New Build - Flexible Budget - Longevity & Power

viceversa · Oct 8, 2015

Hello,

this will be my second new build PC i will do on the Toms Hardware forums since 2009 and i've been very happy with the previous build that i received great advice on.

My previous PC, which i am still using, has remained unchanged since September 2009, except a SSD upgrade which i received help for on these forums as well, and i feel with the release of Skywell that now is the time to upgrade from my Bloomfield i7.

With my new build i am aiming for something that will last me 3-4 years where gaming is concerned. One minor points are noise levels which over the years has become more important to me. Rattling and vibrations of the Coolermaster HAF i've been using has become an issue and i'd like to fix that with my next build.

Another thing is about timing of parts, new technology is always coming out or is around the corner so waiting at times for parts might be a wiser choice in the long run. I am not up to date on the current releases of newer technology parts so if you see something that might be best to wait on feel free to mention that as well.

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PCPartPicker part list - (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hnFbMp) /
Price breakdown by merchant - (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hnFbMp/by_merchant/)

Already Own:

**Monitor** | [Dell U2713HM 60Hz 27.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/dell-monitor-u2713hm)

**Storage** | [Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7td120bw)

Buy List:

**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80662i56600k) | $248.95 @ B&H

**CPU Cooler** | [Corsair H55 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-cpu-cooler-h55) | $49.99 @ Newegg

**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-Z170X-UD5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz170xud5) | $181.98 @ Newegg

**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmk16gx4m2a2400c14r) | $104.99 @ Newegg

**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st3000dm001) | $89.99 @ Newegg

**Video Card** | [EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Superclocked+ ACX 2.0+ Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-06gp44995kr) | $668.99 @ NCIX US

**Case** | [Fractal Design Define XL R2 (Black Pearl) ATX Full Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefxlr2bl) | $124.99 @ NCIX US

**Power Supply** | [Cooler Master 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-power-supply-rs650amaab1us) | $68.99 @ NCIX US

| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $1543.87
| Mail-in rebates | -$20.00
| Total: $1523.87

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Still unsure as to the MOBO, RAM, and Case other possibilities i found were:

ASUS Z170-A:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132566&cm_re=ASUS_Z170-A_LGA_1151_Intel_Z170_HDMI_SATA_6Gb%2fs_USB_3.1_USB_3.0_ATX_Intel_Motherboard-_-13-132-566-_-Product

MSI Z170A KRAIT GAMING:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130868&cm_re=MSI_Z170A_KRAIT_GAMING_LGA_1151_Intel_Z170_HDMI_SATA_6Gb%2fs_USB_3.1_ATX_Intel_Motherboard-_-13-130-868-_-Product

ASRock Z170 Extreme6+:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157630&cm_re=ASRock_Z170_Extreme6%2b_LGA_1151_Intel_Z170_HDMI_SATA_6Gb%2fs_USB_3.1_USB_3.0_ATX_Intel_Motherboard-_-13-157-630-_-Product

Thanks again for looking at my thread and helping out.

bliq · Oct 8, 2015

I'm curious as to why you want to use a full tower case when the parts you've selected would easily fit in a midtower? You seem to tend to not do many modifications mid cycle. full towers are great for having lots of drives or large water cooling radiators, neither which you have. I wonder if a good mid tower would save you money for use elsewhere and still give you what you want (plus save a little room to boot). BTW, "Because I want to" is a perfectly valid answer.

bliq · Oct 8, 2015

also, given that gaming is your goal, consider stepping up to a larger SSD to hold your games. on my son's PC, I actually "mounted" in windows, a 256GB SSD as c:\program files(x86)\steam so all his games live on a different volume than the rest of his OS.

That 256GB SSD was not one of the top tier ones but it was on sale for $69. There are many options at the $89 mark.

Or even just stepping up to a 480/500/512GB SSD for as little as $160-180 is an option and putting your OS and all your games on a single volume (which is what I did).

jimmysmitty · Oct 8, 2015

If you want the system to last 3-4 years I would suggest at least going with a bit better GPU. The one you have chosen is good but I would get one with a better cooler so you have some overclocking headroom such as the Asus GTX980Ti Strix:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-strixgtx980tidc36gd5gaming

It is a bit cheaper and clocked higher stock with lots of overclocking headroom (most reviews get it to 1300MHz base with 1400MHz boost clocks).

Also I would up the PSU quality, that one is not the best. I would do either the EVGA G2:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20650y1

The CPU cooler is OK but if you plan to overclock I would highly suggest a H80i or H100i instead for more headroom.

The board is personal choice. I prefer Asus others prefer Gigabyte.

bliq · Oct 8, 2015

Jimmy poses another question- overclocking. I don't do it because I don't like the additional heat it causes which inevitably creates noise as your cooling has to dissipate it. (Plus I run a mini-itx box so heat is definitely the enemy when searching for a quieter environment).

Do you plan to do it or not. If not, then overclocking headroom isn't worth paying extra for.

BTW, I agree that cooler master doesn't have the best reputation for PSUs. They're mostly fine but there are better units for similar price. I'd personally look for a 80 Plus Gold cert or higher because to meet those limits essentially requires good features.

viceversa · Oct 8, 2015

I like the room in a Full ATX mid is too small i feel.

I don't OC my GPU or RAM only the CPU nothing extreme.

The PSU i currently have is:
TX Series CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139088&cm_re=tx_750w-_-17-139-088-_-Product

wasn't sure if it would be ok as it's also from that 2009 build.

When it comes to GPU i've always enjoyed the ATI cards i've bought, 9800 and HD5850. So when i was looking for cards i was disappointed that Nvidia seems to be the only choice. Are there any new cards on the horizon i should wait for or would you still recommend the Asus GTX980Ti Strix. I don't plan to SLI / XFire.

THanks for the responses.

okcnaline · Oct 8, 2015

Don't go Skylake. There isn't enough performance increase over Haswell to warrant for a Skylake processor (Broadwell's better, that's what I'm saying). Especially the i5, since there isn't much of a difference between the i5 CPUs from Haswell up. And a Haswell platform can still last quite a while on 1080P, as far as I care. It's plenty of performance, and doesn't bottleneck a GTX 970.

jimmysmitty · Oct 8, 2015

viceversa :

While that PSU should be fine for what you are doing, the TX series was a good series from Corsair, it is a bit older and I would go with a new PSU just to get the warranty. The one I linked is a good PSU or if you want a Corsair the AX760 is a great one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139042

I have a AX860i and it does what I need it to.

There is nothing new from either side until at least Q2 2016, nVidias Pascal should land, but I am not sure it would be worth waiting over half a year for what could be a good boost or not so good boost. AMD also has their Greenland chips planned for next year but I think theirs are coming later than Q2.

Right now AMD has Fury X which competes with the GTX 980Ti but is only available with the CLC and there have been a few issues with the pump (noise) that people complain about plus it is limited in clock speed.

The Asus Strix GTX 980Ti is one of the fastest clocked 980Tis and as well is quiet up to 60c when the fans will kick in finally. I also loved ATI and have bought Radeons from 2002 till today (Had a 9700Pro, 9800XT, X850XT PE, HD2900Pro 1GB, HD4870, HD5870 and HD7970GHz). But I finally decided to buy a GeForce and I don't regret it.

okcnaline, why would he go to a older end of life platform? Broadwell is not better than Skylake and you can't even get Broadwell desktop CPUs. For what he wants to do a Skylake platform would be better since it includes more newer technologies in it, such as the PCIe lanes for the Southbridge are PCIe 3.0 where as Haswell and Broadwells PCIe lanes on the Southbridge are PCIe 2.0. As well he will be able to upgrade to Kaby Lake or Cannon Lake when they come out or even go to a M.2 SSD etc.

Skylake is the best option for an Intel build right now.

okcnaline · Oct 8, 2015

jimmysmitty :

xDDD
What are you tripping on?! There are 2 Broadwell CPUs out right now. Yes, it's actually in stock.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117553 - Intel Core i7-5775C
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117554 - Intel Core i5-5675C

And also, as for the part where Broadwell's not better than Skylake, here ya go:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/9483/intel-skylake-review-6700k-6600k-ddr4-ddr3-ipc-6th-generation/16

Skylake garnered less FPS than Broadwell.

jimmysmitty · Oct 8, 2015

okcnaline :

Finally in stock.

And look at the review again. The difference is within 1-2FPS in the majority of games and they go back and forth. We call that margin of error.

I would still pick Skylake over Broadwell. Broadwell is on a EoL platform and will not receive any further CPUs.

okcnaline · Oct 8, 2015

Eh...
1) I have a few other tricks up my sleeve. Wanna see them?
Power consumption when performing is better.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/skylake-intel-core-i7-6700k-core-i5-6600k,4252-11.html

2) Your last part is true. It's such an unfortunate thing Broadwell's EOL. The Iris Pro Graphics has a great potential.

jimmysmitty · Oct 8, 2015

okcnaline :

1. The 6600K and 6700K have higher stock clocks than the 5675C and 5775C. That is why the power consumption is higher.

2. For a person who plans to get a GTX 980Ti, Iris Pro is pointless. There still is a chance for a Skylake Iris Pro, which due to more EUs would kill Broadwells Iris Pro, but again these chips are meant for enthusiasts who buy discrete GPUs.

viceversa · Oct 9, 2015

Good call on the new PSU for the warranty.

Yeah i don't think i'll wait that long i'd rather buy now than wait for Q2 2016 for something that might not be that big an upgrade over the 980.

Any opinion on the RAM?

Thanks for the help jimmy you've been very helpful.

jimmysmitty · Oct 9, 2015

I personally like Corsair RAM. Have been using their RAM since 2002 with their Corsair XMS series and every build since then. Never have problems and tend to get great results if I try to overclock it. I would say the RAM you have chosen is good for your build.

viceversa · Oct 13, 2015

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/q2kmsY
is the final build i went with, thanks for all the help everyone.

jimmysmitty · Oct 13, 2015

Should be a sweet build. Let us know after how it handles. I am sure you will enjoy it.

okcnaline · Oct 13, 2015

Eh... I still don't recommend Skylake. But whatever floats your boat, and I think it'll do pretty good in games. Good luck!

New Build - Flexible Budget - Longevity & Power

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