Improvement on my build?

esmajor · Apr 2, 2015

Hello fellow members, I have a question about improving my build, perhaps getting a better price for performance ratio. I have 1500 budget and here is my build.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.49 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($83.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($61.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($61.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($279.99 @ Mac Mall)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($75.78 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 290 4GB Tri-X Video Card ($269.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($63.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($13.98 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($34.80 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm Fan ($22.49 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm Fan ($22.49 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm Fan ($22.49 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1371.08
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-02 20:41 EDT-0400

Here are thoughts about my build. I want to make it a positive air flow in the case. I was also wondering if I should cut back on the ssd to make room for a better processor, motherboard or graphics card. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Tradesman1 · Apr 2, 2015

The case comes with four fans which will be more than enough for even a higher end rig, so could eliminate the extra fans, the case itself is overkill for a rig like this, a midtower would be more than enough and save more money there, the CPU doesn't OC so could cut back on the CPU cooler, I'd look to a midtower and save there, get Hyper 212 EVO and save on the cooler, then take the money you've saved and get a 4690K and something like a Asus Z97-A, then you'll be doing real well price to performance wise

ykki · Apr 2, 2015

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($226.69 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.75 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($75.78 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($552.89 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec TruePower Classic 750W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($13.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1499.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-02 21:23 EDT-0400

An unlocked i5.
A good cooler.
A good mobo.
Cheap RAM.
Cheaper ssd.
FREAKIN' 980!
A badass case.
A high quality 750w psu which can support another 980.
Cheap dvd drive.

Hope this helped!

geofelt · Apr 2, 2015

1. The cooler will come with adequate paste.

2. Do not buy two separate ram sticks. Buy a single 2 x 8gb kit instead.
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards can be very sensitive to this.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.
3. Nothing wrong with the Samsung pro. But, if the evo is cheaper, you will lose no performance.
The pro will last 15 years, the evo somewhat less, like 10.
Both will be obsolete by then.

4. Are you going to store large files such as videos? If not, defer on the hard drive, you can always add one later.
With the way ssd prices are headed, you may never need a hard drive again.

5. Cases are a personal thing. White is different and I like it.
But, you really only need two 120mm intake fans or equivalent.
I would put the included 200mm fan in front to give you a positive pressure airflow which keeps your case cleaner.
Positive pressure results if all of your intake air comes in through a filtered intake.
Anything stronger than a smaller fan to direct the airflow will draw in unfiltered air through other openings.
It is easy to add fans later, but I doubt you would want to.
6. The R9 cards run hot and some have issues. That particular card has 23% negative(0 or 1 egg) on newegg.
I might pick the stronger EVGA GTX970 which comes with witcher game.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487075
7. Corsair CX is only mediocre. tier 3 on this list:
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware/f/135081/t/45344.aspx?Redirected=true
A R90290 will want about a 650w psu.
A GTX970 about 500w.
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm
Look for Seasonic, xfx, or antec for good quality.

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Improvement on my build?

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