$4000 Budget: Build me the most amazing P.C. for the money!!!

You could do something like triple 1080p IPS panels with three water-cooled Radeon 7950s and a water-cooled i7 with excellent SSDs such as a 512GB Vertex 4 or Plextor MS5 and otherwise excellent components such as a great case and PSU.

However, value has a huge drop-off around the $1500-2000 range for the computer itself and around $2500-3000 including peripherals, displays, and Windows. At that point, gaming performance doesn't increase greatly for the money spent and any other money spent can only go to stuff such as the storage, quality of other components, and cooling.

FYI, there might be huge debates from some of the members here about what to do with such a budget.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ji01
You might like this build. It just needs a good custom water cooling setup and peripherals and I think that that should fit well within your $4K budget. I oriented it around high value without sacrificing anywhere and I think that I succeeded in that, but I'm not very experienced with extremely high budget builds.

Three good Dell U2312HM 23.0" IPS and LED 1080p displays for some great Eyefinity action.

i7-2700K, generally the best performing CPU for gaming when overclocked (the i3-3770K is right behind it and slightly more power efficient, but this is about performance, not saving like $1.50 a year on power consumption).

Three Sapphire Radeon 7950 11196-02-40G models, one of the best 7950s, especially for the money, in Three-Way Crossfire. These 7950s are excellent overclocking cards and can generally compete with most 7970s very well in max overclock performance.

G.Skill RipJaws X (2x8GB) DDR3-1866 10-11-10-30 dual-channel system RAM kit. It's a little over the top, but there's no reason to hold back when it's this cheap to get such a great memory kit.

I would wait for the new Samsung 840 Pro, which should be out in a few weeks.

Are you going for a multi monitor config? Which brand of graphics cards do you prefer? Nvidia cards have adaptive v-sync and PhysX. AMD cards have more memory.

I'd go with Nvidia for the PhysX, although I've heard there's some way you can use PhysX with AMD cards, but you have to be running Crossfire.

Anyone know whether a triple GTX 670 config would be worth it?

Good luck with your build!

Forgot to mention I want it to be a gaming desktop but you two seem to have caught on! Love the suggestions so far.

I was hoping Nvidia. Triple monitors are not a must but would be nice.

Also a good piece of info would be that although I have build experience, I do not feel comfortable with a custom loop and would highly prefer air or self contained liquid (h100).

Alright:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ji25

That's one of the best CPU coolers in terms of both cooling and noise despite having an excellent price.

I can understand going down to an i5-3570K because that's really not a substantial drop, the same is true for the memory, and a Blu-Ray drive such as in my build is wasteful if OP doesn't use Blu-Ray, but why would you get slower hard drives (current gen Backs aren't as fast as current gen Blues from WD because they're too lazy to update the Black lline with modern platters, but they might be more reliable), less SSD storage (especially in such an odd 128GB+256GB way), less graphics performance (at a higher cost too), an inferior display setup, and an operating system that doesn't support further memory upgrades?

i would still get an i5 3570k even if your budget is this high lol i would do something along the lines of this though

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ji7g

and i would also add an XFX monitor stand to save some space on your desk
http://www.amazon.com/XFX-FXTRISTANDX-Triple-Display-Mo...

The SSD i messed up meant to get two 256gb and i just prefer the blacks call me old school i guess never did have any bad luck with them so that's why i picked them as for crossfire or sli that's more than enough unless hes going to be gaming on three monitors 2560x1600 and up two 680 two 7970 is more then enough and with either sli /cf it's possible OP will have certain issues really it more a matter of what one prefers imo.  

I believe that the scaling dropps off pretty severely after two 670s. I am no expert but that seems to be the general consensus. However, with $4000, one need not worry about silly things like cost. It will definitely be faster than two way 670 SLI.

Also, OP you should at least consider going with AMD -- their prices have dropped significantly and the new 7970 is considered by many to be the fastest card for the money at this time. I have never owned an AMD/ATI card, so this is just based on other people's knowledge.

Honestly OP if you actually were going to do something crazy and impractical like quad-SLI,3 way crossfire 7970, that's just a dumb choice imo two cards is more than enough plus less noise and lower temps since you could leave space between the cards.

Understood. The blacks definitely used to be superior, but the Blues took over because Western Digital, for whatever reason, has kinda dismissed the Blacks. They haven't updated them properly in too long.

It's not just a matter of who prefers what company (AMD or Nvidia). The GTX 680 is not really any better than the GTX 670s and the same is true for the majority of 7970s and 7950s when overclocking is concerned.

Two ASUS 680 TOP or two SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100351VXSR Radeon HD 7970 GHz are more than enough trust me.

If he plans to overclock and game on three monitors i would agree 7970 is the way to go otherwise i see petty reasons why one would be a better overall choice over the other but maybe i am wrong i just don't believe in future proofing i can't see into the future so for me there is no such thing as future proofing

I wasn't saying that OP must go AMD, I was saying that getting 680s instead of 670s seems wasteful.

Well i would half to agree i didn't realize that you could get the SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100351VXSR Radeon HD 7970 GHz for that much cheaper then the 680 Top   OP get the Vapor-X my cousin has two they overclock like beast i would recommend two of those if you can find them the 3gb models not the 6gb it's not worth it's price yet imo.  

why a 7870 oc i see what you mean but at least a 7970 ghz...
here is my build(with monitors[3] and the cockpit[800])

Case(250)
http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Level-Edition-Gaming-...

Cpu(230)
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i5-3570K-Quad-Core-Pro...
you only need a i5 but if you still want a i7(283)


HDD(166)
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Internal-D...

SSD(186)
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Solid-State-Drive-SATA-2-5-...

GPU(449.99[x2])
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM(145)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

MOBO(379)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

PSU(188)
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Professional-750-Watt-Cer...

Total(3570k)(2x7970)
$2440

Monitors(x3)(200 each)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Cockpit(800)also note im just over exagerating to compinsate for the shipping cost

Total(monitor/cockpit)
1400

TOTAL
$3840

That still leaves 200 for a nice sound system or headset

I just posted this in the other thread but wy not here

the vapor x is NEVER in stock im tryin to get it myself and i have been waiting two weeks

ugh sorry for the dead links go to your other page to see them before i update them

note got them updated

lol no not a 7870 i meant on OP budget to get either two asus 680 tops or two 7970 GHz allot have coil wine though i i understand it does not hinder the performance i still can't stand that and i doubt op wants a card that screams lol my cousins SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 7970ghz don't suffer from that problem.

No need to get 1600 Mhz RAM when you can get 2400 for pretty cheap.

8GB = $75

16GB = $155

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

FYI, the Obutto, if that's what you are talking about, is actually $900 after shipping. Also I would get the acrylic side tables, which adds another $140, so it's $1030 after all that. And then add another $150 for triple monitor mount, for a grand total of $1180.

That's about twice as expensive per GB and the performance advantage in gaming is minimal.

Well then you won't get the strongest system. The 7970 GHz IS the strongest overall graphics card (Especially at high resolutions). Not only that, but crossfire has better scaling.

I am not saying AMD should be the only thing you should consider, but neither should nvidia!

DO NOT GET A GTX 680!!! The strongest 670 is stronger than the strongest 680. GET A 670 IF YOU MUST GO NVIDIA!!!!!

Actually, they're pretty much identical. The difference is mostly just that the 670 is cheaper and uses less power.

the one i recommended was 2400  

Here you want a monster rig just add monitors and your choice of video cards and this rasa kit http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14182/ex-wat-181/XSPC...
MOBO - Z77 ASUS Maximus V EXTREME
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CPU - Intel Core i5-3570K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM - $90 - (2 x 8GB) Muskin Blackline DDR3 1600 CAS 7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

SSD - $170 - Mushkin Chronos Deluxe 240 GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

DVD Writer - $70 - Asus Model BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

HD - $150 - Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Case - $275 - Corsair Obsidian Series 800D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

ok... well we can get 1600mhz ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
do you already have speakers or should we take out somthing else(i have the same type of monitor for cheaper just smaller at lik 21.5 inchs[which at 3 times is pretty god  ])

LOL!When somebody is spending 4,000 on a rig the $100 difference no longer applies between the 680 vs 670 allot are pretty confused i suppose you are going by what bench marks your looking at however the 680 is about 8% better than a 670 and with a 680 such as the Asus Top there are ways i can't speak of to make they card a serious monster i recommend the OP get x2 7970 GHz though for this build.

The 680 is generally a little less than 8% faster in current tests, especially in very memory-bandwidth heavy situations such as gaming at a high resolution and/or with extensive MSAA/CSAA. The difference is minimal for OP unless OP goes for a single 1080p display in which case going beyond a single 670 or 680 is difficult to make a performance difference anyway.

I guess my point is when somebody is spending this kind of money on a rig they should get the very best and right now that is for AMD 7970/7970GHz NV 680/690

there is a 7990 that is a nice card... I like the vapor-x but it is 600 for one and why not just get the 7990 then, but the ones i recommended(gigabyte) are good i have one on they way right now and they should easily be able to support hte 3 screens with no issues.

OP- OK so to make it fit here is the other monitor I was talking about
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
even though its smaller it will save you 135 dollars plus the money save from the ram should make the budget even out

Just go with 7970 xfire and be done with it. Overclock the hell out of them!

Get one GTX 690 or two 7970GHZ Vapor X 7970GHZ version only!!

yeah... but like i said either he wait FOREVER or he just gets the 600 dollar version

I've seen then go down to $450 every two weeks. Besides, the Gigabyte WindForce 7970 GHz edition is almost as good (although I've been told that it supposedly has a higher chance of coil whine) in both temps, noise, and performance.

what do you mean goes down every two weeks... its 460 on newegg but they have like 1 or 2 in stock every one to two weeks.... you can also get the one on amazon for 500 but im just saying

+1 Gigabyte WindForce 7970 GHz A.K.A. "The Annoying Rattle Snake "!  
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=w...

Loving the replies so far guys! You have really helped me choose a lot!

However I am in a very tight scenario future wise. After I buy this I will not be able to upgrade for at least four years. I mean not a single penny! It is for this reason and the fact that I love uber eye candy and good frame rates miles more than I do moderately better color quality and a much larger viewing angle that I am highly considering the purchase of 3 gtx 670 galaxy 4gb factory overclocked gpu's and a single 1080p 120hz 2ms response time monitor. This should allow me to play even the absolutely most demanding games with the best texture mods and enb's for the entire four to five years I will need to wait before upgrading I think. I realize that one: the third gpu is hardly necessary when gaming on a 30 inch ultra resolution ips and that on my 1080p tn I will likely be waiting a few years before the third 670 even makes any difference (as it is highly unlikely any games, even with the most demanding mods enabled, would be able to bring this system to below 80fps or so when I have three of these in sli on such a low resolution for the horsepower, correct? I know it is impossible to predict the future but would I be wrong in assuming this? It is extremely unlikely that any games will be able to keep me below 80fps on max settings with most demanding mods for four to five years if i have 3 670 oc 4gb cards on a 1080 screen, right?

Im not sure it will last you but im not sure if not below 80... at the end of the 4-5 years it will probably be like 30

Do you think it would be better to pay $4000 for a system now that will last and be able to run all games at max settings with the most demanding mods at 1080p 120hz for the next five years or do you think it would be better to spend about $2500 now and have $500 to spend on upgrades each year. Which do you think would better achieve the desired outcome of being able to play all games at max settings uber eye candy all the way with the most demanding textures enbs and other mods installed while maintaining a minimum of 60 fps on a 1080p screen, for the next four to five years (it still has to end up costing a total of $4000 by the end of those four to five years keep in mind). Like I said previously that would leave about $400 to $500 a year to upgrade, which could be used in two years to buy the next gen 700 series nvidia cards and maybe even put two in sli.

If your going to run three cards i would suggest you get this mobo for that http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

that was the one i recommended    

hmm... yeah i see what you mean yeah i think so, I mean by this is you can get crossfire 7970ghz or 670 and then in two years(they can last two years no problem) crossfire or sli the newest brand and then that theoretically should last you 3 years... also you have to compensate for dead parts so try to get extended warranties on all your parts

Might as well not get the third card now if you want three, but get it later when it is both cheaper and matters more IMO.

WOW I cannot believe I forgot about that thank you luciferno XD

You're welcome.