Coffee Lake Build - Budget or Premium config?

[iiNNeX]

I am building my personal gaming PC this Christmas and need some input on whether splashing out for some "premium" components is really worth it in the long run. I am going to post both of my configs below and see what you guys think is the wiser investment. FYI: I already own the GPU, HDD and SSD. Also the PSU of choice doesn't seem to link up with retailers but it is for sale as I got one 2 weeks ago for another build.

 

This build will be performance orientated with some form of quietness if funds allow. It doesn't have to be pretty as long as it performs well, but at the same time I don't want to throw up when I open the case either lol. My total budget on this is £1200 for the components I do not already own below.

 

Coffee Lake - "Budget"

PCPartPicker part list: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/rVxNXH

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor  (£360.79 @ Alza) 
CPU Cooler: be quiet! - Dark Rock Pro 3 67.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler  (£66.00 @ Aria PC) 
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370 Extreme4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  (£149.76 @ More Computers) 
Memory: Kingston - FURY 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  (£161.74 @ Ebuyer) 
Storage: Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Already own)
Storage: Seagate - IronWolf Pro 6TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Already own)
Video Card: Asus - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB STRIX GAMING Video Card  (Already own)
Case: Fractal Design - Meshify C ATX Mid Tower Case  (£74.62 @ Amazon UK) 
Power Supply: Corsair - RMx 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (£85.02 @ Ebuyer) 
Case Fan: ARCTIC - F12 PWM 74.0 CFM  120mm Fan  (£4.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk) 
Case Fan: ARCTIC - F12 PWM 74.0 CFM  120mm Fan  (£4.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk) 
Case Fan: ARCTIC - F12 PWM 74.0 CFM  120mm Fan  (£4.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk) 
Case Fan: ARCTIC - F12 PWM 74.0 CFM  120mm Fan  (£4.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk) 
Total: £917.89

 

Coffee Lake - "Premium"

PCPartPicker part list: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/yfZHYr

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor  (£360.79 @ Alza) 
CPU Cooler: NZXT - Kraken X62 Rev 2 98.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  (£130.48 @ Amazon UK) 
Motherboard: Asus - ROG MAXIMUS X HERO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  (£239.99) 
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  (£206.49 @ Alza) 
Storage: Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Already own)
Storage: Seagate - IronWolf Pro 6TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Already own)
Video Card: Asus - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB STRIX GAMING Video Card  (Already own)
Case: Fractal Design - Meshify C ATX Mid Tower Case  (£74.62 @ Amazon UK) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (£110.12 @ Amazon UK) 
Case Fan: Corsair - ML120 Pro LED White 75.0 CFM  120mm Fan  (£15.99 @ AWD-IT) 
Case Fan: Corsair - ML120 Pro LED White 75.0 CFM  120mm Fan  (£15.99 @ AWD-IT) 
Case Fan: Corsair - ML120 Pro LED White 75.0 CFM  120mm Fan  (£15.99 @ AWD-IT) 
Case Fan: Corsair - ML120 Pro LED White 75.0 CFM  120mm Fan  (£15.99 @ AWD-IT) 
Total: £1186.45
 

So as you can see the main change here is a better motherboard for overclocking (mainly better BIOS and VRMs), faster RAM, higher quality PSU and quieter more powerful fans. The AIO is thrown in there as it will look good with the RGB memory but again, it's not really needed. 

 

So what are your thoughts on this, does the premium one justify the quality of components over lets say 2-3 year period? Or should I get the less expensive one and perhaps add a 1TB SSD which I can benefit from a lot more?

 

Thanks

 

Edit: Updated Budget Build to be even cheaper considering the fact that the 8700k will be delidded.

[Crunchy Dragon]

For premium, get the Corsair H100i v2 instead of the Kraken X62. I personally would get the less expensive one and have some left over money to buy all the Star Wars games on Steam. But that's just me. You obviously don't have to get all the Star Wars games on Steam, they're just really cheap right now(60-66% off)

[iiNNeX]

2 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

For premium, get the Corsair H100i v2 instead of the Kraken X62. I personally would get the less expensive one and have some left over money to buy all the Star Wars games on Steam. But that's just me. You obviously don't have to get all the Star Wars games on Steam, they're just really cheap right now(60-66% off)

Hahah I don't know how serious I should take this post right now, but just in case you are serious, I already own most of them bar Battlefront 2 (because EA..)

[Crunchy Dragon]

Just now, iiNNeX said:

Hahah I don't know how serious I should take this post right now, but just in case you are serious, I already own most of them bar Battlefront 2 (because EA..)

I'm talking the Classic early 2000s Star Wars games haha.

[brob]

The Meshify C comes with two stock fans. The aio being considered also has two fans. Brings the total fans in the case to four. There really is no need to replace any of the fans.

 

The H100i v2 cpu cooler has pretty good specs.

 

A 650W psu would be just fine unless there were definite plans to add a second GTX 1080 Ti. In which case something with more than 850W capacity would be better.

 

Compromise build:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor  (£360.79 @ Alza) 
CPU Cooler: Corsair - H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  (£98.98 @ AWD-IT) 
Motherboard: Asus - ROG MAXIMUS X HERO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  (£239.99) 
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  (£206.49 @ Alza) 
Storage: Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For £0.00) 
Storage: Seagate - IronWolf Pro 6TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased For £0.00) 
Video Card: Asus - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB STRIX GAMING Video Card  (Purchased For £0.00) 
Case: Fractal Design - Meshify C ATX Mid Tower Case  (£74.62 @ Amazon UK) 
Power Supply: Corsair - RMx 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (£85.02 @ Ebuyer) 
Total: £1065.89
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-12-19 00:00 GMT+0000

 

 

[iiNNeX]

32 minutes ago, brob said:

The Meshify C comes with two stock fans. The aio being considered also has two fans. Brings the total fans in the case to four. There really is no need to replace any of the fans.

 

The H100i v2 cpu cooler has pretty good specs.

 

A 650W psu would be just fine unless there were definite plans to add a second GTX 1080 Ti. In which case something with more than 850W capacity would be better.

 

Compromise build:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor  (£360.79 @ Alza) 
CPU Cooler: Corsair - H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  (£98.98 @ AWD-IT) 
Motherboard: Asus - ROG MAXIMUS X HERO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  (£239.99) 
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  (£206.49 @ Alza) 
Storage: Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For £0.00) 
Storage: Seagate - IronWolf Pro 6TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased For £0.00) 
Video Card: Asus - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB STRIX GAMING Video Card  (Purchased For £0.00) 
Case: Fractal Design - Meshify C ATX Mid Tower Case  (£74.62 @ Amazon UK) 
Power Supply: Corsair - RMx 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (£85.02 @ Ebuyer) 
Total: £1065.89
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-12-19 00:00 GMT+0000

 

 

Hello there,

 

My main reasoning for the fans is that the stock fans in that case are really not that great. Even the cheap arctic ones I found on the budget build are better (quieter and more airflow). That said, I can hold off on fans till later and use the stock ones for a little while to save cash.

 

For the PSU I always try and go for as much as possible for the money as I want it to be around 50-60% load ideally for best usage scenario. The 650 rmx is a good choice as well though and most likely has better components inside than the GQ.

 

For the AIO, I would rather stay with 280mm, otherwise I might as well go with NH-D15 as that is better than every 240mm AIO I've seen online. It is a pretty snug fit in the Meshify but I did it for a client build last month and the temps are pretty awesome.

 

I am going to be delidding the 8700k though so perhaps I don't have to overkill on the cooler so much? Even more of a saving would be the be Quiet Dark Rock pro 3 or the R1 Ultimate (if it comes to that).

 

What's your view on getting a 1TB SSD?

 

edit: Updated the budget build to be even cheaper with a DRP3 and your PSU recommendation. Seeing as fans are only £4.99 I've left them in there for now.

[TheNaitsyrk]

NOCTUA 3000 Industrial fans all the way baby.

[iiNNeX]

4 minutes ago, TheNaitsyrk said:

NOCTUA 3000 Industrial fans all the way baby.

Currently have those running at 1600rpm or so on another build, they are awesome for sure but their price does reflect that

[brob]

1 hour ago, iiNNeX said:

Hello there,

 

My main reasoning for the fans is that the stock fans in that case are really not that great. Even the cheap arctic ones I found on the budget build are better (quieter and more airflow). That said, I can hold off on fans till later and use the stock ones for a little while to save cash.

 

For the PSU I always try and go for as much as possible for the money as I want it to be around 50-60% load ideally for best usage scenario. The 650 rmx is a good choice as well though and most likely has better components inside than the GQ.

 

For the AIO, I would rather stay with 280mm, otherwise I might as well go with NH-D15 as that is better than every 240mm AIO I've seen online. It is a pretty snug fit in the Meshify but I did it for a client build last month and the temps are pretty awesome.

 

I am going to be delidding the 8700k though so perhaps I don't have to overkill on the cooler so much? Even more of a saving would be the be Quiet Dark Rock pro 3 or the R1 Ultimate (if it comes to that).

 

What's your view on getting a 1TB SSD?

 

edit: Updated the budget build to be even cheaper with a DRP3 and your PSU recommendation. Seeing as fans are only £4.99 I've left them in there for now.

 

Do you have any links to data that suggests the X2 GP-12 fans are low quality?

 

I'm a big fan of 1TB ssd. It simplifies storage and one really notices the difference, at least I do, whenever a system has to go to an hdd. (I have more smaller storage units lying around unused than anything else. 250GB hdd, 120GB ssd, all pretty useless now.)

[TheNaitsyrk]

26 minutes ago, iiNNeX said:

Currently have those running at 1600rpm or so on another build, they are awesome for sure but their price does reflect that

My 1080 TI uses one on it's radiator and GPU sits at 41C all the time! Under full load.

[iiNNeX]

43 minutes ago, brob said:

 

Do you have any links to data that suggests the X2 GP-12 fans are low quality?

 

I'm a big fan of 1TB ssd. It simplifies storage and one really notices the difference, at least I do, whenever a system has to go to an hdd. (I have more smaller storage units lying around unused than anything else. 250GB hdd, 120GB ssd, all pretty useless now.)

They are not low quality, just not as good as I would like and since this is a performance orientated build the more airflow the better. The arctic fans have better airflow with slightly worse noise now that I looked it up (21-22dba instead of 19.4). 

 

I used to have a 1TB SSD before in one of my laptops, it's awesome. I will see if I can cram one in later on as I really hate hard drives but since I already have the Ironwolf Pro laying around in an unopened box I thought I'd use it. I can sell it to get a 1TB Samsung 850 Evo though, which will work wonders.

 

Currently checking out EK's Fluid Gaming Kits, the A240G is very well priced but unfortunately the block does not support the Strix 1080ti