Help - where to go above $2000?

[tinman12]

I'm a few days from "add-to-cart" on a new system build, and right at the rub of $2k. I just got an 11th hour cash injection that I can add to the build if I want to, so now I'm wondering??

2560x1440 single 27 display
24/7 running
Gaming/Digital editing/Remote support work
Not overclocking (maybe in ~1yr)
~4-5yr life-cycle before upgrading again
Intent is to keep gaming above 60FPS Ultra settings (FPS/MMO/RTS)
Do not want to go SLI (I've put a lot of thought into this for months and find the heat/noise/power/driver/complexity variables favor me staying with 1 maximum power card) Although the Warfighter demo I read was pushing 1.9xxGB video ram at max settings, so I am concerned that 2GB 690 is going to be a limiter in ~1yr vs SLI'ing 4GB 680's

Build List:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9Q-16GBZL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231497

Fractal Design Arc Midi Black High Performance PC Computer Case w/ USB 3.0 and 3 x Fractal High Performance 140mm fans
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352007

GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128545

EVGA 04G-P4-2690-KR GeForce GTX 690 4GB 512-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130781

SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151087

Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256B/WW 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147164

Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Thermal-Star Digital Gauge-Syle Thermometer (TM05)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6892/tmp-48/Thermal-Star_Digital_Gauge-Syle_Thermometer_TM05.html
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My thoughts:
Upgrade SSD to the 840 series for performance, or stay on 830 and go to up to 512 capacity

Move to Phantecks or silver arrow CPU cooler? Drop down to 212+/EVO to save $60 towards something else?

Add a 650Ti 1GB in for dedicated Phyx gaming offload?
Ref. Article: http://www.evga.com/FORUMS/tm.aspx?m=1768879&mpage=1&print=true

I originally wanted to go with the G1 3 Sniper board but it won't fit in the Arc Midi case (alternatives to Arc midi that don't look like a TONKA/Nerf toy?) Also there doesn't look to be enough gains to warrant the Sniper over the UD5h

Moving up to i7 doesn't get me much, and IB-E is out for while and I don't want to wait till '13 to build.

I would like to add/upgrade the Arc midi case fans, preferably in a 3-2 positive pressure or 3-3 neutral pressure config, I have to admit I'm having a heck of time finding good (sub $20) case fans that fit the Arc Midi that don't burnout/rattle/whine in ~1yr, or have staunch warnings about only being mounted vertically. Looked at scythe/cougar/thermalrights, but reviews say a no go on the midi without hacking chopping.

Also a recommendation on a fan controller (software or physical) so I can dial in the air pressure for the case?

Suggestions? Should I just pull the trigger on this build as is?

 

[excella1221]

Definitely upgrade to 512gb. The 830 is already fast as it is.

Drop down to 212 EVO. You can just skip on the cooler totally since you won't be OC-ing right away anyway. Just get it when you do.

This is the first I've heard of the Physx offload thing, so idk.

UD5H is more than enough for your needs, I believe.

Unless your editing is very heavy, the i5 would serve you just fine.

 

[boulbox]

i would get 2x 256GB 830s costs about 340 which is pretty dam low for 512GBs

if just staying with 1 card for 5 years, go with a very highend card and lower down the things like MOBO and such

if planning on SLIing after those 4-5 years then stick with that mobo or change it into a ud3h which is pretty good and very close to the ud5h or change into a UP4 TH if you are into thunderbolt or if you just want to have a newer motherboard than the ud5h

you can also upgrade your case into something like 500R or fractals R4 which i have to say i am very satisfied with my case change of NZXT 410 into a R4 windowed

 

[boulbox]

something that i would do

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.82 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP4 TH ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($180.48 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card (CrossFire) ($413.78 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card (CrossFire) ($413.78 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Titanium Grey) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 850W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1957.28
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

instead of getting just 1 gpu just go for 2x right off the start instead, so that means after you finish using this computer 4-5 years you can just sell to one of your friends for cheap and rebuild a newer computer instead of upgrading

run the 2x 256GB SSDs in raid 0 to get the 512 GB space for $100 cheaper than a 512 GB SSD

uses only 8GB of ram because there are barley any games that use that much ram.

 

[tinman12]

something that i would do

instead of getting just 1 gpu just go for 2x right off the start instead, so that means after you finish using this computer 4-5 years you can just sell to one of your friends for cheap and rebuild a newer computer instead of upgrading

run the 2x 256GB SSDs in raid 0 to get the 512 GB space for $100 cheaper than a 512 GB SSD

uses only 8GB of ram because there are barley any games that use that much ram.

Thanks for the input. I'm lurking to see if there there is more feedback. This config moves to far away from the guidelines I am staying within; i.e. to doing 2 cards, would rather do 1 card that can push 1440p above 60fps for a couple years. I've had nothing but trouble with AMD drivers for a long time and the idea of adding that to xfire just makes my head hurt.

I do like your idea on the raid0 SSD, although I know Intel added trim support back in not sure if it is the same as on the Sammies.

I'm above 8GB of ram for digital editing, PS/lighttroom/Dxo etc, so that I want to stay with.

I looked at the R4, but having a door on front of the case just seems like a waste for messing up airflow. The 500R was my second choice.

Excella1221 I took your advice on the cooler and switched back to the 212, I've been waffling on that for a while. Thanks

 

[tinman12]

Best answer selected by tinman12.