Requesting parts list review for Multi-purpose (Gaming focused) Build.

[Gary Smith]

Greetings Tom's Hardware Experts

I am looking to build my next Multi-purpose (gaming focused) rig. I'm following a set of rules for this build. Specifically I want to upgrade to a 3 monitor setup using my 40" HDMI screen as the primary and two 27" Asus Auxiliary monitors. I have no intention of doing nVidia Surround.

[strike]I've done some overclocking on my current i5 w/ Maximus IV Extreme. But I really didn't notice any difference so I just dropped it back to stock speeds. As such this time I'm opting for a XEON E3-1245 because its got good benchmarks and seems to be a solid CPU for non-oc.[/strike]

Edit: After reading Proximon's Guide to Choosing Parts I've decided I should probably go for an OC option. So that changes my position.

I know Tom's Hardware Gaming CPU list the i5 as the best option, but I do need CPU power for the secondary purpose of the PC. As a heavy custom web developer I do a lot of HD video walkthroughs for client systems that are in progress. These tend to be 30+ minute 1080p videos that take about 45 minutes on my current CPU to render and I'd like an improvement on that (which is why I went with a HyperThreading CPU not sure if that makes a difference).

I was hoping to get a review of my current intended parts list and maybe some insight on if I should go for OC even though I don't know what I'm doing. Edit: I should note that I only upgrade my PC every 2 years, so that is another reason I have stayed away from OC. I want staying power so I try to get as good of a PC as I can to last me 2 years.

I'd also really like better case suggestions. I live in the country in Texas and dust is an enormous problem and would love to spend the money to get a case with really good airflow with exceptional dust filters.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1245 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($33.24 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z87 MPOWER Max ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($233.94 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 500GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($309.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($545.91 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair Air 540 ATX Desktop Case ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair 760W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($136.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($58.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VE278Q 27.0" Monitor ($271.63 @ Amazon)
Total: $2434.64
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-08 12:14 EST-0500)

 

[TheMohammadmo]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.29 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($154.95 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($148.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card ($719.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 932 Blue ATX Full Tower Case ($172.98 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF120 Performance Edition (2-Pack) 63.5 CFM 120mm Fans ($26.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit - OEM (64-bit) ($99.98 @ Best Buy)
Monitor: Asus VE278Q 27.0" Monitor ($237.58 @ Newegg)
Total: $2335.68
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-08 12:24 EST-0500)

The extra 2 fans are to replace the fans that are on the h100i. There are many reviews saying that the h100i fans are loud so you switch those fans out and then the other fans that are included with the h100, you can place around the case

 

[Gary Smith]

The extra 2 fans are to replace the fans that are on the h100i. There are many reviews saying that the h100i fans are loud so you switch those fans out and then the other fans that are included with the h100, you can place around the case

Thank you for the quick response. I did want to ask a few questions on your choices.

Is there a specific reason you dropped to a 250gb SSD. I don't have a strong internet connection so when I install games I tend to leave them installed until I'm absolutely sure I won't play them again, which really eats up space. Right now I have about 550GB of games installed although I don't play 95% of them at all, I might.

I didn't opt for the TI version of the video card because I really didn't know what the big difference was. Though I know the TI version is usually considered the cream of the crop. I do want a good GPU so I like that option.

I have never purchased any MB other than MSI or ASUS but I keep seeing people suggest the Gigabyte to me. Is this because I have no need for the OC options and its a good solid board.

Performance and Staying power are my biggest concerns, budget is not an issue. I know the i5 is a highly recommended contender, but I have been curious if the bigger L3 Cache and the Hyperthreading really makes a difference between the i5 and i7.

Thanks

 

[Gary Smith]

I have never done liquid cooling, I'm a bit concerned that my inexperience might cause me problems. I don't know if that is a legitimate concern, i'm not sure how involved liquid cooling is. Also now I am looking at overclocking, as it seems to be suggested for large gains.

 

[TheMohammadmo]

Yeah th eorad I recommended is really nice even if you dont oc. The ssd is nice to have because even though you wont play them, you could put appilications and os on their instead of os and games. Whatever game you play the most often can also be on the ssd. Liquid coolig isn't that hard. There are many guides on how to install the h100i. And yeah liquid cooling is good for overclocking also. If you dont want to get a liquid cooler cpu cooler get the cooler master v8 or if you like red led lights and want a nice color scheme, get the v8 gts and change the case to the red vesrion of the haf

 

[Gary Smith]

Yeah th eorad I recommended is really nice even if you dont oc. The ssd is nice to have because even though you wont play them, you could put appilications and os on their instead of os and games. Whatever game you play the most often can also be on the ssd. Liquid coolig isn't that hard. There are many guides on how to install the h100i. And yeah liquid cooling is good for overclocking also. If you dont want to get a liquid cooler cpu cooler get the cooler master v8 or if you like red led lights and want a nice color scheme, get the v8 gts and change the case to the red vesrion of the haf

Thanks again for taking the time to go through this with me. I definitely want SSD. Right now I have a 250GB OCZ Vertex 4. I just dont' think 250GB is enough space which is why I opted for the 500GB EVO. Do you think I should still stick with the 250GB and just get 2, or is the 500GB a good choice.

If I decided to really look at OC on the CPU. Would you recommend a different motherboard?

 

[TheMohammadmo]

Since you already have an ocz vertex, just get a single 250gb ssd and yeah there you go you know have 500gb ssd space. Also no the motherboard is good even if you dont overclock. If you want to pay a bit more, get the maximus hero. Really good motherboard for oc and will work amazing with the gpu. Here is the same build except with a red and black color scheme.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.29 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master V8 GTS 82.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($95.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Hero ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($154.95 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($148.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card ($719.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master HAF X ATX Full Tower Case ($171.15 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit - OEM (64-bit) ($99.98 @ Best Buy)
Monitor: Asus VE278Q 27.0" Monitor ($237.58 @ Newegg)
Total: $2352.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-08 13:43 EST-0500)

 

[Gary Smith]

This is a really solid build. I will not be dismantling this PC. I always take my old PC and put it as a secondary since i work at home from a PC, if my main ever fries, I can't be without a workstation. So no parts get re-used. I guess in that case I'll get two 840 EVO 250GB and I'll steer clear of the Liquid Cooling and go with the V8 GTS.

Thanks so much. After going back and forth on various places for build suggestions. This is closer to what I had originally looked at and it looks really good. I'm not excited about going up to Windows 8.1 though. Of course I also didn't want to let go of XP either

 

[TheMohammadmo]

Yeah I dont like windows 8 either. I would go for windows 7 but windows 8 is good because like you mentioned, its gaming focused but windows 8 is good for other os and has the newest direct x