Building a Workstation/Gaming Rig

brianlsj · Oct 19, 2016

Hello everyone,

I'm looking to put together a rig both for gaming and using stuff like Unreal Engine. I know it won't be cheap, and while I'm not afraid of shelling out cash for quality, I don't want to break the bank. I'm currently thinking that something around $2000-$2500 is reasonable, but I haven't gone the route of making a workstation before so I'm not sure how much more costly than a gaming rig this will be.

Could I get some recommendations for this build, and some advice on what's a reasonable cost I should be willing to pay for a good rig?

Thanks a lot!
~Brian

n0ns3ns3 · Oct 19, 2016

You can have:
* decent gaming rig for ~1000$
* good gaming rig for ~1300$
* excellent gaming rig ~1800$
that does not include OS/Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse and other peripherals.
You should be more clear about what you intend to do with you rig and what games you want to play on what monitor (resolution/refresh rate) so the build could be configured without wasting.
Generally, you should spend whatever you can comfortably afford.

brianlsj · Oct 20, 2016

Thanks for the response.

I already have a mouse and keyboard, but since I'm building a new machine I expect I'll have to shell out money for Windows 10 since my current licence can't be transferred to a new machine (correct me if I'm wrong).

For my monitor, I'm currently using a ASUS ROG Swift P278Q. While I don't have plans to upgrade my monitor, I am considering getting a VR headset in the future, so I'd like for my rig to be able to manage it comfortably if I do decide to get one.

I intend to make use of UE4 to produce short animations, and on the gaming side I'd like it to be capable of running graphics-intensive games like Battlefront and Witcher 3 at the max resolution and FPS that my monitor can support.

n0ns3ns3 · Oct 20, 2016

Here is the what I'd recommend for your purposes and monitor (which is great):

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($324.95 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VIII RANGER ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($182.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LED 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($99.99 @ Best Buy)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($157.30 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 950 PRO 512GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($314.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB Superclocked Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card ($644.99 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair RMx 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1905.18

The storage only includes 512GB SSD (you can add whatever capacity you need with mechanical drives).
If you are not buying today, it would be better to pick the 960 PRO that should appear in stores any day.
Samsung SSD 960 PRO 1TB - MZ-V6P1T0BW costs 629 USD
Samsung SSD 960 PRO 512GB - MZ-V6P2T0BW costs 329 USD

There is also no CPU cooler, if you want quite system at low temps:
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-xlc-predator-240
If you want to go air, pick one of the noctua's cooler like https://pcpartpicker.com/product/DMjG3C/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhu14s
Be careful with large air coolers as they may interfere with RAM sticks or even GPU due to the size. Smaller ones can be loud or/and ineffective.

I didn't try to make it as cheap as possible, but reasonably priced system with excellent performance and good quality components.

King Dranzer · Oct 20, 2016

Here is the build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6800K 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor ($439.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus ROG STRIX X99 GAMING ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($306.13 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($154.14 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial MX300 525GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: NVIDIA Titan X (Pascal) 12GB Video Card ($1200.00)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV ATX Mid Tower Case ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair RMx 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2619.72
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-10-20 06:53 EDT-0400

This build will you help a lot with Unreal Engine and also be useful in gaming. Why not go for GTX1080 instead of TITAN X PASCAL. Because TITAN X PASCAL is meant for professional usage as well as gaming it gives you 25% gain over Single GTX1080 in professional work which is a great deal. GTX1080 SLI will scale better than TITAN X PASCAL but by a small margin 5-10% which is small. If you go for GTX1080 SLI then there will be no upgradability left but with TITAN X PASCAL you can add second TITAN X PSCAL down the lane. TITAN X PASCAL also outperforms GTX1080 by good margin.

There is a reason I went with that specific case. When you get second TITAN X PASCAL in future(if you get) then this case will be suitable for you to switch between SLI and Non-SLI mode by opening side panel. SLI for gaming and Non-SLI for professional work(SLI will slow work down).

That 525GB SSD is required as when crating games you will be working on huge chunks of data which will take up huge space on SSD it will become impractical to transfer required data from HDD to SSD when ever required.

bumeran9 · Oct 20, 2016

brianlsj :

Here is my setup. I think it is in our budget, and in future you can upgrade it even more.

http://PC part list

King Dranzer · Oct 20, 2016

bumeran9 :

The PSU is bad give him a Gold Rated PSU like EVGA G2 or Corsair RMx series.
That GPU is meaning less still it is okay.
But that motherboard I would recommend ASUS or Gigabyte motherboards over ASRock.
Rest is fine.

sadams04 · Oct 20, 2016

Overclock as you please. The board below includes WiFi...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6800K 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor ($428.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H5 Ultimate 76.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus X99-M WS Micro ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($263.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2800 Memory ($152.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX300 1.1TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($249.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($129.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 1080 8GB TURBO Video Card ($599.99 @ B&H)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $2012.69

King Dranzer · Oct 20, 2016

sadams04 :

Why did you go for Micro ATX build??
4 x 8GB limits Memory to 32GB no upgrade option left.
1TB SSD bit overkill but overkill is good.

brianlsj · Oct 21, 2016

Thanks for all the recommendations.

I live outside the US, and not all of the parts listed are available via Amazon for me. I did like the idea of going for a Titan X Pascal, but I'd have to jump through some hoops to ship one. Even if I did manage to get one, when I read up on it I was worried about thermal throttling, and I'm not confident enough to be able to put together my own cooling solution using DIY kits, so I've opted for a GTX1080.

Here are the parts I'm considering for my build, using your excellent suggestions and working with what I can easily ship.

CPU: Intel Core i7-6800K 3.4GHz 6-core Processor
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus X99-A USB 3.1
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory
Storage: Crucial MX300 1.1TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB Superclocked Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card
PSU: Corsair RMx 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Case: Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV ATX Mid Tower Case

I'm especially concerned about the Mobo/CPU/memory mix - to the best of my knowledge those components are compatible, but I'd appreciate a second opinion on that.

n0ns3ns3 · Oct 21, 2016

CLC like Corsair/NZXT/TT/Arctic are bad idea.
If you can't afford/get decent liquid cooling like EK Predator, Swiftech H220, Alphacoo Eisbaerl, than just stay on air.

King Dranzer · Oct 21, 2016

No need to get aftermarket cooler for TITAN X PASCAL as with stock cooler you can overclock it to 1.85-1.9GHz while maintaining temperatures in 75-80mark which should not cause thermal throttling. You only need aftermarket cooler to run it at 2.1GHz something like that. If possible get TITAN X PASCAL it is best suited for your work.

Where do you live.

brianlsj · Oct 21, 2016

I live in Singapore, and I guess there are some deals with retailers that stop Amazon from shipping some of these components.

I looked for one of the recommended coolers, but many of those aren't available over Amazon. I did take a look at tomshardware reviews, and I think I'll be settling on a NZXT Kraken X61 instead.

If thermal throttling isn't an issue with the stock cooler, then I'm ok with getting a Titan X Pascal. I'm still deciding if I should go through the trouble (and risk) of using a mail forwarding service, since I don't want it to be damaged on arrival.

Thanks for all the help, guys! If there are no issues with the CPU/Mobo combi I posted, I'm likely going to go for those components, pending my decision on a Titan vs 1080.

King Dranzer · Oct 21, 2016

Don't go for that motherboard it is an old gen motherboard go for ASUS X99-E or X99-A II

Search

Building a Workstation/Gaming Rig

brianlsj

Commendable

n0ns3ns3

n0ns3ns3

Illustrious

brianlsj

Commendable

n0ns3ns3

Illustrious

King Dranzer

Splendid

bumeran9

Commendable

King Dranzer

Splendid

sadams04

Splendid

King Dranzer

Splendid

brianlsj

Commendable

n0ns3ns3

Illustrious

King Dranzer

Splendid

brianlsj

Commendable

King Dranzer

Splendid

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page