3440x1440 Gaming Rig

[Zodin]

1. Budget & Location

I live in Australia

$3000 AUD
$2100 USD       Prices are relatively flexible, would prefer around this though, always happy to save money or spend if needed.

$2800 CAD

 

2. Aim
Gaming on AAA titles, bit of WoW, Definitely the new Fall Out. I want to be able to run these games above 45fps at 3440x1440. I am aiming for a black and white theme, since my monitor speakers and subwoofer are finished in gloss white. (SVS-sb100 and aktimate mini+). I will be connected these up through a usb ODAC.

I don't have access to a hard wired internet connected but I do own a nighthawk r7000 AC router that is bridged to a modem.

I will be overclocking, probably around 4.5ghz.

I do want to SLI in the future when my performance starts to drop in games across the board, probably years down the track.

I have 4x Noctua NF-P12-1300 54.4 CFM 120mm Fan from my old computer, I want to reuse these, in the case I chose i think there is only space for an exhaust in the back and top of the case, the front will house a 140mmx2 AIO cooler. 

 

3. Monitors
I already have a Dell u3415w, which runs at 3440x1440

4. Peripherals
I need a keyboard, mouse and mouse pad. 

 

I am interested in:

Ducky Legend Mechanical Keyboard White LED brown switches (http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=29846)

 

Mionix Avior SK edition Gaming mouse (http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=30398)

 

Razer Kabuto Mouse pad (http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=12980)

 

These are included in the budget. 

5. Why are you upgrading?
I only have a macbook pro 13 retina that i use for university, but I want to be able to play any game that interests me at decent settings. I am also interested in building my first computer, so this will be a project for me. 

 

This is what I have come up with so far after a week of research:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($355.00 @ Umart) 

CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X61 106.1 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($189.00 @ CPL Online) 

Motherboard: MSI Z170A KRAIT GAMING ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($269.00 @ Centre Com) 

Memory: Kingston FURY 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory  ($185.00 @ CPL Online) 

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  ($265.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card  ($1089.00 @ IJK) 

Case: NZXT S340 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($109.00 @ Centre Com) 

Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($199.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit)

Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-AC68 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($105.00 @ CPL Online) 

Total: $2765.00

[Morgan MLGman]

So what about this instead?:
That's the best 980Ti there is out there imo.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($369.00 @ Umart)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X61 106.1 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($189.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: MSI H97 GAMING 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($159.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Gaming Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($144.00 @ IJK)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  ($265.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card  ($1190.00 @ IJK)
Case: NZXT H440 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($179.00 @ CPL Online)
Power Supply: XFX PRO Black Edition 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($195.00 @ CPL Online)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-AC68 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($105.00 @ CPL Online)
Total: $2795.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-30 10:34 AEST+1000

[techguru]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor  ($569.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X61 106.1 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($189.00 @ CPL Online) 

Motherboard: MSI X99S SLI Krait ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard  ($329.00 @ CPL Online) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($189.00 @ IJK) 

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  ($265.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card  ($1089.00 @ IJK) 

Case: NZXT S340 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($109.00 @ Centre Com) 

Power Supply: XFX XTR 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($158.00 @ CPL Online) 

Total: $2897.00

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-30 10:35 AEST+1000

[Zodin]

So what about this instead?:

That's the best 980Ti there is out there imo.

 

Very similar price with vastly different components, interesting. Would you prefer that to a skylake build for gaming purposes? I prefer a black and white theme. I will have a look into that GPU because even though it has yellow on it, it is black and if its significantly better than the G1 gaming one...

 

 

Thanks for reading my post though and your recommendation. 

[Streetguru]

 

1. Budget & Location

a dual 390x option for ya, it'll have more raw performance than a 980ti where it's applicable, and a lot of AAA titles have stepped up support for dual GPU configs, the performance gain is usually something along the lines of 20fps at 4k

To save money you could go with dual 390s, which would do about 10% less or so and cost the same as a 980 ti

Plus with recent DX12 news they may even pull farther ahead when those games start coming around.

http://www.tweaktown.com/tweakipedia/91/amd-radeon-r9-390x-crossfire-4k/index.html

 

There's also some room left over, you could even potentially go X99 with the build and be set for a while

 

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/NnYMWZ

PCPartPicker part list: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/NnYMWZ

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

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($525.00 @ CPL Online)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Nepton 240M 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($99.00 @ Umart)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($279.00 @ Mwave Australia)

Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($159.00 @ Umart)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($71.00 @ IJK)

Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 390X 8GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire)  ($599.00 @ Centre Com)

Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 390X 8GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire)  ($599.00 @ Centre Com)

Case: Cooler Master HAF XB EVO ATX Desktop Case  ($135.00 @ Umart)

Power Supply: Fractal Design Newton R3 1000W 80+ Platinum Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($139.00 @ CPL Online)

Total: $2605.00

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-30 10:49 AEST+1000

 

[Zodin]

a dual 390x option for ya, it'll have more raw performance than a 980ti where it's applicable, and a lot of AAA tittles have stepped up support for dual GPU configs, the performance gain is usually something along the lines of 20fps at 4k

To save money you could go with dual 390s, which would do about 10% less or so and cost the same as a 980 ti

Plus with recent DX12 news they may even pull farther ahead when those games start coming around.

http://www.tweaktown.com/tweakipedia/91/amd-radeon-r9-390x-crossfire-4k/index.html

 

 Thanks for the suggestions!

 

Would it be best to stick with 1 980ti for now, since it will meet my needs, and then later on down the track I can SLI another one?

 

Also, do I need an i7 if i will just be gaming?, 200 dollar difference between the two. 

 

I also prefer having a SSD, since ill only realistically be having 3 games or so installed at any one time. 

 

Otherwise, I appreciate the options. 

[Streetguru]

 Thanks for the suggestions!

You might want to set up to the power supply in my build, it's a very good deal, dunno why it's priced like that.

 

Otherwise you could SLI the 980ti later, but clearly that'd cost like 2k, rather than 1k or 1.2k, so it's up to you really.

At $3000 you should probably go with an i7 just because.

And there's room for an SSD.

[Zodin]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($525.00 @ CPL Online) 

CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler  ($55.00 @ CPL Online) 

Motherboard: MSI Z170A KRAIT GAMING ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($269.00 @ Centre Com) 

Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2666 Memory  ($205.00 @ CPL Online) 

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  ($145.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card  ($1089.00 @ IJK) 

Case: NZXT S340 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($109.00 @ Centre Com) 

Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($199.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) 

Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-AC68 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($105.00 @ CPL Online) 

Total: $2701.00

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-30 12:53 AEST+1000

 

I changed a few things around, got the i7, 4 sticks of RAM and an air cooler since i heard they work just as well as the AIO cooler, but quiter. This way I can use my 4x notctua fans that i have as well, two intakes at the front, blowing air into the cpu cooler and exhaust at the back and top. 

 

Will the above work?, I want to keep it to skylake. 

[Caloon]

I would suggest watching JayzTwoCents video about MSI GTX 980ti Lightning. I can't remember but there is one card that performs better at 1440p gaming. But I can't really remember which one (Kingpin from evga or Lightning) If your budget allaws you.

Here it is:

I posted this that you can choose best GPU for 1440p gaming

[Zodin]

I would suggest watching JayzTwoCents video about MSI GTX 980ti Lightning. I can't remember but there is one card that performs better at 1440p gaming. But I can't really remember which one (Kingpin from evga or Lightning) If your budget allaws you.

Here it is:

I posted this that you can choose best GPU for 1440p gaming

Thanks a lot for the information! Would i be able to fit two of these in the case i chose though!? (eventually)

[Caloon]

Thanks a lot for the information! Would i be able to fit two of these in the case i chose though!? (eventually)

Probably, but make sure in pcpp.

[Zodin]

I just bought what i linked in my previous post, but opted for the 500gb SSD instead, pretty keen for it to arrive, ill make a build log.