Building a new rig - need help

[skimo]

Hello everybody.

 

Forgive me, this is my first post here on the LTT forums, and I didn't know where to post this thread exactly.

 

I'm currently building a new rig, though I'm not that knowledgeable when it comes to compatibility, so I've come here to ask for help.

 

First off, let me list what I currently have in mind:

 

Case: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Carbide-Series-CC-9011014-WW-Mid-Tower/dp/B006I2H0YS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415147291&sr=8-1&keywords=300r

Drive: http://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-BH16NS40-AUAR10B-Internal-BD-RW-Retail/dp/B00AK29B26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415147646&sr=8-1&keywords=LG+BH16NS40

HD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/1TB-inch-Internal-Hard-Drive/dp/B0088PUEPK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1414359539&sr=8-2&keywords=Western+Digital+WD10EZEX+Blue+1TB

SSD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT256MX100SSD1-256GB-Includes-Spacer/dp/B00KFAGCWK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415147318&sr=8-1&keywords=crucial+mx100

PSU: http://www.amazon.co.uk/CS650M-PLUS-Power-supply-internal/dp/B00IMN44NG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414359680&sr=8-1&keywords=Corsair+CP-9020077-EU+CS650M

RAM: http://www.amazon.co.uk/HyperX-Series-1600MHz-Memory-Module/dp/B00J8E8YES/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1414359732&sr=8-5&keywords=kingston+hyper+16gb

Motherboard: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mod-1150-ASUS-Z97-A-Motherboard/dp/B00K80MMJ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414359807&sr=8-1&keywords=+Asus+Z97-A

CPU: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-i5-4690K-Processor-Graphics-LGA-1150/dp/B00KPRWB9G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414359862&sr=8-1&keywords=i5+4690k

CPU cooler: http://www.amazon.co.uk/NH-D14-Processor-LGA1366-LGA1156-LGA1155/dp/B002VKVZ1A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415147552&sr=8-1&keywords=noctua+nhd14

GPU: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-NVIDIA-Gaming-Graphics-Express/dp/B00NQ862GY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414359890&sr=8-1&keywords=gigabyte+gtx+970

 

Now I have a few questions:

 

The price for this setup here in Germany would be about 1300 € and that is pretty much my limit. (I've listed the amazon.co.uk pages just for language reasons)

 

1. Are all these parts compatible with each other? The RAM for example wasn't listed on the list from the Asus Z97-A motherboard.

 

2. Is the PSU okay? I've heard I should rather get the Corsair RM650 (or 550 for that matter) - what's the difference between a RM and a CS psu? Should I get a completely different psu, perhaps?

 

3. I'm still not too sure about the case. I've heard, the 300R gather dust really easily, and the psu creates noise since it sits directly on the metal instead of a rubber material. Are those true?

 

Those are the questions I have for now. I'm sure I'll remember some more when I get home.

 

But for starters, that's it. Thank you very much for your time! Hopefully you can help me.

 

~skimo

[Faceman]

@skimo

 

Welcome to the forum, be sure to follow your topics, and in order for someone to see that you have replied, you need to quote or "@" them.

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://de.pcpartpicker.com/p/3cjHJx
Price breakdown by merchant: http://de.pcpartpicker.com/p/3cjHJx/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  (€218.72 @ Amazon Deutschland)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  (€107.98 @ Hardwareversand)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-AR ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  (€136.45 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Memory: G.Skill Trident X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  (€79.79 @ Home of Hardware DE)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (€59.90 @ Caseking)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (€54.90 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card  (€315.73 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Case: Corsair 450D ATX Mid Tower Case  (€113.23 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (€114.64 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Total: €1201.34
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-06 10:08 CET+0100

 

It is all compatible.  Just because a RAM isn't listed or verified doesn't mean it is not compatible.  No one has problems running 1.65v RAM, I do it, everyone does it.  Also, you only need 8GB of RAM for gaming.

 

Get an EVGA SuperNOVA G2 PSU.  It is of much better build quality, has better features, less noise, flat black cables, and a 10 year warranty.  Also, if you ever decide to go SLI, you will have a strong enough PSU.

 

I couldn't find one on PcP, but if you can find one, buy a Phanteks Enthoo Pro or Phanteks Enthoo Luxe Case.  They are incredible.

 

[athesean1]

why do you need 16 gb of ram with an i5

[Str_Mape]

I'd go with this (I'm a big fan of storage), how ever if you really do want / need 16GB ram you can adjust the build and still keep it under €1300.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  (€218.72 @ Amazon Deutschland) 

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U14S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler  (€69.90 @ Amazon Deutschland) 

Motherboard: ASRock Z97M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  (€92.89 @ Amazon Deutschland) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  (€74.71 @ Hardwareversand) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (€182.89 @ Amazon Deutschland) 

Storage: Toshiba  3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (€97.86 @ Home of Hardware DE) 

Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card  (€315.73 @ Amazon Deutschland) 

Case: Silverstone PS07B MicroATX Mini Tower Case  (€77.01 @ Amazon Deutschland) 

Power Supply: be quiet! 480W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (€83.49 @ Amazon Deutschland) 

Total: €1213.20

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-06 10:25 CET+0100

[skimo]

@Faceman - wow, that case looks amazing! Definitely prefer it over the 300R. I have absolutely no experience with liquid cooling, so I tried to stay on the safe side with the air cooler... but I'm tempted to try it. Would that water cooler make much of a difference performance or noise wise? Also considering buying the G.Skill Trident X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory, though I'm a bit hesitant about that.

 

Also, what's the difference between a Z97-A and a Z97-AR motherboard? Sorry for being so clueless >.>

 

@athesean1 - I don't know why, I just like having much RAM, since once I open something, I rarely close it again. With PhotoShop, WoW (or any other game), tens of tabs in Chrome, then all the Ts³, Steam, Skype, Winamp stuff open, I just feel save having 16GB of RAM, even if I'll hardly need it.

 

@Str_Mape - I decided to go with the Samsung 840 Pro Series SSD with 256GB storage (Link) and the Seagate ST1000DM003 1TB HD (Link) since that is completely enough for me, but thank you for your input! You listed the Noctua NH-U14S cooler - would you mind explaining why not the NH-D14?

 

To the topic of PSUs: I'd rather not go over 650W, since electricity doesn't pay itself (unfortunately^^) and I don't plan on going SLI anytime soon. Would you have any recommendations?

 

Thank you all for your responses! It really helps alot.

 

Edit: Somehow "@Str_Mape" doesn't want to work...

[Faceman]

@skimo

The difference between Z97-A and AR is color. The color on the AR is better.

The CPU coolers are close in performance. The H105 being better, but louder. It will look a lot better though. You can't go wrong with either as they both perform very well.

Don't be hesitant about the RAM. I run 1.65v RAM, so does everyone else. It's perfectly fine.

I still recommend the SuperNOVA G2 750. Amazing quality PSU with a 10 year warranty, no fan spin mode, some of the best build quality, and if you ever decide to go SLI you won't have to buy a new PSU. If you went with only 650 and eventually wanted to SLI, you would need a new PSU and that would cost you more than a few years of extra electricity cost.

[skimo]

@Faceman

 

Ah, I see. Yeah, you're right, the AR one looks a tad better. One question regarding motherboards though in general. The RAM slots are all colored like this (1-2-1-2). If I have 2 RAM bars, should I put them into the equally colored ones (so "RAM - no ram - RAM - no ram") or does it not matter? The current motherboard I'm using has a (1-1-2-2) color scheme, so I just put them next to each other.

 

Would the G.Skill TridentX memory even fit beneath/beside a Noctua NH-D14 cooler?

[i_build_nanosuits]

@Faceman

 

Ah, I see. Yeah, you're right, the AR one looks a tad better. One question regarding motherboards though in general. The RAM slots are all colored like this (1-2-1-2). If I have 2 RAM bars, should I put them into the equally colored ones (so "RAM - no ram - RAM - no ram") or does it not matter? The current motherboard I'm using has a (1-1-2-2) color scheme, so I just put them next to each other.

 

Would the G.Skill TridentX memory even fit beneath/beside a Noctua NH-D14 cooler?

refer to the motherboard manual for instructions on which order the RAM slot should be populated, this is different from board to board, generaly it is 1-2-1-2 or 2-1-2-1.

and for the NH-D14 you are recommended to use low profile ram sticks.

As for the motherboard i'd suggest you look for the MSI Z97-G45 gaming or MSI Z97 Gaming 5 both motherboard should be around the price of the Z97-AR maybe even cheaper but they offer cool extra features and are just generaly better and so much better looking (IMHO)

[skimo]

 

refer to the motherboard manual for instructions on which order the RAM slot should be populated, this is different from board to board, generaly it is 1-2-1-2 or 2-1-2-1.
and for the NH-D14 you are recommended to use low profile ram sticks.
As for the motherboard i'd suggest you look for the MSI Z97-G45 gaming or MSI Z97 Gaming 5 both motherboard should be around the price of the Z97-AR maybe even cheaper but they offer cool extra features and are just generaly better and so much better looking (IMHO)

 

 

Okay, thank you. Will probably go with the liquid cooling solution then. I'll sleep over it.

 

What other features do the MSI motherboards have? Generally I don't care that much about too fancy stuff... but if it's something worth getting I'll gladly change my opinion.

[i_build_nanosuits]

Okay, thank you. Will probably go with the liquid cooling solution then. I'll sleep over it.

 

What other features do the MSI motherboards have? Generally I don't care that much about too fancy stuff... but if it's something worth getting I'll gladly change my opinion.

well...it's mostly about looks we will not lie here none of these features are ''game changers'' but they still add to the value. We can name Audio Boost 2 that offers somewhat better than standard onboard audio chips, Killer E2205 Gigabit LAN controller that prioritize gaming packets for no lag in games while doing other stuff at the same time, better than average military class 4 quality components for extended life span and reliability, OC genie 4 for on the fly auto-overclocking (if you don't like to mess with overclocking), gaming device ports, smart fan control and some other features as well...refer to this link to learn more:

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z97-GAMING-5.html#hero-overview

Overall i just find this board to be very good for the price and just vastly more appealing than something like the asus Z97-AR for example...depending on which system color you choose to go with obviously but red and black is kind of the easy way to go as most parts available will match these colors.

[skimo]

well...it's mostly about looks we will not lie here none of these features are ''game changers'' but they still add to the value. We can name Audio Boost 2 that offers somewhat better than standard onboard audio chips, Killer E2205 Gigabit LAN controller that prioritize gaming packets for no lag in games while doing other stuff at the same time, better than average military class 4 quality components for extended life span and reliability, OC genie 4 for on the fly auto-overclocking (if you don't like to mess with overclocking), gaming device ports, smart fan control and some other features as well...refer to this link to learn more:

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z97-GAMING-5.html#hero-overview

Overall i just find this board to be very good for the price and just vastly more appealing than something like the asus Z97-AR for example...depending on which system color you choose to go with obviously but red and black is kind of the easy way to go as most parts available will match these colors.

 

Okay, makes sense. I don't know if I need Audio Boost 2, since I use a Logitech G35 headset and that uses its own soundcard. The price is about the same, however, so I guess I'll go with the MSI one. Thank you!

 

I'll probably get the Phanteks Enthoo Pro without the side window after some consideration, however, since inside-looks barely matter to me. I just want a stable and fast system with a plain case. I don't need to be able to look inside.

 

About CPU cooling... I'd rather go with an air cooler to be honest. "Never touch a running system", so since there is no need for me to switch to liquid cooling yet, I want to stay with air cooling. Thus, as the air coolers are very large, I've considered buying the Corsair DIMM 8GB DDR3-1600 CL9 9-9-24 LP (low profile) memory, so that I don't have to worry about air coolers being too big to fit. Would there be much of a performance difference to a 2400 MHz memory, though? 

 

Thank you for your time, everyone.

[i_build_nanosuits]

 I've considered buying the Corsair DIMM 8GB DDR3-1600 CL9 9-9-24 LP (low profile) memory, so that I don't have to worry about air coolers being too big to fit. Would there be much of a performance difference to a 2400 MHz memory, though?

no, RAM with faster frequency like that typicaly have higher latency...overall they perform about the same especialy in regards to gaming...some (not many...) productivity related software might see a slight benefit from faster RAM but certainly nothing to justify the premium for it.

 

1600mhz CL9 is perfect.

[skimo]

no, RAM with faster frequency like that typicaly have higher latency...overall they perform about the same especialy in regards to gaming...some (not many...) productivity related software might see a slight benefit from faster RAM but certainly nothing to justify the premium for it.

 

1600mhz CL9 is perfect.

 

Then I'll get the 1600mhz one, thank you.

 

Are there any alternatives to the EVGA psu? I'm really sorry, but I'm still not convinced of it. I don't know why, but it's a gut feeling, and I can't switch it off -.-

I'd rather have something along the lines of a 650W 80 Plus Gold psu.

[i_build_nanosuits]

Then I'll get the 1600mhz one, thank you.

 

Are there any alternatives to the EVGA psu? I'm really sorry, but I'm still not convinced of it. I don't know why, but it's a gut feeling, and I can't switch it off -.-

I'd rather have something along the lines of a 650W 80 Plus Gold psu.

if we are talking about a ''G2'' supernova psu from EVGA, be advised this is as good as it gets...this is made by superflower and EVGA as the best customer service and warranty on the market, hands down...also the G2 does have an active fan that switch off when the PSU is not under load (idle or webbrowsing and stuff...)

But if we are talking about a ''B1'' or ''G1'' supernova PSU those are made by FSP and they (IMHO) are not worth it...i owned one for a week and had to send it back the thing was very loud and coil whining like crazy...fortunately as i said EVGA gladly took it back and refund so i purchased something else...

 

Here are some alternative to EVGA psu's...oh and BTW 550W is plenty for any single GPU configuration including overclocking...

i'm linking US websites i don't know about prices in your area so check them all...these are all great units:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-power-supply-capstone550m

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550bbefx

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1650bbefx

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cp9020054ww

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171093&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151118&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg620m

 

the last one, the Antec is not as good as the others but i included it cause it's still descent and i know for a fact that in some part of the world you can find this at a very good price, but it's overpriced here in north america.

Both XFX XTR units have an active fan that turn off, the corsair RM as well...i'm using the XFX XTR 550 in my system atm and i love it, it's very quiet (silent when on desktop)

out of all this i'd recommend, in order:

EVGA supernova G2

XFX XTR 550 or 650

SEASONIC G series

CORSAIR RM650

[skimo]

if we are talking about a ''G2'' supernova psu from EVGA, be advised this is as good as it gets...this is made by superflower and EVGA as the best customer service and warranty on the market, hands down...also the G2 does have an active fan that switch off when the PSU is not under load (idle or webbrowsing and stuff...)

But if we are talking about a ''B1'' or ''G1'' supernova PSU those are made by FSP and they (IMHO) are not worth it...i owned one for a week and had to send it back the thing was very loud and coil whining like crazy...fortunately as i said EVGA gladly took it back and refund so i purchased something else...

 

Here are some alternative to EVGA psu's...oh and BTW 550W is plenty for any single GPU configuration including overclocking...

i'm linking US websites i don't know about prices in your area so check them all...these are all great units:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-power-supply-capstone550m

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550bbefx

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1650bbefx

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cp9020054ww

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171093&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151118&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg620m

 

the last one, the Antec is not as good as the others but i included it cause it's still descent and i know for a fact that in some part of the world you can find this at a very good price, but it's overpriced here in north america.

Both XFX XTR units have an active fan that turn off, the corsair RM as well...i'm using the XFX XTR 550 in my system atm and i love it, it's very quiet (silent when on desktop)

out of all this i'd recommend, in order:

EVGA supernova G2

XFX XTR 550 or 650

SEASONIC G series

CORSAIR RM650

 

After some consideration, I've decided on the XFX XTR 550. Thanks for your suggestion!

 

Now I've looked at the Noctua NH-D15 cooler, and performance wise it's great, though I don't know if it's not too big for my Gigabyte GTX 970. Would there still be enough space on a MSI Z97 / Asus Z97 motherboard for the NH-D15?

[i_build_nanosuits]

After some consideration, I've decided on the XFX XTR 550. Thanks for your suggestion!

 

Now I've looked at the Noctua NH-D15 cooler, and performance wise it's great, though I don't know if it's not too big for my Gigabyte GTX 970. Would there still be enough space on a MSI Z97 / Asus Z97 motherboard for the NH-D15?

it's a close fit...here's a review you should listen to it...if you want just your answer start at 10:00 it will cover the GPU clearance at around minute 13 or 14 i believe.

[skimo]

Thank you. I was a bit unsure, but even the noctua.at page confirms that the NH-D15 fits on the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 motherboard.

 

I guess that's it then? Now that I know that everything fits, and that there are no compatibility issues to my knowledge, my new PC would look like this (forgive me for the German pages):

 

Case: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-mit-Sichtfenster-Midi-Tower-ohne-Netzteil-weiss_976537.html

PSU: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/650-Watt-XFX-XTR-Series-Modular-80--Gold_969687.html (decided to go with the 650W version... a gut feeling again >.>)

Motherboard: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/MSI-Z97-GAMING-5-Intel-Z97-So-1150-Dual-Channel-DDR3-ATX-Retail_961275.html

CPU: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/Intel-Core-i5-4690K-4x-3-50GHz-So-1150-TRAY_962957.html

CPU cooler: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/Noctua-NH-D15-Tower-Kuehler_958701.html

GPU: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/4096MB-Gigabyte-GeForce-GTX-970-Gaming-G1-Aktiv-PCIe-3-0-x16--Retail-_976945.html

RAM: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/8GB-Corsair-Vengeance-LP-weiss-DDR3L-1600-DIMM-CL9-Dual-Kit_749994.html

HD: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/1000GB-Seagate-Desktop-HDD-ST1000DM003-64MB-3-5Zoll--8-9cm--SATA-6Gb-s_775365.html

SSD: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/256GB-Samsung-850-PRO-2-5Zoll--6-4cm--SATA-6Gb-s-MLC-Toggle--MZ-7KE256BW-_968279.html

Drive: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/LG-Electronics-BH16NS40-Blu-ray-Disc-Writer-SATA-1-5Gb-s-intern-schwarz-R_826532.html

 

 

Would go anything against buying this setup? Any last objections or recommendations? Total price would be ~1350 €.

 

Thank you very much for your help, everyone! (@Faceman, @athesean1, @Str_Mape, and last but not least @i_build_nanosuits)

[Faceman]

Thank you. I was a bit unsure, but even the noctua.at page confirms that the NH-D15 fits on the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 motherboard.

 

I guess that's it then? Now that I know that everything fits, and that there are no compatibility issues to my knowledge, my new PC would look like this (forgive me for the German pages):

 

Case: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-mit-Sichtfenster-Midi-Tower-ohne-Netzteil-weiss_976537.html

PSU: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/650-Watt-XFX-XTR-Series-Modular-80--Gold_969687.html (decided to go with the 650W version... a gut feeling again >.>)

Motherboard: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/MSI-Z97-GAMING-5-Intel-Z97-So-1150-Dual-Channel-DDR3-ATX-Retail_961275.html

CPU: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/Intel-Core-i5-4690K-4x-3-50GHz-So-1150-TRAY_962957.html

CPU cooler: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/Noctua-NH-D15-Tower-Kuehler_958701.html

GPU: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/4096MB-Gigabyte-GeForce-GTX-970-Gaming-G1-Aktiv-PCIe-3-0-x16--Retail-_976945.html

RAM: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/8GB-Corsair-Vengeance-LP-weiss-DDR3L-1600-DIMM-CL9-Dual-Kit_749994.html

HD: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/1000GB-Seagate-Desktop-HDD-ST1000DM003-64MB-3-5Zoll--8-9cm--SATA-6Gb-s_775365.html

SSD: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/256GB-Samsung-850-PRO-2-5Zoll--6-4cm--SATA-6Gb-s-MLC-Toggle--MZ-7KE256BW-_968279.html

Drive: http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/LG-Electronics-BH16NS40-Blu-ray-Disc-Writer-SATA-1-5Gb-s-intern-schwarz-R_826532.html

 

 

Would go anything against buying this setup? Any last objections or recommendations? Total price would be ~1350 €.

 

Thank you very much for your help, everyone! (@Faceman, @athesean1, @Str_Mape, and last but not least @i_build_nanosuits)

That is perfect.  One amazing setup right there that will be extremely powerful from day one, as well as being upgrade ready. The build you have selected is perfect and will serve you well.

 

I want to make some minor suggestions, these suggestions can be used or ignored, because you already have a fantastic setup.

 

1st, RAM.  After looking on that website, that RAM that you picked out is overpriced, and you can get better performance RAM for cheap, and it will match your motherboard's red/black color scheme much better.  RAM has a very minimal impact on performance, so if you really prefer the look of the RAM you selected, by all means, go for it.

8GB G.Skill Trident X 2400Mhz, CL10 - 72e <-- This RAM is better, and less expensive.  Also looks better in my opinion.

8GB G.Skill RipJawsX 2133Mhz, CL9 - 73e

 

A quick formula for deciding which RAM is faster is divide the CL by the Mhz.  Whichever number is lower is the better(Faster) RAM.  (10 / 2400) = .00417.  (9 / 2133) = .00422.

Also, on Intel processors, they say that 1.65v RAM isn't validated.  Ignore that.  Just because 1.65v RAM isn't validated, doesn't mean it won't work.  I am using 1.65v RAM myself and it works fine, so do a lot of people.  I actually use the 2400Mhz, CL10 RAM myself from the same company, but with a different design to match my blue/black color scheme.

 

2nd, PSU.  The PSU you selected is fantastic, there is nothing wrong with it.  I just think that you are spending a little bit too much money on it.  It is slightly overkill.  Allow me to explain my position.  The system you have will work just fine on a 500W PSU, even when both the CPU and GPU are overclocked, and running at max capacity.  Add in extra fans, cooling, charging your devices, etc.. you won't be near that 500W mark.  Now, 650W does give you some headroom, but it is not necessary. It is also not enough headroom for a 2nd GPU.  It is kind of in no-mans land.  Overkill for what you have, and underpowered for a potential future upgrade.

 

In my opinion, you should either go for a 750W-850W PSU so that you will have lots of headroom for a 2nd GPU if you decide to go SLI in the future, or buy a less expensive 500-550W PSU for what you need right now.  If you want the freedom and flexibility to eventually go SLI, buy the 750W PSU now.  Rather than buy the 550W PSU and if you decide to go SLI, you would have to buy a new PSU.

 

My recommendation is to either:

Buy the Corsair CS550M - 62e A very good, semi-modular, gold-rated PSU. The downside is only a 3 year warranty compared to 5 of the XFX PSU that you selected Or go for the EVGA SuperNOVA G2 850W - 124e.

 

    The EVGA PSU is one of the absolute best PSUs.  It is fairly expensive in Europe, but you do get the highly sought after features such as no-fan-spin, fully modular all black cables, super high quality inside components(all Japanese capacitors), EVGA's world renown customer support  and best of all, a 10 year warranty.  Another good 750W option is the Corsair CS750M - 106e  Or the SuperFlower Golden Green HX 750W - 85e.  SuperFlower is the company that makes EVGA's SuperNOVA G2 PSUs, so this one is a solid option.  It doesn't have the same all Japanese capacitors as the EVGA model, but that doesn't mean it is bad.  It doesn't have the same features either, such as no-fan-spin, all black cables, and 10 year warrant. it still comes backed by a 5 year warranty, and is roughly the same price as the XFX that you selected, so at the very least, it will give you the freedom to go SLI in the future if you so desire at the same price point.

 

If you were to go with the RAM and CS550M PSU I selected, it would save you a quick 30e while giving you better performance.  That 30e can be used on higher quality fans, or an NZXT Hue, Fan Controller, or just some cash to keep in your pocket.

 

3rd  This is a really personal preference thing, but you could get the same quality from a less expensive motherboard.  It would change your color scheme from red/black to blue/black though, but you would save 50e. ASRock Z97 Extreme3 - 97e.  Pretty much the same features minus "Sound Booster".  I am not too picky about my sound, and I really don't think 50e justifies the better on board sound.  It is hard to argue with how good that motherboard looks though.  Also, you know I'm an Asus fan, and the Asus Z97-AR is the same price as the motherboard you selected.  If you were to get the Asus Z97-AR, you would get Fan Xpert III(a must have in my opinion), a more easy to navigate BIOS, and AI Suite III.  I would also be able to better help you overclock because I am more familiar with the terminology on Asus motherboards than with the other manufacturers.

 

Lastly, do you really need a Blu-Ray player?  How often will you really use it?

[skimo]

@Faceman Thank you for your elaborated post!

 

Would the RAM give me a noticable performance boost? I chose the Corsair Vengeance because they were low profile, so that I don't have any problems with the Noctua NH-D15.

 

Alright, you guys have convinced me. I'll buy the EVGA SuperNOVA G2. Would the 750W version suffice, though? Otherwise, I'd go with the Corsair RM550 or the XFX XTR 550W.

 

When it comes to color, I'm a sucker for white/black combinations. If there are accents of other colors in there, I don't mind that, but I do want to keep that to a minimum if possible.

 

I don't really need a Blu-Ray player, it would be just nice to have. The price difference between a Blu-Ray player and a DVD player is not that great, when you take into consideration that the whole system is about 1200-1400 €.

[i_build_nanosuits]

@Faceman Thank you for your elaborated post!

 

Would the RAM give me a noticable performance boost? I chose the Corsair Vengeance because they were low profile, so that I don't have any problems with the Noctua NH-D15.

 

Alright, you guys have convinced me. I'll buy the EVGA SuperNOVA G2. Would the 750W version suffice, though? Otherwise, I'd go with the Corsair RM550 or the XFX XTR 550W.

 

When it comes to color, I'm a sucker for white/black combinations. If there are accents of other colors in there, I don't mind that, but I do want to keep that to a minimum if possible.

 

I don't really need a Blu-Ray player, it would be just nice to have. The price difference between a Blu-Ray player and a DVD player is not that great, when you take into consideration that the whole system is about 1200-1400 €.

look for the MSI krait motherboard it is a black and white board that won't break the bank but i'm not sure if it's out but if it's not it should be available very soon...

yes the supernova 750w is way overkill for what you need, but if you plan to go SLI it's a good idea to get it now...otherwise the XTR 550w will do just fine...if you go supernova make sure it's the ''G2'' not B1 or G1 okay.

RAM won't impact performance really and it is indeed a good idea to go with low profile ram..corsair vengeance LP is a very good choice and they come in white as well. Also kingston hyper x has white sticks...black would do as well though.

 

The thing is that with the giant NHD15 you won't see anything in the system...which sucks...so maybe you would like to consider something else that would do the job just fine but look a lot better...for this reason i'd suggest you look at the

NZXT havik 140 CPU cooler:

Or the be quiet! dark rock pro 3

 

MSI kraith

http://ca.msi.com/product/mb/Z97S-SLI-Krait-Edition.html#hero-overview

 

[skimo]

.... Now that I almost had all the components, MSI comes with the Krait motherboard just to stall my purchase again. Ugh! Thank you for bringing it up though!

 

Anyway. I'll probably not go SLI anytime soon. Especially since I won't go above 1080p resolution (lack of space for bigger screens). So.... the XFX XTR 550W it is.

 

Which cooler between the NZXT and the be quiet! is better? I've read alot about the be quiet! one to be a hassle to install. I'm seriously considering going for liquid cooling, though I'd rather not as I have no experience with it. Gah, I'm torn between all these decisions!

[i_build_nanosuits]

.... Now that I almost had all the components, MSI comes with the Krait motherboard just to stall my purchase again. Ugh! Thank you for bringing it up though!

 

Anyway. I'll probably not go SLI anytime soon. Especially since I won't go above 1080p resolution (lack of space for bigger screens). So.... the XFX XTR 550W it is.

 

Which cooler between the NZXT and the be quiet! is better? I've read alot about the be quiet! one to be a hassle to install. I'm seriously considering going for liquid cooling, though I'd rather not as I have no experience with it. Gah, I'm torn between all these decisions!

hehe it can be overwelming i understand.

 

ok, about these air coolers: all of these offer good cooling and quiet operation, but none of them are as good as the noctua nhd15...but none of them is as ugly either...so its a tuff call...and all of them can be pain in the butt to install but its relatively easy if you take your time and follow instructions.

 

about the water coolers: those are what we call AIO for all in one coolers, they are easy to mount and use and they dont require any maintenance or anything...but they are not as reliable (the pump wears out) and they most of the time are louder as well(the added noise from the pump) ...but they look better most of the time...

 

so i guess it comes down to what you value the most:

cooling performmance (both the air coolers and water coolers can be fantastic here)

silence of operation (air coolers usualy quieter)

looks (most water cooler looks better)

reliability and long term use (hands down air cooler win here)

[skimo]

Alright. I guess I've made up my mind. If there's no major flaw in that system, then this is what I'd like to buy:

 

Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro white with side window

PSU: XFX XTR Series Modular 80 Gold 550W

Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait edition

CPU: Intel Core i5 4690k LGA 1150 4x3.50GHz

CPU cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 tower cooler

GPU: Gigabite GeForce GTX 970 Gaming G1 4GB GDDR5

RAM: Corsair Vengeance LP white 2x4GB 1600MHz

HD: Seagate ST1000DM003 1TB 3.5" Hard Drive

SSD: Samsung 850 Pro 256GB 2.5" SSD

Drive: LG GH24NS DVD RW SATA drive (decided not to take a Blu-Ray drive.)

 

Now, I just want to make absolutely sure, because I'm very insecure about these things and rather have it confirmed 5 times before I go and buy something. I'm really, really sorry.

 

Will this system be compatible? Will everything run with each other without any conflicts? If that would be the case, then there's only one thing left to do. Wait for the motherboard to be released and be able to be purchased.

[i_build_nanosuits]

Alright. I guess I've made up my mind. If there's no major flaw in that system, then this is what I'd like to buy:

 

Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro white with side window

PSU: XFX XTR Series Modular 80 Gold 550W

Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait edition

CPU: Intel Core i5 4690k LGA 1150 4x3.50GHz

CPU cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 tower cooler

GPU: Gigabite GeForce GTX 970 Gaming G1 4GB GDDR5

RAM: Corsair Vengeance LP white 2x4GB 1600MHz

HD: Seagate ST1000DM003 1TB 3.5" Hard Drive

SSD: Samsung 850 Pro 256GB 2.5" SSD

Drive: LG GH24NS DVD RW SATA drive (decided not to take a Blu-Ray drive.)

 

Now, I just want to make absolutely sure, because I'm very insecure about these things and rather have it confirmed 5 times before I go and buy something. I'm really, really sorry.

 

Will this system be compatible? Will everything run with each other without any conflicts? If that would be the case, then there's only one thing left to do. Wait for the motherboard to be released and be able to be purchased.

this is a very nice system my friend no worries everything will work just fine...its a system id like to build for myself actualy, very good part choices i fully approve.