New build advice needed

leatherfoot · Feb 18, 2015

Hi folks. I'm building a new gaming PC and wanted something decent without breaking the bank. So I did some research and picked out the following parts and pieces. If I am missing out on something that's a better bang for the buck or something incompatible, your help is appreciated.

Antec Nine Hundred Black Computer Case
ASUS Z97-A ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz LGA 1150
COOLER MASTER RR-212E-20PK-R2 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
2 x Ballistix 8GB DDR 1600MHz Memory
MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming Video Card
Antec TruePower Classic series TP-650C 650W Power Supply

Thanks

PizzaTheHutt · Feb 18, 2015

What is your budget for this system?

AMDThunder · Feb 18, 2015

You could break the bank a little less with a 4690K. For a gaming rig, the 4790K isn't worth the extra money you're spending. You won't notice a difference.

sadams04 · Feb 18, 2015

CPU - For gaming, the i5 is all you need. The i7 is not a great gamer for the cost as hyperthreading isn't utilized much..
CPU Cooler - Hyper 212 EVO
MB - Nothing wrong with the ASUS, but the Gigabyte below will save you a bit on the budget and not impact performance / features.
MEM - The modules below are the best bang-for-the-buck today. Low latency DDR3-1866 CL8 modules at 1.5v.
PSU - 550w is plenty for a single GTX 970. Up that to a 750w unit if you want to run a second GPU down the road.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI Z97-G55 SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($128.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($328.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $831.90

jollypirate · Feb 18, 2015

leatherfoot :

the i7 is overkill for gaming, you would be golden with a n i5 4690k , the ram is overkill too you dont need more than 8gb on a gaming rig.you could also get a cheaper mobo and 600w psu but that isnt a big problem.

leatherfoot · Feb 18, 2015

PizzaTheHutt :

Looking at around $1500 without monitor and peripherals. *Edit - CDn dollar so around $1200 USD or less*

PizzaTheHutt · Feb 18, 2015

leatherfoot :

OK, how does this look?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme 99.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($134.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill AEGIS 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.19 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($328.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($328.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1507.08
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-18 11:44 EST-0500

sadams04 · Feb 18, 2015

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($258.32 @ TigerDirect Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($37.98 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: MSI Z97-G55 SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($146.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($95.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($128.69 @ Amazon Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($420.98 @ Amazon Canada)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($82.21 @ TigerDirect Canada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($109.99 @ Canada Computers)
Total: $1486.11

sadams04 · Feb 18, 2015

PizzaTheHutt :

...Canada.

PizzaTheHutt · Feb 18, 2015

sadams04 :

Whoops

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($258.32 @ TigerDirect Canada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.50 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($77.19 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($128.25 @ Vuugo)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.98 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card ($679.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $1558.18
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-18 11:48 EST-0500

or

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($220.98 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.50 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($77.19 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($128.25 @ Vuugo)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.98 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($358.37 @ TigerDirect Canada)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($358.37 @ TigerDirect Canada)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($149.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($77.99 @ NCIX)
Total: $1595.62
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-18 11:48 EST-0500

leatherfoot · Feb 18, 2015

LOL... yeah eh.

Really glad I posted here. Great quick responses! So I can save on the i7 and go with the i5 and stick with 8GB of ram. With the savings and if I can do it, would the dual cards SLI be the best option to ramp it up? I like the liquid cooling idea too and it doesn't honestly seem that much more expensive.

PizzaTheHutt · Feb 18, 2015

leatherfoot :

Nearly all of the builds here have potential to add an extra card if you want to later. The crossfire option with the AMD cards is pretty good IMHO but if you like NVIDIA go for the one with the 980 - roughly, two 970s in SLI rival a single 980.

leatherfoot · Feb 18, 2015

Interesting. So is there an advantage either way with one 980 or two 970s (or Radeon 290's) other than power consumption? And will they fit in the case (I know the cards are a bit large)

jollypirate · Feb 18, 2015

leatherfoot :

980 has 4 gb of ram yhe 970 has 3.5 (290x has 4) sif the mobo fits and one of the card fit the second one should too without a problem.you are gonna have more heat though and i dont think all games support two gpus, you also wont be getting 2x preformance with two card (it is preatty close though)

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