Help me come up with components to build a Gaming PC.

[bennyd87708]

Hello there! I'm planning on building a gaming pc over the summer or later in the year, mainly for the oculus rift. While I know that the recommended specs are relatively easy to meet, (i5 4590 and GTX 970), I feel that a build of that type would not be able to run most games at the 2160x1200 resolution at 90 fps. So, I have been putting together a PC build for around $1200-$1300 that would be able to run the games more properly. Here I have the pc part picker - http://pcpartpicker.com/p/WBKwnQ What I ask from you geniuses of the internet, is if this seems okay to be able to run properly. I found a lot of great deals for the case, motherboard, power supply, and ram. I'm happy with the CPU and GPU (the cpu is a bit more than it needs to be because I also plan on doing some cpu intensive tasks other than gaming, and I plan on using the cooler to overclock it), but I wonder from you guys if the components (mainly the motherboard) are okay to run properly, or should I put in some extra money to get some higher quality components? Thanks!

 

[CTurbo]

The motherboard choice is odd. Why did you choose a B85 chipset? The 4790k pairs nicely with a Z97 board and this is the only combo that will allow for overclocking. If you don't care to overclock ever, I would at least get a H97 board.

 

[lunyone]

Here is what I'd consider with your budget:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($252.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($539.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1214.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-17 23:08 EDT-0400

* CPU has HT and doesn't have iGPU, but it is basically an i7 on an i5 budget
* CPU HSF is good for most situations and will run quieter and cooler than the stock HSF for not much $.
* Mobo is plenty for this setup, you could go less, but to get a z97 chipset at a h97 price tag!
* RAM runs at stock voltage (1.5v) and has Low Profile heat spreaders, so your aftermarket CPU HSF will have clearance.
* I added an SSD for quick boot and also to help with apps that can take advantage of the quicker HD speed, so keep that in mind.
* GPU is similar to yours, but a bit cheaper.
* Case is better, IMHO, and should allow plenty of airflow and upgrades, if you get them later.
* PSU is 80 PLUS GOLD certified, so it will run more efficient. If you use the "ECO" mode on the PSU you can have little to no fan noise under low load situations.

Obviously you can put whatever parts you like into the build, but most people don't OC and usually there are limited benefits to OC'ing your CPU. You can input the 4690k into this build if you prefer, but the B85 based mobo that you selected is going to limit your OC'ing compared to a z97 based mobo.

 

[bennyd87708]

Here is what I'd consider with your budget:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($252.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($539.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1214.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-17 23:08 EDT-0400

* CPU has HT and doesn't have iGPU, but it is basically an i7 on an i5 budget
* CPU HSF is good for most situations and will run quieter and cooler than the stock HSF for not much $.
* Mobo is plenty for this setup, you could go less, but to get a z97 chipset at a h97 price tag!
* RAM runs at stock voltage (1.5v) and has Low Profile heat spreaders, so your aftermarket CPU HSF will have clearance.
* I added an SSD for quick boot and also to help with apps that can take advantage of the quicker HD speed, so keep that in mind.
* GPU is similar to yours, but a bit cheaper.
* Case is better, IMHO, and should allow plenty of airflow and upgrades, if you get them later.
* PSU is 80 PLUS GOLD certified, so it will run more efficient. If you use the "ECO" mode on the PSU you can have little to no fan noise under low load situations.

Obviously you can put whatever parts you like into the build, but most people don't OC and usually there are limited benefits to OC'ing your CPU. You can input the 4690k into this build if you prefer, but the B85 based mobo that you selected is going to limit your OC'ing compared to a z97 based mobo.

Several Things
Would the Xeon have a big performance difference from the 4790k?

Does having an SSD increase loading speeds of certain tasks all that much or is it only a few seconds?

Why is the GPU you picked a bit less than the one I found? Is there a performance difference?

Would I be fine using the case I picked? (I love the way it looks :3)

Wouldn't it be worth it to spend an extra $2 to get higher speed ram? (DDR3-1866 rather than DDR3-1600)

The PSU that I found is cheaper, has a higher wattage if I want to upgrade in the future, and is from a reliable company, why spend an extra $10 to get a lower wattage power supply? Is having it be fully modular rather than semi that much worth it?

Could I just switch the mobo you chose into my build and call it a day? If I could do that, would there be anything that you would change if money wasn't a problem?

Thanks for responding in such depth, and very quickly! I appreciate your help, this is my first time at attempting to build a pc, so I'm kind of a noob 😛

 

[bennyd87708]

The motherboard choice is odd. Why did you choose a B85 chipset? The 4790k pairs nicely with a Z97 board and this is the only combo that will allow for overclocking. If you don't care to overclock ever, I would at least get a H97 board.

I thought that the motherboard choice was odd, which was why I came over here to ask for advice I couldn't help myself because it was about $50 less than every other 1150 socket motherboard I could find. I currently have no clue the difference between the chipsets, let alone what they even are, cheers.

 

[lunyone]

Here is what I'd consider with your budget:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($252.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($539.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1214.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-17 23:08 EDT-0400

* CPU has HT and doesn't have iGPU, but it is basically an i7 on an i5 budget
* CPU HSF is good for most situations and will run quieter and cooler than the stock HSF for not much $.
* Mobo is plenty for this setup, you could go less, but to get a z97 chipset at a h97 price tag!
* RAM runs at stock voltage (1.5v) and has Low Profile heat spreaders, so your aftermarket CPU HSF will have clearance.
* I added an SSD for quick boot and also to help with apps that can take advantage of the quicker HD speed, so keep that in mind.
* GPU is similar to yours, but a bit cheaper.
* Case is better, IMHO, and should allow plenty of airflow and upgrades, if you get them later.
* PSU is 80 PLUS GOLD certified, so it will run more efficient. If you use the "ECO" mode on the PSU you can have little to no fan noise under low load situations.

Obviously you can put whatever parts you like into the build, but most people don't OC and usually there are limited benefits to OC'ing your CPU. You can input the 4690k into this build if you prefer, but the B85 based mobo that you selected is going to limit your OC'ing compared to a z97 based mobo.

Several Things
Would the Xeon have a big performance difference from the 4790k? I think they would be close on most tasks, so you might not notice much of a difference, IMHO.

Does having an SSD increase loading speeds of certain tasks all that much or is it only a few seconds? An SSD will reduce loading times for most things. It is quite the difference in the snappiness in and around the desktop. Once you have experienced an SSD, you won't go back, IMHO.

Why is the GPU you picked a bit less than the one I found? Is there a performance difference? Both GPU's should do fine. I look at reviews and do some research, so the EVGA ACX 2.0 cooler is pretty good and the GPU is cheaper, that is why I picked it. Most GPU manufacturers are going to have similar results with the same chip (GTX 980 in this case), so keep that in mind. The differences that they do have is usually the cooler, BIOS options (some of 2 BIOS options), fans used, the stock speeds that they run at, and their warranty.

Would I be fine using the case I picked? (I love the way it looks :3) You can use that case if you like. I selected the Corsair 200R because it has what most people need and doesn't break the bank. Your option only comes w/1 x USB 3.0 front port and the 200R comes with 2. I like the 200R, because I have built a couple of builds with it and I like the build quality for the $. The DeepCool case you selected might be fine, but for ~$10 more you would possibly get a better designed case, IMHO.

Wouldn't it be worth it to spend an extra $2 to get higher speed ram? (DDR3-1866 rather than DDR3-1600) 1866 mHz RAM vs. 1600 mHz on an Intel build like this one won't give you really any benefits. If you OC the CPU you might be able to OC the RAM a bit more, but that isn't guaranteed. Also the heat spreaders on your option are protruding up a bit more than mine, so if you want to use an aftermarket CPU HSF, you might run into a spacing issue.

The PSU that I found is cheaper, has a higher wattage if I want to upgrade in the future, and is from a reliable company, why spend an extra $10 to get a lower wattage power supply? Is having it be fully modular rather than semi that much worth it? Modular PSU is usually a choice. A modular PSU usually limits cable clutter, which can increase airflow in a case (not usually a lot, but it can depending on the space allowed). You can use the 750w PSU if you like over the 650w one I linked, but the efficiency on the 650w is better (if that matters to you or not). With the parts used in the build, the 650w PSU will more than likely run in a more efficient manner than the 750w one, because the most efficient spot on most PSU's are around the 50% load area. So if your build runs mostly around the 325w area, then the 650w would run more efficient than the 750w one. Now with that in mind, your added power headroom could be used later for an SLI setup, but I wouldn't recommend doing that (just my opinion).

Could I just switch the mobo you chose into my build and call it a day? If I could do that, would there be anything that you would change if money wasn't a problem? Yes you could absolutely do that if you wanted to. The z97 chipset is designed for OC'ing your OC'able CPU, if you desire to do that. Most people don't OC, due to costs and possible issues with damaging the CPU. I listed the items that I would change in the build, but we can go into more detail if you need/want it.

Thanks for responding in such depth, and very quickly! I appreciate your help, this is my first time at attempting to build a pc, so I'm kind of a noob 😛

 

[bennyd87708]

Here is what I'd consider with your budget:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($252.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($539.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1214.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-17 23:08 EDT-0400

* CPU has HT and doesn't have iGPU, but it is basically an i7 on an i5 budget
* CPU HSF is good for most situations and will run quieter and cooler than the stock HSF for not much $.
* Mobo is plenty for this setup, you could go less, but to get a z97 chipset at a h97 price tag!
* RAM runs at stock voltage (1.5v) and has Low Profile heat spreaders, so your aftermarket CPU HSF will have clearance.
* I added an SSD for quick boot and also to help with apps that can take advantage of the quicker HD speed, so keep that in mind.
* GPU is similar to yours, but a bit cheaper.
* Case is better, IMHO, and should allow plenty of airflow and upgrades, if you get them later.
* PSU is 80 PLUS GOLD certified, so it will run more efficient. If you use the "ECO" mode on the PSU you can have little to no fan noise under low load situations.

Obviously you can put whatever parts you like into the build, but most people don't OC and usually there are limited benefits to OC'ing your CPU. You can input the 4690k into this build if you prefer, but the B85 based mobo that you selected is going to limit your OC'ing compared to a z97 based mobo.

Several Things
Would the Xeon have a big performance difference from the 4790k? I think they would be close on most tasks, so you might not notice much of a difference, IMHO.

Does having an SSD increase loading speeds of certain tasks all that much or is it only a few seconds? An SSD will reduce loading times for most things. It is quite the difference in the snappiness in and around the desktop. Once you have experienced an SSD, you won't go back, IMHO.

Why is the GPU you picked a bit less than the one I found? Is there a performance difference? Both GPU's should do fine. I look at reviews and do some research, so the EVGA ACX 2.0 cooler is pretty good and the GPU is cheaper, that is why I picked it. Most GPU manufacturers are going to have similar results with the same chip (GTX 980 in this case), so keep that in mind. The differences that they do have is usually the cooler, BIOS options (some of 2 BIOS options), fans used, the stock speeds that they run at, and their warranty.

Would I be fine using the case I picked? (I love the way it looks :3) You can use that case if you like. I selected the Corsair 200R because it has what most people need and doesn't break the bank. Your option only comes w/1 x USB 3.0 front port and the 200R comes with 2. I like the 200R, because I have built a couple of builds with it and I like the build quality for the $. The DeepCool case you selected might be fine, but for ~$10 more you would possibly get a better designed case, IMHO.

Wouldn't it be worth it to spend an extra $2 to get higher speed ram? (DDR3-1866 rather than DDR3-1600) 1866 mHz RAM vs. 1600 mHz on an Intel build like this one won't give you really any benefits. If you OC the CPU you might be able to OC the RAM a bit more, but that isn't guaranteed. Also the heat spreaders on your option are protruding up a bit more than mine, so if you want to use an aftermarket CPU HSF, you might run into a spacing issue.

The PSU that I found is cheaper, has a higher wattage if I want to upgrade in the future, and is from a reliable company, why spend an extra $10 to get a lower wattage power supply? Is having it be fully modular rather than semi that much worth it? Modular PSU is usually a choice. A modular PSU usually limits cable clutter, which can increase airflow in a case (not usually a lot, but it can depending on the space allowed). You can use the 750w PSU if you like over the 650w one I linked, but the efficiency on the 650w is better (if that matters to you or not). With the parts used in the build, the 650w PSU will more than likely run in a more efficient manner than the 750w one, because the most efficient spot on most PSU's are around the 50% load area. So if your build runs mostly around the 325w area, then the 650w would run more efficient than the 750w one. Now with that in mind, your added power headroom could be used later for an SLI setup, but I wouldn't recommend doing that (just my opinion).

Could I just switch the mobo you chose into my build and call it a day? If I could do that, would there be anything that you would change if money wasn't a problem? Yes you could absolutely do that if you wanted to. The z97 chipset is designed for OC'ing your OC'able CPU, if you desire to do that. Most people don't OC, due to costs and possible issues with damaging the CPU. I listed the items that I would change in the build, but we can go into more detail if you need/want it.

Thanks for responding in such depth, and very quickly! I appreciate your help, this is my first time at attempting to build a pc, so I'm kind of a noob 😛

Thanks, I really appreciate your help with this little project of mine and will make sure to take everything said into consideration. Again, thanks!

 

[IAmTheTofu]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/M6R7Bm
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/M6R7Bm/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($333.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($81.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($113.49 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($569.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($63.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($17.07 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($92.00 @ B&H)
Case Fan: Cooler Master R4-C2R-20AC-GP 69.0 CFM 120mm Fan ($7.69 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Cooler Master R4-S4S-10AK-GP 60.9 CFM 140mm Fan ($5.49 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Cooler Master R4-S4S-10AK-GP 60.9 CFM 140mm Fan ($5.49 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Cooler Master R4-S4S-10AK-GP 60.9 CFM 140mm Fan ($5.49 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Cooler Master R4-S4S-10AK-GP 60.9 CFM 140mm Fan ($5.49 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Cooler Master R4-S4S-10AK-GP 60.9 CFM 140mm Fan ($5.49 @ Newegg)
Total: $1384.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-18 01:50 EDT-0400

All you need is a monitor. Shipping is covered and is part of price.

Overclocking on a Xeon is complicated, and i7 is better overall.

 

[lunyone]

Glad I could help bennyd87708. Please let us know how it all works out.