cheapest gtx 970 build with no bottlenecks (at 750€ atm)

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Feb 25, 2015
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Hey community,
I just started gaming a year ago cause of a sports accident and run straight into the " gaming laptop trap". I bought acer aspire V3-772G (i5-4200m + gt750m). Newer games run but only in 720p and low graphics. I don t like it this way. Unfortunately a couple not planned bills came in my house recently and now I m on a budget. I m gonna sell the laptop and have another 600 euros to spend. I live in Germany
.
What i want to achieve? Have lowest possible gtx 970 build with an i5-4460 paired without bottlenecks.
I checked many threads already and i found a build for about 750 euros.
Here it is:

http://geizhals.de/seagate-barracuda-7200-14-1tb-st1000dm003-a686480.html (50 €)
http://geizhals.de/g-skill-ares-dimm-kit-8gb-f3-1600c9d-8gab-a734660.html (63€)
http://geizhals.de/intel-core-i5-4460-bx80646i54460-a1050218.html (176€)
http://geizhals.de/msi-h81m-p33-7817-019r-a992807.html (40€)
http://geizhals.de/thermaltake-v3-vl80001w2z-a478923.html (36€)
http://geizhals.de/xfx-pro-series-full-wired-edition-bronze-550w-atx-2-3-p1-550s-xxb9-a624026.html (56€)
GPU: planned to buy it up to 330€ on mindfactory.de there is quiet a few to choose but I m not sure which one to get (GTX 970)

Operation system I have already, win 8.1, SSD I will buy later this year, I don t plan to SLI or Overclock.

What do u guys think? Is there better options? Am i saving at a wrong spot? Did i forget anything?

What I also like at this build is that I can order all on mindfactory for this prices and only have to pay once for shipping.
I do have a 24inch 1080 monitor, mouse keyboard etc.
It will be my first built but I checked videos and guides already and I m confident I get the parts together.

Thanx a lot for your help,

Greetings dani
 
I think that your goal to build a bottleneck free computer is far fetched and unrealistic. There is no CPU and GPU combination that prevents bottle-necking, does not exist. Forget about that.

Buy a CPU that will achieve your performance goals in the games you want to play.
Buy a GPU that will achieve your visual quality goals in the games you want to play.

Sometimes the bottleneck will be the CPU, sometimes the GPU, sometimes the monitor refresh rate. This is normal, and always occurring, don't worry about it.

When in doubt, go for a more powerful CPU, the CPU sets the hard limits on performance in gaming. In CPU bound conditions, CPU performance is the only way to effect game performance. In GPU bound conditions, visual quality and FPS are inversely adjustable, so within the realm of modern gaming GPU's reasonably matched to monitor resolutions, there's no such thing as a GPU performance "problem."

---------------

The largest voltage regulation system in your computer in terms of current handling capacity will be the VRMs on the GPU.
The second largest voltage regulation system in your computer in terms of current handling capacity will be the VRMs on the Motherboard, for the CPU.
The 3rd largest voltage regulation system in your computer in terms of current handling capacity will be the PSU itself.

You've selected a great quality Seasonic made XFX PSU, which is a great start to a quality build. Power regulation doesn't end at the PSU. Try to build the entire computer based on the "good power regulation" principals, which includes selecting a good quality motherboard. In the case of an i5-4460 build, a good robust VRM system for that CPU would be a 4-phase system with a heatsink on the VRMs. Check out the Gigabyte B85 D3H microATX board.
 
thx for reply mdocod,
I understand this. I really want gtx 970 as gpu and best possible cpu for it for me is i5 4460. I checked many benchmarks and reviews and I m confident it will be enough for me.
But I don t know about the other parts i have picked. For example the H81 motherboard, is it good enough if I don t want go sli or overclocking cpu?
PSU is it good enough?
thanx for help
 
An i3-4130 would be the lowest CPU I would pair with a gtx 970 :)

Don't get a H81 board with a 4460 or you may find it doesn't even work 'out of the box' (BIOS update required). Get a cheap H97 board like the Asus pro 4, or get an i5-4440 and a B85 board...
 
@madmatt thx a lot. I was looking at this card once before, but couldn t find reviews. Overclock like a monster sound very good, do u have this card? What are u max temps? I was looking at zotac for example, but many people say max load they reach 80 C. Other manufacturar stay between 60-70 what I read.
Decide which gtx 970 I want is my last step. Than one last final sleep and I m ready to order.
 
I vsync games at 60fps (TV is 60htz so it makes sense) - card normally sits 70-80% usage while gaming
In gaming it sits 60-65c - most I've seen it hit is 78c on a 2 hour stress test.
My case & cooling arent the best (Silverstone htpc case with very little room - there's literally 20mm between the cards fans & my PSU) ,in a full size case it will run a lot cooler than that.
Fan wise ,its near as damn-it silent.
Excellent card ,upgraded from a 280x which regularly hit 80c - the Galax is cooler,quieter & a fair bit faster.

There are plenty of reviews around,its got pretty much 5* on every one of them.
Bear in mind it has upgraded power phases so needs an 8 pin & a 6 pin power connector.
 

Do I need to buy an adapter or will it come with the PSU i choose? (xfx-pro-series)
Thx a lot for all the help