First Rig-building Attempt

[Zealecia]

UPDATE: Followed Mistersprinkles' advice and have since updated the parts as listed in the following link.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Zealecia/saved/dkfV3C

 

Do use this link for the most updated components that I have picked and once again, thanks for all the helpful advice!

 

<end update>

 

I kinda felt bad signing up at LTT just for that Zotac GTX 980 giveaway, so I decided to seek advice from the experienced community as well! I've read those specific pinned posts before posting this so I sincerely hope I'll be getting spot-on advice for the following. Well, here goes! 

 

1. Budget & Location
I reside in Singapore which is a small country located in the SEA region. The budget I'm considering is up to SGD$3000 or approximately USD$2200 since I'm likely to be shipping them via a courier service from within the US to Singapore. 

2. Aim
I am an aspiring game developer and also an avid gamer. However, I don't exactly intend to create games that require top-of-the-line hardware to play at max settings which is why I am opting for a GTX 970 as a benchmark for the next 3 years. Also, this rig isn't something I plan to get immediately. Rather, I'll be getting it sometime from March 2015 onwards. That's when I'll be cleared from certain commitments and be able to devote my time to game development.

3. Monitors
There isn't a need to factor the price of the monitor into the budget. I'm already considering the Asus ROG Swift as a must-have but already have a 27-inch monitor so I'll be using it till either the price of the mentioned monitor drops, or a better one comes up.

4. Peripherals
Already own several that I will still be using. For the OS, I will be using Windows 10 Tech Preview since I want to optimise my game for the future and will be purchasing it when it's retailing.

5. Why are you upgrading?
It's my first time building a rig and I would simply like to make it the best first experience ever. Plus it'll be quite the performance jump from my old comrade Alienware M11x R1.

 

6. Current choice on parts

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Zealecia/saved/dkfV3C

[olback]

Some nice hardware!

[Zealecia]

Haha, yeah! Gotta pamper myself after not upgrading for years! 

[thekeemo]

do you know how much is shipping?

[Zealecia]

Feel free to ignore shipping so long as your recommendations/advice are within the budget as stated.

[Zealecia]

Not too sure about double posting rules when it comes to bumping. But I still need advice on my configuration so let this slide?

[Mistersprinkles]

Chassis: NZXT H440

 

Excellent case.

 

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z97X-Gaming G1 WIFI-BK

 

While this is an exceptionally good motherboard, you don't need to spend this much. You can find a nice board for $160 US. The G1 has the advantage of being fully tested before shipping out so you know it won't arrive dead, but do you really need to spend this much? I don't think you do.

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K

 

Good choice for what your usage scenario is.

 

GPU: GIGABYTE GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD

 

Probably the best 970 for on-air overclocking. Good choice.

 

RAM: G.Skill Trident X Series (2x8GB) DDR3 2400MHz

 

Again, probably overkill. You don't need RAM this fast. If you want it, go for it, but 2133 would be more than enough.

 

SSD: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB

 

More overkill. You don't need an expensive SSD. It's a great SSD if you want to spend that much though. It's your money.

 

HDD: Seagate NAS HDD 4TB

 

I wouldn't put a NAS HDD in a desktop. Go with a WD Black or Blue

 

PSU: Rosewill Tachyon 550W 80Plus Platinum Modular

 

I don't like Rosewill anything. Look at an EVGA Supernova or one of Seasonic's gold rated units. BTW, if you order a PSU from the USA it will come with a North American power plug. This may be different from the power plugs you use in your region/country. 

 

Cooling: NZXT Kraken X61

 

I have heard good things about this AIO.

 

7. Other advice

I'll definitely need more advice regarding water cooling since all the systems I've used in the last ten years had no form of water cooling involved. Either way, all advice will be dearly welcome!

 

There's nothing to know. Install it, turn it on. It works You're not doign a custom loop, it's AIO. 

[Zealecia]

 

 

Chassis: NZXT H440

 

Excellent case.

 

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z97X-Gaming G1 WIFI-BK

 

While this is an exceptionally good motherboard, you don't need to spend this much. You can find a nice board for $160 US. The G1 has the advantage of being fully tested before shipping out so you know it won't arrive dead, but do you really need to spend this much? I don't think you do.

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K

 

Good choice for what your usage scenario is.

 

GPU: GIGABYTE GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD

 

Probably the best 970 for on-air overclocking. Good choice.

 

RAM: G.Skill Trident X Series (2x8GB) DDR3 2400MHz

 

Again, probably overkill. You don't need RAM this fast. If you want it, go for it, but 2133 would be more than enough.

 

SSD: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB

 

More overkill. You don't need an expensive SSD. It's a great SSD if you want to spend that much though. It's your money.

 

HDD: Seagate NAS HDD 4TB

 

I wouldn't put a NAS HDD in a desktop. Go with a WD Black or Blue

 

PSU: Rosewill Tachyon 550W 80Plus Platinum Modular

 

I don't like Rosewill anything. Look at an EVGA Supernova or one of Seasonic's gold rated units. BTW, if you order a PSU from the USA it will come with a North American power plug. This may be different from the power plugs you use in your region/country. 

 

Cooling: NZXT Kraken X61

 

I have heard good things about this AIO.

 

7. Other advice

I'll definitely need more advice regarding water cooling since all the systems I've used in the last ten years had no form of water cooling involved. Either way, all advice will be dearly welcome!

 

There's nothing to know. Install it, turn it on. It works You're not doign a custom loop, it's AIO. 

 

 

Gee, thanks for all the advice! I just discovered PC Part Picker and so I made some edits to my build according to your advice.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/HWWdJx

 

Pretty much followed your advice on everything save for the motherboard. Really digging it because of the built in networking and audio features. I changed it to the less pricey but non-factory-stress-tested version of the same motherboard though. That is assuming that the extra cost is really only for the stress-testing.

 

Also, from the cost savings, I decided to squeeze in a second GTX 970 for my own gaming pleasure (and it is only gonna slightly exceed my budget). I'm gonna be gaming at 2560 x 1600 so I'm sure that I'll benefit somewhat from the more optimised games. For reference, I got convinced to squeeze that second one in from this site:

 

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_970_SLI/1.html

 

Lastly, any recommendations for a decent SSD? Really appreciate all the helpful comments thus far!

[Mistersprinkles]

Please explain to me your justification for a $300 motherboard. Seriously. In the most detail and depth you can muster, and I'll tell you if your reasons are logical and reasonable or not. I'm already guessing I'm going to tell you you're nuts.

 

The only people who truly benefit from $300-400 boards on the 1150 socket are people who have access to large amounts of liquid nitrogen. There's no other reason to get such an expensive board.

 

There's nothing you're going to get out of a $300 board that you can't get out of a $150 board. Why don't you take that $150 bucks and get a bigger, faster SSD or something? Something you'll actually BENEFIT from in your daily use of this PC?

 

I 100% endorse your decision to go SLI 970. That's going to be a beast of a setup. Well over 90FPS in even demanding games. Over 140 in non demanding games.
You would benefit from a 120 or 144Hz monitor with G-sync if you're going to have this much GPU horsepower. No sense having a monitor that tops out at 60Hz when your GPUs are able to crank out twice that.

 

For SSDs in the budget sector I like the 840EVO the MX100 and the M550. For high end I like the 850 PRO.

 

PS I don't know how to subscribe to threads in this forum so make sure you quote my post when you reply or I won't get a notification. TTys.

[Zealecia]

Please explain to me your justification for a $300 motherboard. Seriously. In the most detail and depth you can muster, and I'll tell you if your reasons are logical and reasonable or not. I'm already guessing I'm going to tell you you're nuts.

 

The only people who truly benefit from $300-400 boards on the 1150 socket are people who have access to large amounts of liquid nitrogen. There's no other reason to get such an expensive board.

 

There's nothing you're going to get out of a $300 board that you can't get out of a $150 board. Why don't you take that $150 bucks and get a bigger, faster SSD or something? Something you'll actually BENEFIT from in your daily use of this PC?

 

I 100% endorse your decision to go SLI 970. That's going to be a beast of a setup. Well over 90FPS in even demanding games. Over 140 in non demanding games.

You would benefit from a 120 or 144Hz monitor with G-sync if you're going to have this much GPU horsepower. No sense having a monitor that tops out at 60Hz when your GPUs are able to crank out twice that.

 

For SSDs in the budget sector I like the 840EVO the MX100 and the M550. For high end I like the 850 PRO.

 

PS I don't know how to subscribe to threads in this forum so make sure you quote my post when you reply or I won't get a notification. TTys.

 

Hmm, perhaps I just got caught in a marketing gimmick. *shrugs*  :huh:

 

But good sir, I hear you and I've changed the motherboard as well. I opted for the Gigabyte G1.Sniper that still possesses the networking and audio features found in my previous choice. It is updated here as well: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Zealecia/saved/dkfV3C

 

And yes! Definitely getting myself a G-SYNC capable monitor (eyes on that Asus ROG Swift but still waiting for affordable options till March 2015).

 

Also, I've changed my SSD choice to a Samsung 840 Pro 256GB. I hope that's a good balance of value and performance. 

 

On that final note, I believe you can click on "Follow this topic" on the top-right-hand of every thread. It's on the same horizontal level as the stars above the title of this thread. I actually followed my own topic to ensure I get notifications the moment someone replies. 

 

And thanks for your advice again!

[Mistersprinkles]

G1 sniper is a decent board. 

 

Not sure I agree that there is justification for an 840 PRO. In daily use you're not going to notice a few milliseconds difference between the a pro and an EVO. Yes, the 840 PRO has a longer lifespan on the NAND it uses due to it not being TLC like the 840 EVO but it's still not worth it. I'm spending $3000+ on a new PC in March or April and I plan on getting an 840 EVO (or equivalent better drive that comes out between now and then) because it's all you really need.

 

Build looks good. I approve. Go build it. 

[Zealecia]

G1 sniper is a decent board. 

 

Not sure I agree that there is justification for an 840 PRO. In daily use you're not going to notice a few milliseconds difference between the a pro and an EVO. Yes, the 840 PRO has a longer lifespan on the NAND it uses due to it not being TLC like the 840 EVO but it's still not worth it. I'm spending $3000+ on a new PC in March or April and I plan on getting an 840 EVO (or equivalent better drive that comes out between now and then) because it's all you really need.

 

Build looks good. I approve. Go build it. 

 

I suppose I "might" notice a slight difference since I'll be having to consistently load assets into the game engine I'll be utilising in making my games. The price difference between the EVO and Pro versions isn't too much either so I decided to go for it.

 

Thanks for all your time and advice!