Does this like an OK CyberPower Gaming Build to you?

[Garbo86]

I don't really know how to pick motherboards, and I am too nervous and lazy to build this thing on my own. I'm trying to get as close as I can to the 'best parts for the money' Tom's Hardware CPU and GPU recommendations, so I went for the 4690 and 290x. Does the machine seem well-balanced or am I over-spending/under-spending in some areas? I'm also curious about whether or not it makes sense to get RAM at any mHz migher than 1600 mHz.

Also, do you think the 'noise dampening' extras that these sites offer are worthwhile? I'm really trying to get a quieter PC- just bricked my last one after 5 years and it was kind of a washing machine sound-wise and increased the temp of the room by 10 degrees. Also, do I need liquid cooling if I don't intend to overclock? Is the liquid cooling at least significantly quieter than air cooling, even if it's not strictly necessary for cooling purposes? Thanks for taking a look.

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/saved/1GE0H4

*BASE_PRICE: [+715]
BLUETOOTH: None
CABLE: None
CAS: CyberPowerPC X-Nova Mid-Tower Gaming Case w/ USB 3.0, Side-Panel Window [-22]
CASUPGRADE: None
CD: 24X Double Layer Dual Format DVD+-R/+-RW + CD-R/RW Drive (BLACK COLOR)
CD2: None
COOLANT: Standard Coolant
CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-4690K 3.5 GHz 6MB Intel Smart Cache LGA1150 (All Venom OC Certified) [+20]
CS_FAN: Enermax TB Silence UCTB14 140mm Performance Cooling with Low Noise Profile Fan [+39]
DOCKINGSTATION: None
ENGRAVING: None
FA_HDD: None
FAN: Asetek 510LC 120mm Liquid Cooling CPU Cooler - Enhance Cooling Performance (Single Standard 120MM Fan)
FLASHMEDIA: None
FREEBIE_VC1: FREE! AMD Never Settle Space GOLD (3 Games) [+0]
GLASSES: None
HDD: 256GB ADATA SP610 SSD + 1TB SATA III Hard Drive Combo [+97] (Single Drive)
HDD2: None
HEADSET: None
IUSB: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
KEYBOARD: None [-5]
MB_SRT: None
MEMORY: 8GB (4GBx2) DDR3/1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (Corsair Vengeance [+24])
MIR_VCSSD: NONE
MONITOR: None
MONITOR2: None
MONITOR3: None
MOPAD: None
MOTHERBOARD: ASRock Z97 Pro4 ATX w/ Intel GbLAN, 2 PCIe x16, 2 PCIe x1, 2 PCI, 1 x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gb/s (All Venom OC Certified)
MOUSE: AZZA Optical 1600dpi Gaming Mouse with Weight Adjustable Cartridge
NETWORK: Onboard Gigabit LAN Network
NFC: None
NOISEREDUCE1: Sound Absorbing Foam on Side, Top And Bottom panels [+29]
NOISEREDUCE2: Power Supply Gasket [+5]
NOISEREDUCE3: Anti-Vibration Fan Mounts [+9]
OS: Microsoft® Windows 7 Home Premium [+104] (64-bit Edition)
OVERCLOCK: No Overclocking
POWERSUPPLY: 600 Watts - Corsair CX600 600W 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply [+26]
RUSH: Standard processing time: ship within 5 to 10 Business Days
SERVICE: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR [3 Year Labor, 1 Year Parts] LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
SOFT1: Microsoft® Office 2013 Home and Student (Word, Excel, PowerPoint + OneNote) [+119]
SOUND: Creative Labs SB Audigy SE PCI Sound Card [+30]
SPEAKERS: None
TEMP: None
TUNING: None
TVRC: None
USBFLASH: None
USBHD: None
USBX: None
VIDEO: AMD Radeon R9 290X 4GB GDDR5 PCIe 3.0 x16 Video Card [+273] (Single Card)
WNC: PCI Wireless 802.11n 150Mbps Network Interface Card [+19]
_PRICE: (+1482)
_view_: {3F29471E-3B20-423A-A3D1-A1FA65359E90}
_load_: 10/6/2014 10:42:26 PM

 

[DonkeyOatie]

The combination of a K processor, a Z board, and liquid cooling, suggests that this machine is intended to be overclocked.

If you are not going to overclock it then that cooler is unnecessary, although a smaller one will be useful because the video card is going to be dumping in a lot of heat.

That is an OK basic power supply. I would not want to be overclocking with it (OTOH, I probably wouldn't want to be overclocking at all)

What's the free games worth to YOU?

The sound produced by a cooler depends on the quality of it's build/fans, not it's cooling method.

When we build our own machines, if corners are cut we (theoretically) did it eyes wide open. In any pre-build there is always a temptation to cut corners to meet the price or to make more profit. Power supplies, cases, fans, cabling, and similar are easy places to cut because things work well to start with and nay faults usually come to light months after the machine is out of the door.

The CPU, GPU, and motherboard are all the sort of thing that you might use yourself. The power supply is OK-ish. It's worth over $100 for an experienced person to assemble the computer and provide a warranty that it works.

 

[bsod1]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Mugen 4 79.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($203.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($355.91 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($142.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1440.76
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-07 06:04 EDT-0400

 

[DonkeyOatie]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Mugen 4 79.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($203.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($355.91 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($142.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1440.76
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-07 06:04 EDT-0400

You left out the:

Microsoft Office Home and Student
Wifi card (although his is very cheap and there are better)
Audio card
Mouse
Warranty and assembly

That has to be worth/cost at least $200. Rather than showing the OP what could be done with the money, it might be better to show what building your own just like it might cost.

I forgot ot answer the original question about balance. The lead characters, CPU, motherboard, and GPU work well together. The supporting cast could be better.

 

[bsod1]

Ah, alright.

It would help us help you better if you provided a budget of sorts

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Ah, alright.

It would help us help you better if you provided a budget of sorts

OPs original $1482 would seem to be a good place, heck, I bet $1500 would work just fine

 

[bsod1]

Ah, alright.

It would help us help you better if you provided a budget of sorts

OPs original $1482 would seem to be a good place, heck, I bet $1500 would work just fine

How do you like this?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Mugen 4 79.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-PRO(Wi-Fi ac) ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($207.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($349.99 @ B&H)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($142.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar Essence STX 24-bit 192 KHz Sound Card ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G100s Wired Optical Mouse ($26.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1580.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-07 07:55 EDT-0400

The Video Card can be downgraded if you need to add MS Office

 

[DonkeyOatie]

I like what you did, may be OP will too.

For political reasons, I'd drop the SSD to afford the Office (but I'd be saving my pennies like crazy to get the SSD later)

If the OP does not plan to overclock there's a bit more that could be saved, bringing this close to his original budget.

I wonder if the OP had a GTX970 as a choice to start with? It's a little cheaper than the 290X and has lower power and heat loads.

 

[Garbo86]

Thanks!! I don't intend to overclock, so if it's possible to save there, that would be great. In that case do you think I should still get the high-end power supply you proposed? I don't want to cheap out on an essential part that could make the machine loud and hot if it's bad, because that's what I'm trying to get away from, but do you think it's unnecessary if I'm not overclocking or still a solid choice? Also, is this the right processor/motherboard/gpu for a non-overclocking machine? I'm basically just looking to hit the 'totally capable of handling any game at high fps' but not 'state of the art super-$$$' sweet spot, which seems to be quite possible with the desktop market going down the tubes as it seems to be doing. Also, is there are large difference in how the case I choose will affect sound & heat? If that's the case (hehehe) then I am OK spending a bit there- although if I got more return spending on a better power supply (or just spending somewhat on both), then maybe that will make more sense. And I noticed that you swapped to a higher-end sound card. Do you think the one I was looking at was so lousy that it wouldn't have been a significant improvement over onboard sound? Generally I will probably want to get an SSD no matter what, as I have read that they are significantly better load time-wise (and my guess is that they are quieter and cooler as well).

As far as a budget, $1500ish is about what I'm looking to spend here. The mouse I included in the build just because it was 'free' on cyberpower.com- I don't actually need a new one. Thanks again for taking a look- appreciate it.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

The parts you chose are generally great and we have made our suggestions how we would do things differently.

This is the sort of thing possible: A 4690 rather than 4690K, an H97 motherboard instead of a Z and you no longer need aftermarket cooling.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($107.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($103.50 @ Centre Com)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP600 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($139.00 @ CPL Online)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($62.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290X 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($499.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Case: Inwin GT1 Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($58.00 @ CPL Online)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($99.00 @ PLE Computers)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($19.00 @ CPL Online)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($115.00 @ CPL Online)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN851ND 802.11b/g/n PCI Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.00 @ CPL Online)
Total: $1468.50
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-08 08:21 EST+1100

This costs more than your system when you allow for the free games, warranty from one source and Office, so maybe your bundle is not so bad (unless I got something seriously wrong)

 

[Garbo86]

Here's where I am with it right now:


Configuration #: 1GE2DL

Configuration URL: http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/saved/1GE2DL

Product Name: CyberPower Z97 i5 Configurator (NO MONITOR)

Price: $1,505.00

______________________________________________________________________

*BASE_PRICE:[+715]

BLUETOOTH:None

CABLE:None

CAS:CyberPowerPC X-Nova Mid-Tower Gaming Case w/ USB 3.0, Side-Panel Window [-22]

CASUPGRADE:None

CD:24X Double Layer Dual Format DVD+-R/+-RW + CD-R/RW Drive (BLACK COLOR)

CD2:None

COOLANT:Standard Coolant

CPU:Intel® Core™ i5-4690 3.50 GHz 6MB LGA1150

CS_FAN:Enermax TB Silence UCTB14 140mm Performance Cooling with Low Noise Profile Fan [+39]

DOCKINGSTATION:None

ENGRAVING:None

ENGRAVING_MSG:

FA_HDD:None

FAN:Intel Certified CPU Fan & Heatsink [-27]

FLASHMEDIA:None

FREEBIE_VC1:FREE! NVIDIA Borderlands: the Pre-Sequel Game Coupon [+0]

FREEBIE_VC2:NVIDIA FREE TO PLAY - Warface, Path of Exile, and Heroes of Newerth [+0]

GLASSES:None

HDD:256GB ADATA SP610 SSD + 2TB SATA III Hard Drive Combo [+107] (Single Drive)

HDD2:None

HEADSET:None

IUSB:Built-in USB 2.0 Ports

KEYBOARD:None [-5]

MB_SRT:None

MEMORY:8GB (4GBx2) DDR3/1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (Corsair Vengeance [+24])

MIR_VCSSD:NONE

MONITOR:None

MONITOR2:None

MONITOR3:None

MOPAD:None

MOTHERBOARD:ASRock Z97 Pro4 ATX w/ Intel GbLAN, 2 PCIe x16, 2 PCIe x1, 2 PCI, 1 x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gb/s (All Venom OC Certified)

MOUSE:AZZA Optical 1600dpi Gaming Mouse with Weight Adjustable Cartridge

NETWORK:Onboard Gigabit LAN Network

NFC:None

NOISEREDUCE1:Sound Absorbing Foam on Side, Top And Bottom panels [+29]

NOISEREDUCE2ower Supply Gasket [+5]

NOISEREDUCE3:Anti-Vibration Fan Mounts [+9]

OS:Microsoft® Windows 7 Home Premium [+104] (64-bit Edition)

OVERCLOCK:No Overclocking

POWERSUPPLY:550 Watts - Corsair CSM Series CS550M 80 Plus Gold Certified Modular Ultra Quiet Power Supply [+62]

RUSH:Standard processing time: ship within 5 to 10 Business Days

SERVICE:STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR [3 Year Labor, 1 Year Parts] LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT

SOFT1:Microsoft® Office 2013 Home and Student (Word, Excel, PowerPoint + OneNote) [+119]

SOUND:* ASUS Xonar DGX 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCIe Sound Card [+45]

SPEAKERS:None

TEMP:None

TUNING:None

TVRC:None

USBFLASH:None

USBHD:None

USBX:None

VIDEO:NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB GDDR5 PCIe 3.0 x16 Video Card (Maxwell) [+279] (Single Card)

WNC:None

XWNC1:ASUS USB-N13 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 300Mbps Wireless USB Adapter [+22]

_PRICE+1505)

_view_:{6432DF75-2596-4792-BC60-DD0F685C5636}

_load_:10/7/2014 7:23:09 PM


Was also able to get a $75 discount just by googling promo codes, so that's nice. Total ends up being around $1634 after applying the $75 discount, $129 worth of CA sales tax, and $75 for UPS ground. I think I'll probably pull the trigger on this in the next few days. Thanks again to both of you for the assist

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Windows 8.1 will give you slightly better performance and a better upgrade path since it is easier to moove and keep current.

Good luck and have fun!