MSI Z390 Gaming Plus Build/Recommendations

[SheevaBlaster]

Hello everyone!

 

So, long story short, I'm sort of new to this whole building a PC process, although I've been doing hours of research practically everyday for the past month. I think I'm starting to finalize my build, and I would ideally like to have this build completed by the new year.

 

Moreover, I'm trying to decide what type of memory I should put into this build. I was so set on buying the G. Skill Ripjaws v 16 (2 x 8gb) DDR4-3600 for this build ($70 which i thought was a steal), but after researching for the past two hours, it has come to my attention that higher frequency doesn't always equal higher performance and you could face future headaches regarding failure to boot and bottlenecking especially when you get into overclocking your system. With this, I decided to scale back in terms of frequency and I'm contemplating on getting the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16GB (2 x 8 gb) DDR4-3200 which is nice because it has RGB even though I place a higher emphasis on performance rather than aesthetics, but it's only $5 more than the G. Skill Ripjaws I was so set on buying.

 

I guess my overall question is can anyone spot any inadequecies in my current build that may hinder its performance? I hope to be able to play games like Rust, Squad, Battlefield, COD, and other similar titles at relatively high frame rates and relatively high settings while also having an optimal fast workstation that can be supplemental with work and my career path (not just entirely for gaming). Here's a link to my current outline for my build (Note: I already have the Intel i7 8700k purchased and the Thermaltake h200 tower just came in today). I know my monitor choice is a little underwhelming considering I'm planning on getting a 2070 super and it's only a 1080p monitor, it wasn't my first choice as a monitor but due to recent price fluctuations, I had to settle for this one. I'm contemplating selling the monitor after a few months and buying a newer one when prices drop back down again? I'm not even sure.

 

If anyone can provide me any type of feedback regarding the memory/my build in general that would be greatly appreciated! Most importantly, I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season.

 

Here's my build:
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i7-8700K 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/sxDzK8/intel-core-i7-8700k-37ghz-6-core-processor-bx80684i78700k) | $369.99 @ B&H 
**CPU Cooler** | [Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4vzv6h/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhd15) | $89.95 @ Amazon 
**Motherboard** | [MSI MPG Z390 GAMING PLUS ATX LGA1151 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/QDVD4D/msi-mpg-z390-gaming-plus-atx-lga1151-motherboard-mpg-z390-gaming-plus) | $143.99 @ Amazon 
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/QDhKHx/corsair-vengeance-rgb-pro-16gb-2-x-8gb-ddr4-3200-memory-cmw16gx4m2c3200c16) | $74.99 @ Best Buy 
**Storage** | [Samsung 970 Evo 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/P4ZFf7/samsung-970-evo-500gb-m2-2280-solid-state-drive-mz-v7e500bw) | $89.99 @ B&H 
**Video Card** | [Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB WINDFORCE OC 3X Video Card](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/tTCFf7/gigabyte-geforce-rtx-2070-super-8-gb-windforce-oc-3x-video-card-gv-n207swf3oc-8gd) | $560.29 @ Amazon 
**Case** | [Thermaltake H200 TG Snow RGB ATX Mid Tower Case](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/QrH8TW/thermaltake-h200-tg-rgb-atx-mid-tower-case-ca-1m3-00m6wn-00) | $132.88 @ Amazon 
**Power Supply** | [Corsair HX Platinum 750 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/LkM323/corsair-hx-platinum-750w-80-platinum-certified-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-cp-9020137-na) | $239.98 @ Amazon 
**Case Fan** | [Noctua NF-A14 industrialPPC-2000 IP67 PWM 107.41 CFM 140 mm Fan](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4s6BD3/noctua-case-fan-nfa14industrialppc2000ip67pwm) | $27.95 @ Amazon 
**Case Fan** | [Noctua NF-A14 industrialPPC-2000 IP67 PWM 107.41 CFM 140 mm Fan](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4s6BD3/noctua-case-fan-nfa14industrialppc2000ip67pwm) | $27.95 @ Amazon 
**Monitor** | [Asus ROG SWIFT PG248Q 24.0" 1920x1080 180 Hz Monitor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/pHGj4D/asus-rog-swift-pg248q-240-180hz-monitor-rog-swift-pg248q) | $249.99 @ Best Buy 
 | *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
 | **Total** | **$2007.95**
 

[Lorant]

Can you post the link itself rather than copying the text?  Much easier to read for us.

 

Also,  what's the reasoning behind the 8700K?  It's a generation old but still rocks.  Tho an AMD build with the 3600 is cheaper for a touch less performance.

[Jumballi]

Your build looks great, perfectly balanced, I’d personally get additional hard drive as secondary storage because games and files are getting larger. Also I’d get a 1tb nvme instead of 500gb because personal preference, just make sure it’s not qlc nand flash.

[Juular]

Quote

you could face future headaches regarding failure to boot

That mostly applies only to manual OC. XMP profiles are stable, at least with Intel. So stick with 3600MHz kit if it's cheaper.

This is for gaming right ?

I'd recommend Gigabyte Gaming X motherboard instead, better VRM.

You can get cheaper SSDs, Samsung ones are overpriced.

You don't need 250$ PSU for this, get Phanteks AMP 550W, it's enough.

be quiet! SW2 fans are equally good quality as Noctua ones, get 1000RPM versions for 15$ so they wouldn't sound like jet taking off.

There's cheaper 1080p displays, you can get 1440p 144Hz VA one for this price.

And there are cheaper\better GPUs too, either get perfectly good reference one for 500$ or EVGA XC with better cooling system for 520$.

[SheevaBlaster]

Just now, Lorant said:

Can you post the link itself rather than copying the text?  Much easier to read for us.

 

Also,  what's the reasoning behind the 8700K?  It's a generation old but still rocks.  Tho and AMD build with the 3600 is cheaper for a touch less performance.

Ughh I initially tried posting the link but it was not coming up as a URL even after I use the "insert other media" button. But now it seems to be working. My apologies!

 

And I'm not sure to be honest, I wanted to go intel for the ability to be able to use g sync and have that peace of mind. Plus my friend told me the i7 8700k was really  reliable and probably more versatile for my desires. I just kind of felt like I couldn't go wrong with that CPU especially since I don't really plan on overclocking my system any time soon. 

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	Intel Core i7-8700K 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor	$369.99 @ B&H
CPU Cooler	Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler	$89.95 @ Amazon
Motherboard	MSI MPG Z390 GAMING PLUS ATX LGA1151 Motherboard	$143.99 @ Amazon
Memory	Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory	$74.99 @ Best Buy
Storage	Samsung 970 Evo 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive	$89.99 @ B&H
Video Card	Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB WINDFORCE OC 3X Video Card	$603.99 @ Amazon
Case	Thermaltake H200 TG Snow RGB ATX Mid Tower Case	$132.88 @ Amazon
Power Supply	Corsair HX Platinum 750 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply	$239.98 @ Amazon
Case Fan	Noctua NF-A14 industrialPPC-2000 IP67 PWM 107.41 CFM 140 mm Fan	$27.95 @ Amazon
Case Fan	Noctua NF-A14 industrialPPC-2000 IP67 PWM 107.41 CFM 140 mm Fan	$27.95 @ Amazon
Monitor	Asus ROG SWIFT PG248Q 24.0" 1920x1080 180 Hz Monitor	$249.99 @ Best Buy
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	$2051.65
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-12-17 13:23 EST-0500

 

[Juular]

Quote

I wanted to go intel for the ability to be able to use g sync

Wat.

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor  (Purchased For $0.00)
CPU Cooler: Scythe FUMA 2 51.17 CFM CPU Cooler  ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z390 GAMING X ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($145.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 Memory  ($69.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Team MP34 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($103.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB XC GAMING Video Card  ($519.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake H200 TG RGB ATX Mid Tower Case  (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: Phanteks AMP 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: be quiet! Pure Wings 2 140 61.2 CFM 140 mm Fan  ($13.98 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: be quiet! Pure Wings 2 140 61.2 CFM 140 mm Fan  ($13.98 @ Amazon)
Monitor: MSI Optix MAG27CQ 27.0" 2560x1440 144 Hz Monitor  ($299.99 @ Walmart)
Total: $1317.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-12-17 13:34 EST-0500

 

Damn, how did you paste your build like that ?

[SheevaBlaster]

6 minutes ago, Jumballi said:

Your build looks great, perfectly balanced, I’d personally get additional hard drive as secondary storage because games and files are getting larger. Also I’d get a 1tb nvme instead of 500gb because personal preference, just make sure it’s not qlc nand flash.

My friend is planning on giving me a 180 internal ssd that he doesn't use and I'm planning on using it as a boot card. I'm not sure if that changes anything. I'm coming from a MacBook pro 2015 which had 256 Flash storage and I thought that was relatively plenty of storage for me. I can definitely see where you are coming from especially when considering a bigger Steam library

[SheevaBlaster]

9 minutes ago, Juular said:

Wat.

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor  (Purchased For $0.00)
CPU Cooler: Scythe FUMA 2 51.17 CFM CPU Cooler  ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z390 GAMING X ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($145.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 Memory  ($69.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Team MP34 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($103.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB XC GAMING Video Card  ($519.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake H200 TG RGB ATX Mid Tower Case  (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: Phanteks AMP 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: be quiet! Pure Wings 2 140 61.2 CFM 140 mm Fan  ($13.98 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: be quiet! Pure Wings 2 140 61.2 CFM 140 mm Fan  ($13.98 @ Amazon)
Monitor: MSI Optix MAG27CQ 27.0" 2560x1440 144 Hz Monitor  ($299.99 @ Walmart)
Total: $1317.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-12-17 13:34 EST-0500

 

Damn, how did you paste your build like that ?

I went into the overview page of PCPartPicker and right above "compatibility" at the middle-ish of the page they had a tiny URL. I copied that link, then went to this thread and at the bottom right of my response box it says "insert other media"... clicked "insert image from URL, and voila! but it didn't work for me when initially creating this post, I even tried going back to edit this post and do that and it still didn't work. Beats me!

[Jumballi]

14 minutes ago, SheevaBlaster said:

My friend is planning on giving me a 180 internal ssd that he doesn't use and I'm planning on using it as a boot card. I'm not sure if that changes anything. I'm coming from a MacBook pro 2015 which had 256 Flash storage and I thought that was relatively plenty of storage for me. I can definitely see where you are coming from especially when considering a bigger Steam library

Mac has to be efficient with storage since their 128gb is their best selling. Pc on the other hand is the wild west, With some triple a devs releasing games just under $200gb without expansions, and professional programs hinting to want to head in that direction soon, I’d drop the extra ssd for now if you have a boot ssd already. I emphasize instead to get a 2-4tb hard drive. It’s not fast, but you just install it and actually forget about it since it’ll take a long while to fill. Eventually look at replacing the boot ssd, but don’t spend more where you don’t have to at this time.