High end Intel build advice needed

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Eiiden

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Jan 4, 2013
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Hello. I am somewhat new to computer building, and I have recently been given a budget of 2000 dollars to create a high end gaming/ game design computer. I am trying to make it with room to grow, so that eventually I can put in more RAM as it is needed or another graphics card, and I am getting parts that (hopefully) will last for a while before they need to be replaced, especially the case. Here are the details

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the month

Budget Range: Up to 2000 total

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Programming, 3D modeling/rendering, the internet, work.

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Whatever is cheapest

Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Parts Preferences: Intel, Corsair, Asus, Nvidia

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI: Maybe in the future

PCPartPicker link:http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vTSJ

I just want some people who have done this before's opinions on this build. I'm pretty sold on most of the parts, but I am open to suggestions for alternatives.
 
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jonjonjon

jonjonjon

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the motherboard is overkill. save money and get something in the $115-140 range. unless there is some specific feature you need. also the samsung ssd an old sata2 ssd. if you want a samsung get a 830 or 840 pro. but in all reality you wont notice a difference between any sata3 ssd's. get 2x8GB instead of 4x4GB.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($323.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($108.10 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($127.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($81.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($91.33 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($247.55 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($369.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($369.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case ($149.93 @ Mac Connection)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($86.13 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On IHBS112-04 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($68.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $2025.96
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-04 19:40 EST-0500)
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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My suggestion is a bit different - swapped the closed liquid loops for a D14 and included dual 7970s as opposed to dual 670s:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($204.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($80.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP4 TH ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($192.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($187.85 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data XPG SX900 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card (CrossFire) ($424.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card (CrossFire) ($424.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($129.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk II 950W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($123.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2042.58
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-04 19:49 EST-0500)
 
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Eiiden

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Update:
I fixed the problem with the SSD, and found a much cheaper GPU (cheap enough that it now has two, and the overall build costs less.) I am sold on the case( I get the feeling that its one of the "last case you will ever buy" kind of deals) and the motherboard is the best that I have found for what I want. However, the cooling I am not certain about. The H100i works particularly nicely in this case, because they were both manufactured by corsair and made to work together, but if someone can convince me to go with air cooling and recommend me the best heatsink for the money, I may just go for it.
 
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djangoringo

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Why get two 660 gtx ?
Doesn't make sense, get a single card like a 670 gtx and then add another one latter...
Since you like corsair and asus check this :

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vVzd

Proper ssd, it's the samsung 840 pro, proper corsair ram with cas 9, 670 gtx from asus, proper asus mobo with thunderbolt and modular corsair psu.
It's not what i called your build balanced, but it's your choice.
 
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Eiiden

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I just want to go as long as I can without having to replace it. What is overkill one year could be mundane the next. I dont want to get something standard and have it go out of date In two or three years. I want it to last at least 5. Also some of the features that it have are pretty nice, and it has plenty of room to grow.
 
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jonjonjon

jonjonjon

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nothing about the motherboard will make it any more "futureproof" then the cpu in it. i looked into rasa kits and imo all the pictures i saw made them look cheap and hackish. id rather have a fisher price water cooler. now if your going to do a real custom loop and pick each individual part that's a different story. also a lot more money.
 
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bigcyco1

bigcyco1

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Feb 11, 2012
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You need to look at benchmarks rasa kits out perform fisher price water cooling and i agree a custom loop is much better.
 
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Eiiden

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Im thinking of getting the XSPC RayStorm kit, and doing a custom loop, considering the case has a spot for a 3*120mm radiator, and the mobo has a special water cooling loop around the processor. Also it is only 60 dollars more, and the maintenance doesn't sound all that bad
 
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bigcyco1

bigcyco1

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Good idea. :)
 
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djangoringo

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Z77 is mundane, this year comes the haswell cpus and lga 1150 mobos, there's no more cpus for that lga, i don't see why paying that much for a mobo.
So what you want in a z77 board is two way sli, 4/6 sata ports III, a good audio onboard, realtek is enough, and the four slots dimm(the standard), plus some usb 3.0 ports and possibly a thunderbolt port(s).
So you see, any mobo around 150$(asrock z77 extreme 4/6, msi mpower) has all that, thunderbolt some with 180-200$(gigabyte has good ones), and for oc the cpu, asus boards just sucks, the best is the asrock z77 oc formula.
So what does maximus offer ? nothing worth the extra $, it has the same 4 dimm slots as any mobo, what it has is four pcie slots for three or four way sli, which is not good for the architecture, and you put two 660 gtx which means, you cannot add a third(only the 660 ti), but two pcie slots is enough for two ways sli, like i said, and there's also cheaper three way sli mobos like the gigabyte sniper m3.
Or if you want really more expandable ram and pcie slots your better get going to the lga 2011 platform...
Also the wifi, there's several mobos out there for less.
You need is a good card, like the 670 gtx and from a good brand, good model, like evga ftw and ftw signature, msi pe or asus dcii.
A good reliable ssd, either the samsung 840 pro or 830, crucial m4 also, and do not get the samsung 840.
A dual channel ram with 1600 mhz 2x8 GB with cas 9.
A good air cooler or proper watercooling kits.
Also a good modular psu for SLI.
That's all, the case it's your choice, it's still less expensive than the z77 mobo.
 
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jonjonjon

jonjonjon

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in all reality no one runs tri sli. if you have that much money you get 2 690's.

i just looked at your updated list and i can't see spending that much on a case and motherboard and then putting sli 660's in it. the corsair psu is no better then the xfx that's $20 cheaper. i would get the 650D, a $130 mb and xfx psu with sli 670's. that pretty much a no brainier to me. its your money and you can get whatever you want but i think its a mistake.

if you want to spend $688.99 on a cpu + mb at least get a i7-3930K & ASRock X79 Extreme6.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3930K 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($569.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock X79 Extreme6 ATX LGA2011 Motherboard ($228.49 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Intel 330 Series 180GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($129.68 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 690 4GB Video Card ($984.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case ($149.93 @ Mac Connection)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($86.13 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2285.18
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-04 23:21 EST-0500)
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Z77 is mundane, this year comes the haswell cpus and lga 1150 mobos, there's no more cpus for that lga, i don't see why paying that much for a mobo.
So what you want in a z77 board is two way sli, 4/6 sata ports III, a good audio onboard, realtek is enough, and the four slots dimm(the standard), plus some usb 3.0 ports and possibly a thunderbolt port(s).
So you see, any mobo around 150$(asrock z77 extreme 4/6, msi mpower) has all that, thunderbolt some with 180-200$(gigabyte has good ones), and for oc the cpu, asus boards just sucks, the best is the asrock z77 oc formula.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with everything said here - there's nothing that will say that a $300 motherboard is better than one that costs half as much. You still get all the same features and you're not overpaying. Especially when 1155 is at the end of the line and LGA 1150 is a mere few months away.
 
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djangoringo

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Another thing to add : http://www.guru3d.com/news_story/8_core_sandybridge_e_and_6_12_core_ivybridge_e_in_2013.html

You see the future intel cpus only for lga 2011 and for the next lga 1150.
If you want a rather expandable platform you better off with lga 2011, plenty of mobos with 8 dimm slots(64GB quad channel), 4 pcie slots(asrock x79 extreme 11 offers 4 way sli 16x or 7 way sli lol),plenty of sata ports...and support for the next cpus as the link above.
Prepare to spend a lot of cash,though.
Or if you want now a good value pc, get a i7-3770k+z77 mobo for ~150$, and the rest like i said.
 
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