"do everything" build aka a nerds dream

[waldoh]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

FPS Gaming @ 1080p 144hz, MMO Gaming @ 1440p. Web development work using VMware to test across multiple platforms. CAD hobbyist.

I would also like to use my PC as a central hub for music with multiple speakers (I need a remote of some kind). It would be interesting to be able to use it as a media center as well, but I think those cheap devices like Roku or Apple TV do a better job.

I want a "do anything" computer.
It would be great to have a setup that I can control EVERYTHING in my apartment from my PC (including lights, music, tv, door locks, thermostat, etc...)

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

$2000. Absolute maximum would be $2500 but that's stretching it.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
We can't be expected to scour the internet on your behalf, chasing down deals in your specific country... Again, help us, help YOU.

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Intel/nVidia

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Full tower case, AX860i PSU, Monitors, Creative ZxR sound card.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

I will be overclocking on air or self contained water (custom loops are over my head atm).

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?

1080p 144hz and 1440p for work/mmo gaming.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.

End of July.

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

Tempted to give Windows 8 a shot, but I already have Windows 7.

Other software I will need to accomplish my PC usage goal are unknown to me.


Additional note:

I would like this setup to last 3 years with the occasional GPU upgrade and hard drive expansion.

 

[Termie]

Just to confirm, your $2000 budget does not need to cover the case, AX860i, monitors, sound card or Win7, correct? And what case do you have?

With that budget, you're definitely looking at something very high end, particularly if you don't need to buy the case/PSU. End of July is too far away to give specific prices/links, but this is what I'd suggest generally:

(1) i7-4770K (~$350)
(2) Asus Z87-Pro (~$210)
(3) 2x8GB DDR3-1866 RAM (~$130)
(4) GeForce GTX 780 (~$650)
(5) Samsung 840 Pro 512GB SSD (~$470)
(6) Seagate 2TB Hard Drive (~$100)
(7) Corsair H110 Cooler (~$115)
(8) Blu-Ray Burner (~$70 optional)

TOTAL: $2025

As for all the home automation you're talking about, I'll have to leave it to others to comment on.

 

[lehtv]

How far are you looking to OC - something easy to achieve, or do you want to push the CPU to maximum reasonable temperatures?

Are you close to a Microcenter?

Termie's general outline looks a bit weak on the GPU side, but otherwise good (though the 512gb ssd is a bit overkill). Demanding games at 100+ fps 144hz high settings are going to take a lot of firepower. I'd shoot for 770 SLI

 

[waldoh]

Just to confirm, your $2000 budget does not need to cover the case, AX860i, monitors, sound card or Win7, correct? And what case do you have?

With that budget, you're definitely looking at something very high end, particularly if you don't need to buy the case/PSU. End of July is too far away to give specific prices/links, but this is what I'd suggest generally:

(1) i7-4770K (~$350)
(2) Asus Z87-Pro (~$210)
(3) 2x8GB DDR3-1866 RAM (~$130)
(4) GeForce GTX 780 (~$650)
(5) Samsung 840 Pro 512GB SSD (~$470)
(6) Seagate 2TB Hard Drive (~$100)
(7) Corsair H110 Cooler (~$115)
(8) Blu-Ray Burner (~$70 optional)

TOTAL: $2025

As for all the home automation you're talking about, I'll have to leave it to others to comment on.

The budget does not need to cover the case, psu, monitors, sound card or win7.
I have an RV01 case.

How far are you looking to OC - something easy to achieve, or do you want to push the CPU to maximum reasonable temperatures?

Are you close to a Microcenter?

Termie's general outline looks a bit weak on the GPU side, but otherwise good (though the 512gb ssd is a bit overkill). Demanding games at 100+ fps 144hz high settings are going to take a lot of firepower. I'd shoot for 770 SLI

I am looking to push it to squeeze more performance out, but keep it at safe temperatures.

I can drive to a microcenter.

 

[Termie]

How far are you looking to OC - something easy to achieve, or do you want to push the CPU to maximum reasonable temperatures?

Are you close to a Microcenter?

Termie's general outline looks a bit weak on the GPU side, but otherwise good (though the 512gb ssd is a bit overkill). Demanding games at 100+ fps 144hz high settings are going to take a lot of firepower. I'd shoot for 770 SLI

He's not just using the system for gaming. That's why I went with the large SSD. If he doesn't think he'll need it, that's up to him, but this is not a pure gaming build.

770SLI isn't a bad suggestion, but I don't think it will get him to >120fps, so for his purposes, I'd stick to the more elegant (and cheaper) GTX780 solution.

 

[lehtv]

Awesome. Here's what I'd recommend for a great all-round PC, not commenting on the home automation stuff either.

MC:

CPU i7-4770K $280
Mobo Asrock Z77 Extreme6 $130 after combo discount

Newegg:

SSD Corsair Neutron 256GB $200
RAM 2x8GB G.Skill Ares 1866 $125
Keyboard Need one?
Mouse Need one?
Mouse mat Need one?

Amazon:

Cooler Thermalright True Spirit 140 $50
GPUs 2x Asus GTX 770 DCII OC $820
HDD Seagate ST3000DM001 $120

Reuse:

PSU AX860i
Case RV01
Sound card Creative
OS Win 7
Monitors

Total $1725 so far

He's not just using the system for gaming. That's why I went with the large SSD. If he doesn't think he'll need it, that's up to him, but this is not a pure gaming build.

Though he didn't mention anything he might need a big SSD for either. You don't even need an SSD for a pure gaming build unless you're really anal about loading times. The SSD is mainly useful for the responsiveness in general use (desktop, not in-game), and being able to store a dozen games on it on top of that is already a bit of a luxury IMO.

 

[waldoh]

Looking at memory I am comparing the Corsair Vengeance Pro to the Dominator Platinum. To my eyes they seem like the exact same chip with different casing/marketing.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%2050001459%20600006072%20600000324&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=147%7C20%2D233%2D347%5E20%2D233%2D347%2DTS%2C20%2D233%2D537%5E20%2D233%2D537%2DTS&percm=20%2D233%2D347%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B20%2D233%2D537%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24

The DP are $60 more, is this just paying for fancy lights and a more "industrial" design heat spreader?

 

[DSF]

Considering that they're both 1.65V kits, I wouldn't buy either. 1.5V is the official DDR3 spec. JEDEC calls 1.575V the absolute max for situations where you want reliability. It sounded like you're intending to use this computer for work, so I'd get a 1.5V kit - there are plenty of them.

 

[waldoh]

Thanks, I will search for a 1.5V kit.

 

[lehtv]

What's wrong with the G.Skill kit I linked? Those kits you posted are ridiculously expensive and do nothing that the 1866 kit doesn't do. You will never notice any difference except in memory intensive benchmarks - the money is simply better spent on something else. In fact, the kits you posted are worse overall due to the tall heat spreaders which get in the way of large CPU coolers.

What's more, the G.SKill kit is cheaper now than when I posted, only $117

 

[Termie]

^ Agreed. G.skill DDR3-1866 is the way to go.