Best Tri-Monitor PC Setup for around $1000-$1300

[TheTekJake]

Hi Tom's Hardware!

Today I need a little help as I am looking to build a triple monitor capable PC at around $1200 before shipping, taxes, etc. No monitors, keyboards, or mice needed. Just the components. I know plenty about building my own systems, and currently have a custom (that you will help me replace!) machine I work with everyday, but I could not seem to figure this one out. Preferably, the CPU will be an i5 4670k but I don't see a problem with the AMD 8350. Crossfire or SLI is unlikely, though is much more efficient for triple monitors. The monitors are 24'' 1920 x 1080, if that is needed. My only other preference is the case to be a Fractal Design Define R4 Windowed Titanium Gray, unless you guys can find another that draws my attention!

Thanks ahead!
-Jake

 

[Blaise170]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.75 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Ghost (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic M12II 850W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1258.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-04 01:14 EST-0500)

 

[TheTekJake]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.75 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Ghost (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic M12II 850W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1258.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-04 01:14 EST-0500)

Wow! You basically nailed it on the first try! A few things I would like to change:
1. Water-cooling (Closed Loop, of course) a H80i is pretty capable
2. A similarly priced Gigabyte motherboard - just personal preference
3. Maybe a Caviar Black
4. How would a single 770 compare to those cards together?
5. I have no need for a disk drive but I am so glad you included it, just to have
6. Case is very nice, though I think around that price a Corsair 350D would be pretty nice.

I must say, I took a look at your build and loved it. How would something like a 7950 3GB compare to these?

 

[Blaise170]

Wow! You basically nailed it on the first try! A few things I would like to change:
1. Water-cooling (Closed Loop, of course) a H80i is pretty capable
2. A similarly priced Gigabyte motherboard - just personal preference
3. Maybe a Caviar Black
4. How would a single 770 compare to those cards together?
5. I have no need for a disk drive but I am so glad you included it, just to have
6. Case is very nice, though I think around that price a Corsair 350D would be pretty nice.

I must say, I took a look at your build and loved it. How would something like a 7950 3GB compare to these?

The Black edition HDDs aren't worth the price increase, they aren't that much faster. The 280X is pretty on par with the 770, so two of them would be very similar to two 770s. The 350D is microATX, so you'll need a different motherboard if you decide you like it. I put a similar Corsair case. Requested changes.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.75 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 300R Windowed ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic M12II 850W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1353.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-04 20:01 EST-0500)

 

[TheTekJake]

Wow! You basically nailed it on the first try! A few things I would like to change:
1. Water-cooling (Closed Loop, of course) a H80i is pretty capable
2. A similarly priced Gigabyte motherboard - just personal preference
3. Maybe a Caviar Black
4. How would a single 770 compare to those cards together?
5. I have no need for a disk drive but I am so glad you included it, just to have
6. Case is very nice, though I think around that price a Corsair 350D would be pretty nice.

I must say, I took a look at your build and loved it. How would something like a 7950 3GB compare to these?

The Black edition HDDs aren't worth the price increase, they aren't that much faster. The 280X is pretty on par with the 770, so two of them would be very similar to two 770s. The 350D is microATX, so you'll need a different motherboard if you decide you like it. I put a similar Corsair case. Requested changes.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.75 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 300R Windowed ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic M12II 850W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1353.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-04 20:01 EST-0500)

That build looks pretty nice! The one thing I do want to ask is would a GTX 780 3GB be better than these two cards? And also, what kind of FPS do you think I would get in modern games with a triple monitor setup really stressing those cards out?

 

[realchaos]

A Corsair H80i is more expensive than an air cooler like the Phanteks PH-TC14PE (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/phanteks-cpu-cooler-phtc14pebk) or Noctua NH-D14 (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhd14) but it doesn't perform as great.
I would stick with air coolers because they are cheaper, quieter, and better performance.

If I can recall, SLI 770s are about 20% stronger than a single GTX 780. Since SLI 770 performs about the same as crossfire R9-280X, it should still be stronger.

You should get great FPS on those cards, even at a triple monitor set-up.

I would avoid that motherboard. It only has one PCIe 3.0 x16 lane. If you want to crossfire on it, one of the cards will be forced onto a PCIe 2.0 x4 lane. That means you will get no to nearly no performance increase.
If you want a Gigabyte board, get this: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz87xd3h
Here's the mATX version if you plan to go with a mATX case: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz87mxd3h

For the case, you have many options. For mATX, the Corsair 350D or Bitfenix Prodigy are great options.
For standard ATX, you have more options:

Corsair 500R: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-500rwt
NZXT Phantom (black version is an extra $10): http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-phan001wt
Fractal Design Define R4: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr4blw

 

[Blaise170]

That build looks pretty nice! The one thing I do want to ask is would a GTX 780 3GB be better than these two cards? And also, what kind of FPS do you think I would get in modern games with a triple monitor setup really stressing those cards out?

I'm unfamiliar with that Gigabyte motherboard, so I would go with the one suggested by chaos. However the difference between 770s and 280Xs are somewhat negligible, and you may find the 280X Toxics to be slightly better.