Help. I Have NO Idea What I'm Doing.

[Beeeyeee]

Okay, so I have no Idea what I'm doing here. I am building my first real gaming PC to be used for Gaming, Livestreaming, recording, and viewing the livestream and chat on three total monitors. My entire build is below. I'm pretty sure I've got everything down so far but I just have no knowledge about graphics cards.

Any tips or tricks would be extremely appreciated. I will also be using the PC for video, audio, and photo editing and general web browsing in total. The only other thing I really think I need help on is the case. i'm going for RAID 10 with the HDD's, is that a thing that can be added onto later, or what are the specs on that? I just need space for all of this. haha:) thanks!

 

 

[PCPartPicker part list]http://pcpartpicker.com/p/YcK3vK) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/YcK3vK/by_merchant/)(

 

Type|Item|Price

:----|:----|:----

**CPU** | [intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k) | $321.98 @ NCIX US 

**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) | $25.98 @ OutletPC 

**Motherboard** | [Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-z97a) | $132.99 @ SuperBiiz 

**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmz8gx3m2b1600c9g) | $74.99 @ Newegg 

**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmz8gx3m2b1600c9g) | $74.99 @ Newegg 

**Storage** | [intel 530 Series 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-internal-hard-drive-ssdsc2bw240a4k5) | $110.98 @ Newegg 

**Storage** | [seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001) | $73.99 @ SuperBiiz 

**Storage** | [seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001) | $73.99 @ SuperBiiz 

**Storage** | [seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001) | $73.99 @ SuperBiiz 

**Storage** | [seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001) | $73.99 @ SuperBiiz 

**Video Card** | [Asus GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-strixgtx960dc2oc2gd5) | $204.99 @ SuperBiiz 

**Power Supply** | [EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-120g10750xr) | $74.99 @ NCIX US 

**Optical Drive** | [Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas) | $14.98 @ OutletPC 

**Monitor** | [AOC i2367Fh 60Hz 23.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/aoc-monitor-i2367fh) | $149.99 @ NCIX US 

**Keyboard** | [Logitech K120 Wired Standard Keyboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/logitech-keyboard-920002478) | $7.99 @ NCIX US 

**Mouse** | [Func MS-2 Wired Optical Mouse](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/func-mouse-funcms2) | $34.99 @ NCIX US 

 | | **Total**

 | Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $1525.80

 | Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-05 17:45 EST-0500 |

[CoolaxGaming]

Ok Ok, why do you need 8 tb even for recording...

[WinNut]

A 960 will be pleading for mercy with what you're doing. Go for a 970/980 depending on what you can afford.

[wyattzx]

If you're going to be spending that much money on a setup, especially for storage, consider upgrading your Video Card up to like a 970 or even 980, if you can afford it. A 960 will get you by in most games, but you likely won't be recording and livestreaming them well, especially in more demanding titles. 

[Hecknologist]

I wouldn't recommend buying 2 sets of ram. Get a full set of how much you're wanting (4x4gb or 2x8gb) as they are tested to run together, even if it costs a little more. Also I have had problems with func mice sensors adding acceleration so I wouldn't recommend, although your mileage may vary.

[Beeeyeee]

Ok Ok, why do you need 8 tb even for recording...

with RAID 10 it backs everything up, so it really is 4 TB. and raw video files are MASSIVE. especially at HD or 4K. and I want to store a copy of every one of my videos for a long time coming.

[i_build_nanosuits]

VERY VERY nice machine...the GTX 960 is a weak ass card though...with only 2GB of vram which is simply not enough...you should swing for a GTX 970 or R9 290/290X card instead...for the case you should look at the phanteks enthoo pro or enthoo luxe this is a top notch full size tower aimed at enthousiasts and watercooling junkies...it's as good as it gets...i also like the corsair 780T.

[Beeeyeee]

any recommendations on brands? I hope to do water cooling and things later on, what cards are best for that? whats the diffrents between radeon and GTX?

[Whorax]

I certainly wouldn't get a 960, that's for sure. And why are you getting 4 x 4GB RAM? Get 2 x 8GB RAM.

[i_build_nanosuits]

any recommendations on brands? I hope to do water cooling and things later on, what cards are best for that? whats the diffrents between radeon and GTX?

usualy the cards that use the reference PCB are the easiest to find waterblocks for...i suggest you head to EK waterblocks website and check what they have available.

difference between radeon and GTX are many...they have different features (AMD supports mantle if you happen to have a weak ass CPU (looking at you AMD FX) it will help in many games ...not your case though) where as nvidia have features such as shadowplay to record gameplay footage and advanced physics (used in some games to improve realism of projectile impacts and things of that nature) both are good an a R9 290X perform pretty much on par with the GTX 970...but the 970 is A LOT more energy efficient and overclock better (that's the biggest difference and the main reason why the GTX 970 cost a little more than an R9 290/290X) and btw R9 290 and 290X are VERY close to one another in terms of performance so if you go AMD pick the cheapest...290X is better but not much.

 

EK waterblocks:

http://www.ekwb.com/products/

 

use this to check if you have matching blocks for the cards you are looking at:

http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/

[i_build_nanosuits]

Going with US prices right now this is one of the cheapest GTX 970:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-04gp42972kr

 

...and as you can see you can get waterblock for this GPU:

http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/step1_complist

no full cover blocks available, but it says coming soon.

 

 

 

This one is cheap too, probably a little better cooler as well:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-strixgtx970dc2oc4gd5

 

and this one has full cover blocks available:

http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/step1_complist

 

seems like the asus strix would be a better pick.

 

EDIT: link arent working but check them out:

[Glenwing]

with RAID 10 it backs everything up, so it really is 4 TB. and raw video files are MASSIVE. especially at HD or 4K. and I want to store a copy of every one of my videos for a long time coming.

Have you considered RAID 5? Same capacity with only three drives. You won't get the write speed bonus from striped drives but really you should be recording to an SSD and moving it to the HDD array for archiving afterward. For the money saved from leaving out the fourth HDD you could bump the SSD to a 512GB Crucial MX100 so you'd have plenty of space for it.

[Beeeyeee]

I certainly wouldn't get a 960, that's for sure. And why are you getting 4 x 4GB RAM? Get 2 x 8GB RAM.

I was under the impression that it divides the work more evenly and reduces heat and power usage?

[Beeeyeee]

Have you considered RAID 5? Same capacity with only three drives. You won't get the write speed bonus from striped drives but really you should be recording to an SSD and moving it to the HDD array for archiving afterward. For the money saved from leaving out the fourth HDD you could bump the SSD to a 512GB Crucial MX100 so you'd have plenty of space for it.

yeah but it doesn't back everything up the same way. and SSD's can only handle so many read and writes before they fail. and if i'm constantly copying things from it it will die way sooner. haha

[Imakuni]

yeah but it doesn't back everything up the same way. and SSD's can only handle so many read and writes before they fail. and if i'm constantly copying things from it it will die way sooner. haha

Hmm... actually, given the way that HDs and SSDs work, your HD's will probably fail much sooner than the SSDs.

[Glenwing]

yeah but it doesn't back everything up the same way. and SSD's can only handle so many read and writes before they fail. and if i'm constantly copying things from it it will die way sooner. haha

The write limits on SSDs (which only applies to writes by the way, reads don't degrade anything) are only a problem on paper, it takes an enormous amount of data to damage it. Several sites have tested this and found most SSDs can withstand hundreds and hundreds of Terabytes written, with good drives lasting through well over a Petabyte. Only a server could realistically hit those numbers, even a heavy video recording machine is unlikely to hit this limit.

RAID 5 maintains data if any of the three drives fails, and you can still access the data on the failed drive before it's been rebuilt.

[Whorax]

I was under the impression that it divides the work more evenly and reduces heat and power usage?

I do believe most motherboards work better generally with two sticks, as opposed to say four sticks or one stick that would equal the same amount of RAM.

 

I'm no expert though so don't take my word for it 100%, but I do believe that's the case. I'd Google around regarding that just to be sure.

[LeonTheLoner]

You don't need a case or anything? If you still need a case there's this:http://pcpartpicker.com/p/PdmDTW

 

More powerful than your current setup and enough room in the budget for a decent case.

[Kermit]

Unless your willing to drop some serious dough, i wouldn't go for 8tb of HDD storage - maybe 4 max. Also, go for a nice GTX 780 or something like that. Get yourself a decent card instead of stressing it on a power-hungry system like this. Anyways, best of luck- I suggest reading around this forum in your spare time, thats how I got into the whole PC-tech thing.

[brob]

I was under the impression that it divides the work more evenly and reduces heat and power usage?

 

In fact four memory modules places more load on the memory controller than two. But there are other reasons for going with a 2x8GB memory kit. It allows for upgrading memory without replacing modules. Buying a single memory kit also guarantees dual channel memory operation at the advertised speed and timings. Getting two 2x4GB kits does not offer these assurances.

 

yeah but it doesn't back everything up the same way. and SSD's can only handle so many read and writes before they fail. and if i'm constantly copying things from it it will die way sooner. haha

 

EVGA 220-G2-0750-XR is the psu that is currently considered the best value. Not the G1 that is in the OP list.

[Beeeyeee]

Hmm... actually, given the way that HDs and SSDs work, your HD's will probably fail much sooner than the SSDs.

but they are physical. and I can always get them back if something happens to them.

[Beeeyeee]

In fact four memory modules places more load on the memory controller than two. But there are other reasons for going with a 2x8GB memory kit. It allows for upgrading memory without replacing modules. Buying a single memory kit also guarantees dual channel memory operation at the advertised speed and timings. Getting two 2x4GB kits does not offer these assurances.

 

 

EVGA 220-G2-0750-XR is the psu that is currently considered the best value. Not the G1 that is in the OP list.

Dude not all RAID is. RAID 10 will both stripe and backup. so that if any disk fails, you can replace it and it will automatically replace all of the lost data.

[brob]

but they are physical. and I can always get them back if something happens to them.

 

No. Even if one is willing to spend thousands, data on failed hdd is not always retrievable. That is why backups are so important.

[brob]

Dude not all RAID is. RAID 10 will both stripe and backup. so that if any disk fails, you can replace it and it will automatically replace all of the lost data.

 

It is still not backup. RAID is never backup.

 

Levels above zero simply protect from one (or more) hdd unit failures. That is all.

 

They do not protect against virus. Provide no protection against theft, fire, flood, impact, surges, brown outs, lightning, application error, o/s error, or user error. Good backups do provide this protection.

[Krinkleneck]

The setup you have there is mostly fine, I agree with the rest of the group on the graphics.  Since you plan on doing UHD/4K edits but didn't specify what games you will be playing, a high end gaming the card doesn't matter so much as a UHD/4K monitor.  Just be sure your memory has a low Latency for good smooth edits and your setup can smoothly run 4K without hiccups.

 

Now, the drives are another matter.  A lot of people have been suggesting a RAID 5 array.  In arrays this small please don't.  The 10 array you have planned is a good place to go, but don't be stingy though. Get proper small NAS drives and not regular consumer grade. Do all raid arrays through the hardware as well.  If you are forced to go to a software raid just pick up a cheap raid card.  They will typically run at SATA II, and they will be mostly supported (research your product). Also, a RAID array will improve some of the lost speed.  If you can swing for lowering your internal storage for setting up a nice NAS then I can help you. 

 

I have a few Fiber Optic cards coming in that run at 4Gb/s that are being shed by a company for as cheap as gigabit ethernet. You can also get proper fiber optic cable for a reasonable price. They are LC connection, and are compatible with Windows/Linux.  IF I can give them a positive review I will send you the parts list to build a great NAS on the cheap.  Be sure to also do proper backups of your data on stable mediums.

 

Other than that your build looks very promising.