Is there anything I should change?

Guido Cason

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Jul 30, 2015
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Hi guys, I built myself a PC and I was wondering if there is anything I should upgrade. The build is:
i7-4790
MSI Z97 GAMING 5
GeForce GTX 980
Corsair Dominator 16GB (2x8)
M.2 Hyperx SSD 240 GB
TX3 EVO Cooler
CX750M PSU

Do you think I should upgrade anything?

Thanks!
 
Solution
If you're only gaming and want to put the money where it's needed most, you can easily run a 980 on a decent 30 amp 500w PSU. Also, 8GB RAM is enough for gaming still.

Better quality than a CX and saves $15
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094

Adequate for gaming and saves $83.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345

The combined $98 could be spent wherever appropriate. Not going to assume where because you didn't even say what res you play at.

Also, though I LOVE MSI's attention to at least trying to devote enough bandwidth to the M.2 slot via using the SATA 5 and 6 slot's bandwidth for it when the M.2 is in SATA mode, the M.2 slot is only x2, and you actually need x4 to make use...
If you're only gaming and want to put the money where it's needed most, you can easily run a 980 on a decent 30 amp 500w PSU. Also, 8GB RAM is enough for gaming still.

Better quality than a CX and saves $15
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094

Adequate for gaming and saves $83.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345

The combined $98 could be spent wherever appropriate. Not going to assume where because you didn't even say what res you play at.

Also, though I LOVE MSI's attention to at least trying to devote enough bandwidth to the M.2 slot via using the SATA 5 and 6 slot's bandwidth for it when the M.2 is in SATA mode, the M.2 slot is only x2, and you actually need x4 to make use of the full speed of that M.2 SSD you've speced, which is x4 rated.

In fact MSI on their own site show even their Gaming 7 MB as using only x2 for the M.2 slot.

If you want screaming performance out of that SSD and you don't plan on SLI, the MB to get is the AsRock Z97 Extreme6. It has an x4 M.2 slot that takes it's lanes straight off the CPU, vs sharing SATA bandwidth like most do.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157500&cm_re=asrock_extreme_6-_-13-157-500-_-Product

That said, in using the x4 M.2 slot, it takes up so much bandwidth it drops the first two Pci Ex lanes to x8, x4, so you can't even have a single x16 slot at that point, since theres' only the equivalent of a combined 12 lanes left.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8045/asrock-z97-extreme6-review-ultra-m2-x4-tested-with-xp941/11

With a 980 that is not really a big deal though, esp if you value that blazing extra SSD speed. I've seen bandwidth tests showing a 980 performs almost equally well on x8 vs x16 (Pci Ex 3.0).

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GTX_980_PCI-Express_Scaling/21.html
 
Solution
^Ditto, it would also keep up with that fast SSD better too for general computing. Something like this would be nearly same price as a Corsair 8GB 1600 kit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460

I was also going to suggest the Samsung M.2 SSD due to better price and speed, and if you mainly want it for OS and programs, a 128GB version will afford you a much better GPU should you want to go higher res or jsut be more future ready for gaming.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147425

From the Newegg reviews:

"...it boots up from power to desktop in 10 sec with ultra fast boot enabled (MB AsRock Z97 ex6)...in comparison to SATA III SSD - noticeable improvement of storage performance, all relevant benchmark tests are passed with highest scores...so happy..."

...Or, this plus my above suggestions puts you into 980 Ti territory.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147431

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127895&cm_re=gtx_980_ti-_-14-127-895-_-Product

(^This is rated at same speed as the 256GB model btw.)