Advice on $1600 gaming/amateur video editing build

[Pongronin]

Hi, I am not very knowledgeable about computer hardware or builds, but I have built a computer in the past for gaming. I would like some advice on a computer that will be used to for amateur video editing as well as some casual gaming. I want it to be fairly future proof.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within a month (May 2016)

Budget Range: $1500-2000

System Usage from Most to Least Important:
Video editing: I am just beginning to edit videos using GoPro footage (single perspective). I plan to output in 1080p. Software is PowerDirector 14.
Gaming: I am an occasional gamer who tends to play real time strategy or turn based strategy games such as Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void, Company of Heroes 2, X Com 2.
Productivity: Word processing, Excel
Entertainment/Multimedia: Surfing the Internet, watching DVDs and Blu-Rays

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: Yes (Plan Windows 10 Home)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, amazon.com (But I am willing to order from multiple websites)
Location: - San Bernardino, California, USA (Southern California, east of LA)

Overclocking: Yes
SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution:
Dual monitors
1920x1080
1680x1050

Additional Comments:
I have two portable HDD that are USB 3.0. One is 4TB (Seagate expansion portable) and the other is 2TB (WD My Passport).

Why Are You Upgrading:
I currently am using a system with an AMD Athlon II X3 445 3.1 GHz processor, Radeon HD 5770 graphics card, 4GB DDR3 1333 memory, 500 GB HDD. I find that it is too slow for my video editing and has long load times for some of my gaming. I also only have USB 2.0 on my current system, which makes for painfully slow transfer to my external HDDs.

Parts list:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fZPh6h

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor
Cooler: Corsair H55 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard: MSI Z170M Mortar Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory
Storage (SSD): Sandisk Ultra II 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Storage (HDD): Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video card: XFX Radeon R9 390 8GB Double Dissipation Video Card
Case: Silverstone TJ08B-E MicroATX Mini Tower Case
PSU: SeaSonic G-750 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDC-207DBK Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer
OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DGX 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card


The questions that I have are:
1) Does this build have any potential bottlenecks or overkill components?
2) Is this the best video card for my needs? I am confused about whether to get a card built for gaming or one built for workstations.
3) How much can I use one or both of the portable HDDs like an internal drive?
4) Is it better to get 2x16 GB memory or 4x8 GB memory?

Any other advice on the build is welcomed, of course. Thanks!

 

[Dylan Smit]

1 nope no real nottlenecks

2 this card is fine for both gaming and workstation, a workstation card will not improve in games

3 a 100% even windows could boot from it with good settings

4 doesnt matter, go with the creapest

Optional: for rendering spend a little more on the cpu to get a 6 core i7

 

[Dieffe]

i would change cpu cooler, h55 isn't that good.

 

[Pongronin]

1 nope no real nottlenecks

2 this card is fine for both gaming and workstation, a workstation card will not improve in games

3 a 100% even windows could boot from it with good settings

4 doesnt matter, go with the creapest

Optional: for rendering spend a little more on the cpu to get a 6 core i7

Thank you for your reply. If I went 6 core, it would probably be an i7 5820K since it is only a small increase in pricing from the 6700k and I anticipate having to spend a little more on the mother board. If I go with the 5820k, any suggestions for an X99 motherboard that would fit with my build? I am still thinking micro ATX because I don't think I will need as much expansion room as an ATX mobo. Tom's top pick is ASRock X99M Extreme 4, but I'm not sure if there is a better one for my needs.

 

[Pongronin]

i would change cpu cooler, h55 isn't that good.

Any suggestions? I've seen forum posts where people are using Corsair H110i/GT/GTX as a liquid option or Noctua NH-D15 as an air option. I am willing to change cases, if necessary to fit a different radiator or if more space is needed for an air cooler.

 

[riccardan-humiliato]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($334.88 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H55 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($56.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($90.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra II 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($123.61 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($117.99 @ Micro Center)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($497.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Silverstone TJ08B-E MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($98.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDC-207DBK Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($35.00 @ Other World Computing)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($80.00 @ Amazon)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DGX 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card ($35.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1621.41
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-29 00:50 EDT-0400

Changed around some of your parts. I don't see the point in a dedicated sound card nowadays but i left it there. I upgraded your video card.

 

[Dieffe]

980 is the worst gpu fps/$ nowadays (avoid it). R9 fury costs less and is better.
The s12II can suffer of coilwhine
a z170 board with ram 2133mhz?

 

[riccardan-humiliato]

Is R9 Fury faster than GTX 980? If not, GTX 980 is better. People that go for high end don't really care about performance per dollar. I haven't personally read anything about the S12II that suggested coil whine, but even if that was true there are plenty of alternatives like other Seasonic PSUs, or Antec, XFX, EVGA, Corsair.....

What's wrong with 2133mhz? You will not see any real world performance improvement at all between 2133mhz and 3000mhz.

PS: According to PCPP, R9 Fury is sold out everywhere.

 

[Dieffe]

agree on the performance between the 2 rams but since they cost 10$. r9 is definitely better than 980.

 

[El-Terrible]

It's a tough one, casual gaming and amateur video editing. I would decide which of the 2 I want to prioritise; the specs mentioned above will suffice for both but you can tailor it further if you pick a task you will prioritise. For instance, if you think you're going to pursue video editing in a serious way, more cores are better. I'd therefore consider an X99 motherboard with an i7-5820k (5830K is overpriced IMO).

If you want to prioritise gaming, then the i7-6700K. Don't get me wrong, both CPUs will do the each job brilliantly, but video editing makes better use of more cores (5820K) and gaming may benefit slightly more from the increased clock speed of the i7-6700K, but we're splitting hairs.

Agree about the cooler, I'd rather the Cryorig H7 over the H55.

Regarding GPU I find the recommendations interesting. I agree with one poster above, the GTX-980 is not a good value card. Now 1080p is the max resolution you're working with, which means the R9-390X is perhaps overkill too. If money is no object, which was an argument above to getting the 980, then get the 980Ti, which is more expensive yes, but it represents better value and will max out most games at 1440p (so you'll need a monitor upgrade too ). Note that for video editing a hugely expensive GPU is not as important, and as you're working with 1080p, I'd therefore consider a GTX 970 / R9 390 which will max out practically all games at 1080p, or as mentioned, jump up to the 980 Ti if I have the cash

Hope that helps rather than confuse you further

 

[Pongronin]

Thanks for all of the advice.

I think I will stay i7 6700K as the CPU plus mobo combo seems cheaper now compared to the i7 5820k/x99 combo. And I am truly split between gaming and vid editing so I think either cpu would suit me.

I will look at other coolers as you mentioned.

I really appreciate the input on the gpu. I think gtx 970 or r9 390 is best for me now as I don't plan on going higher resolution than 1080p.

I am still a little confused about higher frequency ram since the z170 boards can accommodate higher frequency ram. Is it worth getting 3000+ frequency for now or future, or are there really minimal gains compare to 2133 as you mentioned?

 

[El-Terrible]

No, in benchmarks you really only benefit from an increase in RAM frequency if you're making use of integrated CPU graphics. With a graphics card you're going to see next to no improvement in speed whether you have 3000Mhz or 2400Mhz - add to the fact that usually the higher the frequency, the higher the latency.

For your rig, I'd go for 2400Mhz but 2133 would be fine too as was previously mentioned.