First Time Build Recs!

[Villainthropy]

Hey all! I've been watching Linus' videos over on YT for a while, so I figured it was time for me to branch out and take advantage of what seems to be a vast and very knowledgable community!

 

First, some background: I'm making a switch over from Mac, and as such I'm not 100% read up on everything to do with PC Builds. I'm not tech illiterate, just self taught on the topic of custom PC builds as of last month.

 

Notes about the rig:

I'm looking to try and get the most bang for my buck. I'm trying to make sure I don't spend too much, but at the same time, I'm trying to create as beast of a machine as I possibly can. I don't want to skimp on a stupid decision, and I'm not afraid to up my budget to get what's right. I'm hoping to keep my budget under $2,000, however. I'm also willing to go for more expensive components on the hope that they'll go down in price around the holidays, so maybe I can snag some better gear for a better price!

 

What will I use it for? Gaming!

But let me clarify what I mean by "gaming". ATM the one game I always play is World of Warcraft. I also dabble in LOL, but I've also got a PS3 and on it I play games like Skyrim, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Bioshock, etc. Sometimes I get the urge to open up Sims. I WILL NOT be playing most FPS games (COD, etc.) I'm naming this rig "Dragon" because Dragon Age: Inquisition is the game that finally pushed me to make the move to PC Gaming. I want to be able to mod these games to my hearts content. 

 

Otherwise, I'm big on opening tons of browser windows and going to town. I'm thinking of making this a dual-monitor setup, since NCIX has some good monitor bundles going. I don't do a lot of content creation, aside from occasionally opening Photoshop CC and making a gifset or graphics. 

 

I don't plan to overclock, but I can be convinced to change my mind if someone lays down a solid enough argument. I figured it'd just be one more issue to worry about, but...

 

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/R4mKkL) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/R4mKkL/by_merchant/)

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($209.99 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Nepton 240M 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($117.99 @ Mac Mall) 

Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($125.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($72.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($119.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($79.28 @ SuperBiiz) 

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  ($190.91 @ Newegg) 

Case: Cooler Master Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case  ($154.98 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($54.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $1127.10

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-14 11:14 EST-0500

 

(Oh, I also have a 2TB external Seagate drive I'm currently using, so I'm not really worried about storage, and with the case I've chosen, I know that I can always expand.)

 

My biggest questions are about the MOBO and video card. It's been difficult for me to get a solid read on what's "best" in those categories, since there's so many different brands vying for my attention. I liked the idea of the MSI board because it fit the color scheme I was going for, as well as the "Dragon" theme. (I'm willing to sacrifice for any other color, as long as it isn't blue.) Also, should I go for SLI? I've not seen anything that 100% confirms that SLI is always better, and I know if I go for SLI I'll have to ensure my case's cooling is up to snuff, which will mean buying more fans (although my case does come with a few pre-installed, I'm not sure how good their quality is and I'm already assuming I might have to replace them, whether sooner or later.)

 

So, throw your recs at me! Feel free to ask questions, but know that I work from 9:30AM-2PM, so I might not be quick in responses. 

[MattLantis]

The only thing I might suggest is sprining for a k series processor, because over clocking. and a GTX card, but that's just personal preference.

[the jolly roger]

The only thing I might suggest is sprining for a k series processor, because over clocking. and a GTX card, but that's just personal preference.

i agree that a K processor will help alot, and using a non k cpu with a water cooler is plain stupid...... and well an r9 280 beats a gtx 760 and 770 for lower price of a 770

[olback]

save for a 970. Worth It!

[Laputacake]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($248.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BL 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler  ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($89.78 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($82.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card  ($329.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout 2 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($110.07 @ TigerDirect)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1031.77
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-14 11:54 EST-0500

[GarnetDevil]

^ I would go for a gaming B85 or H97 mobo instead, otherwise great rig, in terms of non-k cpu the xeon e3 is the champion

[Maheshvara]

-snip-

Remember to follow your threads and quote members whose help you want

 

Try this You have an OC capable CPU, a quite nice looking mobo, a very good CPU cooler, and a PSU that's miles better than the one you chose, and is SLI ready

 

I'm only not sure about the case, since that's a personal choice....

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($214.29 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler  ($93.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($139.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($72.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($99.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($79.28 @ SuperBiiz) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card  ($349.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: Enermax OSTROG ATX Mid Tower Case  ($52.98 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($69.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $1173.48

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-14 11:59 EST-0500

[Guest]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($214.29 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler  ($74.99 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-G1.SNIPER Z97 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($139.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Kingston Fury Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($82.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($99.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($79.28 @ SuperBiiz) 

Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($254.99 @ NCIX US) 

Case: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe ATX Full Tower Case  ($148.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($114.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $1210.50

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-14 12:06 EST-0500

 

 

The R9 290 graphics cards are priced pretty nicely. It won't be that far behind a GTX 970 and you are saving $100 or so in the process.

 

The EVGA Supernova G2 850W would allow you to add a 2nd R9 290 in the future. If you don't plan on dual graphics cards, then go with a 550W such as the XFX XTR or Seasonic G.

 

If you want a full tower case, then they don't come much better than the Phanteks Luxe. It looks very nice in White as well.

[MattLantis]

i agree that a K processor will help alot, and using a non k cpu with a water cooler is plain stupid...... and well an r9 280 beats a gtx 760 and 770 for lower price of a 770

depending on the game. plus they take more power and are hotter, but lets not make this a Nvidia vs. Amd flame war

[Villainthropy]

Thank you so much to everyone for your responses! I'm surprised at how many of you posted entirely new builds for me! I'm also surprised how many different video cards you all recommended! 

 

@Maheshvara I'm totally gonna steal your rec of the mobo, since I love its colors! (Unless someone sees this and thinks that's a terrible idea? It does have zero ratings...) Or if GarnetDevil's suggestion of a H97 is a better one? (I'm such a newb @ MOBOs, sorry!)

 

I also jumped up the GTX 970, since I saw that most often across your recs. I'm now wavering between the Storm Stryker and the Enthoo Luxe as far as the case goes... I love the looks of the Stryker, but I understand that its also got some issues with the airflow at the front, and it is a bit old... And the Luxe comes with the PSU cover, which has been something I've been on the fence about.

 

Also, if I do decide to be prepared for overclocking, since I decided to spring for the K (a negligible price difference, really) how do I factor that into my PSU? PCPartPicker has me at 352W, so should a 500W PSU be fine? I don't want to have a bigger PSU than I need, as that seems wasteful.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($214.29 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Nepton 240M 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($117.99 @ Mac Mall) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($126.00 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($72.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($119.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($79.28 @ SuperBiiz) 

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  ($190.91 @ Newegg) 

Case: Cooler Master Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case  ($154.98 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($54.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $1131.42

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-14 20:13 EST-0500

[Maheshvara]

 

Thank you so much to everyone for your responses! I'm surprised at how many of you posted entirely new builds for me! I'm also surprised how many different video cards you all recommended! 

 

@Maheshvara I'm totally gonna steal your rec of the mobo, since I love its colors! (Unless someone sees this and thinks that's a terrible idea? It does have zero ratings...) Or if GarnetDevil's suggestion of a H97 is a better one? (I'm such a newb @ MOBOs, sorry!)

 

I also jumped up the GTX 970, since I saw that most often across your recs. I'm now wavering between the Storm Stryker and the Enthoo Luxe as far as the case goes... I love the looks of the Stryker, but I understand that its also got some issues with the airflow at the front, and it is a bit old... And the Luxe comes with the PSU cover, which has been something I've been on the fence about.

 

Also, if I do decide to be prepared for overclocking, since I decided to spring for the K (a negligible price difference, really) how do I factor that into my PSU? PCPartPicker has me at 352W, so should a 500W PSU be fine? I don't want to have a bigger PSU than I need, as that seems wasteful.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($214.29 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Nepton 240M 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($117.99 @ Mac Mall) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($126.00 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($72.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($119.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($79.28 @ SuperBiiz) 

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  ($190.91 @ Newegg) 

Case: Cooler Master Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case  ($154.98 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($54.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $1131.42

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-14 20:13 EST-0500

 

Change the cooler to something else, it doesn't have to be water cooled

I heard, and you can find multiple threads on this forum, about 840's faults (use google when searching), that's why i used Crucial

If you can, up the GPU to atleast 290/970

For a PSU (i used an SLI capable mobo for a reason) about 750W for 970 SLI, and 850 for 290 CF

And is that case really necessary Can't you go wit something cheaper...

 

280 isn't a bad card, but it's becoming a bit dated, and spending as much money on a pc like you, you want to get the best bang for the buck, which at the moment are 290 and 970

[Villainthropy]

Change the cooler to something else, it doesn't have to be water cooled

I heard, and you can find multiple threads on this forum, about 840's faults (use google when searching), that's why i used Crucial

If you can, up the GPU to atleast 290/970

For a PSU (i used an SLI capable mobo for a reason) about 750W for 970 SLI, and 850 for 290 CF

And is that case really necessary Can't you go wit something cheaper...

 

280 isn't a bad card, but it's becoming a bit dated, and spending as much money on a pc like you, you want to get the best bang for the buck, which at the moment are 290 and 970

 

Ack, meant to put in the 970. My bad.  That's what I get for trying to change the list from my phone... I'll head up to a 750W, and I'll snag a Crucial SDD. 

 

Oh, and if I go for a non-water-cooled unit, or non-closed-loop, should I go for Noctua? I've seen everywhere that they're the brand to beat, but if I am going for a rig that I look at with a side window, I can't STAND the poop-brown looks. :\

 

As far as the case goes, I'm just SUPER picky about my aesthetic. I'm not looking for a lot, but I want something white and clean, and I'm coming over from Mac, so I'm used to having a sleek, pretty computer. A lot of the white cases look kinda cheap or silly, with some ending up so close to something I'd like, but then with something in the aesthetic making them look like a refrigerator. I want something with a window, considering that I like what my inner components look like. I'm the sort of person who doesn't mind throwing extra money at something to make it look good, although that may seem silly or frivolous to others. D:

[Maheshvara]

Ack, meant to put in the 970. My bad.  That's what I get for trying to change the list from my phone... I'll head up to a 750W, and I'll snag a Crucial SDD. 

 

Oh, and if I go for a non-water-cooled unit, or non-closed-loop, should I go for Noctua? I've seen everywhere that they're the brand to beat, but if I am going for a rig that I look at with a side window, I can't STAND the poop-brown looks. :\

 

As far as the case goes, I'm just SUPER picky about my aesthetic. I'm not looking for a lot, but I want something white and clean, and I'm coming over from Mac, so I'm used to having a sleek, pretty computer. A lot of the white cases look kinda cheap or silly, with some ending up so close to something I'd like, but then with something in the aesthetic making them look like a refrigerator. I want something with a window, considering that I like what my inner components look like. I'm the sort of person who doesn't mind throwing extra money at something to make it look good, although that may seem silly or frivolous to others. D:

If you're that picky, then don't go with air-cooling... I, and probably you'll do it to, find it ugly... 

 

Have you looked at H440

 

 

I'd go with h440 white (don't know the price), 4690k and a good water cooler (like h110 )

[Villainthropy]

Haha, that's why I went with a closed loop system! It might be overkill, but at least it'll LOOK nice. And if I get an NZXT model, I get the RGB option! Very nice for me.

 

I'm trying to get over my dislike of the H440, because the first time I saw it I thought, "Wow. That looks like a fridge." It's probably that little black bit sticking out the top? But yeah... I'm stuck between loving the rugged nature of the Stryker and loving the fact that a lot of the other models come with PSU covers, which I'm having a hard time finding as after-market mods? Odd. I'm also somewhat wary of not having a fan controller somewhere on the case, but that's just because I don't know jack squat about fan control, and I don't know if there's a way around that (besides buying a fan control system, because I feel like that's kind of a splurge I'd rather not worry about). Is it even worth worrying about? I dunno.