Gaming & 3D Rendering Build

The_Predator · September 20, 2014

Hello Everyone,

I have recently decided to consider upgrading my current Gaming PC Build. For some time, I've wanted a 'high-end' Gaming PC; I'm posting here for your constructive criticism, feedback, thoughts and opinions.
Your feedback will be greatly appreciated!

Ideally, I am looking to build a 'High-End' PC, which is to some extent 'future-proof' which can be both used for Gaming as well as 3D Rendering.
In this build, there will be several components of which have already been purchased, and used in a previous PC Gaming Build, of which, I am now "upgrading", these components will be stated are stated as "(Purchased)".
Location: UK
Aim: Gaming, Web Browsing and 3D Rendering
Peripherals: These will not be included in the aforementioned build, with the exception of the OS (Operating System)
Monitor(s): ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q. Thoughts?

Headset: Astro A40
Keyboard: Logitech K120
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1

Here's the build:

PCPartPicker part list: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/s2rfVn

Price breakdown by merchant: http://uk.pcpartpick...Vn/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor (£245.94 @ Aria PC)

Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII FORMULA ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£253.16 @ Scan.co.uk)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory (£296.54 @ Amazon UK)

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£176.34 @ Aria PC)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For £48.68)

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) (£469.18 @ Aria PC)

Case: Phanteks PH-ES614PC_BK ATX Full Tower Case (Purchased For £77.53)

Power Supply: Corsair 760W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£118.00 @ Aria PC)

Optical Drive: Asus BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer (Purchased For £79.99)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Professional (OEM) (64-bit) (£104.97 @ Ebuyer)

Case Fan: Aerocool DS 140mm Black 93.4 CFM 140mm Fan (£17.90 @ Overclockers.co.uk)

Other: Cryorig R1 Ultimate (Purchased For £58.98)

Total: £2523.79

Total (Not Yet Purchased): £2258.61

Generated by PCPartPicker

Thank you in advance.

- Pred

Megazero · September 20, 2014

Hello Everyone,

I have recently decided to consider upgrading my current Gaming PC Build. For some time, I've wanted a 'high-end' Gaming PC; I'm posting here for your constructive criticism, feedback, thoughts and opinions.

Your feedback will be greatly appreciated!

Ideally, I am looking to build a 'High-End' PC, which is to somewhat 'future-proof' which can be both used for Gaming as well as 3D Rendering.

In this build, there will be several components of which have already been purchased, and used in a previous PC Gaming Build, of which, I am now "upgrading", these components will be stated are stated as "(Purchased)".

Location: UK

Aim: Gaming, Web Browsing and 3D Rendering

Peripherals: These will not be included in the aforementioned build, with the exception of the OS (Operating System)

Monitors: Have not decided. Thoughts?

Headset: Astro A40

Keyboard: Logitech K120

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1

Here's the build:

[PCPartPicker part list: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/dVW8P6

Price breakdown by merchant: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/dVW8P6/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor (Purchased For £230.00)

Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII FORMULA ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£253.16 @ Scan.co.uk)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory (£296.54 @ Amazon UK)

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£176.34 @ Aria PC)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For £48.68)

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) (£469.18 @ Aria PC)

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) (£469.18 @ Aria PC)

Case: Phanteks PH-ES614PC_BK ATX Full Tower Case (Purchased For £77.53)

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (Purchased For £48.33)

Optical Drive: Asus BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer (Purchased For £79.99)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Professional (OEM) (64-bit) (£104.97 @ Ebuyer)

Case Fan: Aerocool DS 140mm Black 93.4 CFM 140mm Fan (£17.90 @ Overclockers.co.uk)

Case Fan: Aerocool DS 140mm Black 93.4 CFM 140mm Fan (£17.90 @ Overclockers.co.uk)

Case Fan: Aerocool DS 140mm Black 93.4 CFM 140mm Fan (£17.90 @ Overclockers.co.uk)

Case Fan: Aerocool DS 140mm Black 93.4 CFM 140mm Fan (£17.90 @ Overclockers.co.uk)

Case Fan: Aerocool DS 140mm Black 93.4 CFM 140mm Fan (£17.90 @ Overclockers.co.uk)

Case Fan: Aerocool DS 140mm Black 93.4 CFM 140mm Fan (£17.90 @ Overclockers.co.uk)

Case Fan: Aerocool DS 140mm Black 93.4 CFM 140mm Fan (£17.90 @ Overclockers.co.uk)

Other: Cryorig R1 Ultimate (Purchased For £58.98)

Total: £2438.18

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-20 10:37 BST+0100

Thank you in advance.

- Pred

There's no such thing as "future proof" :3

Anyway, first of all change the CPU to a i7 4790k, and Mobo to a Z97 mobo. The Maximus Fomular is a good but very expensive mobo, so think carefully if you are going to use all of it feature or not, else get something like MSI Z97 G45 Gaming Mobo instead, which is much cheaper while still a very good mobo

We all know that reference cooler of the GTX 980 is good, but it's not as good as an after market cooler, so if you are not going to make a full custom water cooler loop (in which case get the reference cooler is a good idea since it's easier to remove the reference cooler) then get an GTX 980 with an after market cooler, for example we have G1 from Gigabyte, and my personal favorite Twinfrozr from MSI

I know PCPartPicker say 587W is enough for the system, but getting a 600W PSU is really cutting it close, you wont leave any head room for overclocking (which I assume you will, given the K version of CPU and all) so get atleast a 700W PSU instead. Corsair is fine but Seasonic is trusted by more people

And why dont you choose any CPU Cooler? if you dont know what to choose, I'd suggest a 212 Evo for no to low OCing, or X61 All in one Liquid Cooler for the extreme use Ofc you always have the option to do a full custom water cooler loop for both CPU and GPU

For monitor, I'd suggest this for normal use (60Hz refresh rate but 1440p + IPS panel, 27 inch)

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/benq-monitor-gw2765ht

Or this for 144Hz refresh rate but ofc no IPS panel, also 27 inch but 1080p

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-vg278he

And this extreme one for 144Hz refresh rate, no IPS, 27 inch 1440p, G Sync

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-90lm00u0b01370

EDITED: I didnt see your "purchased" tag there... anyway, same opinion with the mobo, if you dont use all of it's feature then get a MSI Z87 G45 or GD65 for more SATA port instead of the Maximus, you might want to change that PSU sooner or later, but it should barely work for now. Also I didnt see that CPU cooler at the end, you dont need a new one then

The_Predator · September 20, 2014

There's no such thing as "future proof" :3

Anyway, first of all change the CPU to a i7 4790k, and Mobo to a Z97 mobo. The Maximus Fomular is a good but very expensive mobo, so think carefully if you are going to use all of it feature or not, else get something like MSI Z97 G45 Gaming Mobo instead, which is much cheaper while still a very good mobo

We all know that reference cooler of the GTX 980 is good, but it's not as good as an after market cooler, so if you are not going to make a full custom water cooler loop (in which case get the reference cooler is a good idea since it's easier to remove the reference cooler) then get an GTX 980 with an after market cooler, for example we have G1 from Gigabyte, and my personal favorite Twinfrozr from MSI

I know PCPartPicker say 587W is enough for the system, but getting a 600W PSU is really cutting it close, you wont leave any head room for overclocking (which I assume you will, given the K version of CPU and all) so get atleast a 700W PSU instead. Corsair is fine but Seasonic is trusted by more people

And why dont you choose any CPU Cooler? if you dont know what to choose, I'd suggest a 212 Evo for no to low OCing, or X61 All in one Liquid Cooler for the extreme use Ofc you always have the option to do a full custom water cooler loop for both CPU and GPU

For monitor, I'd suggest this for normal use (60Hz refresh rate but 1440p + IPS panel, 27 inch)

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/benq-monitor-gw2765ht

Or this for 144Hz refresh rate but ofc no IPS panel, also 27 inch but 1080p

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-vg278he

And this extreme one for 144Hz refresh rate, no IPS, 27 inch 1440p, G Sync

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-90lm00u0b01370

EDITED: I didnt see your "purchased" tag there... anyway, same opinion with the mobo, if you dont use all of it's feature then get a MSI Z87 G45 or GD65 for more SATA port instead of the Maximus, you might want to change that PSU sooner or later, but it should barely work for now. Also I didnt see that CPU cooler at the end, you dont need a new one then

Thank you for your response, Megazero. After consideration of your feedback, this is the 'updated' build:

PCPartPicker part list: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/s2rfVn

Price breakdown by merchant: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/s2rfVn/by_merchant/