First (real) build

[onyex]

Hello everyone!

Long time lurker on LTT YouTube and forms but I am coming out of the dark corner to seek out this community's help.

 

I have built two computers before. One was a dedicated gaming build but it ran a, at the time, state of the art GTX 8800. So it's been a while and I didn't really know what I was doing then. Now that my budget finally allows me to purchase a new computer, I am sort of scrambling to learn as much as I can.

 

Here is my current parts list:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bwM7GX

 

Two things not listed there are a gun dismantling mat that I use as a mouse pad and my steel series headphones but that's not really important to the build.

 

I do have a 1440 monitor listed on there but to be honest I don't know which monitors are good quality outside of the 1080 monitors.

 

A few things to note, I would like to keep my budget around $2000. I am aware $2115.62 is greater than $2000. I still don't plan to begin purchasing for at least another month so I'm hoping the price will drop $50 or more (crossing my fingers). Currently I am up in the air about a case. I often hear people say it's just personal preference but honestly I just want something that keeps dust out and is quiet. If a beat up card board box does the trick, I'd be more than happy to use it. The red and black color scheme was actually accidental but not terribly surprising since that seems to be the most common color scheme out on the market. I was curious to the advantages of the Air 540. 

 

Dust is sort of a big thing for me. My last gaming computer seemed to suffocate even though I did my best to keep it clean (old nzxt case with no removable dust filters). I sort of picked up Linus's fanboy like love for Noctua and kinda splurged on the fans.

 

I would like to hear what everyone has to say. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

[aricleather]

Get a Z97 board, the Arctic Silver 5 is not needed since Noctua's NT-H1 is really good, and consider a 290/x instead of the 780. The NZXT H440 and the Air 540 are generally difficult to choose from. They both have their ups and downs, and both look great aesthetically (IMO). The Air 540, not by much, will offer better cooling thanks to it's dual chamber design. It also has 5.25" bays; the H440 doesn't. Personally, I would choose the Air 540.

[BonBon Scott]

It looks all good, that Asus monitor is a very good monitor, and the Air 540 is a very good case with brilliant airflow, one of the downsides is that alot of people don't like the aesthetics of the case.

 

I also suggest a Z97 board. You could go with a 290 but they often run hotter, the 290 and 780 are usually difficult to choose from.

[gigabyte]

This is better, with a 750W you won't really be able to run SLI in the future and 750W is way to much for 1 card, I'd recommend this (took a VII hero aka Z97)

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/38FLFT

 

Much better.

[onyex]

Thank you for the help.

 

This is the current parts list based on suggestions

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QJzLFT

 

Two things. One, the 750W was because I have no idea how large of a supply to get. I intend to run 1 gpu for a while so SLI isnt really in my future. However I do intend to overclock and I will probably need more than 500W (honestly I'm guessing here).

 

Two, I am slightly apprehensive of switching from green to red team. I don't want shadow play, I don't intend to use a shield and gsync wont be out so I dont have any objections other than I have never used one before.

[brob]

Thank you for the help.

 

This is the current parts list based on suggestions

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QJzLFT

 

Two things. One, the 750W was because I have no idea how large of a supply to get. I intend to run 1 gpu for a while so SLI isnt really in my future. However I do intend to overclock and I will probably need more than 500W (honestly I'm guessing here).

 

Two, I am slightly apprehensive of switching from green to red team. I don't want shadow play, I don't intend to use a shield and gsync wont be out so I dont have any objections other than I have never used one before.

 

Why are you getting a 1000W psu? According to pcpartpicker you could actually add two more gpu and still have sufficient power. Unless you actually plan on buying another R9 290 in the next 12 months, go for the EVGA 220-G2-0750-XR. (I am only suggesting a 750W unit because it is currently available at an incredibly low price.) And if you plan another gpu in the near future, get the EVGA 220-G2-0850-XR.

 

I believe the Air 540 only has a front dust filter. You may want to take a look at Phanteks Enthoo Pro and Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 (Black).

[gigabyte]

Why are you getting a 1000W psu? According to pcpartpicker you could actually add two more gpu and still have sufficient power. Unless you actually plan on buying another R9 290 in the next 12 months, go for the EVGA 220-G2-0750-XR. (I am only suggesting a 750W unit because it is currently available at an incredibly low price.) And if you plan another gpu in the near future, get the EVGA 220-G2-0850-XR.

 

I believe the Air 540 only has a front dust filter. You may want to take a look at Phanteks Enthoo Pro and Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 (Black).

Overclocking and a PSU doesn't deliver 750W, you could run SLI with 750W but the PSU would run at 100% speed all the time and shorten the lifetime + be loud.

[gigabyte]

Thank you for the help.

 

This is the current parts list based on suggestions

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QJzLFT

 

Two things. One, the 750W was because I have no idea how large of a supply to get. I intend to run 1 gpu for a while so SLI isnt really in my future. However I do intend to overclock and I will probably need more than 500W (honestly I'm guessing here).

 

Two, I am slightly apprehensive of switching from green to red team. I don't want shadow play, I don't intend to use a shield and gsync wont be out so I dont have any objections other than I have never used one before.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ZwbYm

 

Go with the 780 unless you really need that 1 extra gb of VRAM

[brob]

Overclocking and a PSU doesn't deliver 750W, you could run SLI with 750W but the PSU would run at 100% speed all the time and shorten the lifetime + be loud.

 

Which is why I suggested 850W if there was a real intention to SLI.

[onyex]

Which is why I suggestd 850W if there was a real intention to SLI.

Overclocking and a PSU doesn't deliver 750W, you could run SLI with 750W but the PSU would run at 100% speed all the time and shorten the lifetime + be loud.

To be clear, I have no intention of running this in SLI. I am not able to come into $400 for at least another 7 months, making an upgrade impossible (and to be honest I don't it's necessary). 

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ZwbYm

 

Go with the 780 unless you really need that 1 extra gb of VRAM

I am slightly confused by this. A GTX 780 runs about $100 more than an R290. I have no clue how much vram I need, though it is unlikely I need more than 3GB. Why should I chose the 780 at a more expensive price point for (as far as I can tell) no discernible difference?

[gigabyte]

To be clear, I have no intention of running this in SLI. I am not able to come into $400 for at least another 7 months, making an upgrade impossible (and to be honest I don't it's necessary). 

 

I am slightly confused by this. A GTX 780 runs about $100 more than an R290. I have no clue how much vram I need, though it is unlikely I need more than 3GB. Why should I chose the 780 at a more expensive price point for (as far as I can tell) no discernible difference?

Faster memory speed and stuff, overall just a little bit better, less heat etc, yoi could get a 290 tho, wouldn't really regret it