Input on new PC build "Biidovah"

[EnsisTheSlayer]

System Build: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/jGJhPs

Inspiration to make a black/blue setup was from Ed from TechSource and his black/red setup.

I'm answering the questions from this thread; http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121

My build will primarily be used for gaming and productivity. The budget is $2000, but this includes peripherals and etc.. I live in the northern part of the US (may help for dust and etc.) and the currency is USD. I typically prefer Intel CPUs and AMD GPUs, but other than that I'll usually just go for a component that will suit my needs the best for the cheapest price. I will not be using any current parts (this is my.... first time (building)). I don't plan on building my PC for QUITE a while (I will likely be going with the 480x when it's released).

Please check out my build in the link at the top of the page. Please tell me your thoughts and opinions. I'm not necessarily looking for recommendations, but feel free to make some if you wish.

 

[DigDog]

a few thoughts here;

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.89 @ OutletPC)
Thermal Compound: Noctua NT-H1 3.5g Thermal Paste ($8.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($88.15 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 290X 4GB Video Card
Case: Thermaltake Chaser MK-I ATX Full Tower Case ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($19.69 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($83.89 @ OutletPC)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DSX 24-bit 192 KHz Sound Card ($43.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($17.48 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($17.48 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: LG 29UM67P 29.0" 60Hz Monitor ($302.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Corsair K65 RGB RAPIDFIRE Wired Gaming Keyboard ($139.99 @ Best Buy)
Mouse: Logitech G402 Wired Optical Mouse ($44.95 @ Adorama)
Headphones: Audio-Technica M50x Headphones ($119.99 @ Micro Center)
Headphones: Kingston HyperX Cloud II 7.1 Channel Headset ($82.99 @ NCIX US)
Speakers: Logitech Z623 200W 2.1ch Speakers ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Other: Logitech C920 ($69.99)
Other: Privacy Cover for C920 ($9.99)
Other: Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter ($24.64)
Other: (25 Pack) Velcro Cable Ties ($4.43)
Other: eLhook Headphone/Controller Hook (4-Pack) ($16.00)
Other: Dragonpad Pop Filter ($5.63)
Other: M50x Skins (Blue Carbon Base, Blue Logo) ($7.90)
Other: Meco Mouse Bungee ($4.67)
Other: Audio-Technica ART2500 ($85.34)
Other: Pro Studio Acoustics Soundproofing Tiles ($39.99)
Other: NEEWER Mic. Boom Arm ($13.50)
Other: Command Poster Strips (48) ($5.24)
Other: EconoLed LED Strip ($10.69)
Other: TaoTronics LED Lamp ($29.99)
Other: Glorious (Extended) Gaming Mouse Mat ($19.99)
Other: VIVO Single Monitor Gas Spring Mount ($39.99)

 

[DigDog]

first off, you really don't need the 212 or the TIM for that CPU, the stock cooler is fine. however, considering your budget, i would suggest you move the money around and build an overclocker.

instead of getting the $89 EVO, you could get the $94 A-Data Premier SP550 480GB, twice the size, and avoid the 1Tb entirely. if you need more space, add a second SSD later.

personally, i see audio cards as a complete waste of money; integrated audio is excellent, to the point where you cannot tell the difference. and, if you follow my advice and restructure the build, you might wind up with a ALC 1150 preamped mobo, which reeealy doesnt need a sound card.

lovely choice of monitor; that keyboard otoh, is WAY too expensive @ $139.

once you have the M50x, you won't need another pair of headphones.

and those speakers are overkill @ 200w. i have 14w speakers and i cannot max them because they make too much noise.


we'll gladly help you with a revised shopping list, but you should take out of your budget all the peripherals first; is it media gaming that you want to do ? (i.e YouTube/Twitch videos/streaming)

 

[UsandThem]

I agree with DigDog on the sound card. ALC 1150 audio will be better than that sound card. A lot of good boards amplify and isolate the audio from other components, and it is really is good.

The mouse and keyboard seem very expensive to me, but that's a personal choice. You can buy a very nice combo from Logitech or Microsoft for half the price.

I think for $2k you could build a nice Skylake PC that will run cooler and a little faster.

Lastly, there are a lot better case fans out there for $2-3 more. That fan only moves 64 CFM at 24 dB.

There are many good fans that could be recommended, but one example is the Noctua NF-a14 flx moves 60 cfm of air at only 13.8 dB, and at full bore moves 68 cfm at 19.2 dB.

The dB rating might not seem huge going from 13.8 to 24, but in simple terms, the Corsair fan will be roughly twice as loud as the Noctua.

EDIT:

Here is the beginning of a Skylake build:

http://pcpartpicker.com/list/MDBMnn

I didn't add peripherals, monitor, case, headsets, or speakers as those are all a very personal choice. But I will say that case you selected doesn't appear to have any filter on the side opening, which would be dust city inside your case. It also looks like it already comes with three fans included. Plus, unless you are heavily overclocking or running high-end SLI cards, with good cooling fans in the front and back, you don't even need a side fan. That case is very 'busy' looking, and is not geared towards being silent if that is a thing you care about.

 

[EnsisTheSlayer]

I agree with DigDog on the sound card. ALC 1150 audio will be better than that sound card. A lot of good boards amplify and isolate the audio from other components, and it is really is good.

The mouse and keyboard seem very expensive to me, but that's a personal choice. You can buy a very nice combo from Logitech or Microsoft for half the price.

I think for $2k you could build a nice Skylake PC that will run cooler and a little faster.

Lastly, there are a lot better case fans out there for $2-3 more. That fan only moves 64 CFM at 24 dB.

There are many good fans that could be recommended, but one example is the Noctua NF-a14 flx moves 60 cfm of air at only 13.8 dB, and at full bore moves 68 cfm at 19.2 dB.

The dB rating might not seem huge going from 13.8 to 24, but in simple terms, the Corsair fan will be roughly twice as loud as the Noctua.

EDIT:

Here is the beginning of a Skylake build:

http://pcpartpicker.com/list/MDBMnn

I didn't add peripherals, monitor, case, headsets, or speakers as those are all a very personal choice. But I will say that case you selected doesn't appear to have any filter on the side opening, which would be dust city inside your case. It also looks like it already comes with three fans included. Plus, unless you are heavily overclocking or running high-end SLI cards, with good cooling fans in the front and back, you don't even need a side fan. That case is very 'busy' looking, and is not geared towards being silent if that is a thing you care about.

Updates build: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/vc3hPs

I really wanted to get decent fans that matched my color theme, but I guess you can't win them all. I looked at all of your recommendations and made a lot of improvements. After debating it for a while I decided it would better suit my needs to indeed go for the M50x AND the Cloud II. I did decide to go with the 6500 Skylake CPU, and with the extra money I decided I could upgrade to the 390x.

Thank you for the recommendations! I'm confident that this setup is nothing short of perfect for exactly what I want to do with it.

 

[Iron Woode]

I built 2 Intel systems for my personal use. Each was built on a budget with both new and used parts.

HTPC (Home Theater PC):

Motherboard - Asrock H97 Pro4 (new $92.00 CDN minus discounts and rebates)
CPU - Core I3 4160 ($50.00 CDN used)
GPU - Sapphire HD 6450 1gb ($40.00 CDN new 1 year ago)
Memory - 4gb DDR3 1333 Kingston Value Ram ($20 CDN new)
Storage - 3 HDD 1 3TB Wd, 1 2TB Seagate and 1 1TB WD ($250.00 CDN new)
Optical Storage - LG Super-Multi DVD Burner (free from a friend)
Power supply - PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 ($130.00 CDN new in 2010)
Case - Antec NSK 4482B ($20.00 CDN used)
OS - Win 8.1 WMC Pro.
Speakers - Logitech Z640 5.1 ($90.00 CDN new in 2008)
MS TV Remote ($40.00 CDN new in 2008)

all connected to my Toshiba 37" 1080P TV.

Workstation:

Motherboard - Asus H81M-E ($75.00 CDN new)
CPU - Core I5 4570 ($110.00 CDN used)
GPU - Gigabyte GTX 650 TI Boost 2gb ($90.00 CDN used in 2014)
Memory - 4gb DDR3 1333 Kingston Value ram ($20.00 CDN new)
Storage - 2 1TB WD drives ($120.00 new in 2013)
Case - Antec SLK1650B ($20.00 CDN used)
Power Supply - Cosair TX650 ($80.00 CDN new in 2012)
Speakers - generic Dell 2.1 speakers (free)
OS - Win 10 Pro
Monitor - Samsung S22D390H 22" ($120.00 CDN new)

I will be upgrading my Workstation GPU in the next couple months. not sure what I want but did see a nice Gigabyte GTX 770 Windforce oc 2gb for sale.

 

[UsandThem]

Updates build: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/vc3hPs

I did decide to go with the 6500 Skylake CPU, and with the extra money I decided I could upgrade to the 390x.

Thank you for the recommendations! I'm confident that this setup is nothing short of perfect for exactly what I want to do with it.

Just a FYI, the new AMD Radeon 480 card that is coming soon (reviews allowed to be published on June 29th) may be around the performance of the 390 or 390x (won't know for sure until then) for $199 and uses A LOT less power.

Might want to wait until then to see exactly how it performs.

Here is the rumor mill/discussion thread on it:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2474200

Also. spend the extra few dollars and get the EVGA SuperNova G2 I had listed in my build instead of the EVGA SuperNova G1 in your updated list. It is a much better built unit, and it has a 10 year warranty after registration (7 years if you don't register it).

The NEX650G strikes me as a very bland but still capable little unit. It does a lot right, but it also does a lot to bring a yawn out of me. Voltage regulation was nothing special. Efficiency was barely a pass for Gold. Ripple suppression is nothing special. But when that's the worst thing you can say about a unit, you're not doing too bad at all. This is by no means a junk unit. It's just a little too close in price to the real good stuff for me to recommend, is all. Taking ten bucks off the price, or bringing performance up a bit, would do a whole lot for this model. As it sits right now, if you skip lunch at McDonalds today you've already more than made up the difference between this unit and the Seasonic unit or even the EVGA GS model I mentioned. Heck, skip the fast food two days in a row and you can get the G2 instead, along with all the awesomeness that comes with it.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&file=print&reid=442

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=429

 

[EnsisTheSlayer]

Just a FYI, the new AMD Radeon 480 card that is coming soon (reviews allowed to be published on June 29th) may be around the performance of the 390 or 390x (won't know for sure until then) for $199 and uses A LOT less power.

Might want to wait until then to see exactly how it performs.

Here is the rumor mill/discussion thread on it:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2474200

Also. spend the extra few dollars and get the EVGA SuperNova G2 I had listed in my build instead of the EVGA SuperNova G1 in your updated list. It is a much better built unit, and it has a 10 year warranty after registration (7 years if you don't register it).




http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&file=print&reid=442

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=429

I'll wait for the 480x. I really think it'll be better than the 390x. AMD is stating that it'll have performance near the R9 Nano. I don't believe that, but as I said I think it'll out perform the 390x for a lower price. AMD has always been the kind of dirt cheap budgets and I respect that.

 

[lehtv]

I'll wait for the 480x. I really think it'll be better than the 390x. AMD is stating that it'll have performance near the R9 Nano. I don't believe that, but as I said I think it'll out perform the 390x for a lower price. AMD has always been the kind of dirt cheap budgets and I respect that.

Nano is just a few percent faster than 390X, so it if beats 390X it will definitely have performance near Nano.

Normally, the non-X version offers better bang for buck. This was especially true for 390X vs 390, but also for 380X vs 380.

 

[sm625]

That is a pretty ancient i5 to be using on a $2000 budget.

 

[UsandThem]

That is a pretty ancient i5 to be using on a $2000 budget.

A i5-6500 is considered ancient now? It was released less than a year ago.