First build

[chronig]

I am working on putting together a parts list for my very first build. My budget is $1500 USD. I am looking to build something with decent gaming performance with the possibility for upgrading and expanding as more funds become available in the future. My primary use, however, is academic. I am not adding any peripherals at this time as I simply cannot afford them. The computer I am currently running is a compaq presario that I bought from Best Buy in 2007; good enough, but outdated. Each of the parts that I have chosen come from some combination of a desirable price point, upgradability/expandability, and manufacturer reputation. 

 

Case:

Corsair Carbide Series Air 540 High Airflow ATX Cube Case CC-9011030-WW - Black

 

Processor:

AMD FX 4-Core Black Edition FX-4300, FD4300WMHKBOX

 

Motherboard:

ECS Motherboard AMD 990FX/ SB950 ATX DDR3 1333 AMD - AM3+ Motherboard A990FXM-A

 

Memory:

Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (CMZ16GX3M2A16​00C10)

 

SSD:

Samsung Electronics 840 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Single Unit Version Internal Solid State Drive MZ-7TE250BW

 

Graphics Card:

Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 2GB GDDR5 DVI-I/DVI-D/HD​MI/DP Dual-X with Boost and OC Version PCI-Express BF4 Edition Graphics Card (11217-01-25G)

 

Power Supply:

EVGA SuperNOVA NEX750G 80PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V/EPS12V 750W Power Supply 120-PG-0750-GR

 

Optical Drive:

Samsung Optical Drive SH-224DB/BEBE

 

Any thoughts would be helpful, really. My biggest concern is bottlenecking: Will my performance suffer greatly from the parts that I have chosen?

[WoodenMarker]

Oh, but you can afford peripherals. 

The question is: Do you need them?

 

There's no bottleneck in the build but it's really unbalanced. 

Read before posting: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/

[Bloodyvalley]

Oh, but you can afford peripherals. 

The question is: Do you need them?

 

There's no bottleneck in the build but it's really unbalanced. 

Read before posting: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/

Pretty much what he said.

[dizmo]

I'd look at a better CPU, question why you need 16gb of RAM, and ask if you really need the optical drive.

PCPartPicker would help us pick apart your choices, and feast like the ravenous dags we are.

[TheSLSAMG]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($229.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($33.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard:  MSI Z87-G55 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($124.99 @ TigerDirect) 

Memory:  Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage:  Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($74.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card:  MSI GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card  ($684.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case:  Corsair Air 540 ATX Desktop Case  ($149.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply:  Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ Microcenter) 

Total: $1486.90

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-12 20:10 EST-0500)

 

This will pretty much destroy anything else in the $1000-$1750 budget.

[Bloodyvalley]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($229.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($33.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard:  MSI Z87-G55 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($124.99 @ TigerDirect) 

Memory:  Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage:  Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($74.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card:  MSI GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card  ($684.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case:  Corsair Air 540 ATX Desktop Case  ($149.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply:  Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ Microcenter) 

Total: $1486.90

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-12 20:10 EST-0500)

 

This will pretty much destroy anything else in the $1000-$1750 budget.

 

I beg to differ

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2AkMC

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2AkMC/by_merchant/

Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2AkMC/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($294.99 @ Newegg)

Motherboard: ASRock B85 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($77.55 @ Newegg)

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($105.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.98 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card  ($545.91 @ Newegg)

Case: Corsair C70 Gunmetal Black (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($148.98 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: SeaSonic 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($100.98 @ SuperBiiz)

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer  ($16.98 @ OutletPC)

Total: $1351.36

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-12 20:20 EST-0500)

 

 

This is also very nice aesthetically (black theme)

[TheSLSAMG]

I beg to differ

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2AkGo

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2AkGo/by_merchant/

Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2AkGo/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($294.99 @ NCIX US)

Motherboard: ASRock B85 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($77.55 @ Newegg)

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($105.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.98 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card  ($683.98 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: Corsair C70 Gunmetal Black (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($148.98 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: SeaSonic 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($100.98 @ SuperBiiz)

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer  ($16.98 @ OutletPC)

Total: $1489.43

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-12 20:17 EST-0500)

 

 

 

This is also very nice aesthetically (black theme)

Nope. In gaming, mine would destroy yours.

 

@helping @WoodenMarker @CoolBeans What do you three think?

[Bloodyvalley]

Nope. In gaming, mine would destroy yours.

 

@helping @WoodenMarker @CoolBeans What do you three think?

I edited it because the GPU was $650 instead of $550

 

OP, you can now buy some peripherals!

[helping]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($229.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($33.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard:  MSI Z87-G55 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($124.99 @ TigerDirect) 

Memory:  Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage:  Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($74.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card:  MSI GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card  ($684.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case:  Corsair Air 540 ATX Desktop Case  ($149.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply:  Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ Microcenter) 

Total: $1486.90

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-12 20:10 EST-0500)

 

This will pretty much destroy anything else in the $1000-$1750 budget.

 

I beg to differ

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2AkMC

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2AkMC/by_merchant/

Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2AkMC/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($294.99 @ Newegg)

Motherboard: ASRock B85 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($77.55 @ Newegg)

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($105.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.98 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card  ($545.91 @ Newegg)

Case: Corsair C70 Gunmetal Black (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($148.98 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: SeaSonic 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($100.98 @ SuperBiiz)

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer  ($16.98 @ OutletPC)

Total: $1351.36

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-12 20:20 EST-0500)

 

 

This is also very nice aesthetically (black theme)

Nope. In gaming, mine would destroy yours.

 

@helping @WoodenMarker @CoolBeans What do you three think?

 

First build is definitely going to be better for gaymin. 

 

aside from that b85 chipset and locked CPU zzzzzz

 

I would cut budget on the case a bit and get a better PSU for more space for SLI and activities in the future.

[Bloodyvalley]

First build is definitely going to be better for gaymin. 

 

aside from that b85 chipset and locked CPU zzzzzz

Yes but he can buy peripherals in mine and a 780ti is OP for 1080p gaming, sir. He's a student, what makes you think he'll want to overclock?

[TheSLSAMG]

I edited it because the GPU was $650 instead of $550

 

OP, you can now buy some peripherals!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($229.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($33.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard:  MSI Z87-G55 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($124.99 @ TigerDirect) 

Memory:  Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card:  MSI GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card  ($684.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case:  BitFenix Shinobi ATX Mid Tower Case  ($65.41 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply:  Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ Microcenter) 

Total: $1327.33

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-12 20:23 EST-0500)

 

Now he can buy peripherals and have better gaming performance! And by the way, an SSD isn't everything.

[WoodenMarker]

Nope. In gaming, mine would destroy yours.

The build with a 780 Ti is definitely better for gaming but I wouldn't go as far as saying it would destroy a similar build with a 780. It's better...by a fair bit...but then again, it's not that much.

[Bloodyvalley]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($229.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($33.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard:  MSI Z87-G55 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($124.99 @ TigerDirect) 

Memory:  Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card:  MSI GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card  ($684.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case:  BitFenix Shinobi ATX Mid Tower Case  ($65.41 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply:  Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ Microcenter) 

Total: $1327.33

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-12 20:23 EST-0500)

 

Now he can buy peripherals and have better gaming performance! And by the way, an SSD isn't everything.

 

So much for that ugly ass case though.

[TheSLSAMG]

Yes but he can buy peripherals in mine and a 780ti is OP for 1080p gaming, sir. He's a student, what makes you think he'll want to overclock?

Nope. I'm a student and I love overclocking. Also, while the 780Ti is a bit overkill now, he will be able to use it for a longer amount of time while achieving good gaming performance, making my rig better.

[TheSLSAMG]

So much for that ugly ass case though.

It's a well built, solid case. I had one, and it did everything it needed to do. I think it looks pretty good, although the Black version is better. By the way, I didn't ask about what you think of it.

[helping]

Yes but he can buy peripherals in mine and a 780ti is OP for 1080p gaming, sir. He's a student, what makes you think he'll want to overclock?

Peripherals are cheap in comparison and can be added later. Can't spend 100$ and tack on a TI to a 780 unless you buy an EVGA one and do that step up thingy within a month. You can spend 100$ later and move from a rubber dung keyboard to mechanical. 

 

It's OP for today, but what will it be in 2 years from now? What if he buys a new monitor? I believe this would fall under "upgradability"

 

He's a student, what makes you think he doesn't want to overclock? 

[WoodenMarker]

PCPartPicker part list

This will pretty much destroy anything else in the $1000-$1750 budget.

While we're on the topic of destroying builds...

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2Al4o Just saying..

[TheSLSAMG]

While we're on the topic of destroying builds...

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2Al4o Just saying..

Fuck, that's one destroying build. Well, I was proven wrong.

[Bloodyvalley]

It's a well built, solid case. I had one, and it did everything it needed to do. I think it looks pretty good, although the Black version is better. By the way, I didn't ask about what you think of it.

Yeah right, you have a C70 case. You know how they are. They're amazing. Let OP decide which build he prefers now.

[Bloodyvalley]

While we're on the topic of destroying builds...

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2Al4o Just saying..

Dat CPU bottleneck.

 

 

Who would need 2 780Ti's anyway?

[TheSLSAMG]

Yeah right, you have a C70 case. You know how they are. They're amazing. Let OP decide which build he prefers now.

I do have a C70, and I fucking love it. If you're trying to get the best price/performance though, WoodenMarker's build and my build are both superior to yours. OP may not completely want just that, but you never know.

[WoodenMarker]

Dat CPU bottleneck.

Who would need 2 780Ti's anyway?

They're 780's, not 780 Ti's.

It shouldn't bottleneck. 

[TheSLSAMG]

Dat CPU bottleneck.

 

 

Who would need 2 780Ti's anyway?

There pretty much is no CPU bottleneck. It's a strong CPU. It keeps up with an i7 for gaming.

[Bloodyvalley]

They're 780's, not 780 Ti's.

It shouldn't bottleneck. 

Do you actually think 2 780s will fit in a Micro ATX case?

[CoolBeans]

Nope. In gaming, mine would destroy yours.

 

@helping @WoodenMarker @CoolBeans What do you three think?

Poop motherboard PSU case, lesser GPU, locked i7