Considering Another New PC Build - Need Help Designing

[ItsMrNumb]

Approximate Purchase Date: Late May/Early June

Budget Range: Idealistically as low as possible. Realistically lets ballpark it around 900 before rebates not including the case

System Usage: Photo editing, Graphic design, Video editing and rendering, and should be able to handle the occasional gaming session with no problems at decent settings

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Speakers, Storage (Have a spare 1TB HDD I'm going to format. However I wouldn't be opposed to putting an SSD in it if its in the price range.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: no preference

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU and AsRock MoBo are the only two requirements I really have

Overclocking: Not a necessity but want the option to. will upgrade CPU down the line for it if needed but system has to be compatible.

SLI or Crossfire: only using one card right now but will probably upgrade down the line so i want the option to.

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Right now I'm looking to build using the BitFenix Shinobi XL Window (White) ATX Full Tower Case, with the price of the case not included in the purchase. Built my first rig (Build for gaming) last year and its still going strong, so I'm comfortable with building my own rig. But this computer isn't going to be in my primary place of residence so I'll still be using that aswell.

 

[Anonymous09]

After some dabbling this is what I came up with, bit above ideal range but not out of this world. Not too sure about the coolant system though, thoughts?.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($348.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: LEPA AquaChanger 240 103.6 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($77.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($139.19 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($32.08 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($87.77 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 4GB NITRO Dual-X OC Video Card ($188.28 @ Newegg)
Case: Inwin 707 BLACK ATX Full Tower Case ($106.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA P2 650W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1056.27
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-11 23:53 EDT-0400

Yeah that case is, ok. Like I said, all your tastes not mine. For $100 though, there a bigger more feature rich cases out there.

Cooler is decent as well, you picked a good one. Although if you wanted to oc, the h100i might be a little better, but you can still get a ton done with that, if not MAYBE the same as the h100 if done well enough.

I would grab that psu asap though, I don't know how long it'll be on sale for and that thing will spring up to well over $100 when it ends.

 

[ItsMrNumb]

Yeah that case is, ok. Like I said, all your tastes not mine. For $100 though, there a bigger more feature rich cases out there.

Cooler is decent as well, you picked a good one. Although if you wanted to oc, the h100i might be a little better, but you can still get a ton done with that, if not MAYBE the same as the h100 if done well enough.

I would grab that psu asap though, I don't know how long it'll be on sale for and that thing will spring up to well over $100 when it ends.

When you say more feature rich cases, what do you have in mind? If you know of a full tower case you think would look good with this build please, let me know. At this point I'm open to all opinions with this thing. My last build was so much easier to decide on a case lol, I just saw the NZXT Phantom 530 and decided that was the one I wanted.

 

[Anonymous09]

Do you have a budget on cost? Would you go as high as $150?

 

[ItsMrNumb]

Depending on the case, yes. I was going to do $180 on the Shinobi originally so $150 isn't too bad

 

[Anonymous09]

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/phanteks-case-phes614lbk
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/phanteks-case-phes813pswt
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/phanteks-case-phes614pbk
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-case-ca1f800m1wn00
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-case-h1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811353086


http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-case-vn10031w2n
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/azza-case-csazgt1
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-case-vp400m1w2n
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108423


Top part are cases I found quite easily, without a lot of digging because they're relatively popular, that look normal. The ones on the bottom have uniquish designs, I prefer those tbh. Although Phanteks line of enthoo cases are superb as well, you'd probably prefer them the most. Like I said, I did this without much digging there are hundreds of choices and you might not like any of them. But for this build, (to me at least) these look pretty good with your hardware. Not to mention their features are most extensive in most cases, better cable management and tooless designs, more hdd bays(although your's has a good amount as well), etc. Airflow in pretty much every single one of them is great as well, although in full towers they usually are.

 

[ItsMrNumb]

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/phanteks-case-phes614lbk
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/phanteks-case-phes813pswt
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/phanteks-case-phes614pbk
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-case-ca1f800m1wn00
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-case-h1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811353086


http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-case-vn10031w2n
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/azza-case-csazgt1
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-case-vp400m1w2n
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108423


Top part are cases I found quite easily, without a lot of digging because they're relatively popular, that look normal. The ones on the bottom have uniquish designs, I prefer those tbh. Although Phanteks line of enthoo cases are superb as well, you'd probably prefer them the most. Like I said, I did this without much digging there are hundreds of choices and you might not like any of them. But for this build, (to me at least) these look pretty good with your hardware. Not to mention their features are most extensive in most cases, better cable management and tooless designs, more hdd bays(although your's has a good amount as well), etc. Airflow in pretty much every single one of them is great as well, although in full towers they usually are.

I had actually already checked out a majority of the top cases previously. And I mean, I do like them but I'm just not sure that any of them are right for me and this build. Personally, the case is honestly one of most important parts of the build to me, its the difference between building a Chihuahua and building a Rottweiler. That being said I'm going to definitely keep looking around for a case that I feel fits this build. I'm just looking for a big full tower case, black or white preferably so that the red build will compliment it nicely, with a nice big window to display the innards. And preferably a decent amount of space in the back for cable management and a few extra drive bays.

 

[Anonymous09]

Have you checked out the carbide series yet? They look very intense and have plenty of space. Especially this new arrival which fits your color scheme: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139075

 

[ItsMrNumb]

Have you checked out the carbide series yet? They look very intense and have plenty of space. Especially this new arrival which fits your color scheme: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139075

I'm actually almost mad that you posted that because I had came across the Corsair 750D and all but decided on it but now that Carbide has me reconsidering lol. I really do like the color scheme and the overall looks of it but the fact that its a mid has me seriously questioning it, just because I am so adamant on building in a full tower. But for almost half the price I may have to try and look past that.

Why has this been the hardest part of this build?

 

[Anonymous09]

HA! It's the hardest part for me too. There aren't any numbers to tell which case looks better, where with everything else there's a clear winner. This decision is a personal opinionated one, it matters most what looks best to you, so it is gonna be a bit grueling to find the right one. At the same time, if you make the wrong decision you'll be staring at something you hate for years.

 

[ItsMrNumb]

I think for the sake of the build I'm going to go with the Corsair 750D. Its simple yet beautiful in the less is more effect, it is more than adequate for what i need currently and gives me plenty of room to expand and upgrade. But the real clincher is that there is no place for external 5.25 bays for anything to be installed on the Spec-Alpha.

Plus the extra room on the 750D really plays to my advantage because I'm considering putting the build back a few more weeks so I can up my budget and put a nice liquid cooling system in it with the reservoir and hoses in the main compartment not only to effect performance but to also add an extra aesthetic appeal to it. Now the next problem that remains is designing a Liquid cooling system for the build that won't put me back thousands of dollars lol

 

[Anonymous09]

Solid choice, the 750d is a nice looking case with plenty of room.

If you need any help with the cooling system, post back here. You have a bit of work ahead of you if you decide to go down that route, just a fair warning. But it should definitely pay off if done well.

 

[ItsMrNumb]

I've never messed with liquid cooling before so I'm almost definitely going to need help but I've also never backed down from a challenge and have always wanted to do a build with it. I didn't feel comfortable using it in my first build but now I feel like I am more than capable of properly setting it up. And realize this is going to be my last build for a few years since I'm only going to need my two rigs until they become obsolete, so its now or never I guess haha.

 

[Anonymous09]

Well, if you're up for a challenge then this will definitely be a good one for you. Good luck with your research, and like I said if you have anymore questions just post back here!