should be going with Haswell and not Ivy Bridge. Do something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($222.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme 99.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme6 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($178.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vector 150 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($86.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card ($699.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Titanium Grey) ATX Mid Tower Case ($124.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: NZXT HALE90 V2 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($168.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.00 @ Amazon)
Total: $1858.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-14 21:27 EST-0500)

- Uses current i5-4670K
- Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme costs less and is better than Corsair H100i
- PSU is made by Super Flower and is one of the highest quality you can buy
- Added one of the current fastest SSDs on the market
- WD Caviar Black is better than Blue
- Don't need 32GB but DDR3-2133 is ideal for LGA 1150 systems
- GTX 780TI is the fastest single card solution on the market
- PSU allows you to SLI later on and is completely modular

AxlFone · Dec 14, 2013

My suggestion goes like this.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($222.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Swiftech H320 55.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($149.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($298.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($298.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair Air 540 ATX Desktop Case ($130.25 @ TigerDirect)
Power Supply: Rosewill Lightning 1000W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1840.14
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-14 22:25 EST-0500)

Not fastest SSD but bigger. If u want to add more games to SSD this is good.
Then Water cooling. Bigger radiaor is better.
+1000w PSU gives you uption to add any SLI or even 3 way SLI to this build.
+ 3TB HDD is enough room for anything.
+ 2 way SLI 760 is faster than GTX 780 or Titan. With 4GB memory is good with new games.
Make it better and get 4770k and 16GB ram.

Look good deals here.
http://promotions.newegg.com/neemail/latest/index-landing.aspx

Erik508 · Dec 14, 2013

g-unit1111 :

I'm just going to get a player, and it's mainly to rip movies.

g-unit1111 :

Thanks. I hadn't read any good reasons to upgrade, but it's only a few bucks more, so I will switch that.

g-unit1111 :

Thanks, some good points here, I will take them into account in my build. My current plan is to use a regular heatsink/fan and not OC anything, so I won't be dealing with a liquid cooling solution.

I'll mark your post as an answer, since it helped me the most. Thanks to all who read and posted though, some really helpful info for me here.

Erik508 · Dec 14, 2013

AxlFone :

Thanks!

Everyone seems to be suggesting an i5. Is there a reason to avoid the i7?

I like your SLI idea, I think I will buy a 780/780 ti now, and plan to add a second one as needed.

g-unit1111 · Dec 14, 2013

Erik508 :

If you're going to use a non liquid cooler, then get a Noctua D14 but you should definitely overclock if you are going to be spending this kind of cash on a gaming rig. Most motherboards will practically do it for you anymore.

Erik508 · Dec 15, 2013

ok, so here is where I currently stand:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($319.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($77.99 @ Mwave)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.73 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($140.25 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 500GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($334.99 @ B&H)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($509.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Antec Twelve Hundred V3 ATX Full Tower Case ($172.77 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 1000W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($184.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Microsoft Keyboard 200 Wired Standard Keyboard ($8.23 @ Mwave)
Total: $1915.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-15 00:15 EST-0500)

PartPicker gave me a warning that my 2133 ram is 1.6v and exceeds the 1.5v recommendation for haswell. I assume the mobo takes care of this, but is that going to be a problem??

Also, the SSD I already own, so I can't change that. I will plan add a storage drive down the road, along with another GTX 780 when I "need" it.

g-unit1111 · Dec 15, 2013

Erik508 :

Yeah that could potentially be a problem. You need 1.5V for Intel boards - and there are 2133 sets for Haswell CPUs like the one I linked to.

As far as your build goes:

- As I said you're throwing money away buying thermal compound. The D14 includes stuff that is better than Silver V.
- Get the GTX 780TI instead of the 780 - well worth the extra money.
- i7 is not necessary for gaming, get the i5 instead.
- You don't need 16GB for your uses.
- The Antec 1200 is decent, there's far better cases you could get like the NZXT Phantom 630, Fractal Design Define XL, and Corsair Carbide 500R
- 1K is major overkill for even a dual card setup, the EVGA SuperNova 1KW and NZXT Hale 90 850W are better than the Corsair RM series.

Erik508 · Dec 15, 2013

Thanks, I'll nix the compound.
Still debating with myself on the 780ti. $200 extra for the ti (40% extra), which seems to run about 15%-25% better FPS than the 780.
I'll do some more research on the cases, thanks. I just saw someone complain that their GTX 770 didn't fit well in the twelve hundred I listed, go figure. The Fractal you mentioned looks pretty nice.
Ok, you talked me down to 8GB

The vendor was out of stock on the ram you mentioned, but I found some CAS9 2133mhz at newegg that should work just fine.

As for the PSU, a system with dual 780 ti cards claims to draw about 650 watts from the wall. 850 would cover that fine, but I'll be more comfortable with a little more breathing room. The 780 seems to draw significantly less power (~450 watts), so if I go that route I'll pick up one of the 850 watt PSUs.

Thanks a lot for all your input, it's been really helpful!

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Help with 3 monitor gaming PC build, $2k budget

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