$2000-$2500 USD Build

[luthi3n_]

I’ve decided to build my own rig (have the wifes approval this time lol) and would use it primarily for gaming. I will need a monitor and while 4k isn’t a need now, down the road I would like the ability to do so by simply getting a 4k monitor. If there is a deal on a good 4K one now, I’m open to it, otherwise a high refresh monitor will do. VR is an interest as well. Will need everything...monitor, OS, storage, etc... I’ve been out of the game for a while but have built my own systems before, albeit awhile ago, so things have changed quite a bit. I’d like to get some decent mileage out of it before needing to upgrade again. I’d be playing the big AAA games as well. I don’t want a huge case, but one with room to breath and am partial to any combination of blue, black and/or red, but wouldn’t be opposed to other colors depending on what they are.


Approximate Purchase Date: Anytime

Budget Range: $2000-$2500

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Movies

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, Newegg, reputable sellers

Location: Quad Cities, Iowa

Parts Preferences: Prefer Intel CPU, but I can be convinced. Nvidia GPU

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: In the future, maybe

Thanks for the help on the frontside.

 

[jankerson]

Here you go, you can pick the Mouse and Keyboard as those are personal choices etc.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Best Buy)
CPU Cooler: Noctua - NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($86.20 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - Z370 AORUS Gaming 5 (rev. 1.0) ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($188.56 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung - 860 Evo 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($239.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1080 8GB FTW2 Gaming iCX Video Card ($569.99 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design - Meshify C Dark TG ATX Mid Tower Case ($88.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($81.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($95.89 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus - MG278Q 27.0" 2560x1440 144Hz Monitor ($449.90 @ Amazon)
Total: $2409.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-06-18 01:32 EDT-0400

 

[luthi3n_]

Would cutting back on the storage drive and making it mechanical and bumping up to a 1080 Ti be beneficial?

 

[jankerson]

Would cutting back on the storage drive and making it mechanical and bumping up to a 1080 Ti be beneficial?

Depends on what you want to do.

Games would go on the storage drive etc so loading times would be MUCH slower with a standard HD.

But if you want a GTX 1080Ti I suppose it might be worth it depending.

 

[g-unit1111]

Would cutting back on the storage drive and making it mechanical and bumping up to a 1080 Ti be beneficial?

You could easily fit a 1080TI on that budget:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Best Buy)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H5 Universal 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370 Extreme4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($153.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($164.99 @ Newegg Business)
Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($43.90 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB SC Black Edition Video Card ($829.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT - S340 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($81.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($95.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1945.61
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-06-18 18:06 EDT-0400

Then you can add whatever monitor, keyboard and mouse you want.

 

[luthi3n_]

The monitor listed is a freesync monitor. With an nvidia card, wouldn’t it be beneficial to pick a gsync monitor?

Also, the mobo listed does not have onboard WiFi. Is there a comparable mobo with it or is it generally a better idea to get a dedicated WiFi card?

 

[J_E_D_70]

Indeed - the Dell S2716DG will fit in budget
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/BcTrxr/dell-monitor-s2716dg

Edit: Add that to G-Unit’s build and win.

Edit 2: it’s better to never use wifi. Is it really necessary? Look to powerline adapters instead if your home has reasonably new wiring. Or best, drag ethernet cable.

 

[luthi3n_]

Indeed - the Dell S2716DG will fit in budget
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/BcTrxr/dell-monitor-s2716dg

Edit: Add that to G-Unit’s build and win.

Edit 2: it’s better to never use wifi. Is it really necessary? Look to powerline adapters instead if your home has reasonably new wiring. Or best, drag ethernet cable.

My dilemma is the fact we are in an apartment which makes it a little more difficult, hence asking about WiFi.

 

[J_E_D_70]

I'd give powerline a try then:
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/10/can-a-new-powerline-kit-solve-an-urban-apartment-dwellers-wi-fi-woes/

 

[ohenryy]

Would cutting back on the storage drive and making it mechanical and bumping up to a 1080 Ti be beneficial?

You could easily fit a 1080TI on that budget:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Best Buy)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H5 Universal 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370 Extreme4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($153.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($164.99 @ Newegg Business)
Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($43.90 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB SC Black Edition Video Card ($829.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT - S340 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($81.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($95.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1945.61
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-06-18 18:06 EDT-0400

Then you can add whatever monitor, keyboard and mouse you want.

I would say you dont really need to buy the windows license that expensive, you can google and buy legally one cheaper.
Other than that, good stuff.

 

[luthi3n_]

Perhaps a silly question, but if I bought the Win10 in these builds, I would need an optical drive in the build as well since it comes on a DVD, correct?

 

[g-unit1111]

Perhaps a silly question, but if I bought the Win10 in these builds, I would need an optical drive in the build as well since it comes on a DVD, correct?

No, most case manufacturers these days are eliminating 5.25" drive bays. And Windows 10 comes on a USB stick instead of a CD because of this. If you really need an optical drive, buy an external.

I would say you dont really need to buy the windows license that expensive, you can google and buy legally one cheaper.

Wrong answer. Do *NOT* do this. Buy the legitimate version, or don't buy it. Anything less than retail price is not recommended.

 

[popatim]

Win10 actually works just fine even if its not activated so there is no need to go bootleg or get it from pirate sources; just run the real, non-infected, genuine version if you don't want to pay for it.

 

[g-unit1111]

Win10 actually works just fine even if its not activated so there is no need to go bootleg or get it from pirate sources; just run the real, non-infected, genuine version if you don't want to pay for it.

Yes, and then you can buy a key when you need to. But suggesting alternate ways of getting Windows licenses that are not traditional methods are, shall we say, frowned upon here.

 

[luthi3n_]

So I think I've narrowed it down to g-unit's build, albeit with a slightly larger Evo drive and an Asus maximus hero board with WiFi. Probably going with the same case too, only in black. Some other questions I had were about fans and lighting. Do I need to order additional fans, and with the nice window on the case, I don't want it dull looking on the inside so suggestions on lighting or will the Mobo do a decent job? Not looking for crazy amounts...

 

[bmockeg]

Unless you just really love ASUS, an,ASROCK board will do what you want and save you $100.
https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z370%20Killer%20SLIac/index.asp

 

[g-unit1111]

So I think I've narrowed it down to g-unit's build, albeit with a slightly larger Evo drive and an Asus maximus hero board with WiFi. Probably going with the same case too, only in black. Some other questions I had were about fans and lighting. Do I need to order additional fans, and with the nice window on the case, I don't want it dull looking on the inside so suggestions on lighting or will the Mobo do a decent job? Not looking for crazy amounts...

Don't discount Asrock boards - they are very solid, I've used several of them including in my current system which uses the X370 Taichi. I wouldn't really worry too much about adding extra fans until you get your case and get everything setup, then you can start adding fans as you need them.

 

[luthi3n_]

I really need a board that has decent WiFi, at least to start. That's one reason I was looking at the Asus, but will look into the one posted above a little more.

 

[bmockeg]

ASROCK boards have just as good WI-Fi. If you want to pay $100 for the same thing that's your choice, just trying to help you out. I also overclock to 5.0 on mine with no issues.

 

[g-unit1111]

I really need a board that has decent WiFi, at least to start. That's one reason I was looking at the Asus, but will look into the one posted above a little more.

Unless you absolutely *HAVE* to have Wifi it's always best to use the LAN ports on your motherboard with a hard wired connection. They're there for a reason.

 

[luthi3n_]

I know hard wired is always better to use, but unfortunately I need WiFi for the time being. Will do some more reading on the board since I have seen time off coming up. On a side note, do you guys have a recommendation for a good speaker setup? I understand it'll take me over my $2500 limit, but I'd like a good bang for the buck setup.