Building My First PC...On A $2400 Budget :D

LordOfCinder

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Aug 13, 2014
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Whats up guys, I will be building my first gaming PC and was planning on going with a Fire/Ice color scheme and I think I have found a good setup. I would like feedback as to what I could do to make it look even better or have more performance. I dont mind spending an extra $100-200 IF it means the performance/look will be sexy :3. I will be gaming, as well as video editing/Autocad and the like and maybe streaming BF4 as well. Now tell me peeps, what is there to change to make my color coordination look better or get even more performance out of this. Here is my current list of parts....
[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Jcsn99) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Jcsn99/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k) | $329.99 @ Newegg
**CPU Cooler** | [Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-cpu-cooler-cw9060016ww) | $104.99 @ Newegg
**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming GT ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz97xgaminggt) | $193.99 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32133c10q16gxm) | $159.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7te250bw) | $129.99 @ Amazon
**Video Card** | [EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Dual Classified ACX Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-03gp42888kr) | $679.99 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Thermaltake Chaser MK-I ATX Full Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-case-vn300m1w2n) | $94.00 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [Corsair RM 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-rm850) | $129.99 @ Newegg
**Optical Drive** | [LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-wh14ns40) | $64.98 @ OutletPC
**Monitor** | [Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-vg248qe) | $269.00 @ Amazon
**Case Fan** | [Corsair Air Series AF140 Red 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-fan-co9050017rled) | $15.99 @ Mwave
**Case Fan** | [Corsair CO-9050016-BLED 52.2 CFM 120mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-fan-co9050016bled) | $19.39 @ Mwave
**Keyboard** | [Corsair Vengeance K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-keyboard-ch9000011na) | $112.99 @ Amazon
**Mouse** | [Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/logitech-mouse-910004074) | $79.99 @ Amazon
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $2375.27
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-13 22:02 EDT-0400 |
 
Solution
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TsbCZL
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TsbCZL/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($329.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK2 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($168.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Avexir Core series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($75.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive ($113.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($669.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case ($179.99 @ Best...
Points:
You may wish to consider these parts instead:

1) i5-4690K

2) GTX880 (coming soonish)

3) NH-U12S or NH-U14S CPU cooler

4) Asus Hero Maximus VII (not saying the Gigabyte sucks, I just like the SOUND options on this board such as virtual 3D tot he front headphone jack for stereo headphones)

5) Hard Drive?
Don't get only an SSD as you'll want to create an Imagebackup. Recommend a 1TB WD Blue, then use the free Acronis True Image software WD has to make a compressed SSD backup to the HDD.

I'd also put your Steam and other games on the HDD.

6) OS?
- get Windows 8.1 64-bit, and
- Start8 ($5)
 
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ss3mNG
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ss3mNG/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME6 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($149.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Dual Classified ACX Video Card ($679.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 530 (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($64.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($269.00 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Red 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($15.99 @ Mwave)
Keyboard: Corsair Vengeance K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($112.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $2317.87

Idea behind this is components are mostly blue, then bathe it in red light.
 


Last info on the 800 series puts it in 2015 now, wouldn't call that soonish.
 

LordOfCinder

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Aug 13, 2014
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1. I looked at the i5-4690k, but I would rather not have to upgrade my CPU for quite a while and I will be using multiple monitors, 2. and as for the gtx 880, I will most likely be getting it since its the "next gen", and I read that the 880 will be released next month. 3. My CPU cooler was chosen for overclocking, gotta have that speed ;D. 4. I chose the mobo I did because of the intergrated wifi along with the red. I also read that it has red leds. 5. I have a 1tb Western Digital Caviar Blue HDD, and I will take your advice and use that program. 6. I also have windows 8.1 pro :D. Sorry for not giving enough information above. I will look at the mobo you mentions If I could possibly get a Wifi card because I can't put my pc anywhere for a wired connection.

 

LordOfCinder

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Aug 13, 2014
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Yeah, I was thinking about that, but will I have to change my fans at all since they have leds? I dont want too much color overlapping. But I like the idea, It does seem to be a nice touch, I just dont know what color the leds would be :3.

 

xInfluX

Distinguished
Apr 17, 2013
68
0
18,640
[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xRrYRB) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xRrYRB/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i7-4820K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80633i74820k) | $319.99 @ Best Buy
**CPU Cooler** | [Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-cpu-cooler-cw9060016ww) | $99.99 @ Amazon
**Motherboard** | [Asus Sabertooth X79 ATX LGA2011 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-sabertoothx79) | $303.99 @ Amazon
**Memory** | [G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f31866c9d16gxm) | $149.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7pd256bw) | $176.98 @ SuperBiiz
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001) | $79.98 @ OutletPC
**Video Card** | [Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvr929oc4gd) | $379.99 @ NCIX US
**Case** | [Cooler Master HAF 932 Blue ATX Full Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-rc932kkn3gp) | $172.98 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [SeaSonic X Series 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-x850) | $157.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Optical Drive** | [LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-wh14ns40) | $64.98 @ OutletPC
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-gfc02050) | $84.98 @ OutletPC
**Monitor** | [Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-vg248qe) | $269.00 @ Amazon
**Case Fan** | [Cooler Master SickleFlow 69.7 CFM 120mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-fan-r4l2r20arr1) | $7.98 @ OutletPC
**Case Fan** | [Cooler Master R4-L2R-20AC-GP 69.0 CFM 120mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-fan-r4l2r20acgp) | $7.98 @ OutletPC
**Keyboard** | [Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-keyboard-sgk4000gkcl1us) | $75.00 @ Mechanical Keyboards
**Mouse** | [Logitech G500 Wired Laser Mouse](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/logitech-mouse-910001259) | $72.78 @ SuperBiiz
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $2424.58
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-13 23:57 EDT-0400 |

Something too consider/different :p
 

LordOfCinder

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Aug 13, 2014
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Not a bad build, but the Mobo is a little outdated and the GPU is considerably worse than the EVGA GTX 780 Ti Classy I was looking at. If I paid that much for a motherboard, I would also expect to see intergrated wifi/bt4.0. I may changed to a K|ngP|n GTX 780 Ti Classy since It overclocks nice. The case you chose doesnt have the nice clear side window, but instead has a fan, plus I have a windows 7 disk also.
 

Wima

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Jul 16, 2014
39
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4,560
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TsbCZL
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TsbCZL/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($329.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK2 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($168.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Avexir Core series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($75.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive ($113.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($669.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case ($179.99 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: Cooler Master V850 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($154.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.63 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($249.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12B redux-1200 PWM 59.1 CFM 120mm Fan ($16.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12B redux-1200 PWM 59.1 CFM 120mm Fan ($16.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Logitech G710 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $2382.49
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-14 03:14 EDT-0400

this is my choices if i had that amount of money :D
If you want full tower case you can switch with 900D
 
Solution