First Build advice

jd400

Distinguished
Jan 20, 2011
7
0
18,510
Approximate Purchase Date: 8/7-8/12

Budget Range: 2000-2400 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, some light 3d modeling, surfing internet, movies

Are you buying a monitor: Yes(1 to start with planning to get a 2nd within a month, any advice on monitor choice would be appreciated, looking to get high frame rate monitor(120+). Not looking for ultrawide, easier to multitask with multiple monitors.


Do you need to buy OS: Yes(not exactly sure how this will be affected by windows 10 upgrade.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, Newegg, Tigerdirect, any well trusted site really

Location: San Antonio, TX

Parts Preferences: by brand or type (e.g.: I would like to upgrade to Intel CPU)
[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tMfX7P) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tMfX7P/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k) | $328.99 @ SuperBiiz
**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) | $25.98 @ OutletPC
**Motherboard** | [MSI Z97A GAMING 7 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z97agaming7) | $151.98 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f31866c9d16gxm) | $89.99 @ NCIX US
**Video Card** | [Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn98tg1gaming6gd) | $689.97 @ Amazon
**Case** | [Corsair 500R Black ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-500rbk) | $79.99 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20850xr) | $117.99 @ NCIX US
**Optical Drive** | [Asus BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-bw12b1stblkgas) | $60.99 @ NCIX US
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | $86.98 @ OutletPC
**Monitor** | [Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-vg248qe) | $249.99 @ Amazon
**Keyboard** | [Corsair Vengeance K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-keyboard-ch9000011na) | $112.99 @ Amazon
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $2075.84
| Mail-in rebates | -$80.00
| **Total** | **$1995.84**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2015-08-03 01:01 EDT-0400 |

I already have 2 500 gb SSDs, planning to expand on this later as needed.

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: If needed later

Your Monitor Resolution: because i want higher frequency will probably be 1080p due to prices of having both 1440p+ and 120hz+ are really high

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: My desktop became outdated long ago and have been relying on my laptop since but cant run some games on it.
 
Solution
Not sure buying a Z97 platform, just days before the 6th gen chips are reportedly going to be released, is a good idea. I would hold out for that, or step up to an X99 system. The 980ti is pure overkill, for 1080p. I would suggest a 1440p monitor, at minimum. You can get those with the refresh rates you are wanting. For example, something more like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($368.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($215.87 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16GB...
I'd want 2400Mhz memort. You can get about 5% more performance for modest cost.

It' also want a motherboard with better power phases for overclocking (more real phases, and fully digital power). What you have chosen is good, but you can get better at the same or lower cost, starting with the Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 5 or the ASRock Z97 Extreme 6. (and there are others)
 
Not sure buying a Z97 platform, just days before the 6th gen chips are reportedly going to be released, is a good idea. I would hold out for that, or step up to an X99 system. The 980ti is pure overkill, for 1080p. I would suggest a 1440p monitor, at minimum. You can get those with the refresh rates you are wanting. For example, something more like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($368.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($215.87 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card ($678.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 500R Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($121.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) ($88.88 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Acer XG270HU 144Hz 27.0" Monitor ($449.99 @ B&H)
Keyboard: Corsair Vengeance K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($112.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $2387.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-03 10:30 EDT-0400
 
Solution
Just barely out of budget, but with 2 monitors.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($368.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($215.87 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card ($678.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 500R Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($87.28 @ Mwave)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) ($88.88 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($249.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($249.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Corsair Vengeance K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($112.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $2402.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-03 16:54 EDT-0400
 
Thanks for the additional help, but I guess I'll wait since both of you seem to think its best, that means my budget will go up a bit by the time i get it, is there rules about making another thread in like 2-3 weeks depending on when new releases come out?