First Build for a Friend, How's this look?

[Andrew Ray]

I have had a gaming for PC and my friend was interested in getting one soon, so I am helping a bit. I was wondering what you all thought of this:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3nml7

It seems very well priced for what you get out of it. He wants to be able to run most games on high-ultra, which seems possible at 1920x1080 resolution. Any thoughts/suggestions?

 

[RazerZ]

Budget for the entire build?

Might be worth it to step up the PSU so he can sli the 770s later on.

 

[tiny voices]

Looks fine but the case is overkill. Get a normal mid-tower for this build. That case is pointless. Also, you can get a XFX650w unit for less than that Rosewill that is better quality.

 

[jdwii]

Looks nice but replace the case with a cool master 912 case for 59.99$

 

[Andrew Ray]

The budget was $1000 but it was okay to go a little over for him. Are there any 750W PSU's you know of that are roughly the same price and good quality? Not sure if he would SLI but better safe than sorry.

 

[tiny voices]

For someone who is not very computer savvy, SLI is pointless and he will never do it. Don't plan for it as it usually never happens. Just get a 650w unit and then later on worry about SLI if it even comes up.

 

[Ahmadjon]

Changed couple thing to get better performance!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($227.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($319.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: BenQ GW2255 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($115.14 @ Amazon)
Total: $1151.03
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-06 23:42 EDT-0400)

 

[Andrew Ray]

Oh damn MSI has a higher factory overclock on that 770. Does MSI typically have good cooling? I went with EVGA mostly because of the overclock and knowing their cooling is top notch. I might browse other cases around that Cooler Master price. I really hate Cooler Master aesthetically.

 

[Ahmadjon]

Oh damn MSI has a higher factory overclock on that 770. Does MSI typically have good cooling? I went with EVGA mostly because of the overclock and knowing their cooling is top notch. I might browse other cases around that Cooler Master price. I really hate Cooler Master aesthetically.

MSI's 770 has great cooling on it! I have one but 760 version and it's great also MSI's 770 uses better cooler than 760's and it should run really quiet!
Case: Yeah it's kind of personal preference, but I like my HAF 912 Plus!

 

[RazerZ]

Oh damn MSI has a higher factory overclock on that 770. Does MSI typically have good cooling? I went with EVGA mostly because of the overclock and knowing their cooling is top notch. I might browse other cases around that Cooler Master price. I really hate Cooler Master aesthetically.

Zalman Z5 It's $34

 

[Karadjgne]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($227.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($73.47 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($329.99 @ TigerDirect)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1164.36
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-07 00:23 EDT-0400)

Did some re-arranging, gaming on a 24" much better than a 21"

 

[Andrew Ray]

Hmm. Is there any noticeable difference between G.Skill's Ares and Ripjaws? I am not well versed in timings.

 

[tiny voices]

No, any 1600mhz cl9 ram will perform identical. It is actually very difficult to even see differences between RAM of different speeds. They all perform about the same.

 

[Andrew Ray]

Thanks. I don't remember people in general ever being this helpful before.

 

[Karadjgne]

The only real difference in the Ares an Ripjaws is the heatsink. The Ares is low profile, whereas the Ripjaws has a heatsink that rises slightly above the modules. It's also usually a few $ cheaper, maybe for that reason. Imho, It's RAM, it ain't gotta be fancy, it just gotta do the job.

 

[tiny voices]

Agreed. DDR3 RAM doesn't even get warm so heatsinks are just for show anyway.

 

[Andrew Ray]

Good to know. My G.Skill heatsinks are huuuuge (BUT THEY LOOK TOO DAMN COOL). But anyway, does anyone see any way to maybe shave off some cost? Here is the build currently, and luckily the CPU just got cheaper on Amazon :
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($30.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-DS3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($96.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($329.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1070.69
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-07 16:46 EDT-0400)

 

[Karadjgne]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($30.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-DS3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($96.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($319.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1055.69
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-07 18:12 EDT-0400)

The Antec is higher quality psu than the Rosewill, and slightly cheaper, the Gigabyte 770 is comparable to the MSI, and slightly cheaper. The only other way to shave off any more and not change performance would be to change the case for something cheaper, or use the g-skill ares ram and save another $10

 

[RazerZ]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($319.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman ZM-Z9 U3 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VS238H-P 23.0" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1044.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-07 18:35 EDT-0400)
Gives you room to add in a second GTX 770 in the future.

 

[Andrew Ray]

Looks good, seems like a great final build. Surprisingly really cheap for the power it has.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Karadjgne]

You do realize that you can easily power an overclocked 4670k and a gtx 770 with a quality 550w psu and by moving down to a corsair tx 750,you are paying an extra $20 for an extra 130w you won't use? Although it is a really good psu, its not the antec ;p

 

[Andrew Ray]

I was thinking the higher wattage will be better for a couple years down the line for SLI and maybe a few more smaller upgrades.

 

[RazerZ]

You do realize that you can easily power an overclocked 4670k and a gtx 770 with a quality 550w psu and by moving down to a corsair tx 750,you are paying an extra $20 for an extra 130w you won't use? Although it is a really good psu, its not the antec ;p

Of course I do, which is why I included the Extreme 4 mobo. With a 750W PSU he can run 770 sli in the future.

 

[Seeking Solace]

You do realize that you can easily power an overclocked 4670k and a gtx 770 with a quality 550w psu and by moving down to a corsair tx 750,you are paying an extra $20 for an extra 130w you won't use? Although it is a really good psu, its not the antec ;p

Of course I do, which is why I included the Extreme 4 mobo. With a 750W PSU he can run 770 sli in the future.

I was wondering if you thought it would be more practical to SLI graphics cards while remaining on a single monitor, or to upgrade to a higher graphics card while remaining on a single monitor?
Would it be better to keep the build oriented to power a single graphic card for one monitor or prepare it with the intention to SLI for a multi monitor gaming setup.

 

[Karadjgne]

You can pretty much do anything with a 770. It's quite capable of multiple monitors all by itself. Sli will improve on that. However, if you have strong inclinations towards future sli and multiple monitors, I'd suggest a 4Gb gpu instead of the 2Gb. They cost a little more, but with the high resolutions involved it will help with the performance hit inherent in multiple monitor setups.