How is my build?

[potterkun]

I'm working on a new build with a budget of $1500, and I was wondering if these were good parts? Alre there any better alternatives? Also, I'm trying to decide if I should use the Fractal Design Define R5 case or the NZXT H440 case, and if I should get the GTX 970 from MSI or Gigabyte.

 

My build: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/mB67gs

 

EDIT: For those who don't know, the NZXT H440 doesn't have any 5'25 drive bays, but looks much cooler IMO.

EDIT 2 and 3: Updated part list link

[Starelementpoke]

Pretty sure a 2 tb hard drive is cheaper than 2 one tb ones, don't need that big of an ssd, get the cheaper case, gold rated psu would be a good idea, if only gaming ditc the I7 and go I5

[Vek1313]

What is the build for? If it is for gaming and light everyday tasks go i5 but if you plan to edit videos, render, etc. keep the i7

[potterkun]

What is the build for? If it is for gaming and light everyday tasks go i5 but if you plan to edit videos, render, etc. keep the i7

I would use it for gaming and everyday tasks, but I'm also getting into Source Filmmaker so I would need to be able to edit video.

[potterkun]

Pretty sure a 2 tb hard drive is cheaper than 2 one tb ones, don't need that big of an ssd, get the cheaper case, gold rated psu would be a good idea, if only gaming ditc the I7 and go I5

Thanks for the help! I edited the parts list, but the cases are the same price, so I still haven't determined which one I'll get.

[Vek1313]

This is what I would do from what you had. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yMrzsY

Aftermarket CPU cooler to keep the cpu cooler when under heavier work loads and you will reach a higher OC with it. Double the ram because it's in your budget so why not. Faster HDD on one drive. Cheaper but still powerful SSD. Higher watt PSU for possible SLI in the future.

[potterkun]

This is what I would do from what you had. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yMrzsY

Aftermarket CPU cooler to keep the cpu cooler when under heavier work loads and you will reach a higher OC with it. Double the ram because it's in your budget so why not. Faster HDD on one drive. Cheaper but still powerful SSD. Higher watt PSU for possible SLI in the future.

Thanks for the help! I'll add the CPU cooler to the parts list. I don't think I'll be overclocking so it might be a waste. Also, while I do have a high budget, I'm trying to keep the costs lower to be able to afford peripherals/games, so I might just get 8 GB of RAM for now and buy more later if I need more. I'll compare the HDD you added and the one I added on the updated parts list, but I might not use the SSD you added  because Starelementpoke told me to get a smaller one, and I realized that I won't be putting much on it, just Windows 7 and a few games so I probably don't need a big one. The PSU you added looks good, but I don't know a lot about PSUs, is the one you added better than the one I added on the updated parts list?

[Vek1313]

The partslist isn't different for me.

[Vek1313]

And the CPU cooler doesn't necessarily mean you have to OC but it gives you the option to put it higher but it will overall just keep your CPU cooler when under heavier loads compared to the stock cooler

[Guest]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($279.99 @ Micro Center) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($28.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($129.99 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Kingston Savage 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($104.98 @ NCIX US) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($74.98 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card  ($329.00 @ NCIX US) 

Case: NZXT H440 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($115.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: XFX XTR 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ NCIX US) 

Other: Samsung External DVD Drive ($22.99)

Total: $1246.88

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 18:02 EDT-0400

[potterkun]

The partslist isn't different for me.

Sorry about that, I guess it was glitching or something, but I got it working now.

[potterkun]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($279.99 @ Micro Center) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($28.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($129.99 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Kingston Savage 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($104.98 @ NCIX US) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($74.98 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card  ($329.00 @ NCIX US) 

Case: NZXT H440 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($115.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: XFX XTR 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ NCIX US) 

Other: Samsung External DVD Drive ($22.99)

Total: $1246.88

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 18:02 EDT-0400

 

What does this motherboard have to offer that the Maximus VII HERO doesn't, and why Asus over MSI for the GPU?

[potterkun]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($279.99 @ Micro Center) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($28.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($129.99 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Kingston Savage 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($104.98 @ NCIX US) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($74.98 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card  ($329.00 @ NCIX US) 

Case: NZXT H440 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($115.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: XFX XTR 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ NCIX US) 

Other: Samsung External DVD Drive ($22.99)

Total: $1246.88

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 18:02 EDT-0400

 

Oh and any reason you chose the H440 over the Define R5?

[Vek1313]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vJXgNG

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vJXgNG/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($317.85 @ OutletPC)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.98 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Amazon)

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.95 @ SuperBiiz)

Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($124.89 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($329.00 @ NCIX US)

Case: NZXT H440 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($115.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Power Supply: Corsair RM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($92.98 @ Newegg)

Other: Samsung External DVD Drive ($22.99)

Total: $1287.61

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 18:13 EDT-0400

[Guest]

What does this motherboard have to offer that the Maximus VII HERO doesn't, and why Asus over MSI for the GPU?

You are paying extra for the 'ROG' branding with the Asus board. The MSI will do just the same for nearly half the price.

 

The Asus Strix is $10 cheaper and it has the Zero fan mode, so there isn't really any point going for the more expensive MSI card.

[Guest]

Oh and any reason you chose the H440 over the Define R5?

You said in your opening post that the H440 looked cool ?

[UndeadCreeper22]

I'm working on a new build with a budget of $1500, and I was wondering if these were good parts? Alre there any better alternatives? Also, I'm trying to decide if I should use the Fractal Design Define R5 case or the NZXT H440 case, and if I should get the GTX 970 from MSI or Gigabyte.

 

My build: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/HkP2f7

 

EDIT: For those who don't know, the NZXT H440 doesn't have any 5'25 drive bays, but looks much cooler IMO.

EDIT 2: Updated part list link

I would get a full tower case, plus at least 16GBs of RAM

[potterkun]

You are paying extra for the 'ROG' branding with the Asus board. The MSI will do just the same for nearly half the price.

 

The Asus Strix is $10 cheaper and it has the Zero fan mode, so there isn't really any point going for the more expensive MSI card.

 

 

You said in your opening post that the H440 looked cool ?

Cool, thanks! The MSI Z97 Gaming 7 is only $30 more than the 5, should I go for that instead? I'll think about the Asus 970 over the MSI 970. While I like the look of the H440 way more than the Define R5, the Define R5 has 5'25 drive bays, and I might need those, so I was wondering if others thought it would be worth giving up 5'25 drive bays for a cooler looking case.

[Guest]

Cool, thanks! The MSI Z97 Gaming 7 is only $30 more than the 5, should I go for that instead? I'll think about the Asus 970 over the MSI 970. While I like the look of the H440 way more than the Define R5, the Define R5 has 5'25 drive bays, and I might need those, so I was wondering if others thought it would be worth giving up 5'25 drive bays for a cooler looking case.

Gaming 5 Motherboard has 6 USB ports and 6 SATA ports.

 

Gaming 7 Motherboard has 10 USB ports and 8 SATA ports plus an S/PDIF audio connector.

 

I think that is the only difference between them.  

 

 

If you need the 5.25" bays then stick with the R5 as it is still a nice looking case.