SYSTEM BUILDING CHALLENGE FOR LTT

mpsparrow · July 25, 2016

The only build to be exactly $1700.00. (ignore the memory and storage choices)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($344.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z170-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($144.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Kingston Savage 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2800 Memory ($111.12 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital RE2 160GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($43.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($429.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($75.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 24.0" 144Hz Monitor ($249.99 @ Best Buy)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($59.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1700.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 22:31 EDT-0400

jcCherry · July 25, 2016

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/gh3tpb
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/gh3tpb/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($369.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock X99 Extreme4/3.1 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($218.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($58.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier SP550 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital AV-GP 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($42.40 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card ($429.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT S340 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: AOC U2879VF 28.0" 60Hz Monitor ($299.99 @ Best Buy)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Corsair Sabre RGB Wired Optical Mouse ($49.99 @ B&H)
Total: $1710.18
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 22:33 EDT-0400

mpsparrow · July 25, 2016

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($344.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z170-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($144.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: PNY Anarchy 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: A-Data Premier SP550 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($429.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($75.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 24.0" 144Hz Monitor ($249.99 @ Best Buy)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($59.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1702.36
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 22:37 EDT-0400

dawidyadhana · July 25, 2016

http://pcpartpicker.com/list/wwgJbj

How about this?

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/wwgJbj
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/wwgJbj/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($237.89 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus Z170I PRO GAMING Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($159.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($66.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB SC Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card ($439.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer G257HU smidpx 25.0" 60Hz Monitor ($269.99 @ B&H)
Keyboard: Corsair K70 RGB Wired Gaming Keyboard ($169.99 @ Best Buy)
Mouse: Logitech G402 Wired Optical Mouse ($44.95 @ Adorama)
Total: $1697.54

Uptivuptiz · July 25, 2016

Do u even pc bro?

PCPartPicker: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/XZJb8K

Price is: 1700.06 so i believe its ok let me know if it isn't.

pc 1700$.xlsx

MDawg17 · July 25, 2016

http://pcpartpicker.com/list/cNcq3F

Icinix · July 25, 2016

http://pcpartpicker.com/list/mW4n7h

Wanted to go with a 1070, but because of the high price and relative performance decided to save some dollars and go for a 390X. GPUs are usually the most frequent of the core upgrades so figured if it can kick on for a year or two it will have done well. Using the extra dollars put it into IO devices like the higher res. monitor which should last more than a couple of upgrades and the keyboard, mouse, headset and gold rated 750w PSU for the same reasons.

Opted to go slightly higher on the CPU but lower on the motherboard because I figure by the time the CPU is too much of a slouch, it's going to require a new motherboard socket anyway so seemed little reason to plan much along upgrade paths in regards to that.

While I could have stuck an AIO cooler in there, the Noctua cooler has great performance for stock speeds and solid warranty.

Went with a 120gb SSD for boot drive and although the 2tb WD Blue isn't the fastest around, has more than enough space for more than a few games and media

Wasn't sure if I should have factored in a copy of Windows - but since I assumed this would have been a complete build for someone without any prior system, put it in there. If it wasn't required would have spent the additional money on the GPU.

The price without rebates sits a couple of dollars below $1700 - so again, with the rebates factored in that money would have gone to the GPU.

Edit : Also opted to go for a MicroATX build for a smaller profile - but also so it could be tucked in with AV for lounge room gaming, potential VR work down the track.

Hyundidontknow · July 25, 2016

Here is my submition. I went for the, generally fast for almost everything pc rather than a gaming overkill.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vJDdTY6ow__QbZN6mtaSS1WW2DBzkYv6Czu-0DN2XgA/edit?usp=sharing

IrishNexus · July 25, 2016

17 hours ago, Slick said:

So I'm not used to using the US version of pcpartpicker and a lot of the parts I would normally put together are on the UK one but not on the US one, this meant that the flat black and silver/chrome colour scheme I usually go for, couldnt really be achieved at this price point(I like to splurge a bit on aesthetics)

Here's the link to the PcPartPicker...

http://pcpartpicker.com/list/JJn7TH

So to begin I picked the i7 6700k, great CPU, latest Skylake architecture, can't go wrong here and with a bit of tuning it can hit 4.4 GHz easily.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/tdmxFT/intel-cpu-bx80662i76700k

The cooler is a Lepa Aquachanger 240, a 240mm AIO that is black/red so A+ for my colours and it also keeps up with the big dogs in terms of performance. You shouldn't have an issue with comfortable temperatures when overclocking that 6700k if that's your thing.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/hQ7CmG/lepa-cpu-cooler-lpwac240hf

My motherboard choice was the MSI z170a gaming m5 because..

1. Fits the Black/Red colour scheme I aimed for.

2. MSI are a great company, reputable and have great customer service in my experience.

3. Supports SLI for future upgrades if need be.

4. Has everything you need from plenty of USB 3.1 ports to good quality audio.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/F9Gj4D/msi-motherboard-z170agamingm5

Ram is a simple matter of getting an affordable 16Gb kit in red, I would have chosen the 3000Mhz kit since it's like 7 bucks more than a 2400 kit but I'd be just over the 1700 mark by doing that. I also like the look of the new Gskill coolers.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4vWrxr/gskill-memory-f42400c15d16gvr

The GPU is again by MSI, mainly for the colour scheme here, I could have picked the cheapest 1070 and called it a day but I like the MSI coolers and the colours match the motherboard, plus this is a great card, reviews show great temps and stellar acoustics.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/fKp323/msi-geforce-gtx-1070-8gb-video-card-gtx-1070-gaming-x-8g

For storage I have a sandisk 240Gb OS drive, it's fast with +500mbps on reads and writes and it has respectable iops performance too for a 70 dollar drive. Its plenty big for the os and all the programs you could want.

The mass storage drive is a 2Tb Seagate drive, its average and that's why I like it Ive currently got a Seagate drive in my system and it hasn't let me down so I've no reason to doubt their quality, they have massive ratings on pcpartpicker too.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/yPbp99/sandisk-internal-hard-drive-sdssdhii240gg25

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/KyCwrH/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001

For the PSU I chose the Corsair CX650, great brand here, never had a product fail on me and with 650 watts you have plenty of room to overclock and even SLI thanks to Pascal efficiency. It also has all black cables LIKE HOW IS THIS NOT A STANDARD FEATURE OF ALL PSUs. (sorry this stuff just gets my jimmies in a bunch)

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/R2mxFT/corsair-power-supply-cp9020103na

The case is the Eclipse P400 by Phanteks, it's a grey case with red led accenting and cheap as chips too! It has a nicely sized tinted window and great big rubber grommeted slots for cable management. You'll have the option of mounting the 240 rad on the top or front in this case.(excuse the pun)

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/VyKhP6/phanteks-case-phec416pag

How about that 1440p monitor eh bud? It's an Asus 24" 2560x1440 IPS display, 5ms response time which is grand tbh. A side note here, 24" may be too small for some but I find bigger monitors to be a strain on my eyes after a while, there are 27" Acer monitors for a cheaper price if that's your thing but I prefer the aesthetic and thin bezels of this Asus one, it would make adding a second or third monitor so easy and seamless.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/TwzZxr/asus-monitor-vx24ah

This keyboard and mouse combo is da bomb, I haven't used it personally but I've seen good reviews before and cooler master are a well known brand so you can be sure they know what they're doing. It has red led backlighting too and it's 28 bucks, that's a bargain imo.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/WJFPxr/cooler-master-keyboard-sgb3011kkmf1us

So that's the build, I had to make compromises in some places for the sake of the challenge but I truly feel like I've done a good job here if I do say so myself, I stuck to a colour scheme, picked new exciting hardware and gained some US market knowledge along the way

(Apologies if I made any errors above, I don't think I have but it's just past 4am here so I wouldn't be surprised if I messed something up lmao)

-Dylan

aetherspoon · July 25, 2016

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($237.89 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($72.19 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B150M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($65.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($159.75 @ Amazon)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($62.80 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($429.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define Mini MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($75.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($46.85 @ OutletPC)
Mouse: Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball ($27.99 @ Best Buy)
UPS: CyberPower AVRG750U UPS ($79.95 @ Amazon)
Other: QNIX QX2710 Evolution II Matte 27.0" 60Hz Monitor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Other: MechanicalEagle Z-77 White Backlit 104 Keys Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Anti-Ghosting with Blue Switches (White) ($49.99)
Total: $1698.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 23:01 EDT-0400

Notes:

So, this machine is actually really similar to my current desktop, only the Skylake / newer version of what I have. Also, I didn't see anyone else include a nice battery backup system, and I consider that essential for a well rounded desktop.

The monitor is a cheaper version of a higher end monitor and I happen to quite like that keyboard even though it is really cheap for a mechanical keyboard. Sure, it isn't a really high end keyboard and I'm sure I'm probably the only person that really likes trackballs, but you have to say the build is a bit unique.

Also, the QNIX Monitor and the Keyboard aren't actually in PCPartPicker, so I linked to Newegg/Amazon directly.

Bignasty5850 · July 25, 2016

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/Bignasty5058/saved/Y3jYcf

I believe I'm in the rules and it's even slightly themed

Macsorj · July 25, 2016

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/k26RkT
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/k26RkT/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($237.89 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H170-D3HP ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($104.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Value Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier SP550 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Pipeline HD 2TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.90 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1080 8GB Video Card ($649.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT S340 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer GN246HL 24.0" 144Hz Monitor ($191.19 @ B&H)
Keyboard: Thermaltake POSEIDON Z Wired Gaming Keyboard ($69.99 @ Directron)
Mouse: Logitech G300S Wired Optical Mouse ($29.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1671.77
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 23:32 EDT-0400

chris_sherrard · July 25, 2016

Here is my build!

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/psMcqk
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/psMcqk/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-6800K 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor ($422.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus X99-A ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($216.14 @ B&H)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($77.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital AV-GP 500GB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($34.40 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($429.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Asus VX238H-W 23.0" Monitor ($110.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder 2013 Wired Optical Mouse ($48.44 @ Amazon)
Total: $1696.78

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 23:31 EDT-0400

EDIT: Just wanted to add a small explanation.

Unfortunately, it's really not that cost effective to build your own PC right now. At this price range you are going to have to compromise somewhere... I decided to go with a slightly less amazing monitor, instead of compromising on the CPU or GPU, since it will be much easier in a few years (when prices go down on 4K monitors!) for someone to just go buy a new screen rather than to install some new hardware inside their PC. The hardware I chose should last you quite a long time, the motherboard is expandable to 128GB's of RAM, and the case comes with it's own fans.

I also made sure all of my products were from trusted brands with good ratings!

IrishNexus · July 25, 2016

11 minutes ago, Bignasty5850 said:

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/Bignasty5058/saved/Y3jYcf

I believe I'm in the rules and it's even slightly themed

You're missing the monitor, keyboard and mouse in the build

farfar · July 25, 2016

@Slick Here you go:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/NjvWbj
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/NjvWbj/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($237.89 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9S 46.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z170-A PRO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($114.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($72.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX200 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($139.00 @ Adorama)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card ($449.95 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 w/Window (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Cooler Master 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($68.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Acer K272HULbmiidp 27.0" 60Hz Monitor ($270.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder 2013 Wired Optical Mouse ($48.44 @ Amazon)
Total: $1699.87

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 23:38 EDT-0400

Amazing3D · July 25, 2016

Here is my build.

http://pcpartpicker.com/list/rJBZf8

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/rJBZf8
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/rJBZf8/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($237.89 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($61.94 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z170I PRO GAMING Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($163.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ B&H)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($429.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV ITX Mini ITX Tower Case ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($85.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 24.0" 144Hz Monitor ($249.99 @ Best Buy)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($59.99 @ Best Buy)
Other: OLKB Planck - Grid Keyboard ($120.00)
Total: $1693.72
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 23:43 EDT-0400

Note: The keyboard is somewhat hard to find but I have two of them that I built and they are pretty awesome and would be perfect for a small form factor build like this.

DanielWGK · July 25, 2016

I designed this for myself so it's not particularly an every man's spec.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($297.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($134.99 @ B&H)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($58.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ TRION 150 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon RX 480 8GB Video Card ($269.99 @ B&H)
Case: Thermaltake Core V1 Snow Edition Mini ITX Tower Case ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Silverstone Strider Gold 450W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply ($87.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-R8 redux-1800 PWM 31.4 CFM 80mm Fan ($12.65 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-R8 redux-1800 PWM 31.4 CFM 80mm Fan ($12.65 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer S277HK wmidpp 27.0" 60Hz Monitor ($409.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($75.50 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Logitech MX Master Bluetooth Wireless Laser Mouse ($79.83 @ Amazon)
Total: $1660.54
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 23:43 EDT-0400

I've always been an AMD guy but I decided since the budget was higher, I'd spec out an Intel i7.

I wanted a small form factor so mITX but I also wanted dual ethernet so I picked the GA-Z170N-WIFI.

16gb of DDR4 is plenty for my needs.

I don't have huge amounts of data stored at any one point in time, so I went with a large SSD.

I wanted a current gen GPU so the RX 480 gets a chance with me.

Small white case.

80+ gold Silverstone PSU with enough juice to power everything comfortably.

Always populate all fan slots.

4K 27" Monitor. I was going to go with multiple monitors but I figured multitasking on a single hi-res monitor could work.

Cherry MX Brown version of my current keyboard.

MX Master is just a really nice mouse.

Reptilicus · July 25, 2016

Alright, here is my submission (the monitor and GPU links are below): http://pcpartpicker.com/list/dbyk6X

Monitor (not too sure what the difference is between these two): CLICK ME! or THIS

GPU (out of stock for now sadly): CLICK ME!

Reasoning on things:

CPU: I chose the i5 over the i7, because, it would not make much sense to be already bottle necked by the 1060 and then use another $100 of the precious budget on something that won't make much (or any) difference for gaming.

Monitor: I picked the LG monitor because it is really good for the price. While it isn't 1440p, it is much larger and it isn't as expensive. I own one of these and it looks great.

GPU: Since I went with the 2560x1080 (21:9) monitor, I didn't need to choose a 1070 that would have thrown this over-budget. So, I chose the 1060, which should be able to run most things on ultra at 60 fps (unless it is Ashes).

Storage: While there isn't a massive amount of storage, it will be very fast and should be enough for the "average" user. The m.2 SSD I selected gets 1.4 GB reads and 600 MB writes (sequential of course), and the WD black hard drive should be pretty reliable and have enough performance to be a decent steam drive (or be for big files if you don't have a very large library yet).

Keyboard/Mouse: For the keyboard and mouse I went with the BlackWidow Chroma and the Naga Chroma from Razer. I chose these because having both of them being RGB was a must (for me at least) and controlling colors and other things from the same software is really nice. Of course the mouse is a little more personal (hand types and all), (and someone might be a bit intimidated by the buttons on the Naga) so you could always go with a different Razer mouse of your choosing.

wyattzx · July 25, 2016

Alright, here we go!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($237.89 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i GTX 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($106.99 @ Best Buy)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A GAMING M5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($169.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($58.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.00 @ B&H)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($429.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer GN246HL 24.0" 144Hz Monitor ($191.19 @ B&H)
Keyboard: Logitech G710 Plus Wired Gaming Keyboard ($125.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($59.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1693.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-25 00:09 EDT-0400

The idea behind this build was to combine both aesthetics and performance while staying under the $1,700 budget point. The i5-6600k is plenty for gaming at 1080p, or even 1440p, and the GTX 1070 from Gigabyte has all of the horsepower you'd need to game at such a resolution. While not the nicest 144hz panel on the market, the Acer GB246HL offers a good middle-ground between high refresh rate, and what many suggest is the maximum physical size for 1080p.

The board itself leaves little to be desired at this price bracket, and with 16GB of RAM on board, there's little it wouldn't be able to handle on the multimedia side of things. No build is complete without a solid state drive, and as such this one is equipped with a 250GB Samsung 850 EVO, complemented lovingly by the WD Black 1TB from Western Digital. The case and CPU cooler is what will turn heads however. The Define S from Fractal Design is a sleek, clean and utilitarian-esque case, and paired with the H100i GTX from Corsair, you're no doubt going to draw attention to your rig by passersby.

The G710+ from Logitech boasts very nice Cherry MX brown switches fit with comfortable keycaps and a very nice and neutral white LED backlighting that will complement any color scheme. The G502 Proteus Core is any gamer's first choice when it comes to a no-frills-and-high-kills mouse, and you simply can't go wrong when pairing the two.

All of this backed up by the astounding SuperNOVA GS 550W from EVGA, so you know you'll never have to worry about your build blowing up on you.

For a budget of $1,700, this is the best route for a well-rounded build that makes no compromises, in my opinion.

Kiipsitrill · July 25, 2016

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($344.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A PC MATE ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($109.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Kingston Savage 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($74.55 @ B&H)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card ($449.95 @ B&H)
Case: BitFenix Nova ATX Mid Tower Case ($22.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA P2 650W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($92.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 24.0" 144Hz Monitor ($249.99 @ Best Buy)
Keyboard: Corsair K65 RGB Wired Gaming Keyboard ($122.49)
Mouse: Corsair Sabre RGB Wired Optical Mouse ($49.99 @ B&H)
Total: $1699.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 22:42 EDT-0400

Notes:

Manualily added k65 RGB price based on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-K65-RGB-Keyboard-Cherry/dp/B00P7Y4618 LUX and RAPIDFIRE models are other prices, and what little I tried them I did not like.
You should also be using Samsung's RapidMode which is as fast as a RAM disk and included with this drive. If you don't insist on having your entire library downloaded 250GB should be big enough.

ClobberXD · July 25, 2016

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core OEM/Tray Processor ($332.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9S 46.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ TRION 150 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($429.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($65.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Monitor: Acer K272HULbmiidp 27.0" 60Hz Monitor ($270.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Logitech G610 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($89.00 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G303 Daedalus Apex Wired Optical Mouse ($38.88 @ Amazon)
Total: $1700.66
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-25 01:27 EDT-0400

samiscool51 · July 25, 2016

what if you already own the system? @Slick

Sir Jun · July 25, 2016

I know this build isn't the best. It's here because this is what I've had in mind for my possible future build. I own some of the parts already; the case, power supply, keyboards and mouse. I don't intend to play many triple-A games and this build is good enough for me. Although I'll probably change the cpu and motherboard to skylake whenever I get money.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/2mNq3F
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/2mNq3F/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 880K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-WIFI Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ TRION 150 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.00 @ B&H)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon RX 480 8GB Video Card ($269.99 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Define Nano S Mini ITX Desktop Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Nixeus NX-VUE24A 24.0" 144Hz Monitor ($269.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Logitech G602 Wireless Optical Mouse ($65.88 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1212.77
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-25 01:51 EDT-0400

Iraxis · July 25, 2016

Type	Part	Price	Location
CPU	Intel Core i7 6700	$297.99	B&H
Cooler	Cryorig H7	$34.99	Amazon
Motherboard	ASRock Pro 4s Z170	$82.98	Newegg
RAM	G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB	$58.99	Newegg
GPU 1	XFX Radeon RX 480 8GB	$253.98	Newegg
GPU 2	XFX Radeon RX 480 8GB	$253.98	Newegg
Case	Fractal Design Define R5	$99.99	SuperBiiz
Power Supply	EVGA Supernova 750 G2	$84.99	NCIX US
SSD	ADATA Premier SP550 240GB	$54.99	NCIX US
HDD	WD Caviar Blue 1TB 7200RPM	$47.49	OutletPC
Keyboard	GIGABYTE FORCE K85 Mechanical (Red)	$59.99	Newegg
Mouse	Logitech g600	$40.99	Amazon
Monitor 1	LG 25UM56-P 25” 21:9 UltraWide IPS	$150.99	Newegg
Monitor 2	AOC E2228SWDN 1080p 21.5"	$84.99	BestBuy
Monitor 3	AOC E2228SWDN 1080p 21.5"	$84.99	BestBuy
	Total:	$1,692.32

This build offers a lot in terms of gaming experience (dope Eyefinity setup, nice peripherals) as well as productivity performance (i7, 16gb RAM, Lots of screen real-estate)

Parts Explanation

CPU and Motherboard:

The i7-6700 and the ASRock Pro4s z170 actually make a better pair than it seems on paper. This motherboard was one of the few that was able to overclock non-k skus by increasing the base clock, negating the need to spend an extra $50 for the 6700k.

The 6700 is the obvious choice of processor here. It may not make much of a difference for gaming as opposed to an i5, but it sure does when it comes to productivity and content creation.

Originally the build had a 6800k and an MSI Krait x99 board, but I had to really skimp on the peripherals. However, it's still a legitimate option.

Cooler:

The Cryorig h7 is a great entry level cooler that can handle decent overclocks without too much trouble as well as stay quiet.

RAM:

Great brand, great price. 16gb is basically the standard today. I still feel that anything more (for a general use PC) is overkill.

GPU:
I know Luke, I know. I know you've been hating on the price gouging of both the Rx 480s as well as the NVidia offerings. HOWEVER, these RX 480s DO come in stock ON OCCASION. They also seem to be selling at the intended price. Unfortunately though, you are right. They are almost impossible to get, but it can be done.

I went with two RX 480s because it outperforms a single 1070 as well as the fact that Eyefinity supports monitors with different aspect ratios and resolutions, whereas NVidia's Surround does not. Also, the fact that they are blower cards should help keep the case cool. $500 also isn't a terrible price.

Case:

The Define R5 is a classic case, notorious for having excellent build quality and keeping your build silent. It's also a good price.

Additionally, the included Fractal fans are quite good, which is nice because I am relying on them for airflow in the case. The airflow shouldn't really be an issue since the GPUs have blower style coolers.

PSU:

I personally have mixed feelings about EVGA, but they have really great reviews. This power supply should be more than adequate for this build.

Storage:

Honestly, this is probably the weakest part of the build. The ADATA SSD is just fine and boasts good speeds. The WD drive is also nice. However, for a machine of this caliber, I would probably want both of these drives to have double the capacity, but in all honesty, unless you have over 75 steam games and/or work with video often, this should be more than enough.

Peripherals:

The Gigabyte keyboard seems to be a steal. Gigabyte (as you know) is a good brand. I also really wanted to have a mechanical keyboard for this build. I personally am not a fan of the red switches, but some people like them. They also offer other switch types. Additionally, the keyboard looks amazing.

The G600 is a bit of an oddball choice, I know. It's a bit of an antiquated product, but still has amazing value. For $40 you get a really nicely built mouse with a grid of 12 buttons on the side, akin to those found on the Razer Naga and the Corsair Scimitar. I have tried all three of these mice and personally feel that the side buttons on the G600 are far superior to the other two options.

Surprisingly enough, I don't really use the extra buttons in games. I actually use them in applications like GIMP mostly. I also have all 12 buttons mapped in the default profile for things like volume, file explorer, chrome, media controls, etc. I can't go without this mouse anymore.

Monitors:

The subject of monitors, is the only time that I am actually willing to sacrifice quality (to a degree) for quantity.

I know this is the road less traveled, but I absolutely adore having multitudes of monitors on my desk (I have 4 in a pyramid at the moment).

The LG ultrawide is an IPS panel and looks fantastic. I am typing this on the 29" version.

The AOC monitors are somewhat mediocre, but they get the job done. Their only real issue is a slightly subpar contrast. However, pretty much all color sensitive work will be done on the ultrawide (in the center) anyways.

Extra screen real-estate is SO important for productivity. Plus, with the RX 480s, this will provide a dope Eyefinity setup.

Links:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1176279-REG/intel_bx80662i76700_6th_gen_i7_6700.html

https://www.amazon.com/CRYORIG-H7-Tower-Cooler-Intel/dp/B00S7YA5FQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469423519&sr=8-1&keywords=Cryorig+h7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157636&cm_re=Asrock_Pro4s-_-13-157-636-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232174&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker, LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150770&cm_re=RX_480-_-14-150-770-_-Product

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=CA-R5BK-W&c=CJ

http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=94405&vpn=220-G2-0750-XR&manufacture=eVGA&promoid=1416

http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=111658&vpn=ASP550SS3-240GM-C&manufacture=AData Technology&promoid=1574

http://www.outletpc.com/dx5854-western-digital-caviar-blue-1tb.html?utm_source=dx5854-western-digital-caviar-blue-1tb&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=pcpartpicker&utm_content=Western Digital%2B-%2BHard Drives %26 SSD > 3.5" SATA Hard Drives

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823334027