Final Gaming Build confirmation for $1600

Edward T

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May 19, 2015
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So I am going to buy these parts and build it on July 31 (nearest date when I will be able to do all that). This is the build link:
https://pcpartpicker.com/user/edwardtyl/saved/Lx2nTW

You can skip over reading this paragraph note:
This is the third time I'm posting for feedback. First time my build had some problems and could be improved, and I also raised the budget. Second time the feedback I got was more subtle but still significant. It seems each time I post people only leave feedback for a couple things and then no one reads the post anymore xD. So this is the final time I'm posting since I believe the build is finished and I just need a final check by people who have experience in this matter.
Thank you in advance!

Some details:
This build is intended for 1080p Ultra gaming at 60FPS in games like Battlefield 4 and GTA V. I do not wish to downgrade my motherboard, monitor quality, keyboard quality, etc. So if there are suggestions about upgrading the gtx 970 to a 980 please do not make the suggestion by simply changing the motherboard to something for $80. (Also I specifically picked this motherboard because it has good gaming features and it has sound blaster audio suite, and since I'm not getting a sound card I would want good audio because I have good headphones). My budget is $1600.
 
Solution
- Changed the harddrive to a 3,5 1tb WD
- Better PSU (500 watts is more than enough for this built)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.99 @ NCIX US)
Thermal Compound: Innovation Cooling Diamond "7 Carat" 1.5g Thermal Paste ($7.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-GAMING 7 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($158.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid...
- Changed the harddrive to a 3,5 1tb WD
- Better PSU (500 watts is more than enough for this built)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.99 @ NCIX US)
Thermal Compound: Innovation Cooling Diamond "7 Carat" 1.5g Thermal Paste ($7.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-GAMING 7 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($158.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($97.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.46 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($349.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT H440 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12G 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: AOC q2963Pm 60Hz 29.0" Monitor ($349.99 @ Best Buy)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Quick Fire TK Wired Gaming Keyboard ($85.75 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1558.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-18 14:08 EDT-0400
 
Solution
Waste of money to buy a 500GB hard drive. 1TB is mainstream and often cheaper.

Probably want red ram to go with the rest of the build. Should be plenty of red G.Skill kits available.

MSI Twin Frozr or ASUS Strix would also match better, but the Gigabyte is fairly neutral (though the logo lights up white)

NZXT S340 Black/Red has the exact same layout as the H440 but is significantly cheaper. Something to look into.
 
$350 for a 1080P monitor??? That is just insane. You can get 1440p for that price. Thermal compound isn't needed. The Z97 Gaming 5 would be better board for the money.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($116.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($58.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($97.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.46 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($348.94 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT H440 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: AOC Q2778VQE 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($329.99 @ Micro Center)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Quick Fire TK Wired Gaming Keyboard ($85.75 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1543.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-18 14:45 EDT-0400

 


It is an ultra wide monitor, but I agree it's too much money.
 


It's not that bad, considering it's an IPS panel.
 
This is what I would get with your budget. Check out the monitor before you rules it out. 2560 x 1080 IPS for so much cheaper.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.50 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-G1.SNIPER Z97 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($121.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($97.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card ($649.99 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: LG 25UM57-P 60Hz 25.0" Monitor ($179.00 @ B&H)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Quick Fire TK Wired Gaming Keyboard ($85.75 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1679.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-18 16:06 EDT-0400

If you want something within $1600, get the 980 instead.

EDIT: just realised that it is still 1080p

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H5 Universal 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-G1.SNIPER Z97 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($121.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($97.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB STRIX Video Card ($508.55 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: LG 25UM57-P 60Hz 25.0" Monitor ($179.00 @ B&H)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Quick Fire TK Wired Gaming Keyboard ($85.75 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1550.61
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-18 16:08 EDT-0400
 
Thanks for helping come to a final decision!
https://pcpartpicker.com/user/edwardtyl/saved/Lx2nTW

bootcher I picked your PSU (the semi modular version though). Final question: so I really only need 550W for a gtx 980 build? What if I overclock later will 550W still be enough for overclocking my system? It seemed to me as if everyone always had more watts xD


I saw that many of you didn't agree with the monitor price haha... yeah I actually probably researched the monitor more than anything else here and I will say I tried hard to find something cheaper, but I was set on using an ultrawide cause of its advantages and the only way to get a cheaper ultrawide is by either getting an old monitor or getting an ultrawide with smaller screen size, and 29" ultrawide is already pretty small because its only a 16:9 23" monitor extended on the sides to become a 21:9.

Yeah the harddrive was stupid I don't know why I picked that.

Changed the keyboard to something cheaper ($30) with scissor switches (Cougar 200K) honestly I think I'll like it more even though its cheaper and not mechanical.

Sorry about the restrictions I layed out as I said before I already determined what I wanted before hand just wanted a check up for stupidity in picking some parts, which you guys helped splendidly with :)
 
A GTX 980 has a recommended 500 watts/30 amps PSU, the Seasonic will be enough. Though for your monitor/resolution @ 60hz i reckon a GTX 970 will be more than enough.
If you absolutely want the best available you could wait for the new AMD fury cards, which will definitely cause a cut in prices in the high end of GPU's, so whether you still opt for the GTX 980 or a new fury, prices will go down.
 
Well I bought the PC and built it. It's great! I have a relatively small problem right now which I posted today so if you have any recommendations on that I would appreciate it.
@bootcher: Haha I'm glad I was impatient and didn't wait for AMD fury to come out and everything because the price for gtx 980 is exactly the same now as it was a month ago and AMD doesn't seem to have anything better than NVIDIA this time around.