Water-Cooled project Inbound! Help Needed!

[jman116]

Hio everyone, I've been running my gaming on an old stock lenovo with upgraded ram and graphics card.

I'm tired of that. I'm proud though, it'd only cost me 70 bucks tops to get that thing running Saints Row 4 Maxed and stuff like that. I want a grand build, Black, White, and Yellow. I want this particular PC to have a Black case, White Accents, and Yellow Fluid. I want this thing to be able to run VR, and the cost hovering at most a bit over $600. I realize that the watercooling will cost more, so IDC if the watercooling parts themselves cost $100. I'm PRETTY sure those are my lists of constraints, I'll have a design up sometime tomorrow. Here's the partslist I have right now: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/jman116/saved/XWqKHx

Thank you for any suggestions, criticism, and any type of input whatsoever.

 

Also, just a P.S: This is my First custom-build, besides assembling a friends PC, I haven't really completely made a PC. This is gonna be fun >:D

 

EDIT: I realize the case has to go, this was a suggestion build from a different topic of mine... Also is there any cheaper CPUs that can push the same power?

[JefferyD90]

3 minutes ago, jman116 said:

Hio everyone, I've been running my gaming on an old stock lenovo with upgraded ram and graphics card.

I'm tired of that. I'm proud though, it'd only cost me 70 bucks tops to get that thing running Saints Row 4 Maxed and stuff like that. I want a grand build, Black, White, and Yellow. I want this particular PC to have a Black case, White Accents, and Yellow Fluid. I want this thing to be able to run VR, and the cost hovering at most a bit over $600. I realize that the watercooling will cost more, so IDC if the watercooling parts themselves cost $100. I'm PRETTY sure those are my lists of constraints, I'll have a design up sometime tomorrow. Here's the partslist I have right now: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/LkNf7h

Thank you for any suggestions, criticism, and any type of input whatsoever.

 

Also, just a P.S: This is my First custom-build, besides assembling a friends PC, I haven't really completely made a PC. This is gonna be fun >:D

For that price point, and what you're wanting to do, I think you'd be much better off to adjust your build a bit.

 

So you're needing a tower, with water cooling, for less than $725 (that's basically what I get out of your post)?

[jman116]

1 minute ago, JefferyD90 said:

For that price point, and what you're wanting to do, I think you'd be much better off to adjust your build a bit.

 

So you're needing a tower, with water cooling, for less than $725 (that's basically what I get out of your post)?

Yes, but my current build is way less than desireable (core2duo). I just want to make an entire new system.

Thank you for your quick reply.

[JefferyD90]

1 minute ago, jman116 said:

Yes, but my current build is way less than desireable (core2duo). I just want to make an entire new system.

Thank you for your quick reply.

Okay, let me ask you this...  Is upgrading in the future a option?  Is it not a option?  Is it more than likely?

[jman116]

1 minute ago, JefferyD90 said:

Okay, let me ask you this...  Is upgrading in the future a option?  Is it not a option?  Is it more than likely?

I assume you mean my current build, so no, the CPU bottleneck would be removed with a mobo upgrade aswell, then I'd need to upgrade my GPU, which is currently a GT730, which would then be a bottleneck. Here's the link to the original page http://www.cnet.com/products/lenovo-thinkcentre-m58p/specs/

If you meant the planned build, upgrading is very well an option, as well as buying the parts slowly over the course of a few months.

[JefferyD90]

2 minutes ago, jman116 said:

I assume you mean my current build, so no, the CPU bottleneck would be removed with a mobo upgrade aswell, then I'd need to upgrade my GPU, which is currently a GT730, which would then be a bottleneck. Here's the link to the original page http://www.cnet.com/products/lenovo-thinkcentre-m58p/specs/

If you meant the planned build, upgrading is very well an option, as well as buying the parts slowly over the course of a few months.

No, I mean this build we're making.

 

Do you have plans to continue to upgrade it?  And if so, how aggressively?

 

Its okay if you want to build it and leave it, I just want to know before I got suggesting too many parts.

 

Additionally, since you have a notebook now, have you considered keyboard, mice, monitor, speakers, headset, and all the "desktop" stuff that can REALLY add onto the final bill.

[JefferyD90]

18 minutes ago, jman116 said:

I assume you mean my current build, so no, the CPU bottleneck would be removed with a mobo upgrade aswell, then I'd need to upgrade my GPU, which is currently a GT730, which would then be a bottleneck. Here's the link to the original page http://www.cnet.com/products/lenovo-thinkcentre-m58p/specs/

If you meant the planned build, upgrading is very well an option, as well as buying the parts slowly over the course of a few months.

So, here is what I'm thinking...

 

With a $700 budget, and a custom water cooling loop in mind, wanting to play VR, and just generally the vibe I'm getting...  I think you should be looking to build a good "base" system right now and adding onto it later.  For example, you mentioned getting a RX480 at $199.  I think it will be early August (at best) before you see them at that price point.  That gives you some time to save up more money.  And you could get the processor I have selected here (which will do the whole "lets game for now" thing) and it is at least 2 times more powerful than what you have right now.  Basically, with this system all you have to do is replace the CPU, add a GPU (which you wont be able to do for at least a few months at the price you want), then add the water cooling loop as you see fit THEN you have a BALLS DEEP gaming setup, legitimately no compromises VR gaming setup.

 

If you chose to do it your way, you'll be lacking in a motherboard that (not only fits your color scheme) but wont be able to overclock (why water cool anything if you're not going to OC) and it wont have all the other bells and whistles like a nice VRM, more/better RAM, and other "gaming" oriented features.  Also, a good storage solution is integrated into my build (once again, fits your scheme) and it is a mid-ranged SSD.  And without being too critical the PSU you selected is going to be "barely cutting it" on the power requirements, something slightly more beefy at 500 watts would work or just a step up to the 600 watt version would be nice.  Like, you might have a better CPU and a GPU figured into your budget right now, but you'll end up replacing a lot of other things down the road, spending more money overall and your improvements later wont affect performance.

 

Just give it some thought.

 

https://amzn.com/w/126PW9BPNCF8N

 

[Zyndo]

Are we talking a custom water cooled build? I mean no disrespect here, but something like that isn't a very reasonable proposition for 600 bucks. the water cooling components ALONE are probably going to cost you about that amount of money (depending on who you buy from, what exactly it is you need, new/used, etc), let alone getting the computer to put them in.

 

Its tough enough to build a quality gaming/VR system on 600 dollars (although with the RX 480 coming out, it looks like that's about to become a fair bit easier) but that is going to be the bulk of your money gone right there, and that's without any custom loop in it.

 

39 minutes ago, jman116 said:

I realize that the watercooling will cost more, so IDC if the watercooling parts themselves cost $100.

A waterblock ALONE can cost $100 dollars, not including fixings, tubing, coolant, radiators, resivior, or a pump. $100 dollars is about what you might expect to spend on a AIO water cooler (which is still a good option) but its unlikely to come with coloured coolant, and will be only applicable for 1 component per AIO.

[jman116]

57 minutes ago, JefferyD90 said:

No, I mean this build we're making.

 

Do you have plans to continue to upgrade it?  And if so, how aggressively?

 

Its okay if you want to build it and leave it, I just want to know before I got suggesting too many parts.

 

Additionally, since you have a notebook now, have you considered keyboard, mice, monitor, speakers, headset, and all the "desktop" stuff that can REALLY add onto the final bill.

I'm not sure where the notebook confusion came from, but I am currently using a desktop, and wow I just realized that most of my peripherals are from Lenovo... 

[jman116]

36 minutes ago, JefferyD90 said:

So, here is what I'm thinking...

 

With a $700 budget, and a custom water cooling loop in mind, wanting to play VR, and just generally the vibe I'm getting...  I think you should be looking to build a good "base" system right now and adding onto it later.  For example, you mentioned getting a RX480 at $199.  I think it will be early August (at best) before you see them at that price point.  That gives you some time to save up more money.  And you could get the processor I have selected here (which will do the whole "lets game for now" thing) and it is at least 2 times more powerful than what you have right now.  Basically, with this system all you have to do is replace the CPU, add a GPU (which you wont be able to do for at least a few months at the price you want), then add the water cooling loop as you see fit THEN you have a BALLS DEEP gaming setup, legitimately no compromises VR gaming setup.

 

If you chose to do it your way, you'll be lacking in a motherboard that (not only fits your color scheme) but wont be able to overclock (why water cool anything if you're not going to OC) and it wont have all the other bells and whistles like a nice VRM, more/better RAM, and other "gaming" oriented features.  Also, a good storage solution is integrated into my build (once again, fits your scheme) and it is a mid-ranged SSD.  And without being too critical the PSU you selected is going to be "barely cutting it" on the power requirements, something slightly more beefy at 500 watts would work or just a step up to the 600 watt version would be nice.  Like, you might have a better CPU and a GPU figured into your budget right now, but you'll end up replacing a lot of other things down the road, spending more money overall and your improvements later wont affect performance.

 

Just give it some thought.

 

https://amzn.com/w/126PW9BPNCF8N

 

Thank you for writing that. I took a look at your link and although the peripherals are nice, I could do without them. Same with Windows 10, although transfer is never easy... It's really amazing how this community suppprts one another.

[JefferyD90]

9 hours ago, jman116 said:

Thank you for writing that. I took a look at your link and although the peripherals are nice, I could do without them. Same with Windows 10, although transfer is never easy... It's really amazing how this community suppprts one another.

Okay, take a look at the link again.

 

As far as the notebook thing goes, you said you had a Lenovo (the leader in notebooks world wide) and that all you did was upgrade the RAM and GPU...  Assuming that it was a notebook by that standard.

[jman116]

36 minutes ago, JefferyD90 said:

Okay, take a look at the link again.

 

As far as the notebook thing goes, you said you had a Lenovo (the leader in notebooks world wide) and that all you did was upgrade the RAM and GPU...  Assuming that it was a notebook by that standard.

Should I assume the $200 processor was to replace the pentium?

I do agree with the leader in notebooks, however you GOTTA replace the hard drive with an ssd, cause you never know what your backpack might go through... 

[JefferyD90]

6 minutes ago, jman116 said:

Should I assume the $200 processor was to replace the pentium?

I do agree with the leader in notebooks, however you GOTTA replace the hard drive with an ssd, cause you never know what your backpack might go through... 

By adding the i5 NOW all you have to do is implement your cooling solution AND THEN add the video card and YOU'RE DONE!  You're gaming in VR without any compromises.

[jman116]

2 minutes ago, JefferyD90 said:

By adding the i5 NOW all you have to do is implement your cooling solution AND THEN add the video card and YOU'RE DONE!  You're gaming in VR without any compromises.

Thanks! I'm assembling this on pcpartpicker, and I'm having trouble finding the RAM. I'll probably order it through amazon though.

Thank you for helping me pick some great parts, and I will try to start posting updates to a new page as soon as I can get the parts.