$1500 High end Gaming and Low/Mid range Workstation

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Jarii

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Feb 24, 2014
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Hello everyone, I'm not looking for a new build but rather a few suggestions and ideas on the current parts I picked. I'm a computer science student, and I plan on going to Game Development, so I want this computer to handle things like Blender, Maya, Photoshop, and programming in general. The computer should play games on the highest to mid range setting for at least 2-3 years, I play a lot of Civilization 5 and Civ4 modded. I know you can't really future proof a computer, but I tried to pick parts that have a good enough quality that it will still be usable again when I make a new build a few years from now. (All the prices are in US currency.)

Approximate Purchase Date: Sometime in the month of March or early April
Budget Range: $1,500 (I'm okay with going a bit over budget)
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, 3D modeling, Programing, Photoshop, Netflix
Are you buying a monitor: Yes (limit is about $150)
Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, Nvida GPU

I have three build I made in pcpartpicker:
(Note on the Ram: I might buy 16gb more in November that's why I picks 2x8gb)

This one I gave a lot time into picking the best parts I could to stay within my range:
i7-4770K, GTX 770 4gb The reason I pick the gtx 4g over the 2g is because there was only a $50 difference

The second build I tried to fit a i7-4770K and gtx 780 and tried to bring down the price with the other parts
i7-4770k GTX 780 3gb

The last one is a mix of both of them, but the price is 250 over budget:
i7--4770k GTX 780 Total: Total: $1734.82

My overall goal in this thread is to have a PC build within my range with good performance, reliability and updatability if it needs it in few years.

If you guys see that I'm over spending on a part or I'm using a company with unreliable parts or service let me know. All ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
 
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A

ahmedkhalifa1999

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Feb 14, 2014
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($300.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme 99.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($167.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: A-Data XPG V2 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($139.99 @ TigerDirect)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP600 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($72.27 @ TigerDirect)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($87.96 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($519.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake Level 10 GTS Snow Edition (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Cooler Master Megaflow 110.0 CFM 200mm Fan ($14.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($134.94 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1685.08
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-25 16:13 EST-0500)
this one is a bit cheaper
 
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Jarii

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Feb 24, 2014
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Question, is A-Data a good brand?
I wouldn't want to install my OS on the SSD then have it fail a few months later.
Also does the memory Voltage matter? In PCPartPicker it says the RAM exceeds the Haswell recommend voltage.
Thanks for the build Ahmedkhalifa1999, but the mother and ram clash in color (that's just an aesthetics thing for me) I was hoping to go with a blue color scheme with a windowed case.
One last question; does going for a 2400 ram make a difference from a 1600?

Since I will buy the computer parts this weekend, faster than I originally thought, I might go for the third build since I do get a 780 but I will make a few tweaks:
I'll pick change the CPU cooler Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme and the Samsung optical drive.
I might change the RAM to a 2400 if it worth the extra price, and I might lower the motherboard if I can find a good board at a far lower price than my current motherboard.
 
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ahmedkhalifa1999

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A-Data is a very good brand but kingston is a bit better and any motherboard with Z87 would be good and i chose this motherboard because of its quality and peripherals (net and sound) and the 2400 ram will give you a slight advantage in 3ds and i amgoing to gibe you a better build in some time (about 6 hours because my psu burnt and it may or may not run)
 
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AxlFone

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May 21, 2013
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My suggestion goes like this.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($329.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Macho Rev.A. 73.6 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-PRO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($179.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card ($346.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: BitFenix Ghost (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1604.75
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-26 04:54 EST-0500)

If you want GTX 780 then look for Zotac AMP. This card is naybe one fastest 780 in market. Really good card still cheap and 2+3 year warranty.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zotac-video-card-zt7020310p

PSU best quality in market.
ReAD REVIEW.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Rosewill-CAPSTONE-550M-Power-Supply-Review/1584

Other good options for psu are lightning or tachyon.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-power-supply-lightning800

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-power-supply-tachyon550
You can buy bigger if you want 650 or 750w.

Seems like 4770k is really cheap price in microcenter.
http://www.microcenter.com/product/413248/Core_i7_4770K_35GHz_Socket_LGA_1150_Boxed_Processor
Available for In-Store Pickup Only.

if you do not need wifi + bluetooth buy Gigabyte X-UD3H mobo. Cheaper and really good.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz87xud3h
 
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ahmedkhalifa1999

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Feb 14, 2014
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($329.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme 99.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($101.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($519.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake Chaser A31 Snow White ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($84.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1638.86
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-26 15:20 EST-0500)
A modified version of the system i added like i told you
 
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Jarii

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Feb 24, 2014
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Thanks for all the new builds, I took a look at both of them and decide to combine some parts from both. I think I got a good end result: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/30C14 The total doesn't count the 85 of rebates as well, so the final price would be $1,678.34 Which is within my range. I might change the SSD to the Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk, if I do I'll lower the HHD to the 2TB Seagate to keep the overall price down.
 
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ahmedkhalifa1999

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keep the 3TB (the difference is only $10 and get tje GHZ edition ofbthe graphics card ($20 more but worth the backplate which prevents heat from going to your radiator) and get a cheaper case like the chaser A31 or the level 10GTS except if you like the look of full towers
 
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Jarii

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Feb 24, 2014
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Sadly I had to lower the total price to 1500(need the money to pay a few things), so I bumped down to the GTX 770. I tried to look for the gtx 770 with the backplate, but only found that the gtx 780 GHZ edition had it. I'll buy two extra 200mm case fans to keep a good airflow and keep the back of the GPU from releasing too much heat. Hopefully that will keep it from releasing even more heat into the system. For the Tower, I pretty much set on getting this tower; I could get a mid tower but I think I might stick with it, and yes I know its bigger then I need, but I like it. I appreciate all your help Ahemd, you have been great help. The only difference is the PSU, GPU and CPU cooler; all changed to keep the cost down

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($82.95 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($342.27 @ TigerDirect)
Case: Thermaltake Overseer RX-I Snow Edition ATX Full Tower Case ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($26.97 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($134.94 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1550.06
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-27 15:05 EST-0500)
 
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A

ahmedkhalifa1999

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Feb 14, 2014
736
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19,160
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme 99.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($167.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($65.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card ($394.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Thermaltake Overseer RX-I Snow Edition ATX Full Tower Case ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($134.94 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1605.82
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-27 15:55 EST-0500)
what about this one (a modified one of yours)
note 1 : you can wait for the SSD and get it later
note 2 : after research better get a 4GB GTX 760 for 3Ds Max
 
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J

Jarii

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Feb 24, 2014
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4,510
Thanks for the tip on the 4gb GPU. I changed the CPU to buy it at Microcenter, and the total went down a bit. I see that your build changed the motherboard, the color is odd but I can live with it. I'll changed the SSD to 840 evo, other than the motherboard color I love this system.
 
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