Please critique my pre-built gaming PC

[sahlinja]

Hey guys, my old 2008 desktop gaming PC needs to be replaced so I'm looking to buy a new one(it still runs league of legends fine, but I want to play all the newest games on high graphics settings and on a larger monitor). I was just wondering what you guys thought about my gaming pc build below? I do not plan on overclocking anything. Please let me know what you would add/remove or change about it. I am going to use it mainly for gaming and my budget cap is probably about 4,000 dollars, but I would like to whittle it down to as low as possible if the performance increase is minor/insignificant. So basically I want a maximum bang for the buck PC that does not sacrifice quality and has near the top performance. Also is it beneficial to upgrade the fan or to liquid cooling if I don't plan to overclock it?

Link to my build: https://www.digitalstorm.com/configurator.asp?id=1251049

Case: Digital Storm Apollo (Corsair's Graphite 760T)
Processor: Intel Core i7 5820K 3.3GHz (Six-Core) (Unlocked CPU)
Motherboard: ASUS X99-DELUXE USB 3.1 (Intel X99 Chipset)
System Memory: 32GB DDR4 2666MHz Corsair Vengeance LPX
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX1000i (Digitally Controlled Power)
Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black)
Optical Drive: Blu-Ray & DVD Writer/Reader (Burn + Play Blu-Ray & DVDs) (12x BD-R)
Storage Set 1: 1x SSD (1TB Samsung 850 EVO)
Storage Set 2: 1x SSD (1TB Samsung 850 EVO)
Graphics Card(s): 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB (Includes PhysX)
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Zx (Includes Audio Control Module)
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (64-Bit Edition) (FREE Upgrade to Windows 10)

Total Price: $3,932

P.S. How much do you think this PC would cost if I built it myself? (rough estimate is fine)

 

[DigDog]

lol, that is WAY too expensive for the gear you are getting.

first off, i'd like to point out the ridiculous price of the X99 platform; you get 2 more cores *most* games will not use and the mobo alone costs $350.

32Gb of ram is USELESS unless you are into semi-professional video editing at least. (8gb is fine; 16gb is overkill)

i did a list of your components and it comes to $2900, maybe throw in a couple hundred more for blue ray writer, OS, and god knows what.
you are paying at least $700 for the guys to build a system.

i also accidentally threw in a H110i cpu water cooler which is another $110.

(when you count the extra expense, remember that *they* pay less than retail price)

i think that:

1. you should stick with a 4790K for now
2. you should build it yourself

you will learn a lot of really cool stuff, you will game exactly as good, you will have extra money for a really awesome G-Sync monitor, and even more money left over to overhaul the entire systems in 3 years.


i am confident that everyone else here will suggest the same.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($368.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i GTX 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($111.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus X99-DELUXE/U3.1 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($389.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($337.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($337.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB STRIX Video Card ($679.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Titanium) ATX Mid Tower Case ($107.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair 1000W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Zx 24-bit 192 KHz Sound Card ($124.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $2929.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-01 03:42 EDT-0400

 

[fralexandr]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($368.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($103.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock X99 Extreme4 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($184.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Value 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($224.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($337.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($337.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB AMP! Video Card ($647.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX TS 650W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($83.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDR-2209 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($91.75 @ OutletPC)
Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Zx 24-bit 192 KHz Sound Card ($124.99 @ Micro Center)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Other: Atech Media Card Reader ($60.00)
Total: $2757.60
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-01 04:05 EDT-0400

 

[DigDog]

again, i would suggest you build the following system:

1. a 4790k cpu
2. any cheap Z97 mobo
3. 16Gb of 1866 DDR3 ram
4. one 512Gb SSD, one 1+ TB HDD (i would even skip the HDD and have 2x 512 SSD; if you fill more than 1 Tb on a SSD, you need to learn to manage your data hoarding)
5. a 980Ti is not necessary, but as a gamer myself, i approve.
6. a HUGE mouse pad, a quality gaming mouse (Zowie Fk1, Proteus core, Deathadder.. you chose)
7. read this: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2437728&highlight=freesync
you really want the Acer XB270HU
8. fractal define r5 no window
9. EVGA supernova G2 1000W GPU
10. any cheap DVD writer. OR, if you insist, a BlueRay READER. nobody needs a BR writer.
finally 11. stick a 212EVO on your CPU, or if you want to OC hard, a Noctua D14 or D15.
(you will also need a $5 tube of thermal paste)
and why not slurge on some decent headphones, like some reference sets from Beyer/AKG/AT/Sennheiser.. etc..and stick an Antlion mic mod on it.

this is my workstation (minus the video card, and it runs mac os, sadly); it will cost you nothing compared to your proposed build, will perform equally well if not better, and .. and what more do you want.
(wifi sucks; dont use it)

 

[sahlinja]

thanks for the advice guys. i am leaning more towards a similar build you posted digidog. although my options will probably be limited to what they have on digital storm due to my inability to build my own pc. I found that I could build it for even cheaper on Cyberpowerpc, but I don't trust them due to all the negative reviews. Here is a revised setup on digital storm that costs less than my previous setup:

Link to build: https://www.digitalstorm.com/configurator.asp?id=1251523

Case: Corsair Obsidian 550D
Processor: Intel Core i7 4790K 4.0 GHz (Codename Devils Canyon) (Unlocked CPU) (Quad Core)
CPU Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: High-Performance Copper Heat Pipe Cooler
Motherboard: ASUS Z97-E (Intel Z97 Chipset)
System Memory: 16GB DDR3 2400MHz Corsair Dominator Platinum DHX (Extreme-Performance)
Power Supply: 750W Corsair CX750M
Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black)
Optical Drive: Blu-Ray & DVD Writer/Reader (Burn + Play Blu-Ray & DVDs) (12x BD-R)
Storage Set 1: 1x SSD (1TB Samsung 850 EVO)
Graphics Card(s): 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB (Includes PhysX)
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Zx (Includes Audio Control Module)
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (64-Bit Edition) (FREE Upgrade to Windows 10)

Total Price: $2,861.00


- Fractal R5 not available on website so went with the closest thing Corsair Obsidian 550D, which is also considered to be a "quiet case".
- I added on a copper heat pipe cooler for the CPU ($50), which looks like the 212EVO you suggested.
- My reasoning for getting the 1 TB samsung SSD is because I know I will have a lot of games installed and I don't like deleting games(I removed the second samsung 1TB SSD because I will buy it and add it when the price drops in the future).
- Kept the blu-ray writer because it's the only blu-ray option available on the website.
- Yeah I agree for the monitor, my top choice is the Acer XB270HU as well, but I am considering waiting for the Asus PG279Q(similar specs compared to AcerXB270HU) or the Asus ROG PG34Q(4k and curved, but only 60hz).

Asus Press Release for upcoming monitors: http://press.asus.com/PressReleases...est-Innovations-at-Computex-2015#.Vb1RQ_lVhBe
Pictures of the monitors: http://rog.asus.com/422632015/gaming-monitors/computex-2015-asus-announces-new-gaming-displays/

 

[DigDog]

you can learn literally everything that there is to know about building pcs in one day.

would you like to ?

 

[sahlinja]

Yeah, what's the best tutorial/video?

 

[DigDog]

let me do a bit of digging see if i can find a complete one. in the meanwhile you could ask here: http://forums.anandtech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4

 

[Yuriman]

I learned to assemble my first PC when I was 11 without any outside help or tutorial. The parts really only plug in one way. I'm willing to bet you can get that build down to about $2000 without sacrificing very much.

 

[Burpo]

sahlinja, the second system you posted comes to $2210, so they are charging you $650 to assemble it & load the OS..

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Here you go:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($328.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($25.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-E ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($91.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($336.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Toshiba 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB AMP! Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($647.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB AMP! Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($647.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 900W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($126.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $2496.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-02 21:07 EDT-0400

Do that.

You're welcome.

 

[DigDog]

woha two 980 Ti?? trying to drive 2x 4k monitors?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

woha two 980 Ti?? trying to drive 2x 4k monitors?

He's got $4k to spend on a gaming PC and he upgrades every 7 years. Why %^&$* around?

 

[Ketchup]

Skylake may be here next month, so if you have waited this long, might as well give it another month and see what the new chip has to offer.

http://wccftech.com/intel-skylake-l...-y-skylake-h-skylake-u-launch-september-2015/

 

[DigDog]

Salhinja,

building a PC is made up of 3 parts:
1. the component list
2. assembly
3. installation

n.1 is the most difficult, so, that's done already.
assembly is so easy a kid can do it. parts fit into one slot only, one way only.
attaching a PSU and the cables from the case to the motherboard can be a bit annoying but essentially you just need to read the 3-page instruction leaflet that comes with these two parts.

attaching the cpu, ram, gpu is easy as playing with lego. you can learn how to apply the thermal paste to your cpu by watching a 3 minute youtube video.

installation, requires you to wait half an hour. that's it.

i am linking you an unnecessarily long (2 hours) video which should cover EVERYTHING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zAdwedmj1M

but i am confident that googling " how to build pc" will probably save you time and boredom.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Salhinja,

building a PC is made up of 3 parts:
1. the component list
2. assembly
3. installation

n.1 is the most difficult, so, that's done already.
assembly is so easy a kid can do it. parts fit into one slot only, one way only.
attaching a PSU and the cables from the case to the motherboard can be a bit annoying but essentially you just need to read the 3-page instruction leaflet that comes with these two parts.

attaching the cpu, ram, gpu is easy as playing with lego. you can learn how to apply the thermal paste to your cpu by watching a 3 minute youtube video.

installation, requires you to wait half an hour. that's it.

i am linking you an unnecessarily long (2 hours) video which should cover EVERYTHING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zAdwedmj1M

but i am confident that googling " how to build pc" will probably save you time and boredom.

My personal favorite how-to-build-a-pc video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eevsYYu5H5A

 

[DigDog]

My personal favorite how-to-build-a-pc video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eevsYYu5H5A

lol, look at the case; do you remember getting your fingers cut in those cases?

 

[sm625]

4 grand for something that is already obsolete is a tall order. Why not wait for skylake? And for that money you can easily have two high end cards if not three.

 

[Ketchup]

Skylake may be here next month, so if you have waited this long, might as well give it another month and see what the new chip has to offer.

http://wccftech.com/intel-skylake-l...-y-skylake-h-skylake-u-launch-september-2015/

Well, that was disappointing.
http://www.techspot.com/review/1041-intel-core-i7-6700k-skylake/page14.html

Go ahead with a build. I like what dave_the_nerd has put out there. As you can see, some good guides out there, and it will be a fun experience!