< $2.5k gaming/work build

[adambean]

Hi all,

A bit rusty in the hardware world, open to any suggestions/criticisms. Only thing I'll be pulling from existing rig is a 2tb hdd (game installs).

My biggest questions/concerns are on the choice of mobo, case and gpu.

I 'think' everything else is good yeah? I've always bought full tower, but question If it's really needed. I never use more than 2-3 HDD's, to date have never done dual GPU's ... so I question if I shouldn't go with a mid?

Thanks!

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2sXHHx

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($369.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H110i GT 113.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($130.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VIII HERO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($84.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($329.99 @ B&H)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card ($659.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Phantom 820 (Black) ATX Full Tower Case ($206.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P2 1000W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($189.99 @ Micro Center)
Optical Drive: Asus BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($57.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $2470.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-23 08:28 EDT-0400

 

[adambean]

Ok cool, thanks. It's not worth sweating it over $80, but if it's a waste, I'd return ... I'm leaning more towards just keeping it (even though I doubt I'll never need it, stupid).

So now back to finalizing the mobo and case. Case ... I'm a sucker for built-in lighting, I'm all ears if anyone has any suggestions.

The mobo - stick with the Sabertooth or move to the deluxe? The latter supports 4 GPU's; however I HIGHLY doubt I'll ever go above 2x. So yeah, the built in WiFi and Bluetooth are nice, but also doesn't have on board 3.1 (has an expansion card though). The extra usb 3.0's are nice too.

Worth $100 to switch from Sabertooth to Deluxe? This, I can't decide. I currently use a bluetooth micro USB and it sucks. I have to assume on board BT as well as WiFi may be quite nice (WiFi is backup purposes only). The newegg reviews of both boards have me a bit nervous regardless.

AHHH

 

[adambean]

Also, I'm continuing to read up on the 58xx vs 6700 ... seems like across the board, everyone says go 58xx. I have a hard time with this as it's the older generation. Simply looking for some continued validation that this is the smart/right move here.

Thanks guys, really appreciate the help.

 

[Bossyfins]

Case - Enthoo Pro/Luxe. Really nice case, used in a friend's build, couldn't be more happy. One of the few companies who seperates the screws

If you want, you could get a wifi expansion card, like 25$, but would be the backup you need and save the cost of moving to the deluxe

 

[adambean]

Thanks bossy.

I could swap the 5930k for the 5820k to swap the money for the Deluxe vs. Sabertooth? Which do you think is the better spend of $100?

As for the case, now trying to figure out the difference between the 3 models of the Enthoo ...

 

[adambean]

Ok, so the Luxe is the one with the cooler lighting. Was looking at the Primo (that side bar is nice) ... but Luxe it is.

White or black!? Everything I have is black, so I guess it makes sense to stay black. Yet that white with blue lighting, just looks ... NICE.

 

[adambean]

With this Luxe case ... would you recommend a 1 or 2 fan liquid cooler for the CPU?

Was going to replace the 140mm's with LED's, but now not sure where to put the radiators. I have the one for the GPU and currently the CPU I went with the H80, but now debating If I should move to the H100?

Looking for help on fan layout as I've never used liquid cooling before.

Thoughts?

Thanks!!!

 

[adambean]

Hey all,

Heading to Microcenter here shortly to do some returns and looking for last minute feedback:
- 5930 vs 5820 (Doesn't seem like I really need the 5930)
- Sabertooth vs Deluxe (I love the extra usb 3.0's, WiFi and BlueTooth ... but the Sabertooth is newer, has that "TUF", and has built in USB 3.1)
- H110i or H80i (see below)

In regards to the H110i vs H80i ... now that I'm for sure going with the Luxe, trying to understand fan layout. Not sure If I should use a single or dual fan for the CPU and where to put it. My GPU also has a radiator ... so was thinking perhaps put that GPU up top along with a dual for the CPU? This will keep the front and back fans in tact (will replace with led quiet fans).

Any last minute feedback is most welcome.

Thanks!

 

[Bossyfins]

Thanks bossy.

I could swap the 5930k for the 5820k to swap the money for the Deluxe vs. Sabertooth? Which do you think is the better spend of $100?

As for the case, now trying to figure out the difference between the 3 models of the Enthoo ...

If you can return the saber tooth and go with a board like this

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gax99ud5wifi

I personally like black for a case, but after paiting my room a grayish type of color, i REALLY want a white luxe with a white/gray build.

I'd recommend an air cooler, over water almost every time. If you are going water cooling, the only 2 i really recommend is the H240x by swiftech and the EKWB predator, both which near about 200$...

Look at something like a phanteks cooler, great coolers, or an h7 if you dont plan on OCing.

 

[adambean]

Hey all,

Heading to Microcenter here shortly to do some returns and looking for last minute feedback:
- 5930 vs 5820 (Doesn't seem like I really need the 5930)
- Sabertooth vs Deluxe (I love the extra usb 3.0's, WiFi and BlueTooth ... but the Sabertooth is newer, has that "TUF", and has built in USB 3.1 - or something else all together?)
- H110i or H80i (see below)

In regards to the H110i vs H80i ... now that I'm for sure going with the Luxe, trying to understand fan layout. Not sure If I should use a single or dual fan for the CPU and where to put it. My GPU also has a radiator ... so was thinking perhaps put that GPU up top along with a dual for the CPU? This will keep the front and back fans in tact (will replace with led quiet fans).

Any last minute feedback is most welcome.

Thanks!

 

[adambean]

Swapped (for now), the Sabertooth for the Deluxe and the H80i for the Swifttech H240x.

Feeling better ... still a bit leary about the whole Skylake vs. Haswell thing though.

That and still not yet sure how to do the fans in the case. That white does look nice, but everything else in my room is black, so going to stick with that. Also going to do blue lighting on the interior. Now in debate about fan color ... white or blue? Hrm. Corsair or Phantek brand. Where to mount the GPU/CPU coolers ... AHH

 

[adambean]

So, I swapped a few things and everything has been purchased. I went slightly over budget (didn't account for a UPS - Amazon's Cyber Monday deal) + going 64gb of memory (NewEgg's Cyber Monday deal). That and I caved and bought a new mouse/keyboard.

Only last major thing I'm still festering over ... Skylake vs. Haswell.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5930K 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($399.99)
CPU Cooler: Swiftech H220-X 55.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($149.99)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($7.54)
Motherboard: Asus X99-DELUXE/U3.1 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($394.99)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2800 Memory ($169.99)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2800 Memory ($169.99)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.99)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra II 960GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($199.99)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB HYBRID Video Card ($699.99)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe ATX Full Tower Case ($149.99)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P2 1000W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($155.16)
Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($42.37)
Keyboard: Razer BlackWidow Chroma Wired Gaming Keyboard ($169.99)
Mouse: Razer Mamba Tournament Edition Wired Laser Mouse ($66.30)
UPS: CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD UPS ($149.99)
Other: LED Strips ($24.99)
Total: $3011.25
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-01 23:29 EST-0500

Still have to figure out where to mount the CPU/GPU cooler on the case (thinking up top?) and what to do with colors. Going to run the case on blue + run a strip light ... not sure if I should change the fans to blue/white/no led.

 

[Bossyfins]

The GPU can be set to the exhaust near the top. The 220x, just place at the top where the 3 fan mounts are.

 

[adambean]

Hey Bossyfins,

The 220x will only take up two spots ... so think it would look goofy to put the CPU and GPU next to one another along the top? That way I leave a 140mm led fan on the back exhaust?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[logainofhades]

Skylake vs Haswell is a non issue. Skylake was not all that impressive, vs haswell, just like haswell was not all that impressive vs Ivy and Sandy Bridge. Unless I get to make my mini-itx rig soon, I will most likely skip skylake, and stick with my 3570k.

 

[adambean]

Yeah that seems to be what I keep reading. I just hate the idea of buying the previous generation + reviews for the x99 boards across the board are pretty awful.

 

[logainofhades]

No point in spending more, on new gen stuff, if the performance difference is less than that cost is worth. The 5930k is a superior chip, overall. It has more PCI-E lanes, it has 2 more cores/4 more threads, and more cache.