Build for client. Any tips?

ClubGaming_ · January 19, 2015

Here's the parts i've chose for my client. He wants to use the build mainly for gaming but he also needs it for school and for surfing the web. He wants a blue/black color scheme and has a budget of $1250 Any tips?

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/ClubGaming_/saved/93rtt6

connorpiper · January 19, 2015

That sleeved light kit is not going to work very well in the S340. Because of the PSU sheild. (The LEDs will be pressed against the window)

I have that case and that light kit. They don't work together.

silenthill_69 · January 19, 2015

hope your client wouldn't read this post lol

Lolzious · January 19, 2015

Looks good. A 240gb SSD Isn't a requirement however, unless your client requested it.

Lotus · January 19, 2015

I'd swap the R9 290 for a GTX 970. That's expensive for an R9 290 and so close to a GTX 970 in price, the extra $30 is worth it. You can save the cash by going down to an H97 motherboard. You don't need a Z97 motherboard since the i5-4460 has a locked multiplier and can't be overclocked anyway. There's literally no downside in this case going H97. Lastly, the S340 has a hidden PSU compartment with plenty of cable management area, so a modular PSU doesn't help. You can get a Captsone 550W PSU which is better made but not modular, for less than your 600W Modular PSU, and 550W is more than enough with the GTX 970 You also don't need that extra fan. Just move the top exhaust fan from the S340 to a front intake position and you'll be fine with 1x 140mm as rear exhaust and 1x 140mm as front intake. Also the LED kit is rather silly. Only get it if your client is kind of an idiot and buys into the whole flash/flare over substance. Lastly, the MX100 is a tiny bit better than the m500, and newer, and is only like $5 more expensive. The "better" wont be noticeable, but the newer might matter to your client. I also upgraded your HDD to a 2TB, and there's still some room left in the budget if you want to throw in an extra fan or two and the LED strip (if you must). This leaves you with the following build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($329.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($92.00 @ B&H)
Monitor: BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($144.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($28.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1231.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-19 18:35 EST-0500

ClubGaming_ · January 19, 2015

hope your client wouldn't read this post lol

He's not into the technical side of computers but fingers crossed

ClubGaming_ · January 19, 2015

That sleeved light kit is not going to work very well in the S340. Because of the PSU sheild. (The LEDs will be pressed against the window)

I have that case and that light kit. They don't work together.

Okay thanks for the advice. Do you know any other way I can get LEDs in the build. He wanted "flashy".

Lotus · January 19, 2015

Another option if you're willing to drop to a 128GB SSD instead of 256GB, is going up to the Z97 chipset board, i5-4690k, and a Cooler Master 212 Evo. This is actually what I would do if it were me:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($30.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($87.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk X110 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($329.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($92.00 @ B&H)
Monitor: BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($144.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($28.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1244.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-19 18:39 EST-0500

and if you absolutely cannot have the unsleeved cables of the Rosewill Capstone (even though it's a great PSU), you can sub it out for this PSU:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-120g10650xr

It's like $10-15 more expensive though.

connorpiper · January 19, 2015

Okay thanks for the advice. Do you know any other way I can get LEDs in the build. He wanted "flashy".

LED Fans. White ones or blue ones.

ClubGaming_ · January 19, 2015

I'd swap the R9 290 for a GTX 970. That's expensive for an R9 290 and so close to a GTX 970 in price, the extra $30 is worth it. You can save the cash by going down to an H97 motherboard. You don't need a Z97 motherboard since the i5-4460 has a locked multiplier and can't be overclocked anyway. There's literally no downside in this case going H97. Lastly, the S340 has a hidden PSU compartment with plenty of cable management area, so a modular PSU doesn't help. You can get a Captsone 550W PSU which is better made but not modular, for less than your 600W Modular PSU, and 550W is more than enough with the GTX 970 You also don't need that extra fan. Just move the top exhaust fan from the S340 to a front intake position and you'll be fine with 1x 140mm as rear exhaust and 1x 140mm as front intake. Also the LED kit is rather silly. Only get it if your client is kind of an idiot and buys into the whole flash/flare over substance. Lastly, the MX100 is a tiny bit better than the m500, and newer, and is only like $5 more expensive. The "better" wont be noticeable, but the newer might matter to your client. I also upgraded your HDD to a 2TB, and there's still some room left in the budget if you want to throw in an extra fan or two and the LED strip (if you must). This leaves you with the following build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($329.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($92.00 @ B&H)

Monitor: BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($144.99 @ NCIX US)

Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($28.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Total: $1231.90

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-19 18:35 EST-0500

Thanks for the help. I think im going to leave a fan in. He wanted to not have to worry about having to clean the dust out of it every other week so I figured positive pressure on top of the filters will practically keep it dust free.

ClubGaming_ · January 19, 2015

LED Fans. White ones or blue ones.

OH! I completely forgot about LED fans. Thanks again.

Devastion · January 19, 2015

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($125.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($359.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($107.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($58.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($144.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($28.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1268.66
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-19 18:45 EST-0500

Lotus · January 19, 2015

Thanks for the help. I think im going to leave a fan in. He wanted to not have to worry about having to clean the dust out of it every other week so I figured positive pressure on top of the filters will practically keep it dust free.

OH! I completely forgot about LED fans. Thanks again.

Okay, changes made so it would be more blingy. You can't really get the i5-4690k build with all the bling, but whatever. Your client wants what he wants.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($329.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($76.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($92.00 @ B&H)

Monitor: BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($144.99 @ NCIX US)

Case Fan: Corsair SP140 49.5 CFM 140mm Fans ($29.98 @ Newegg)