New Gaming Build - need your critique and answers to some querries

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photodave

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Almost ready to build my gaming system (Ark, GTA V, etc) and looking for your critique as well as to answer a few questions.


http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/ytnXRG


While I know an I5 CPU is adequate, I do multitask at times and would feel better with an I7 CPU

Not planning on aggressive over clocking, but planning on doing some modest over clocking in a couple of years if and when needed.

I had planned on Asus Strix, but decided on a smaller sized GPU so that it can be migrated to other systems that might have a smaller case in the future.

I am a bit confused with the Asus Hero VIII, as I see another Asus Hero VIII (Whetstone - NOT ALPHA) but apart from the price and number of "eggs" I am not sure what the difference is. I am not committed to this motherboard, and it might be over kill, so I would appreciate your advice regarding my motherboard. Ease of use and reliability are most important.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132855&cm_re=asus_hero_8-_-13-132-855-_-Product

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132565&cm_re=asus_hero_8-_-13-132-565-_-Product


RAM Memory is another area I am eager to have your advice and guidance on, particularly its speed, etc.

M.2 is dropping in price, but I stuck with the older SSD as I am not sure if the M.2 is mature enough or warrants the price. But I am open to your thoughts.

I did add an extra front case fan for the Define R5, and I think that is the appropriate fan.

I do want a good and reliable power supply, and I do not plan on doing SLI, so your input again is appreciated.

Lastly, I do want to add a Hard Drive Sled, for going through old HDs as well as for easy back ups, but I do not know which is a good one and I simply chose one at random. Any thoughts?

Thanking you all in advance for your input, and hope your answers help not only myself, but others as well.

Dave

 
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CTurbo
I am also seeing a lot of wasted money in your build. What monitor will you be using?

I recommend these changes for better bang for buck.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($438.95 @ Vuugo)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($58.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Asus Z170-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($203.75 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($97.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Crucial MX300 525GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($155.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive...
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logainofhades

logainofhades

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First off, you will want a better cooler. The 212 isn't going to cut it, for an i7 overclocking build. Overpriced motherboard, as you are not going for aggressive overclocking, as you put it. Those WD blacks are also overpriced. 10 pro isn't necessary for a gaming rig. You are overspending so much, in unnecessary areas, that you can literally come up with enough to switch to a GTX 1080.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($438.94 @ Vuugo)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 67.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($64.77 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($183.50 @ DirectCanada)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($110.74 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Sandisk X400 512GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($179.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar NAS 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($189.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($839.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($134.98 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($164.99 @ Memory Express)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0 DVD/CD Writer ($18.85 @ Vuugo)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home Full - USB 32/64-bit ($133.99 @ PC Canada)
Case Fan: Fractal Design GP14-BK 68.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($13.60 @ Amazon Canada)
Other: AMS DS-116TL 3.5" Tray-less SATA Removable Rack for HDD
Total: $2474.33
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-09-30 16:31 EDT-0400
 
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photodave

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Thank you Logainofhades for your reply.

I went for Win 10 Pro because at present our home computers migrated from Win 7 Pro to Win 10 Pro, and I was under the impression I needed Pro to keep them networked.

I did feel the motherboard was more than I needed and will take a closer look at the one you suggested.

I was wondering if I should go with M.2 or if it was still too early/pricey. And you would prefer Sandisk over Samsung?

And for memory speed? Stick with 3000?

Thank you again for your commands, they are very helpful.

Dave
 
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amtseung

amtseung

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They Hyper212 is perfectly adequate for mild overclocking on any i7, going as far back as the old Bloomfield processors. It won't be adequate for heavy overclocking, but for a mild overclock on stock voltages, it'll be fine. I would still pick the Cryorig H7 over the Hyper212, since it has better case fitment and performance for the same price.

Samsung SSD's are far superior to Sandisk SSD's. The only dead SSD I have ever had out of over a dozen was, unfortunately, a Sandisk.

As you noted, OP, an i5 is adequate for a lot of things. Will the i7 make it better? Yes, of course, multitasking and streaming will be better. Is it worth the extra $100+ for that performance? I wouldn't think so, but the choice is yours. I'm not paying for it.

Similar story for M.2 drives. Is the speed performance worth the massive price premium over a SATAIII SSD? From a budget perspective, hell no. If you want an M.2 drive, I'd wait until their pricing hits rock bottom.

Check the PSU tier list for what the community considers a "good reliable hard drive". I apparently get flak for considering otherwise, so I'll keep mostly out of this one.

RAM is usually a case of getting the fastest and the largest capacity for whatever your budget is. Brand tends to not matter, especially with DDR4, as long as the brand is reputable. Brand loyalists will say otherwise.
 
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dbratton54

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I recently paired that very same DDR4 kit with a 6600K on a Gigabyte z170x Gaming 5 mobo and have had not one issue. A 6700k will work with it just fine. Just remember that the mobo will not see that RAM speed until you go into bios and turn on xms. I did not think it was worth the dollars to go for any faster RAM in a Skylake build.

An M.2 drive is going to spec out much faster than an SSD. Is it going to translate into faster real world performance? Yes, but probably not as much as the specs will make you think. Is the difference worth the money? Well, that is not my call to make for you. For me and how I use my PC, it isn't. You may feel like I do that the prices will come down to a point where I will get one for a boot drive without paying a premium.
 
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photodave

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Thank you amtseung and dbratton54,

I too feel more comfortable with Samsung over Sandisk, and also feel that M.2 will be great in a couple of years but not at present (unless the speed and size are really needed).

And thank you for pointing out that I will need to get the bios to recognize the speed of the memory sticks.

I am struggling now deciding on the MOBO.

Looking at the Gigabyte Gaming 3 several reviewers said they would have preferred the Gaming 5 or 7, but then that is moving back towards the price range of the Asus Hero 8.

Reliability and ease of use is important for me, and I am curious of your thoughts on these motherboard choices.

And for PSU? I had thought 750 would be adequate but logainofhades suggested 850. Your thoughts?

Thank you all once again.

Dave
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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The bad thing right now with the M2 drives is the cost. They won't offer anything in terms of how your build performs other than boot times. Is it worth the premium over a regular SSD? That entirely depends on what you want to get out of that drive.

Looking at the Gigabyte Gaming 3 several reviewers said they would have preferred the Gaming 5 or 7, but then that is moving back towards the price range of the Asus Hero 8.
Click to expand...

Do not - and I repeat - do not base your motherboard purchase off store reviews. It's a classic rookie mistake to buy everything based on what the highest rated product in that category is. They are pretty much worthless in terms of what you will ultimately decide. Half the time the number of negative reviews usually either have nothing to do with the product but bad refunds or complaints about UPS. The other half usually come from some wanker who didn't read the instructions prior to installation. If you base your opinions off the store reviews, you will never be satisfied with anything you buy. Also inexplicably - lots of junk gets highly rated while good products are overlooked because of a few bad reviews. Keep that in mind as well.

And for PSU? I had thought 750 would be adequate but logainofhades suggested 850. Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

Depends on the number of GPUs you plan to run. For a single you actually really don't need more than 550W. For two an 850W is the appropriate wattage. But on PSUs quality matters more than quantity.
 
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CTurbo

CTurbo

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I am also seeing a lot of wasted money in your build. What monitor will you be using?

I recommend these changes for better bang for buck.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($438.95 @ Vuugo)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($58.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Asus Z170-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($203.75 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($97.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Crucial MX300 525GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($155.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($92.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($92.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB SC GAMING Video Card ($554.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($134.98 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($98.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($23.75 @ Vuugo)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit ($177.00 @ shopRBC)
Case Fan: Fractal Design GP14-BK 68.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($13.60 @ Amazon Canada)
Other: AMS DS-116TL 3.5" Tray-less SATA Removable Rack for HDD
Total: $2144.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-10-01 14:41 EDT-0400



I don't understand the hype for M.2 ssds in desktops. It STILL occupies 1 and sometimes 2 sata ports anyway.
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Here's a build I would suggest:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($328.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H5 Universal 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z170 Extreme6+ ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($184.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill TridentZ Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 950 PRO 256GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($186.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB FTW Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card ($679.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Phanteks ECLIPSE P400S ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($122.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1785.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-10-01 15:56 EDT-0400
 
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CTurbo

CTurbo

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Aug 27, 2013
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Here's a build I would suggest:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($328.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H5 Universal 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z170 Extreme6+ ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($184.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill TridentZ Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 950 PRO 256GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($186.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB FTW Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card ($679.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Phanteks ECLIPSE P400S ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($122.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1785.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-10-01 15:56 EDT-0400
Click to expand...



US vendors?
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Duh. :lol:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($438.95 @ Vuugo)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H5 Universal 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler
Motherboard: ASRock Z170 Extreme6+ ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($276.00 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill TridentZ Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($134.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Samsung 950 PRO 256GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($229.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB FTW Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card ($904.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Phanteks ECLIPSE P400S ATX Mid Tower Case ($98.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($164.99 @ Memory Express)
Total: $2308.89
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-10-01 16:08 EDT-0400
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Only the SATA-0 port. It doesn't disable any of the other SATA ports but the M2 should be your primary boot drive anyways.
 
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logainofhades

logainofhades

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Yea it depends on motherboard, and M.2 type. On the Gigabyte B150M-DS3H, for instance, a sata based one will disable port 0. A PCI-E based one disables none of them, according to their manual. I just used the board, for a build, last night. My GA-H170-D3HP is the same way.
 
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