Which x99 build would you recommend? (3-way SLI 970 vs 2-way SLI 980)

[zVitiate]

Option 1)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor  ($384.99 @ NCIX US) 

CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($94.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: EVGA Micro Micro ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard  ($244.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($259.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $120.00) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($429.00 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: EVGA GTX 980 Superclocked 4GB ($569.99 @ Amazon)

Video Card: EVGA GTX 980 Superclocked 4GB ($569.99 @ Amazon)

Case: Corsair Air 240 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  (Purchased For $84.00) 

Monitor: LG 34UM95 60Hz 34.0" Monitor  ($1007.58 @ Newegg) 

Other: EVGA Pro SLI Bridge (2-Way) ($29.99)

Other: Professional Series™ HX / Enthusiast Series™ TXM / Builder Series CXM Individually Sleeved Modular Cables — Black ($26.99)

 

Total: $4002.47

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-21 00:15 EDT-0400

 

Option 2)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor  ($389.99 @ Newegg) 

CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($94.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard  ($228.79 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($259.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $120.00) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($429.00 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card (3-Way SLI)  ($349.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card (3-Way SLI)  ($349.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card (3-Way SLI)  ($349.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: Fractal Design Define R4 Blackout ATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  (Purchased For $84.00) 

Monitor: LG 34UM95 60Hz 34.0" Monitor  ($1007.58 @ Newegg) 

Other: Professional Series™ HX / Enthusiast Series™ TXM / Builder Series CXM Individually Sleeved Modular Cables — Black ($26.99)

Other: EVGA Pro SLI Bridge (3-Way/2-way) ($29.99)

Total: $3881.26

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-21 00:20 EDT-0400

 

Also, thoughts on getting a 4K display instead of the 21:9 monitor?

Thanks!

[ArrayGamer]

I would go for 2 980's or wait to see if amd comes out with anything soon

[TheSLSAMG]

While the 900 series scales very well, I would still recommend the 980s instead. You have a better upgrade path.

 

And go 4K with two supplementary 1080p monitors, you get more real esate and more eye candy.

[zVitiate]

While the 900 series scales very well, I would still recommend the 980s instead. You have a better upgrade path.

 

And go 4K with two supplementary 1080p monitors, you get more real esate and more eye candy.

I already got a 3 monitor 1080p setup, but I also plan to bring this setup to college and I won't have the room for more than one monitor. So it's either a 4k IPS display or 21:9 1440p monitor.

[zVitiate]

While the 900 series scales very well, I would still recommend the 980s instead. You have a better upgrade path.

 

And go 4K with two supplementary 1080p monitors, you get more real esate and more eye candy.

Then would you recommend that I use the fractal case for the 980 setup too so I'll have the option for Tri-SLI at one point for that too?

[TheSLSAMG]

I already got a 3 monitor 1080p setup, but I also plan to bring this setup to college and I won't have the room for more than one monitor. So it's either a 4k IPS display or 21:9 1440p monitor.

I would still go 4K personally, 21:9 just seems a bit too long for me.

[TheSLSAMG]

Then would you recommend that I use the fractal case for the 980 setup too so I'll have the option for Tri-SLI at one point for that too?

I personally wouldn't use an R4 for the somewhat limited airflow. The Corsair 450D and Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 are very good for such though. You could also get a full tower, but they are a bit large.

[zVitiate]

I agree, I would only go 3 cards if you're on the top already. Skyrim for example will give you a performance decrease, and it doesn't use physx, so you can't just dedicate a gpu to it.  

Especially if you go 4k, which i would say go for it, acer has that 4k g-sync monitor coming out, and for gaming, I'd much rather have that.

I'd love that Acer monitor, but it's also TN

[zVitiate]

There are 60hz IPS monitors out, and more coming. You could always get an IPS monitors @ 1080p or something else in addition.  when you need the color accuracy (or just want it)

If you look at the benchmarks though, at 4k 60fps is still a bit hard to run. G-Sync will be especially valuable.

If I went with the Dell 24 inch 4k monitor I wouldn't need AA at that screen size so 60FPS wouldn't be an issue. My only worry is that since I can't have 2 monitors in a dorm that 1 single 16:9 4k monitor would be less efficient for work then the 21:9 1440p monitor.

[JuTheBarbarian]

2 way sli is probably the better bet. The rate of diminishing returns in 3 or 4 way sli makes it something I just would never recommend. It's best to have a few more powerful cards instead of many less powerful ones. I definately agree with the monitor though, and by what I've heard on Linus' review of that monitor 1 980 would probably be enough to run games on it at ultra. Though I'd still get the extra card for future proofing, games are getting harder to run these days.

[zVitiate]

2 way sli is probably the better bet. The rate of diminishing returns in 3 or 4 way sli makes it something I just would never recommend. It's best to have a few more powerful cards instead of many less powerful ones. I definately agree with the monitor though, and by what I've heard on Linus' review of that monitor 1 980 would probably be enough to run games on it at ultra. Though I'd still get the extra card for future proofing, games are getting harder to run these days.

which monitor do you mean? The 1440p LG ultra wide or a 4K display?

[JuTheBarbarian]

which monitor do you mean? The 1440p LG ultra wide or a 4K display?

 

The LG Ultrawide, methinks the 780ti got around 70ish fps in the Heaven benchmark on that monitor and the 980 is more powerful than the 780ti. Plus by what I've heard, 1440 allows for a great pixel density while also avoiding problems like text scaling and game performance in 4k resolutions.

[Aibohphobia]

I built a test system with that board, CPU, and two stock GTX 980s and currently the board will only run SLI in the top two slots with the 5820K.

 

 

The top card's temps and noise level are sub-optimal as a result.

 

Running FurMark at 1920x1080 for 15 minutes and the top card was 7°C hotter than the bottom card even though the fan was 1400RPM higher.

 

 

 

Maybe with a BIOS update it can run the slots at x16 / x4 / x8 allowing space between the cards for cooling and freeing up that middle slot for a sound card or whatever but I'm not sure if that's possible.

 

Along the same lines, tri-SLI will only work if you water cool the middle card. Only a single slot card will fit there with 3 cards installed.

 

If you have any other questions about this setup let me know.

[Guest]

Better psu for $5 less

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20750xr