Gaming PC under $2,000 USD - been a while since I did this

[controlfreak]

I'd like to build a new gaming machine. The last one was built around 2009. Here are a few details about my requirements:

• 
  ■ I don't plan to go over 1920x1080, but I will probably add a second Monitor at that resolution (my current one is 144hz)
  ■ I play League of Legends, Fallout 4, XCOM 2, Cities: Skylines, etc
  ■ I am NOT an overclocker
  ■ I will definitely have Visual Studio 2015 installed, and probably SQL Server as well
  ■ I am partial towards Intel CPUs and GeForce GPUs
  ■ I plan to upgrade the GPU when the next generation is released

I would appreciate any advice on mistakes/pitfalls in the build.

Thanks in advance ... here's where I am now:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($299.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper D92 54.8 CFM Rifle Bearing CPU Cooler ($38.71 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z170 Extreme3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($101.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Extreme Pro 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($187.75 @ Amazon)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.80 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($304.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 w/Window (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair RMx 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($129.99 @ B&H)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Micro Center)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home Full - USB (32/64-bit) ($108.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Other: Corsair Professional Series Individually Sleeved AX 860/760 ATX 24-Pin (Generation 2) Modular Cables - Red (CP-8920073) ($20.99)
Total: $1433.16
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-09 18:21 EDT-0400

 

[Anonymous09]

I picked your first response, since I used much of that in my final list. Will be placing orders tomorrow.

Great, thanks! And again, good luck!

 

[superninja12]

great choice

 

[controlfreak]

All the parts arrived yesterday except the ones I need to pick up at MicroCenter. I changed cases last minute to the Corsair you recommended because of the shipping charges at NCIX.

Will be building on Saturday with my son (want to teach him how to do it).

 

[Anonymous09]

Well good luck, you got an awesome rig to build together

 

[controlfreak]

Minor issue .. yesterday I was laying out the parts and noticed that the case arrived damaged (one edge is bashed in .. guessing fork-lift incident). Amazon will have a new one here tomorrow (Sunday .. really!).

A little upset that I won't have this done today, but of all the things that might have been an issue, I'll take this one.

 

[superninja12]

hypeeeee

 

[controlfreak]

So .. first let me say that because the damage was all on the removable front panel, I decided to go ahead with the install (and will swap front panels tomorrow when the new case arrives).

The assembly went smoothly. Windows is installed and I am posting this from the new machine.

However ... the ASUS/Realtek drivers do not see the wired network adapter. Eventually I just plugged in a belkin usb wifi adapter to get on the internet, but that doesn't work long-term.

When I install the realtek lan adatpter driver from Asus, I get the message: "The Realtek Network Controller was not found. If Deep Sleep Mode is enabled Please Plug the Cable."

Not sure what my next step is or what Deep Sleep Mode is or how ti enable/disable it.

 

[superninja12]

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z170-A/HelpDesk_Download/ select windows 10 64 bit and install everything including the lan

 

[controlfreak]

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z170-A/HelpDesk_Download/ select windows 10 64 bit and install everything including the lan

2 things .. first, I have the H170, not the Z170, but more importantly the LAN install from that site is the one that gave me the error I mentioned earlier: "The Realtek Network Controller was not found. If Deep Sleep Mode is enabled Please Plug the Cable."

 

[superninja12]

i bed your pardon which ram do you have since u got the h170 board?

 

[superninja12]

shut down your pc remove the power cable , hold down the powerbutton 30seconds, plug in the pwoer cable restart the pc and try to install it again.

make sure all cables are plugged in correctly.

 

[controlfreak]

i bed your pardon which ram do you have since u got the h170 board?

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($61.99 @ Newegg)

 

[superninja12]

ooh okey than the ram is good

 

[controlfreak]

shut down your pc remove the power cable , hold down the powerbutton 30seconds, plug in the pwoer cable restart the pc and try to install it again.

make sure all cables are plugged in correctly.

No change .. doesn't see the ethernet port at all it seems

 

[superninja12]

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=13&PFid=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

first option windows 10 auto install

 

[controlfreak]

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=13&PFid=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

first option windows 10 auto install

The install came up with a Repair item and looked identical to the ASUS install, so I assume they were the same. After going through the process it did return the same error.

 

[superninja12]

try to reststart the pc, press del to go to bios, go to adavance then go to NIC ...Enable it , than try to isntall the ethernet drive again.

 

[controlfreak]

try to reststart the pc, press del to go to bios, go to adavance then go to NIC ...Enable it , than try to isntall the ethernet drive again.

Couldn't find anything in the BIOS that seemed to be it. I tried a few things .. none successful.

 

[controlfreak]

Put in an RMA for the motherboard. I don't look forward to ripping the machine apart to put a new one in