First build questions.

[Coen Duijnhouwer]

Hi everyone!

Over the last few weeks I've done some research into building myself a new pc. I have some questions which I would like answered before I actually buy the machine. First of I i will list the specs of the build I have in mind.

Graphics card: MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G
OS: Windows 8.1
Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-4770, 3,4 GHz (3,9 GHz Turbo Boost)
PSU: Antec Antec VP700P
Case: Aerocool BattleHawk
Motherboard: ASRock B85 Pro4
Storage: Toshiba DT01ACAxxx, 2 TB
RAM: G.Skill 8 GB DDR3-1333 (1x8gb)
Optical drive: Very basic no spesific one

I would like to be able to add another 970 in the future and possibly an SSD and another 8 gig ram stick. Is that possible? And have I overlooked some other options and should I maybe swap any components. I'm not 100% sure if my motherboard would support SLI because I've read it has one pcie 2.0 x16 and one pcie 3.0 x16 port. And could anyone check if the PSU is any good also when I add the components I would like to add in the future.

(I'll use this PC mainly for gaming purposes but also for video editing photoshop and I've already been using my current PC for a project in the unreal engine so this pc shouldn't have any problems with those programs.)

I want to thank all of you in advance for taking the time to read and answer my question

-----------------------------------------------------UPDATE-------------------------------------------------------

Thank you all for your awnsers they were really usefull!
I now have completely reconstructed the build and would like your opinions!
Anything else that I really should change?
Also, is the gpu I selected really the best version of the 970 to use in my case (I want to upgrade to SLI later on)

Processor: Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 - Boxed
http://www.afuture.nl/productview.php?productID=1994310

Motherboard: MSI Z97 GAMING 5, Moederbord
https://www.alternate.nl/html/product/information/page.html?articleId=1138720&channel_code=544&product_code=93084739&s2m_campaign=DEACTIVATED&utm_source=adwords-product-listing-ads&gclid=CKPduIS21cYCFdTLtAodgYwOSQ

RAM: G.Skill 16 GB DDR3-1600 Kit
https://www.alternate.nl/html/product/information/page.html?articleId=957983&channel_code=544&product_code=36195957&s2m_campaign=LOWPERFORMANCE&utm_source=plalowperformance&gclid=CNyess221cYCFSUOwwodffoJRQ

SSD: Crucial BX100 SSD - 250GB
http://www.bol.com/nl/p/crucial-bx100-ssd-250-gb/9200000038488235/?Referrer=ADVNLGOO002013-G-18232297964-S-129717990284-9200000038488235

HDD: Toshiba DT01ACAxxx, 2 TB
https://www.alternate.nl/html/product/information/pageBuilder.html?kind=pcBuilder&componentType=required&articleId=1026605&className=harddiskSATA

PSU: EVGA SuperNova 750 G2
https://www.alzashop.com/evga-supernova-750-g2-d603784.htm?kampan=adeupla-nl_produkty_skrine-a-zdroje&language=dk&gclid=CNi_r7y41cYCFTDItAod9JoGTg]

Graphics card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 - Turbo OC - 4GB GDDR5
http://www.afuture.nl/productview.php?productID=4122419
OR
MSI GeForce GTX 970 4G
http://www.afuture.nl/productview.php?productID=2478639

OS: Windows X (can someone explain what might be the best option regarding the upcoming windows 10 release!)

Optical drive: Stock shitty drive 😛

Case: Zalman Z11
https://www.alternate.nl/Zalman/Z11-NEO-Behuizing/html/product/1152504?event=search

This build costs about 1238.5 euros excluding windows and optical drive.

Could anyone check if this build is compatible with SLI (Want to add another 970 later on)
Some info about what windows version to buy would also be nice 😀

 

[davidarad02]

that build is not fully optimized for your needs. what is your budget?

 

[Coen Duijnhouwer]

that build is not fully optimized for your needs. what is your budget?

This build costs about 1150 euros but I would be willing to spend a bit more if that is necessary! What should I change?

 

[davidarad02]

1. get the intel Xeon E3-1231 v3. its basically a 4770 non k, but without the iGPU, so its cheaper.
2. replace the PSU with a better one. can you send a link to the PSU page on your shopping website so I can chose for you?
3. get a h97 motherboard, at least. they are not that more expensive, but give you some nice features, like more USB 3 and Sata 3, as well as other things.
4. get 2 sticks of 4GB of ram in a kit, so you can use dual channel. its will double your RAM bandwidth.
5. see if you can get a cheaper 120-128 GB ssd, because its so much faster then a regular HDD, and believe me, it will be worth it.

 

[de5_Roy]

if it's not a prebuilt or boutique built pc, then:

cpu options:
intel core i7 4790k - for the highest raw performance.
xeon e3 1241 v3 or 1231 v3 - for non-o.c., will help with rendering, usually cheaper than the i7 (may vary by market)

mobo :

gigabyte z97 gaming 5
msi z97 gaming 7
asus z97 -pro

others
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-intel-amd-motherboard,3902.html

ram:
must check motherboard's memory support list for compatible dual channel kits.
g.skill ripjaws ddr3 1600-2133 2x 8GB kit (2x 4GB kit will do too, but rendering likes moar ram).

psu:
seasonic s12g 650, 650w 80+ gold rated psu.
evga supernova g2 series.

storage:
may be a 120-256 GB crucial bx 100 or a samsung one from below:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-recommendation-benchmark,3269.html

optional cpu cooler:
cooler master hyper 212 evo,
cryorig h7,
noctua nh u14s or nh u12s whichever case and motherboard can fit.

case, ODD choices are subjective. up to you.

recommendations are based on price.

 

[davidarad02]

if it's not a prebuilt or boutique built pc, then:

cpu options:
intel core i7 4790k - for the highest raw performance.
xeon e3 1241 v3 or 1231 v3 - for non-o.c., will help with rendering, usually cheaper than the i7 (may vary by market)

if you can get to a microcenter (in the u.s.) you can buy the above cpus at quite cheaper price. but you gotta pick them up in-store.

mobo :

gigabyte z97 gaming 5
msi z97 gaming 7
asus z97 -pro

ram:
must check motherboard's memory support list for compatible dual channel kits.
g.skill ripjaws ddr3 1600-2133 2x 8GB kit (2x 4GB kit will do too, but rendering likes moar ram).

psu:
seasonic s12g 650, 650w 80+ gold rated psu.
evga supernova g2 series.

storage:
may be a 120-256 GB crucial bx 100 or a samsung one from below:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-recommendation-benchmark,3269.html

optional cpu cooler:
cooler master hyper 212 evo,
cryorig h7,
noctua nh u14s or nh u12s whichever case and motherboard can fit.

case, ODD choices are subjective. up to you.

recommendations are based on price.

if you would just looked, he said the build was around 1150 euros, so there is no way for hit to get to a microcenter.
those motherboards, coolers, CPUs and some of those SSDs are probably much more expensive then what he can afford.

 

[de5_Roy]

^ edited, fixed and posted links to alternatives.

 

[Coen Duijnhouwer]

if it's not a prebuilt or boutique built pc, then:

cpu options:
intel core i7 4790k - for the highest raw performance.
xeon e3 1241 v3 or 1231 v3 - for non-o.c., will help with rendering, usually cheaper than the i7 (may vary by market)

if you can get to a microcenter (in the u.s.) you can buy the above cpus at quite cheaper price. but you gotta pick them up in-store.

mobo :

gigabyte z97 gaming 5
msi z97 gaming 7
asus z97 -pro

ram:
must check motherboard's memory support list for compatible dual channel kits.
g.skill ripjaws ddr3 1600-2133 2x 8GB kit (2x 4GB kit will do too, but rendering likes moar ram).

psu:
seasonic s12g 650, 650w 80+ gold rated psu.
evga supernova g2 series.

storage:
may be a 120-256 GB crucial bx 100 or a samsung one from below:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-recommendation-benchmark,3269.html

optional cpu cooler:
cooler master hyper 212 evo,
cryorig h7,
noctua nh u14s or nh u12s whichever case and motherboard can fit.

case, ODD choices are subjective. up to you.

recommendations are based on price.

if you would just looked, he said the build was around 1150 euros, so there is no way for hit to get to a microcenter.
those motherboards, coolers, CPUs and some of those SSDs are probably much more expensive then what he can afford.

I could maybe aford another 100 euros tops

 

[Coen Duijnhouwer]

1. get the intel Xeon E3-1231 v3. its basically a 4770 non k, but without the iGPU, so its cheaper.
2. replace the PSU with a better one. can you send a link to the PSU page on your shopping website so I can chose for you?
3. get a h97 motherboard, at least. they are not that more expensive, but give you some nice features, like more USB 3 and Sata 3, as well as other things.
4. get 2 sticks of 4GB of ram in a kit, so you can use dual channel. its will double your RAM bandwidth.
5. see if you can get a cheaper 120-128 GB ssd, because its so much faster then a regular HDD, and believe me, it will be worth it.

Thanks for the reply I'm definitely considering the Xeon processor you also asked about the site I used which is:
https://www.alternate.co.uk/html/configurator/builder/pc/page.html
I use the dutch version as I'm from the netherlands. But I think the availability of parts should be the same.

Please remember that I want to add some parts later like an SSD but if I save some on the processor an SSD might be viable option.

 

[de5_Roy]

some prices for a base platform:

Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor £196.14

MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard £99.98
Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI £89.99
Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 £99.98
Asus Z97 PRO GAMER £99.99

G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory £84.37

Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive £64.80

EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card £258.08

EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply £87.28

er.. i am not sure about some of the mobo prices, you should verify them yourself.

 

[Coen Duijnhouwer]

some prices for a base platform:

Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor £196.14

MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard £99.98
Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI £89.99
Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 £99.98
Asus Z97 PRO GAMER £99.99

G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory £84.37

Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive £64.80

EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card £258.08

EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply £87.28

er.. i am not sure about some of the mobo prices, you should verify them yourself.

Would this build be SLI compatible say I add on another EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card?

 

[de5_Roy]

Would this build be SLI compatible say I add on another EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card?

yes. let me check if i can find you a card with blower type cooler (more suitable for sli) like asus turbo.

edit: yep, an Asus TURBO-GTX970-OC-4GD5 should be available. see if it fits your needs.

an SSD alternative may be samsung 850 evo 250 GB (from the best ssd article).

 

[Coen Duijnhouwer]

Would this build be SLI compatible say I add on another EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card?

yes. let me check if i can find you a card with blower type cooler (more suitable for sli) like asus turbo.

edit: yep, an Asus TURBO-GTX970-OC-4GD5 should be available. see if it fits your needs.

an SSD alternative may be samsung 850 evo 250 GB (from the best ssd article).

May I ask why you recommend the ASUS gtx970 above the other ones (I chose the MSI one originally)

 

[de5_Roy]

May I ask why you recommend the ASUS gtx970 above the other ones (I chose the MSI one originally)

of course you may ask.
that asus card has a blower type cooler that blows most of the heated air through the slot vents and outside the case.
most of the cards, including the evga acx one i mentioned, have dual axial coolers which dump the heated air inside the case.
while dual and triple axial coolers are better at cooling and lowering noise, they dump the hot air inside the case and that hot air raises temperature inside the case rising upwards and then dissipating through the top exhaust fans and back exhaust fans.
blower types are usually noisier as one fan works hard to blow out all the hot air through the heatsink assembly and the narrow slot vents to the outside but they don't raise case temperatures as much as dual axial cards do.

however, the msi gaming card, evga acx, asus turbo or strix are all good cards. asus turbo is just one option.

 

[Coen Duijnhouwer]

May I ask why you recommend the ASUS gtx970 above the other ones (I chose the MSI one originally)

of course you may ask.
that asus card has a blower type cooler that blows most of the heated air through the slot vents and outside the case.
most of the cards, including the evga acx one i mentioned, have dual axial coolers which dump the heated air inside the case.
while dual and triple axial coolers are better at cooling and lowering noise, they dump the hot air inside the case and that hot air raises temperature inside the case rising upwards and then dissipating through the top exhaust fans and back exhaust fans.
blower types are usually noisier as one fan works hard to blow out all the hot air through the heatsink assembly and the narrow slot vents to the outside but they don't raise case temperatures as much as dual axial cards do.

however, the msi gaming card, evga acx, asus turbo or strix are all good cards. asus turbo is just one option.

Thank you for your kind and helpful replies 😀
Could you please read the update I just posted on the main question.
Thank you.

 

[de5_Roy]

how about this case:
Zalman Z11 NEO, Behuizing Zwart, Window-Kit
https://www.alternate.nl/Zalman/Z11-NEO-Behuizing/html/product/1152504?event=search
from here:
Zalman Z11 Neo ATX Case Review
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/zalman-z11-neo-atx-case,4150.html
toms SBM q2 2015 used one:
System Builder Marathon Q2 2015: $1600 Performance PC
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/q2-2015-newegg-system-builder-marathon-1600-performance-pc,4177.html

 

[Coen Duijnhouwer]

how about this case:
Zalman Z11 NEO, Behuizing Zwart, Window-Kit
https://www.alternate.nl/Zalman/Z11-NEO-Behuizing/html/product/1152504?event=search
from here:
Zalman Z11 Neo ATX Case Review
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/zalman-z11-neo-atx-case,4150.html
toms SBM q2 2015 used one:
System Builder Marathon Q2 2015: $1600 Performance PC
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/q2-2015-newegg-system-builder-marathon-1600-performance-pc,4177.html

I actually really like that case and I presume you picked this one because of airflow. A had one more question would having a gtx970 from msi or from any other brand with that kind of cooling be a big deal if I only run 2-way sli?

 

[de5_Roy]

I actually really like that case and I presume you picked this one because of airflow. A had one more question would having a gtx970 from msi or from any other brand with that kind of cooling be a big deal if I only run 2-way sli?

you don't have to choose the asus blower one. like i said, the other ones like msi gaming is good too.
cooling shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Coen Duijnhouwer]

I actually really like that case and I presume you picked this one because of airflow. A had one more question would having a gtx970 from msi or from any other brand with that kind of cooling be a big deal if I only run 2-way sli?

you don't have to choose the asus blower one. like i said, the other ones like msi gaming is good too.
cooling shouldn't be an issue.

Thank you so much for helping me!
The case you recommended should have plenty of space for a second graphics card right?

 

[de5_Roy]

Thank you so much for helping me!
The case you recommended should have plenty of space for a second graphics card right?

it's a 7 slot case. which means the case will have one case slot worth of height or less (in case the pcie x16 slot for the primary gfx card is the 2nd overall slot from the top) left between the second gfx card's cooler and the top of the power supply. it will be the same with most 7 slot mid tower cases.

if you want more space for the 2nd card, you should look for cases with 8 slots and/or full tower ones.

 

[Coen Duijnhouwer]

Thank you so much for helping me!
The case you recommended should have plenty of space for a second graphics card right?

it's a 7 slot case. which means the case will have one case slot worth of height or less (in case the pcie x16 slot for the primary gfx card is the 2nd overall slot from the top) left between it's cooler and the top of the power supply. it will be the same with most 7 slot mid tower cases.
if you want more space for the 2nd card, you should look for cases with 8 slots and/or full tower ones.

Actually looking at some pictures this case should be fine another card should fit.