$1500-$1600AUD Build Advice

[_Flare]

Im planning a $1500 to $1600 AUD gaming build, and are looking for some help as to component choose.

 

Here's the PC Part Picker link:

 

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/WjG9Bm

 

I have no idea as to what Motherboard to chose. I need a Z97, MATX motherboard, and would really appreciate suggestions. As far as CPU cooling goes, I will be using the stock cooler until more money becomes available, then I will be purchasing a water cooler for harder overlocking, maybe even a custom loop to also cool GPUs (recommendations?).

 

As for the case, I'm currently designing and building a custom scratch chassis out of aluminium, and yes, I know what I'm doing.

 

Trust me.

 

I'm an engineer.

 

Anyways, constructive criticism/feedback would be appreciated. Case pics will be coming as they become available (I want to get this right first time), so stay alert for updates if you trust a novice like me to create a decent chassis.

 

Thanks you for your help, GL HF!

 

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[SeanAngelo]

-snip-

there ya go

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($308.00 @ Centre Com) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($129.00 @ CPL Online) 

Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($99.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ IJK) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($67.00 @ PLE Computers) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($519.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Power Supply: Silverstone 500W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply  ($136.98 @ Mwave Australia) 

Total: $1346.98

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-29 01:17 EST+1100

[GarnetDevil]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($308.00 @ Centre Com) 

Motherboard: Asus SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK S ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($399.00 @ PLE Computers) 

Memory: Kingston Fury White Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($98.00 @ CPL Online) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ IJK) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($67.00 @ PLE Computers) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card  ($525.00 @ Centre Com) 

Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($145.00 @ CPL Online) 

Total: $1630.00

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-29 01:24 EST+1100

 

Your build is gonna look badass in white, if you want a cheaper mobo option, consider the Z97S SLI Krait from MSI

[_Flare]

 

there ya go

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($308.00 @ Centre Com) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($129.00 @ CPL Online) 

Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($99.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ IJK) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($67.00 @ PLE Computers) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($519.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Power Supply: Silverstone 500W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply  ($136.98 @ Mwave Australia) 

Total: $1346.98

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-29 01:17 EST+1100

 

Looking good, but I think I should clarify. I kinda forgot to add the fact that I'll be adding another 970 when I get enough money so I can get better performance then the 980. Looks good though, I was really considering the EVGA 970 over Asus', but I heard it was a great OCer, so it was a toss up. And considering the SSD, I was thinking of using an Intel or Samsung over the Kingston, but I hadn't edited the parts list in a while...  

 

Thanks you for your help!

[_Flare]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($308.00 @ Centre Com) 

Motherboard: Asus SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK S ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($399.00 @ PLE Computers) 

Memory: Kingston Fury White Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($98.00 @ CPL Online) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ IJK) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($67.00 @ PLE Computers) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card  ($525.00 @ Centre Com) 

Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($145.00 @ CPL Online) 

Total: $1630.00

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-29 01:24 EST+1100

 

Your build is gonna look badass in white, if you want a cheaper mobo option, consider the Z97S SLI Krait from MSI

 

Yeah, the case is a silver/white theme, but I'm hoping to stealth black the interior and place some white LEDS inside. One problem with your suggestions, I need an SFX PSU to fit the...special....layout of my case, and it only fits up to MATX motherboards, so I cant use the Krait or Sabertooth. 

 

But thank you anyway, all help is appreciated!

[GarnetDevil]

Yeah, the case is a silver/white theme, but I'm hoping to stealth black the interior and place some white LEDS inside. One problem with your suggestions, I need an SFX PSU to fit the...special....layout of my case, and it only fits up to MATX motherboards, so I cant use the Krait or Sabertooth. 

 

But thank you anyway, all help is appreciated!

If your case only allow MATX, get the Z97 Gryphon from Asus

[_Flare]

If your case only allow MATX, get the Z97 Gryphon from Asus

I was thinking about the Gryphon, but I've found the Maximus VII Gene for $10 more, so that was currently my highest recommendation. I just wanted to get a second opinion.

[SeanAngelo]

Looking good, but I think I should clarify. I kinda forgot to add the fact that I'll be adding another 970 when I get enough money so I can get better performance then the 980. Looks good though, I was really considering the EVGA 970 over Asus', but I heard it was a great OCer, so it was a toss up. And considering the SSD, I was thinking of using an Intel or Samsung over the Kingston, but I hadn't edited the parts list in a while...

 

Thanks you for your help!

the motherboard i put on for you doesnt support SLI so i changed it, for the psu you said you wanted a XFX PSU, so here's what i changed

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($308.00 @ Centre Com) 

Motherboard: Asus GRYPHON Z97 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($189.00 @ Scorptec) 

Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($99.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ IJK) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($67.00 @ PLE Computers) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($519.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Power Supply: XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($140.00 @ Mwave Australia) 

Total: $1410.00

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-29 02:01 EST+1100

[_Flare]

 

the motherboard i put on for you doesnt support SLI so i changed it, for the psu you said you wanted a XFX PSU, so here's what i changed

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($308.00 @ Centre Com) 

Motherboard: Asus GRYPHON Z97 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($189.00 @ Scorptec) 

Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($99.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ IJK) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($67.00 @ PLE Computers) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($519.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Power Supply: XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($140.00 @ Mwave Australia) 

Total: $1410.00

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-29 02:01 EST+1100

 

This is awkward, but I said SFX PSU, not XFX PSU....umm....

[_Flare]

 

the motherboard i put on for you doesnt support SLI so i changed it, for the psu you said you wanted a XFX PSU, so here's what i changed

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($308.00 @ Centre Com) 

Motherboard: Asus GRYPHON Z97 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($189.00 @ Scorptec) 

Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($99.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ IJK) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($67.00 @ PLE Computers) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($519.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Power Supply: XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($140.00 @ Mwave Australia) 

Total: $1410.00

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-29 02:01 EST+1100

 

Thank you anyway, the Gryphon is a very good mobo from what I've seen. Im tempted to go with the armour edition and plasti-dip it, or just get the Maximus Gene

[SeanAngelo]

Thank you anyway, the Gryphon is a very good mobo from what I've seen. Im tempted to go with the armour edition and plasti-dip it, or just get the Maximus Gene

hmmm, you could do but i'd prefer to save the extra money and spend it on other things. but that's up to you

[_Flare]

hmmm, you could do but i'd prefer to save the extra money and spend it on other things. but that's up to you

I spending the extra money to get a nicer mobo is important, and I don't see any parts of the system I could shore up with an extra $20.

 

Thanks for the input mate, any help is greatly appreciated!