$2600 Gaming PC Build Advice

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Chamo66

Chamo66

Honorable
Dec 15, 2013
11
0
10,520
Approximate Purchase Date: Early December

Budget Range: $2600 and below

Hello I asked for advice about this very build around August and have adjusted it very little since then, besides the two 980s. I now call upon the aid of all of you again for help as the build date draws closer. So if you have any better build suggestions please offer them, I would rather not use water cooling.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($317.27 @ TigerDirect)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 Tri-Linear 25g Thermal Paste ($6.24 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($203.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($174.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($78.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($586.13 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($586.13 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Gunmetal/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: NZXT FZ-120mm LED 59.1 CFM 120mm Fan ($11.39 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Thermaltake POSEIDON Z Wired Gaming Keyboard ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $2508.03
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-05 18:58 EST-0500
 
Solution
g-unit1111
First off on your budget - do not, and I repeat - do not purchase those cheap Kingston SSDnow drives - they only have one redeeming quality: they're cheap. And that's about it. On your budget you can get a way better SSD.

I'll do a black and blue theme:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X61 106.1 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($122.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME6 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB...
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A

aks_1337

Reputable
Aug 4, 2014
222
1
4,860
Good build, just a couple of minor changes such as clearance issues with RAM:
Cooling and supplied thermal paste is good enough.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($317.27 @ TigerDirect)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($203.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($153.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($128.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($586.13 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($586.13 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Gunmetal/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($26.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $2475.41
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-05 19:34 EST-0500
 
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dottorrent

dottorrent

Honorable
May 20, 2012
1,883
1
12,460
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($389.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X99-UD4 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($258.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG Z1 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($249.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.96 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($549.98 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($549.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Thermaltake KB-POI-BLBLUS-01 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2591.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-05 19:39 EST-0500
 
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I

iamlegend

Admirable
Aug 19, 2014
1,885
1
6,460
Here you go buddy:

Red and black theme.


PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/L9fvNG
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/L9fvNG/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($317.27 @ TigerDirect)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 Tri-Linear 25g Thermal Paste ($6.24 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($146.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($174.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: AMD 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($586.13 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($586.13 @ Newegg)
Case: Aerocool GT-S Black Edition ATX Full Tower Case ($187.09 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Corsair K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($118.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Corsair Raptor M30 Wired Optical Mouse ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $2576.72
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-05 19:49 EST-0500
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Jul 27, 2011
42,545
823
104,940
First off on your budget - do not, and I repeat - do not purchase those cheap Kingston SSDnow drives - they only have one redeeming quality: they're cheap. And that's about it. On your budget you can get a way better SSD.

I'll do a black and blue theme:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X61 106.1 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($122.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME6 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($185.57 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($569.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($569.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT H440 (Blue/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P2 1000W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($184.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $2402.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-05 22:35 EST-0500
 
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Solution
dottorrent

dottorrent

Honorable
May 20, 2012
1,883
1
12,460


You know Kingston are veterans in the flash market right?
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Jul 27, 2011
42,545
823
104,940


Yes and they make solid RAM but I am not a fan of going cheap on storage, especially on a build of $2500 or more, I would pay more for a quality SSD like the Samsung 850 Pro.
 
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dottorrent

dottorrent

Honorable
May 20, 2012
1,883
1
12,460


Actually it's been shown that Windows 8.1 is better for gaming, as the UI doesn't use as much RAM as Windows 7 used to use.
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Jul 27, 2011
42,545
823
104,940


Not true at all. As dottorrent pointed out it uses less RAM plus the new GPU drivers are also better optimized for getting the most out of Windows 8.1 and gaming.
 
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Chamo66

Chamo66

Honorable
Dec 15, 2013
11
0
10,520
Taking bits and pieces from all of your helpful advice, and builds. I made this build, any more advice you would like to give about it? Also right before I order all the parts I will probably ask for a review of my build in early December as the computer parts market seems to ever be changing.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($317.25 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 Tri-Linear 25g Thermal Paste ($6.24 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($203.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($138.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($185.56 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($586.13 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($586.13 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Gunmetal/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: NZXT FZ-120mm LED 59.1 CFM 120mm Fan ($11.39 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Thermaltake POSEIDON Z Wired Gaming Keyboard ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $2579.58
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-06 19:00 EST-0500
 
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delladunday

delladunday

Reputable
May 30, 2014
85
0
4,640
This is my take on your build i've swapped the Noctua air cooler for an AIO Corsair H100i water cooling system it will perform around the same as the Noctua but it leaves space (and also looks pretty cool) for the high heat spreaders on the Trident Ram i also traded out the 2x8 sticks for 4x4 ddr3-2400 Trident ram as well as adding a bigger 250gb ssd for os and system files and a 500gb one for games and other uses i left the Seagate Barracuda 2TB in there as you can use it for movies video recording etc i have removed the os and keyboard its a more personal preference imo go for what you want and i would of changed the gpus to 2 Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming 4GB as they are cheaper and their base clock is slightly lower but boost clock is slightly higher although i could not find these on the us version of pcpartpicker they are on the australian.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($317.25 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 Tri-Linear 25g Thermal Paste ($6.24 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($203.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($169.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($128.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($238.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($586.13 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($586.13 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Gunmetal/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $2626.62
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-06 19:16 EST-0500
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Jul 27, 2011
42,545
823
104,940
This is my take on your build i've swapped the Noctua air cooler for an AIO Corsair H100i water cooling system it will perform around the same as the Noctua but it leaves space (and also looks pretty cool) for the high heat spreaders on the Trident Ram i also traded out the 2x8 sticks for 4x4 ddr3-2400 Trident ram as well as adding a bigger 250gb ssd for os and system files and a 500gb one for games and other uses i left the Seagate Barracuda 2TB in there as you can use it for movies video recording etc i have removed the os and keyboard its a more personal preference imo go for what you want and i would of changed the gpus to 2 Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming 4GB as they are cheaper and their base clock is slightly lower but boost clock is slightly higher although i could not find these on the us version of pcpartpicker they are on the australian.
Click to expand...

Your SSD is only 120GB though, and you don't need the thermal compound no matter what your budget is. The Noctua D15 includes thermal compound that is way better than Arctic Silver V (which is way overrated).
 
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