Custom gaming build - critique

[Eddie K]

Goals with build
1. Superior gaming experience while maintaining as much "bang for buck" as I can.
2. Future proof
3. Allow for upgrades and expansions
With those goals in mind, is this good?

Also, Is there anything I'm missing? and is there any bottleneck?

Thanks,
Eddie


http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/user/EdwinK/saved/tb7v6h


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($256.53 @ DirectCanada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($32.50 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($159.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($84.79 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.97 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280X 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($264.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($105.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.75 @ Vuugo)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($104.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm Fan ($29.99 @ Memory Express)
Total: $1229.44
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

[enemy1g]

There's no such thing as future proof.

And you should be going with a Devil's Cayon CPU (i5-4690k) and a Z97 motherboard, as you can likely get them for around the same price as a Haswell i5 and Z87.

Other than that, build looks good. SSD would be nice, but only if you can squeeze it into the budget.

 

[Eddie K]

There's no such thing as future proof.

And you should be going with a Devil's Cayon CPU (i5-4690k) and a Z97 motherboard, as you can likely get them for around the same price as a Haswell i5 and Z87.

Other than that, build looks good. SSD would be nice, but only if you can squeeze it into the budget.

What do you mean by there is no such thing as future-proof?
And by the Z97 motherboard which model are you referring to? There seems to be a lot of Z97s.
And if I do get a SSD does it replace the Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ?

 

[Pcbuilder123]

There's no such thing as future proof.

And you should be going with a Devil's Cayon CPU (i5-4690k) and a Z97 motherboard, as you can likely get them for around the same price as a Haswell i5 and Z87.

Other than that, build looks good. SSD would be nice, but only if you can squeeze it into the budget.

What do you mean by there is no such thing as future-proof?
And by the Z97 motherboard which model are you referring to? There seems to be a lot of Z97s.
And if I do get a SSD does it replace the Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ?

All components will be old in a few a years and there will be lower power consuming cheaper, faster parts. The processor will last you until like 2017-2018, as 1st gen i5's are still pretty good. The case and power supply should last along time, but as ddr4 is around the corner, a motherboard cpu and ram upgrade might be needed in a few years.

 

[Pcbuilder123]

.

 

[stokieben]

You'll probably need a much larger PSU such as a 750w and also most people agree that SSD are worth getting even just a 120gb for OS and a game or two you'll really appreciate the speed they give you, however you could also wait as there is most likely going to be a price drop for them over the next few months.

 

[enemy1g]

The tech you buy today will be old news in months time. It's just the cycle of the tech world, it moves extremely fast. Your 2k PC today, could struggle in a year, or two, or three. Depends on how the market swings, how the tech evolves, and whatnot. Pretty much you're buying a PC now, hoping that it will last you a few years. The more money you spend, the more years you will likely get out of it, but obviously, there are exceptions to this case.

A majority of the Z97 boards will do just fine, you look for one that has the features that you're looking for, and get it.

And no. A SSD is a solid state drive, it (should) is used as your primary drive that holds your OS, and most important/used applications/games.

 

[Pcbuilder123]

In my 500$ pc, I just got an ssd, and I love it

 

[stokieben]

Also be aware it depends what you mean by future proof if you're a gamer then this sort of system can easily last 3 years and needs a GPU upgrade later down the line but it wont "Struggle" in 1/2/3 years unless your meaning tip top performance.

 

[Eddie K]

Okay, so I will get an SSD. If I do, do I still need to keep my Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive or can the SSD take it's place?

And could someone recommend a good Z97 for my build? I have no idea which one to get.

And yeah, I was kind of hoping for tip top performance.

 

[Pcbuilder123]

Okay, so I will get an SSD. If I do, do I still need to keep my Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive or can the SSD take it's place?

And could someone recommend a good Z97 for my build? I have no idea which one to get.

And yeah, I was kind of hoping for tip top performance.

Alright. You will need a hdd for storage. Just os and some key programs on an ssd and rest on the hdd.
240gb ssd:http://www.amazon.com/PNY-240GB-6Gbps-2-5-Inch-SSD9SC240GMDA-RB/dp/B007WT9UXA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1403640687&sr=8-4&keywords=240gb+ssd
Z97 board:http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GA-Z97X-GAMING-Gaming-Networking-Motherboard/dp/B00K2RQDXY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403640720&sr=8-1&keywords=z97+motherboard

 

[FinalDrive]

I have that same case and I love it, nice and roomy, and a lot of sound deadening material. The rest of your specs look good to me and should be a solid performer. As others have stated you should get a SSD for your boot drive, but if you add that later Samsung and Intel have good data migration software for their drives. I would strongly advise against using the 2 SSD mounting locations on the back of the motherboard tray, as if you ever need to access them you will have to take the motherboard out, and it gets a bit warm back there.

 

[Pcbuilder123]

I have that same case and I love it, nice and roomy, and a lot of sound deadening material. The rest of your specs look good to me and should be a solid performer. As others have stated you should get a SSD for your boot drive, but if you add that later Samsung and Intel have good data migration software for their drives. I would strongly advise against using the 2 SSD mounting locations on the back of the motherboard tray, as if you ever need to access them you will have to take the motherboard out, and it gets a bit warm back there.

Yep. Haha, I just used Velcro to secure it into my case.

 

[Eddie K]

Ok so I decided to get this board instead
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-z97a $151.61. Is that okay?
And for the SSD I decided to get this
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-internal-hard-drive-sv300s37a120g $84.79
I'm still gana keep my Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.97 @ DirectCanada) for space.
Are these good decisions? Thanks.
Total amounts to $1300 now with these additions and revisions.

 

[Pcbuilder123]

Ok so I decided to get this board instead
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-z97a $151.61. Is that okay?
And for the SSD I decided to get this
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-internal-hard-drive-sv300s37a120g $84.79
I'm still gana keep my Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.97 @ DirectCanada) for space.
Are these good decisions? Thanks.
Total amounts to $1300 now with these additions and revisions.

Your current hdd is awesome, but the v300 has been infamous for being slow and unreliable. Look at Pny xlr8, samsung 840 evo, crucial m500, etc..

 

[Eddie K]

oK I checked those out and am thinking of these 2. Which one is better for my build?
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/pny-internal-hard-drive-ssd9sc240gmdarb $115
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct240m500ssd1 $130

 

[Pcbuilder123]

oK I checked those out and am thinking of these 2. Which one is better for my build?
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/pny-internal-hard-drive-ssd9sc240gmdarb $115
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct240m500ssd1 $130

Both are really good, but I would go with the m500 because it is around the same speed as the m500 but a bit more reliable.

 

[Eddie K]

Okay thanks

 

[Pcbuilder123]

Okay thanks

Sure, no problem.
Make sure to choose best solution if I helped.