Double Build Improvements (Without The Loss of Performance/Style)

[ddbtkd456]

Opinions are welcome, suggestions are wanted. Two very different builds and I am trying to stay with either Newegg or Amazon (both have amazing customer service), also both towers need to be full towers with windows...I plan on water cooling both towers with a custom water loop eventually down the road. I order directly from the manufacturers site if Newegg/Amazon is not available.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X60 98.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($143.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.92 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Superclocked ACX Video Card ($336.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair 760W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Micro Center)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($122.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Dell U2412M 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($265.00 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($37.33 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: NZXT Air Flow Series 83.6 CFM 140mm Fan ($11.41 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Purple 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($9.99 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Purple 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($9.99 @ Amazon)
Fan Controller: NZXT SENTRY 3 Fan Controller ($30.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Perixx PX-1100 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Speakers: Creative Labs Inspire T10 10W 2ch Speakers ($41.18 @ Amazon)
Other: NZXT Switch 810 (Ultra Tower) (Direct From NZXT) (Black) ($169.99)
Other: Professional Individually sleeved DC Cable Kit, Type 3 (Generation 2), White (Direct From Corsair) ($79.99)
Other: Individually Sleeved AX 860/760 ATX 24pin (Generation 2), White (Direct From Corsair) ($19.99)
Other: Rosewill RCT4B-100 Black 4" Cable Tie (Newegg) ($3.99)
Other: NZXT Hue - RGB Color Changing LED Controller (Matte Black) (Direct From NZXT) ($32.99)
Total: $2160.65
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

This system will not be overclocking, just needs to run games smoothly...Skyrim, RuneScape, Sims 3 and 4, Roller-Coaster Tycoon 1-3, just to name a couple.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H110 94.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 12g Thermal Paste ($16.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus Crosshair V Formula-Z ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($224.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.92 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($103.71 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB DirectCU II Video Card ($299.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 760T Black ATX Full Tower Case ($162.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 860W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Full (32/64-bit) (Purchased For $0.00)
Monitor: Asus VS24AH-P 24.0" Monitor ($217.58 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VS24AH-P 24.0" Monitor ($217.58 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($37.33 @ Amazon)
Fan Controller: NZXT SENTRY 3 Fan Controller ($30.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Perixx PX-1100 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Logitech M505 Wireless Laser Mouse ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Speakers: Creative Labs Inspire T10 10W 2ch Speakers ($41.18 @ Amazon)
Other: BitFenix Alchemy Connect 30 LED Light Strip - 600mm - White (BFA-ACL-60WK30-RP) (FrozenCPU) ($32.99)
Other: Professional Individually sleeved DC Cable Kit, Type 3 (Generation 2), Red (Direct From Corsair) ($79.99)
Other: Individually Sleeved AX 860/760 ATX 24pin (Generation 2), Red (Direct From Corsair) ($19.99)
Total: $2359.15
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Unfortunately, this system has to have the 16 Gigs of RAM (due to video encoding). Games played on this might include WatchDogs, Thief (don't know if thats on the PC yet), Grand Theft Autos, Sims 3/4, Runescape (maybe), Batman Arkham City/Origins, & Need For Speed (Older Games). It will be primarily my media center (streaming dvds to xbox 360), music, and gaming...along with music/video encoding. Also why I need that much room. The Thermal Compound is for both system.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Other: Rosewill RTK-090 90 Piece Professional Computer Tool Kit (Newegg) ($29.99)
Other: Rosewill RTK-ASM Anti-Static Mat (Newegg) ($14.99)
Other: ESD Safe Anti-Static Brush (Large, #12) (FrozenCPU) ($5.99)
Other: Blow Off Electronics Bundle - Premium Duster/Electronics Cleaner/Electronics Cleaning Wipes (FrozenCPU) ($16.99)
Total: $67.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

A couple of supplies for building these two monsters. Again opinions/Suggestions are more then welcome. I am also looking for some suggestions on water cooling these monsters with two custom loops as well (one for each case).

 

[13thmonkey]

don't bother with all in one water if you are going proper water later on, just get a hyper 212 and be done with it, save $100. Unless you are planning on SLI then your PSU's are oversized by a lot.

 

[ddbtkd456]

Yea, I'm buying them anyways, i try to do a couple builds a year, and if I end up fully water cooling both systems, then at least I have a couple of them on stock so it will save me money down the road. I plan on having a computer in my basement for my 4k tv down there (when I get it lol) 60" of heaven, so it can be used in that one. Or if I dont end up getting a custom made loop for either system at least its still water cooled, just depends on what they come out with for gpu all in one coolers in the next year or so. The i5 will never be SLI'd however the 280x might be crossfired down the road, according to my knowledge that should be more then enough to crossfire two 280x's