High end sleeper build

[HdFkK]

Hello everyone!

 

I am currently planning my first in a long time PC build, just because after years of only using various MacBooks and my Microsoft Surface, I want to have a standalone PC that delivers more power, speed, storage etc. but most importantly I want it to run without problems for a couple of years and still be decently fast. Reliability is the key for me! 

 

First of all let´s talk about what I want to do with my system:

- Edit 1080p, maybe 4k video in the future, so far I´m still not satisfied with the footage action cams get in 4k under average lighting. Once that changes I will probably update the graphics anyway? I´ll have to see. I don´t want to wait forever to render my videos.

- Photo editing for timelapse photography + rendering 4k time lapses using Adobe CC software and maybe Final Cut.

- Really fast everyday multitasking.

- I want it to be a sleeper! By that I don´t mean that I want it to be a silent PC, although noise reduction will play a big role for me, but I want it to look like an ordinary mid tower office PC. I will even put a lame sticker on the front that makes it totally look like an office PC 

- Fast Storage! M.2 x4 and a SSD for system and everyday use, a raid 1 system as internal backup plates, I have 2 identical hard drives which I don´t use anyway right now (WD Black). Data security kind of matters a lot to me! 

 

 

 

- I do NOT want to do a whole lot of overclocking. I am wanting to try it and probably I´ll end up doing it if I score a good CPU, but I am not planning to run the system overclocked on a daily basis. Maybe for a benchmark here and there, but I guess you get what I mean..

- I am NOT into gaming a whole lot, I play a game now and then, but I am definitely NOT a gamer, more of a enthusiast that just likes good technology.

- I do NOT want a shiny glass-window-case with LED lighting and stuff, none of that. As much understatement as possible while still being able to hold a double radiator and at least two more case fans.

- I do NOT need a whole lot of internal storage because I use a NAS system for media storage and cloud services.

 

So here we go, this would be my preferred setup so far (with a couple of problems that I will address below): http://de.pcpartpicker.com/p/CrTJjX  

 

 

Parts that I am not sure if I am going to put in and if yes which one:

1. A Firewire 800 or a Thunderbolt PCI card to be able to attach my external sound card. Thunderbolt ist much faster, Firewire 800 would be good for my older stuff to still work with the PC without having to use USB 2.0. Not sure about this one.
2. Front panel card reader with eSata and fast charging port to improve connectivity. Something like this 5,25" thing: http://www.enermax.de/peripherie/cardreader/  I could even put some drives behind it, I don´t know if I would though. Obviously not possible in at least one of the cases I listed below.

 

Problems/Questions/Reason why I am here asking you guys for help:

 

•  Overall flaws in my configuration so far? It is neither final nor complete yet, I am willing to exchange almost (I already have the HDDs and the Sata SSD, not the M.2) every component for a better/different one if there is a reason for that!
• Reliability. I have heard a lot of negative comments about the overclocking power supply on Asus X99 boards. Is it still an issue even with the updated boards with USB 3.1 etc.? Is it still an issue at all? I want a reliable mb, if it is 200 or 500 bucks does not matter to me in this particular aspect, but I read so much negative stuff about motherboards in reviews these days (and it ain´t better with the Z170 chipset, at least thats my perception),.I honestly considered getting two from different brands from the beginning on, maybe I still am considering this, I don´t know. Really worried about this issue!                         Should I get something that has a "WS" in it´s name, an ASUS Sabertooth or a straight up workstation motherboard? 
• Case. I could really use some ideas for cases. In general I would like to go mid tower design. I need space to mount the radiator preferably at the top of the case and overall I would like to keep a good airflow through the system, so more fan slots are welcome, I am willing to sacrifice everything that I don't need for my 2,5" drives. Maybe I´ll also try a custom water-cooling loop sometime in the future, so if the case could handle that it would be great, but if the Corsair cooler fulfills my expectations I doubt that custom loop is going to be a consideration. My picks so far:

1. http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=242 Silverstone FT02 - Water-cooling abilities? Enough fan mounts? Everything else is great, I love the rotated mounting with all the ports at the top!
2. https://www.nzxt.com/products/h440-black-windowless - Looks totally fine to me, but lacks any 5,25" external spaces, but the cooling abilities are great I guess.
3. http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/core-series/core-3300 - Good cooling and matches my criteria, I am worried about the space inside though.
4. http://www.bequiet.com/de/case/644 Be Quiet Silentbase 600/800 - Matches all my criteria so far, but I feel like the design has a really bad impact on the airflow coming to the spots where I could mount the radiator. Unique about this one is that I could get both cases for a good price at an electronics store in my city.

 

Other stuff to consider:

• I am pretty perfectionist about when I spend a lot of cash on something.
• If you wonder why the prices on the component list are in Euro, it´s because I´m from Germany. Prices and availability differ, so I have to consider that. Some motherboards are hard to find over here!

 

I want to thank everyone who took the time to read all this, I really appreciate it! If you happen to have any experiences or recommendations that could help me out than just go for it. Don´t be shy to tell me that I don´t know what I am doing, I haven´t built a PC in quite a while and might overlook the most basic things.

 

Greetings from Germany! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GSTARR]

so your gpu is probably going to be a quadro, I assume you want Haswell instead of Haswell-E?

[HdFkK]

The only Quadro Nvidia I could afford is the K2200, something like that you mean? 

[Josephdalepi]

one of these motherboards

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboard-Accessories/ThunderboltEX_II/

theres a compatible list, and they can use the asus thunderbolt, which is damn good

 

id suggest the air 540, but it is quite large

go for the h440

 

if you give me a budget, ill see what i can do for speed and compatibility with everything you need, but my component selection may seem strange

[HdFkK]

Budget for MB, CPU, RAM and Graphics is around 1500-2000, the lower the better! 

I would love the air 540, I might get it as a backup case anyway. It is just very eye-catching for my standards.

 

Edit:

 

It probably sounds like a want to do a whole lot of editing on the system, it is really just going to be like some stuff every other weekend when I actually have the time to get footage. I do that stuff as a hobby, not as a job. I am just not satisfied with what MacBook "Pros" provide these days and I can afford such a system now, so I am going for it before the opportunity is gone. See it as a High End Consumer PC that should be rather good at editing. And yes I would totally get the Mac Pro if I could afford it