Build-Off Week 47/48: FPS Is Just a Number

[CornOnJacob]

Welcome to Week 47/48 of the LTT Build-Off! The rules and guidelines can be found here.

There has been a debate recently about whether FPS matters. "FPS is just a number," some say. Well, it is. But it should be a very high number. That's where you come in--make a build with a high refresh rate monitor (>60 Hz) and the horsepower to push it.

Budget: $1,400
Speakers/Headphones: No
Mouse: No
Keyboard: No
Monitor: Yes
Submissions: June 13th through 16th
Voting: June 17th through 19th 26th

 

NOTE: Rather than have a 5-way tie, I'm extending the contest another week. Please cast your votes for the winner!

[Thebman712]

os?

[CoolBeans]

os?

no

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor  ($143.99 @ NCIX US) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($29.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($114.00 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($104.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.92 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($399.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($99.99 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($88.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($249.23 @ Amazon) 

Total: $1364.07

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-13 20:35 EDT-0400

[Peter Vaughan Truslow]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QscGnQ

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

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($74.99 @ Newegg) 

Motherboard: Asus Z97M-PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($134.99 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($76.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($84.98 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($629.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.98 @ OutletPC) 

Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($94.99 @ TigerDirect) 

Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($249.23 @ Amazon) 

Total: $1386.14

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-13 20:37 EDT-0400

 

processor would be overclocked to 4.6GHz on stock cooler, as proven possible by digital storm

 

name: in parallel with the name of the GPU, I dub this build "Windy"

[connorpiper]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($233.97 @ OutletPC) (The new 3570K, what can go wrong?)

CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($89.99 @ Best Buy) 

Motherboard: Asus Z87-K ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($117.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($87.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: A-Data XPG SX900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($74.99 @ Amazon) (I love this SSD, it's great)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB Superclocked ACX Video Card  ($249.99 @ Newegg) (Good for 1080p gaming, non Nvidia Surround) 

Case: NZXT H440 (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($119.99 @ TigerDirect) 

Power Supply: Corsair RM 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($104.98 @ Amazon) 

Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($249.23 @ Amazon) 

Total: $1384.10

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-13 21:31 EDT-0400Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-13 20:48 EDT-0400

 

Would be called "The Silent Treatment"

Zero RPM PSU and a Quiet case

. 

[elan2468]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($239.99 @ Amazon) - The latest and greatest of the the intel i5 a great option and will work great for overclocking and pushing any overclock

CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($59.99 @ Micro Center) Its an aio deal with it bro, in the nzxt h440 airflow is not the worlds most optimized thing, so there is a need for an aio its a good quality cooler and will get the job done and do it well. 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($128.99 @ Amazon) I use this motherboard myself and it is awesome, motherboards do not make a difference in fps (see spoilers) and it has a few bells and whistles to let it compete with the big guys at a higher price point.

Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($73.99 @ Newegg) Nice good quality ram from corsair not much more to say here 

Storage: PNY Optima 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($89.99 @ Newegg) A 240gb ssd at an amazing price, good quality, and if your looking for storage space and speed easily changeable with a sshd

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB PCS+ Video Card  ($351.30 @ Newegg) - a great video card with an amazing cooler, at this price is a complete steal, easily competes with a 780 and even surpasses it. (see spoilers)

Case: NZXT H440 (Red/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($117.39 @ Amazon) - a sexy case that will keep this system cool and quiet 

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($84.99 @ NCIX US) a great psu again use it myself and can add another 290 with breathing room to spare.

Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($249.23 @ Amazon) A great monitor 144hz and 1ms response time so great for fps or any hardcore gaming

Total: $1395.86

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-13 20:29 EDT-0400

Everything has the classic red/black color scheme, and is realistically balanced out as if in a real situation 

http://anandtech.com/bench/product/1036?vs=1068 

[Crickers]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($189.99 @ Micro Center) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($29.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($143.99 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($72.98 @ OutletPC) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($84.98 @ OutletPC) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.92 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Superclocked ACX Video Card  ($479.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Diablotek CPA-6170 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ NCIX US) 

Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($249.23 @ Amazon) 

Total: $1389.04

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-13 20:58 EDT-0400

[SpyRosL]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($239.99 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($89.99 @ Best Buy) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($118.99 @ Amazon) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($74.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: A-Data XPG SX900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($74.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.92 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB PCS+ Video Card  ($351.30 @ Newegg) 

Case: Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($57.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($84.99 @ NCIX US) 

Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($249.23 @ Amazon) 

Total: $1395.38

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-13 21:41 EDT-0400

 

Balanced gaming PC is EVERYTHING.

Motherboard/RAM/Graphics/case card coordinated to black/red color scheme for users who care about aesthetics.

 

This i5 paired with one of the best performing coolers on the market will give you a maximum overclock without breaking a sweat.

 

I chose the powercolor 290 because it has an excellent cooling and the price/performance is just crazy! With this aftermarket cooler,you can overclock the card with a press of a button and give you a performance similar to the 290X with ~$200 less.

 

The power supply is 750 watts because it's apparently on sale and it costs less than the same psu with 650 watts which gives you great expandability by letting you add a second 290 for crossfiyah.

 

 

Edited June 14, 2014 by SpyRosL

[purplepenguin202]

 Budget is just a number

Just get an 8800gt and use it as a coaster and contemplate what you're doing over a nice beer like Logan does

 

EDIT:  Pricing links:

http://www.amazon.com/Nvidia-GeForce-Gaming-Graphics-Adapter/dp/B00K362LAS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403180217&sr=8-1&keywords=geforce+8800gt  8800GT, should push decent fps on minecraft.

Beer:  6-pack for like 20 bucks or whatever.  Leaves you quite a budget to fund whatever it is you contemplate over that beer.

[CornOnJacob]

PCPartPicker part list

Monitor: Dell E2314H 60Hz 23.0" Monitor  ($159.99 @ Amazon) (1080p 5ms, great for the GTX 760)

Total: $1399.89

You need a monitor with a refresh rate greater than 60 Hz. Please update your entry. Thanks!

[Faceman]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qgLFK8
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qgLFK8/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($239.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($89.99 @ Best Buy)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($118.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($75.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($84.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.92 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB PCS+ Video Card  ($351.30 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case  ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($249.23 @ Amazon)
Total: $1398.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-13 21:10 EDT-0400

[skullbringer]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($74.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($62.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($84.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($68.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.92 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($709.66 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT H230 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($249.23 @ Amazon)
Total: $1373.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-13 22:51 EDT-0400

 

'cause Pentium power http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2014/06/05/scan-overclocks-pentium-g3258-to-4-5ghz/1

[dragoon20005]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($169.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 240M 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI A88X-G45 GAMING ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($118.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($104.99 @ Best Buy)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB PCS+ Video Card  ($351.30 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master N600 Windowed ATX Mid Tower Case  ($95.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Cooler Master VSM 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($249.23 @ Amazon)
Total: $1345.43
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-15 09:14 EDT-0400

AMD build among the Intel

[Izaya Orihara]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($74.99 @ Newegg)

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($62.98 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($84.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($68.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.92 @ Amazon)

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($709.66 @ Amazon)

Case: NZXT H230 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg)

Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($249.23 @ Amazon)

Total: $1373.73

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-13 22:51 EDT-0400

 

'cause Pentium power http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2014/06/05/scan-overclocks-pentium-g3258-to-4-5ghz/1

You'd need a z97 board. 

[skullbringer]

You'd need a z97 board. 

you can oc devils canyon on h97 as well.

[Izaya Orihara]

you can oc devils canyon on h97 as well.

Good to know. 

[skullbringer]

What? Source? I call bs on that untill I get a source. 

http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=64893/Overclocking+On+H97+With+MSI/

[Izaya Orihara]

http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=64893/Overclocking+On+H97+With+MSI/

Edited my previous post. Also how crap that makes it like one of the best budget CPU's. 

[skullbringer]

Edited my previous post. Also how crap that makes it like one of the best budget CPU's. 

sorry for not giving a source right away. thought it was common enthusiast knowledge

[Izaya Orihara]

sorry for not giving a source right away. thought it was common enthusiast knowledge

I was thinkign that the chip had no reason to be alive because why would you but a pentium in a z97 board that's 100$+ but that makes it waay better. Also yes CPU's are alive. 

[skullbringer]

I was thinkign that the chip had no reason to be alive because why would you but a pentium in a z97 board that's 100$+ but that makes it waay better. Also yes CPU's are alive. 

well, yes youre right, I guess it was kind of an easter egg that intel put into their h97 bios.

[Izaya Orihara]

well, yes youre right, I guess it was kind of an easter egg that intel put into their h97 bios.

It also says it works on b85 AND MSI has proven that Devil's Canyon CPUs can overclock on H97, H87, and B85 chipset motherboards ANNND MSI claims it to also work with all Devil's Canyon CPUs

[skullbringer]

It also says it works on b85 AND MSI has proven that Devil's Canyon CPUs can overclock on H97, H87, and B85 chipset motherboards ANNND MSI claims it to also work with all Devil's Canyon CPUs

well, yes youre right, I guess it was kind of an easter egg that intel put into their bioses

[f22luke]

This build incorporates the latest i5 K skew from Intel, a custom cooled R9-290, Z97 motherboard with excellent audio, 1866 Mhz memory, and a 256 GB SSD.  All that goodness is compressed into a Corsair Obsidian 350D Window edition so it saves space and looks good doing it.

 

 

 
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($239.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($121.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.92 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB PCS+ Video Card  ($351.30 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Enermax 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($249.23 @ B&H)
Total: $1393.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-16 14:36 EDT-0400

[ilikemacandpc]

The greatest power in the smallest space has arrived. Its dual 240mm radiator will allow the 4670k to OC further than on lower end cooling solutions. The R9 290 is also a well cooled unit that can OC further than a reference card and at lower temperatures as well. Fast ram helps too in certain gaming situations, so I went with some 2400MHz RAM that will look and perform well. 

 

Furthemore, the monitor is a 144Hz BenQ model that ALSO ha 3D capabilities, which will further enhance your experience if 3D is your thing.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($189.99 @ Micro Center) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 240M 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($64.99 @ Newegg) 

Motherboard: MSI Z87I AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($115.19 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Kingston Beast 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($104.99 @ Best Buy) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.92 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Black Edition Double Dissipation Video Card  ($381.98 @ Newegg) 

Case: BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($49.99 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ Amazon) 

Monitor: BenQ XL2411Z 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($259.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $1360.02

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-15 17:00 EDT-0400