$3,500 - $4,000 - First Time Build - Need Advice!

[Nephi]

Hi Guys. I'm glad I found this forum. I am building my computer from the ground up and need some advice. I'm a definitely a noob.

My budget is $3.5K to $4K

System Usage: Gaming (27" monitor UHD), photo editing, web design.

I have picked the following parts after spending hours combing the forums and reading reviews. Here are the parts I am eyeing:

Board - Asus Maximus VI Hero ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
CPU - Intel 4770K Haswell Z78
Cooler - Corsair H100i CPU Cooler
Case - Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case
RAM - Corsair Dominator Platinum 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1866
HD - Corsair Neutron Series GTX 480GB 2.5" SSD
Sound - MOBO audio.
PSU - Corsair Professional 850W 80 PLUS ATX12V / EPS12V
GPU #1 - EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card
GPU #2 - EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card
OS - Windows 8 64-BIT
Monitor - Dell UltraSharp U2713H 27-inch

I do have a few questions that hopefully you guys can help me with.

1. Are any of these parts incompatible or just plain won't fit or work? This is my #1 concern!
2. Will the Corsair H100i fit in the R4 case easily w/out any modifications?
3. Will I have enough room for both graphics cards AND the Creative card (which requires two PCI slots)?
4. I'm open to suggestions. Any advice/suggestions/changes you would make?
5. Do I need to buy thermal paste? If so can you guys direct me to a specific paste that will work well?
6. I am only planning to do a mild overclock. So 5 GHZ is out of the picture
7. Is this PSU adequate and compatible with my case choice and other components?
8. I picked the Dell U2713H because it is affordable, well reviewed, and is decent as a gaming monitor. Are there other options I may have missed that have great color accuracy and fast response times?
9. Will I run into issues with web design due to the fact this monitor is "wide gamut"?
10. Am I missing any other vital accessories that I may have overlooked?

Thanks in advance for any/all help. I hope to order the system tomorrow!

-Brian

 

[Tattare]

are you going to be mainly running speakers or headphones? what kind of audio setup do you have?

 

[Sunburn74]

GPU setup seems extremely overkill for a single monitor. Could probably get away with a single GTX 770 and call it a day.

 

[snoylekim]

The monitor is wide gamut capable - you can set it for Wide Gamut or sRGB ..for your use case, the sRGB settings would be appropriate, and the monitor is very capable in that space . Just check the settings , and , if you have the equipment and software, calibrate it for sRGB for even more accurate color rendition .

 

[TheStu]

1. Are any of these parts incompatible or just plain won't fit or work? This is my #1 concern!

No, they should all work together, but see 4.

2. Will the Corsair H100i fit in the R4 case easily w/out any modifications?

Should, but see 4.

3. Will I have enough room for both graphics cards AND the Creative card (which requires two PCI slots)?

Should, but see 4.

4. I'm open to suggestions. Any advice/suggestions/changes you would make?

Here we are at 4. You don't need 1866 RAM for Haswell, DDR3-1600 will work just fine and save you some money. The Asus board you picked out is overkill, check out the new build I have below. 2 780s is more than a little excessive, but I wouldn't drop all the way down to the 770. Just eliminate one of them. Is there any specific reason you need the sound card? If you are serious about sound, get a USB DAC and let it do the heavy lifting.

5. Do I need to buy thermal paste? If so can you guys direct me to a specific paste that will work well?

If you're using the stock cooler, then no. If you're going to use an aftermarket one, then sure.

7. Is this PSU adequate and compatible with my case choice and other components?

Compatible, but probably overkill.

9. Will I run into issues with web design due to the fact this monitor is "wide gamut"?

Probably not, but you can always just make sure that it is properly calibrated and get that issue out of the way altogether.

10. Am I missing any other vital accessories that I may have overlooked?

I assume you have either other hard drives, or are perfectly content to only have 480GB of storage? Also, you have a keyboard/mouse laying around?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($334.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme6 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($108.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($343.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($673.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional Gold 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($154.48 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Dell U2713HM 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($649.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2681.36
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-11 08:16 EDT-0400)

Even with this build, there are things that I would do with it, which is to drop down to the 4670K unless you HAVE to have hyperthreading. Also, maybe drop down to a smaller SSD, a ~250GB model would fit all your day-to-day stuff, and the overflow would go to the 2TB drive.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Before you throw $4000 at a system, you should be aware that there are pretty sharply diminishing returns for non-peripheral hardware after ~$1400.

The amount of money that you're investing makes me think that this is a computer with which you're planning on earning a living. If that's the case, I would feel leery about overclocking it. When you're on a deadline, you don't want to be chasing down instabilities, or losing work to same.

Could you answer the questions here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=24043454&postcount=1
to help us help you?

 

[Torn Mind]

Not sure, but SLI/Crossfire might be necessary to maintain good framerates for 2560x1440 due to that Dell monitor he listed.

I would avoid overclocking that system beyond the max turbo for that chip. Also, water cooling comes with its risks; should the system break, the rest of your machine will die too.

I think 850 W is all you need for the PSU.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1850snlb9

or

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cmpsu850txv2

I'm not sure about the customer support from either company; you'll need anecdotes from others to find out.

 

[waldoh]

If I were throwing that amount of money at a computer I would:

1. Buy something from one of the PC boutiques (maingear, digitalstorm, etc...). You get incredible customer service, and no hassles.

2. Wait for Ivy-E. Supports SLI in x16.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

If you have a Micro Center nearby you could save on your CPU price. Last I checked by my area the 4770K was 279$ and the 4670K was 200$

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Hi Guys. I'm glad I found this forum.

When did you find this forum? 2008? Maybe it was in May?

 

[piasabird]

Makes you wonder if any of this stuff will drop in price at the end of the summer in a back to school sale or something like that? Might find some combo sales or something.

 

[Static EMP]

What makes you set on windows 8? How is that OS not dead yet

 

[Nephi]

When did you find this forum? 2008? Maybe it was in May?

I think I signed up a very long time ago. Long forgot about and found it again! I guess techincally speaking... I'm glad I found it again.

-Brian

 

[Nephi]

You guys rock. Thanks for much for helping me out.

A few points after reading your comments.


1. 480 GB should be fine for now. My current comp is 256 GB and only half full.
2. Is the general consensus that the PSU is overkill? Should I step down to around 850? The reason I picked he 1050W model was because most PC calculators showed I would need between 700 - 850 watts and I read an article that over time (2-4 years) you lose up to 30% of your power supply due to age. So this begets the question.... is it worth the extra $100 more or not? I may very well be able to go down and save the $$$. Thoughts?
3. The sound card is admittedly overkill and I freely admit a splurge. I guess I consider myself and "audiophile" and I like the 124 SNR and new Burr Brown DACS. That being said, in the $200 is their another stand out card? The ASUS reviews are all over the place.
4. The dual 780 GTX were picked because a) the length of time I keep my comp b) 2560 UHD resolutions c) on of my fav games is COH 2 and it brought a single 780 to is knees ;-)


-Brian

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I think I signed up a very long time ago. Long forgot about and found it again! I guess techincally speaking... I'm glad I found it again.

-Brian

Hehe :biggrin: Well, welcome to the forums ....again!

 

[lehtv]

1. 480 GB should be fine for now. My current comp is 256 GB and only half full.
2. Is the general consensus that the PSU is overkill? Should I step down to around 850? The reason I picked he 1050W model was because most PC calculators showed I would need between 700 - 850 watts and I read an article that over time (2-4 years) you lose up to 30% of your power supply due to age. So this begets the question.... is it worth the extra $100 more or not? I may very well be able to go down and save the $$$. Thoughts?
3. The sound card is admittedly overkill and I freely admit a splurge. I guess I consider myself and "audiophile" and I like the 124 SNR and new Burr Brown DACS. That being said, in the $200 is their another stand out card? The ASUS reviews are all over the place.
4. The dual 780 GTX were picked because a) the length of time I keep my comp b) 2560 UHD resolutions c) on of my fav games is COH 2 and it brought a single 780 to is knees ;-)

-Brian

1. 480GB is fine
2a. Yes, it's overkill
2b. PSU calculators estimate the wattage rating needed for the PC, not the power consumption of the PC itself, and they usually overestimate it by a bit to account for lesser quality units.
2c. PSU capacity does decrease over time, but by 30% in 2-4 years? No way. High quality units are rated for continous watts with a warranty of 5+ years. What you read probably applies to units with low quality capacitors that degrade faster.
3. No comment on that one, I do like my Asus DX but it's in a different price range
4. I agree with this choice, given the budget. If I had that money to splurge on a PC, and if I gamed on 1440p, I would definitely pick up dual 780's and run everything at max. :thumbsup:

On your budget I'd probably grab a Seasonic 760W Platinum or Corsair AX760i.

 

[Tattare]

Id get a USB DAC for the sound card instead of that internal card. It just depends are you going to be using headphones mostly or speakers (how many speakers) to determine the right setup.

If it was me and I was going for a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker setup Id use the optical out to send to my receiver. (bypass the onboard sound and use the receivers DAC instead & you can always use the receivers headphone jack depending on your headphones)
2.0 setup on the dime id probably just get a Audinist HUD mx1 and some powered studio monitors so Id still have a headphone jack for gaming.
headphone setup on the dime Schiit Magni & Modi.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

What are the benifits of a USB sound card? Wouldn't it add input latency or are the timers the same for USB devices and slot devices?

 

[mfenn]

What are the benifits of a USB sound card? Wouldn't it add input latency or are the timers the same for USB devices and slot devices?

With ASIO, it works out pretty well.

 

[mfenn]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($334.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme6 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($108.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($343.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($673.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional Gold 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($154.48 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Dell U2713HM 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($649.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2681.36
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-11 08:16 EDT-0400)

I like this build, but I would make a few changes:

- PSU: This XFX 750W semi-modular is Seasonic-built, has plenty of power, and is a ridiculous deal at $55 AR AP
- GPU: I'd probably grab dual 7970's ($340 AR ea.) for best bang for the buck at 2560.
- Audio: An outboard DAC is a must if you're even thinking of dropping $200 on a sound card. A Nuforce with ASIO is a good place to start looking.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

With ASIO, it works out pretty well.

Could you elaborate a little more? How well does it work?

Thanks

EDIT: Ah, looks to be a nice upgrade :thumbsup: mfenn!

 

[mfenn]

Could you elaborate a little more? How well does it work?

Thanks

EDIT: Ah, looks to be a nice upgrade :thumbsup: mfenn!

An ASIO driver basically bypasses the normal Windows audio stack and talks directly to the hardware. What that means is lower latency and less jitter in the digital signal.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

An ASIO driver basically bypasses the normal Windows audio stack and talks directly to the hardware. What that means is lower latency and less jitter in the digital signal.

was just getting through the first paragraph! looks like an upgrade in my future, yay

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

OP, and mfenn if you wanna investigate these uDAC-2 units. They seem pretty cheap starting at 120$

 

[Nephi]

I made a few minor changes....

Mobo is now a Asus Maximus VI Hero ATX LGA1150 Motherboard and the power supply was dropped to 850 watts. Based on the feedback it seems 1050 was overkill. In addition I dropped the sound card card as this board appears to have a very good, dedicated, audio section.