PC Case Help! First Build

[Warren Pnigel]

I am seriously considering building the "Positron" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmuNTpKGOZU, something I saw on Austin Evan's youtube channel. Anyway the specs are as follows: 

 

Intel Core i5-4460

 

EVGA GTX 970

 

MSI H97 Guard Pro

 

8GB Corsair Vengeance RAM

 

256GB Crucial MX100 SSD

 

1TB Western Digital Blue Hard Drive

 

600W Corsair CX600 Power Supply

 

NZXT S340 Mid-Tower CA-S340W-W1 Case

 

The only problem I have with this is that I am in need of an Optical Drive. Which drive would you recommend for this build? Obviously I would need a different case to accommodate for the Optical Drive, so I was thinking an NZXT Phantom 240 Mid Tower. Has anyone had any experience with this case, or would any of you suggest a different case. Please keep in mind that this is my first build, and I'm not looking to change any other aspects of this build. Any and all help is greatly appreciated! 

[soaringchicken]

Any old DVD drive would do, and the 240 should be fine. However, you could stick with the s340 if you just got an external one

[AlwaysFSX]

Just buy an external drive?

[salecar3]

budget use water/air cooling?

[KayTees]

Pls, that build is pure boner.

[SuperPug]

Get this Z97 board instead of the H97: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97pro4

And this PSU: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-m12ii620bronze

[YT2002]

Wait for broadwell and get that when it comes out. And just get an external dvd drive

[Bravosgrad]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/8VXMD3

About 60 dollars more. Comes with better processor, an actual cpu cooler, some fans, better case, a color scheme (if that matters to you)

However I would agree to the above post, broadwell is probably worth waiting for.

[Warren Pnigel]

Thanks for the input everyone, but I was wondering should I with the EVGA GTX 970 or the MSI GTX 970? Please tell me why you think this, and I also forgot to add that I don't plan to overclock this. 

[Warren Pnigel]

And also, as this build was suggested instead; Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor

 

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler

 

MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard

 

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory

 

Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive

 

MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card

 

Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case

 

Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply

 

Is this build better than the "Positron", or should I just go with the "Positron"?

 

Thanks heaps in advance!

[Warren Pnigel]

I intend to use this primarily for gaming. 

[Rebelattack]

And also, as this build was suggested instead; Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor

 

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler

 

MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard

 

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory

 

Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive

 

MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card

 

Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case

 

Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply

 

Is this build better than the "Positron", or should I just go with the "Positron"?

 

Thanks heaps in advance!

 

This is better except for no SSD, but get a Z97 board like this one:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97pro4

It won't require a BIOS update.

 

MSI or EVGA it doesn't matter one has a bit better performance then the other it is what you like and want.

[Warren Pnigel]

So for the motherboard, I'm quite conflicted. Should I get the Z97, the Z87 or the H97? Please keep in mind I don't intend on overclocking!  Also what brand is best?

[Bravosgrad]

So for the motherboard, I'm quite conflicted. Should I get the Z97, the Z87 or the H97? Please keep in mind I don't intend on overclocking!  Also what brand is best?

MSI mobos are pretty good. Here is a Z97 board I would recommend http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130770

Also, the reason you should get Z97 instead of Z87 is because Z87 need a bios update, which is a huge headache to whomever has the misfortune to have to do it.

[brob]

Thanks for the input everyone, but I was wondering should I with the EVGA GTX 970 or the MSI GTX 970? Please tell me why you think this, and I also forgot to add that I don't plan to overclock this. 

 

It is a good build. Either gpu would be good but I would choose the EVGA GTX 970 ACX 2.0 or the Asus Strix GTX 970.

 

Why is an optical drive needed?

[Warren Pnigel]

My final question (thanks everyone for the help) is this: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/user/warrenpnigel/saved/nbzWGX

Better than the original "Positron" Build. What I'm really asking is if it is worth paying an extra $160 for the first build over the Positron, and will I experience much extra performance-wise. Thanks in advance!

[brob]

My final question (thanks everyone for the help) is this: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/user/warrenpnigel/saved/nbzWGX

Better than the original "Positron" Build. What I'm really asking is if it is worth paying an extra $160 for the first build over the Positron, and will I experience much extra performance-wise. Thanks in advance!

 

The cpu cooler will not fit in the case. The cooler is 159mm tall. The case clearance is 158mm. Unless the environment in which the system operates is very warm, the stock cooler will suffice.

 

Spend less on the motherboard. The savings can go to memory, psu, and cpu.

 

Get DDR-1600 memory.

 

Get a modular psu.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($237.00 @ Centre Com)

Motherboard: Asus H97-PLUS ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($128.00 @ Centre Com)

Memory: Kingston Fury Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($99.00 @ Centre Com)

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($139.00 @ PLE Computers)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($99.00 @ CPL Online)

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($499.00 @ CPL Online)

Case: NZXT Phantom 240 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.00 @ CPL Online)

Power Supply: Silverstone Strider 600W 80+ Silver Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($108.00 @ CPL Online)

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer  ($21.90 @ Mwave Australia)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($119.00 @ Mwave Australia)

Total: $1538.90

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-20 03:04 EST+1100