1440p Gaming Build

[RedArmy991]

So I want to set up a rig that can play at high settings (ultra settings would be good too lol) on one 1440p monitor.

I am planning to buy two ASUS GeForce GTX 760 DirectCU II OC SLI GPUs for this.

Is there any chance that I could build this rig for under $800? (GPUs cost $500 so thats $300 for the rest of the parts).

I will pay for the monitor, OS, and case separately.

If $300 is not enough, what is the lowest cost I would have to pay?

And is it a good idea to buy two 760s for this?

Thanks in advance!

 

[kunthakenthe]

maybe 500$. You could get two 270's for less or a r9 290 which has much better performance/potential issues

 

[burdenbound]

I personally wouldn't go SLI 760 for what you want. I'm sure you can make something work for $800 but you will have to make some trade offs.

First of all you will want a graphics card with more than 2GB of RAM, I personally game on a 1440p monitor with a single 7970 (R9 280x) and I can do most games on high/ultra. I wouldn't go any lower that a 280x for that resolution. My advice for you would be to get the single fastest card that is within your budget, and not do multiple cards until a couple years from now when you can pick up a second one when your performance starts to slump.

Look into getting an intel i5, AMD 8320 or 8350 CPU. 8GB of RAM (two 4GB sticks). And if you plan on overclocking make sure you get a chip and board which supports it along with an after market CPU cooler.

 

[g-unit1111]

You're not really going to get anything that can handle 1440P decently for $800, you will need at least an Intel i5 and GTX 770 / 780 for that setup. You're looking at minimum $1100 for a 1440P rig, maybe $1200 - $1300 just to be on the safe side. Dual GTX 760s will probably get equivalent performance of a single GTX 780.

This is ideal for 1440P:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($238.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($128.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Superclocked ACX Video Card ($299.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($100.00 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1170.41
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-07 16:28 EDT-0400

If you want to save some money:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H87 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB Superclocked ACX Video Card ($256.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($102.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($100.00 @ NCIX US)
Total: $907.40
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-07 16:29 EDT-0400

 

[kunthakenthe]

i made you the whole build but with a 4k monitor.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3cD88d

 

[kunthakenthe]

another build without overclocking and some places had thier price lowered.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/KKr7sY

 

[g-unit1111]

i made you the whole build but with a 4k monitor.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3cD88d

Nice build but that's about twice the proposed budget. :lol:

 

[bignastyid]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($182.79 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-GAMING 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($103.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($289.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($60.74 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $834.14
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-07 16:38 EDT-0400

Here's something that will handle 1440p better for a little more.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($182.79 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-GAMING 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($103.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($379.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($70.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $934.38
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-07 16:42 EDT-0400

 

[kunthakenthe]

i made you the whole build but with a 4k monitor.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3cD88d

Nice build but that's about twice the proposed budget. :lol:

oops

 

[kunthakenthe]

heres a nice barebones pc

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pG8KsY

i suggest you get a 4k monitor since a 2k monitor is like 400$ and 4k monitor is like 400$

 

[Zand1s]

get one gtx 780 instead or a r9 290. 1440p is nothing for those card for the rest of the parts you will then have 350 since the 780 cost about 450$ and the r9 290$ even less.
for cpu I hear good things about the intel Pentium g3258 anniversary edition for about 69$
asus z97 mplus 126 \
psu corsair cx 600 64.99$ \ total:388
ram corsair low profile memory 8g 69$ /
hard drive any 1tb hard drive for 60$ /
now for the case, floppy drive, and peripherals salvage those from your old computer. you can even salvage an old hard drive that will save you money on an os

 

[kunthakenthe]

get one gtx 780 instead or a r9 290. 1440p is nothing for those card for the rest of the parts you will then have 350 since the 780 cost about 450$ and the r9 290$ even less.
for cpu I hear good things about the intel Pentium g3258 anniversary edition for about 69$
asus z97 mplus 126 \
psu corsair cx 600 64.99$ \ total:388
ram corsair low profile memory 8g 69$ /
hard drive any 1tb hard drive for 60$ /
now for the case, floppy drive, and peripherals salvage those from your old computer. you can even salvage an old hard drive that will save you money on an os

the gtx 780 is just more money for less vram which is needed for higher resolution. the corsair psu you recommended is horrible and low quality and will die in two months(literally), that psu will bottleneck these high end gpu's..

 

[filippi]

1440p Resolution and ultra settings will rely on your gpu mostly.

You will need at least $400 for the rest of your build. Something like that:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($71.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Thermaltake SMART 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $402.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-07 17:01 EDT-0400

 

[kunthakenthe]

1440p Resolution and ultra settings will rely on your gpu mostly.

You will need at least $400 for the rest of your build. Something like that:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($71.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Thermaltake SMART 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $402.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-07 17:01 EDT-0400

and even then the psu is bad and a slight bottleneck when paired with a r9 280x/gtx 770 and up.

 

[filippi]

1440p Resolution and ultra settings will rely on your gpu mostly.

You will need at least $400 for the rest of your build. Something like that:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($71.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Thermaltake SMART 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $402.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-07 17:01 EDT-0400

and even then the psu is bad and a slight bottleneck when paired with a r9 280x/gtx 770 and up.

The psu isnt that bad

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/5613/thermaltake-smart-750-watt-80-plus-bronze-power-supply-review/index5.html

 

[kunthakenthe]

1440p Resolution and ultra settings will rely on your gpu mostly.

You will need at least $400 for the rest of your build. Something like that:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($71.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Thermaltake SMART 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $402.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-07 17:01 EDT-0400

and even then the psu is bad and a slight bottleneck when paired with a r9 280x/gtx 770 and up.

The psu isnt that bad

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/5613/thermaltake-smart-750-watt-80-plus-bronze-power-supply-review/index5.html

its okay its just thermlake isnt really best known for psu.

 

[bignastyid]

1440p Resolution and ultra settings will rely on your gpu mostly.

You will need at least $400 for the rest of your build. Something like that:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($71.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Thermaltake SMART 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $402.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-07 17:01 EDT-0400

and even then the psu is bad and a slight bottleneck when paired with a r9 280x/gtx 770 and up.

The psu isnt that bad

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/5613/thermaltake-smart-750-watt-80-plus-bronze-power-supply-review/index5.html

It's not all that good either. It has a decent primary cap(nippon), but it uses the same cheap secondary caps(capxon) as the CX. So while it may review well it will most likely have the same longevity issues that plague the Corsair CX series.

 

[filippi]

1440p Resolution and ultra settings will rely on your gpu mostly.

You will need at least $400 for the rest of your build. Something like that:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($71.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Thermaltake SMART 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $402.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-07 17:01 EDT-0400

and even then the psu is bad and a slight bottleneck when paired with a r9 280x/gtx 770 and up.

The psu isnt that bad

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/5613/thermaltake-smart-750-watt-80-plus-bronze-power-supply-review/index5.html

It's not all that good either. It has a decent primary cap(nippon), but it uses the same cheap secondary caps(capxon) as the CX. So while it may review well it will most likely have the same longevity issues that plague the Corsair CX series.

I acknowledge that Corsair CX and Thermaltake Smart are both acceptable only for very restricted budget builds.
Even when this understanding has contradicted my most personal experience: I use a CX series psu in my own gaming build for 3 FIFA World Cups already (About eight years)

 

[bignastyid]

1440p Resolution and ultra settings will rely on your gpu mostly.

You will need at least $400 for the rest of your build. Something like that:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($71.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Thermaltake SMART 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $402.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-07 17:01 EDT-0400

and even then the psu is bad and a slight bottleneck when paired with a r9 280x/gtx 770 and up.

The psu isnt that bad

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/5613/thermaltake-smart-750-watt-80-plus-bronze-power-supply-review/index5.html

It's not all that good either. It has a decent primary cap(nippon), but it uses the same cheap secondary caps(capxon) as the CX. So while it may review well it will most likely have the same longevity issues that plague the Corsair CX series.

I acknowledge that Corsair CX and Thermaltake Smart are both acceptable only for very restricted budget builds.
Even when this understanding has contradicted my most personal experience: I use a CX series psu in my own gaming build for 3 FIFA World Cups already (About eight years)

8 Years? The CX line has only been around for 4 years(released in 2010). You sure you don't have a TX or HX those are the only ones that have been out that long.