How Can I Improve my Build

JOSHBLY · Jun 9, 2015

Hello. I came onto this forum seeking one thing and one thing only. The best gaming rig I could get my hands on for a hefty-ish $1500.

Approximate Purchase Date: By June 26th

Budget Range: $1500 after shipping and taxes etc.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Surfing the Web, Productivity

I am buying a monitor

I DO NOT NEED WINDOWS

The build: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DyZgyc

Or:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U14S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($111.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 980 4GB AMP! Edition Video Card ($503.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 760T White ATX Full Tower Case ($147.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Wireless Network Adapter: TRENDnet TEW-805UB 802.11a/b/g/n/ac USB 3.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($22.94 @ Amazon)
Monitor: AOC i2267Fw 60Hz 22.0" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Other: 1000 Zip ties ($6.10)
Other: Anti Static Mat ($17.39)
Other: Kit ($21.99)
Total: $1430.31
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-09 09:17 EDT-0400

Eximo · Jun 9, 2015

Personally I would reorganize things a little to get a better monitor and add an SSD.

Many will probably argue that a GTX980 isn't worth buying considering the 980Ti is only a 'little' more.

In terms of productivity, do you think you'll need 16GB of memory? And do you have future plans for that $150 Full Tower? Power supply isn't sized for much future expansion if that is what you intend to do.

USB Wifi isn't exactly the best, and ideally you should connect a gaming PC via ethernet for minimum latency. Plenty of PCIe Wifi cards that will provide better throughput and reception range.

Do you actually have access to a Microcenter? Those are usually in-store prices only.

4745454b · Jun 9, 2015

Eximo is right on. To spend $1500 and be stuck with a 60hz 1080 monitor seems like a waste. 4690K, 16GBs of ram and a GTX980 for only a single 1080 screen? With no SSD? I like the first four items in your build. Solid base and only ~$500ish. If you keep that GPU you have now spent $1k of your money. PSU is ok as long as you aren't planning to SLI later (assuming your board supports it.) or do a lot of OCing. The case is to much. Drop it down to a "normal" case and save the $50-$75. Dump the anti static mat, and the kit (whatever that is.) and free up another $40. Can you bump the monitor up to something better now that you have another $100+? If not, add the SSD. You'll want one considering you are getting a small blue drive.

I agree however that the 980 is kind of a bad buy. Drop down to the 970 and save a lot of money. Enough to get the better monitor AND an SSD. I would say or toss the extra money into the 980TI, but at 1080 that's a bad move.

Eximo · Jun 9, 2015

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($124.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Fury White Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($67.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card ($486.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Zalman Z3 Plus White ATX Mid Tower Case ($61.47 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($83.86 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer G257HU smidpx 60Hz 25.0" Monitor ($249.30 @ Newegg)
Total: $1493.53
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-09 09:40 EDT-0400

Archaic59 · Jun 9, 2015

Maximum performance for your budget.
-GTX 980 Ti
-144Hz. monitor

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.50 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($95.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($59.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Superclocked+ ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($679.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Wireless Network Adapter: TRENDnet TEW-805UB 802.11a/b/g/n/ac USB 3.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($22.94 @ Amazon)
Monitor: AOC G2460PQU 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($249.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1508.26
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-09 09:38 EDT-0400

utgotye · Jun 9, 2015

Needs an SSD at least for a system drive though I have on dedicated to games as well.

PSU needs more beef unless you don't plan on making any upgrades. Figure that rig will probably draw in the 420W range at minimum.

4745454b · Jun 9, 2015

I'd move Archaic's monitor into Eximo's build. I like the SSDs and the better cooler.

Eximo · Jun 9, 2015

Yeah I filtered by 2560x1440 to give something for the GPU to do. 144Hz @ 1920x1080 works just as well though, but isn't an IPS screen, so 'productivity' may slip a little if the OP is after color reproduction.

guanyu210379 · Jun 9, 2015

*important*
The best buys are only GTX970 (get 2 GTX970s if you want) and GTX980Ti.
You are wasting your money for a normal GTX980.

4745454b · Jun 9, 2015

Odd, as yours shows as a 60Hz 1080 25" monitor. Is it 60 or 144? If spending $250, I'd rather get the 1440 monitor.

JOSHBLY · Jun 9, 2015

The issue is, I plan to SLI my 970/980

4745454b · Jun 9, 2015

In that case make sure your board supports SLI. Not all of them do. And get a 750W now.

And if you are planning SLI, I still suggest a bigger monitor. There might be one random game here or there that the 980 can't max out at 1080. So unless you are going bigger you don't need SLI.

Eximo · Jun 9, 2015

Agreed, if you plan to SLI, then 750 or 850W is a more comfortable margin. 650W can do it with a pair of 980, but then you are getting above 80% load which will increase PSU fan noise.

980 SLI can comfortably handle 4K with slightly older games. Latest and greatest games still have decent minimum frame rates. A single 980Ti isn't half bad either.

I myself am looking into 2560x1440 at 144hz, but that is basically half your budget at this point.

There is some merit to picking up that cheap 1920x1080 monitor and waiting to see what the manufacturer's pull off over the next few months.

JOSHBLY · Jun 9, 2015

This is updated

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/HTgDVn

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.45 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-E ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($101.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Superclocked+ ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($679.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($15.79 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Acer GN246HL 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($225.83 @ Amazon)
Other: Zip Ties ($6.10)
Other: Anti Static Mat ($17.39)
Other: Kit ($21.99)
Total: $1613.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-09 11:19 EDT-0400

4745454b · Jun 9, 2015

Good if you can swing it. I think I'd still like to see an SSD in there.

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