Looking to build a new PC - Budget $2000

[ForestDingo]

I got another response over in the GPU section, but I figured this would be a more appropriate place for this thread.

I'm looking to build a gaming/streaming PC for around $2000 (maybe an extra $100 or so depending on if any potential upgrades would be worth it)

I would like to have the 980 for the GPU and the CPU be the I-7 4790k (for streaming) in this build.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Because0789]

Do you have any parts already? Monitor, OS, hard drive, ODD?

 

[gamer1357]

This is with an OS. You could put the remaining budget toward a bigger SSD or pocket the rest.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($338.97 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($559.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series SP120 Quiet Edition (2-Pack) 37.9 CFM 120mm Fans ($25.33 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($17.35 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($17.35 @ Amazon)
Total: $1696.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-22 19:04 EDT-0400

Also if you want to save some cash you could get a cheap air cooler if you dont want to overclock very high and dont mind the look.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2

 

[ForestDingo]

I don't want to include the add-on stuff to the budget. The 2000 is strictly for the PC.

 

[ForestDingo]

This is with an OS. You could put the remaining budget toward a bigger SSD or pocket the rest.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($338.97 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($559.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series SP120 Quiet Edition (2-Pack) 37.9 CFM 120mm Fans ($25.33 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($17.35 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($17.35 @ Amazon)
Total: $1696.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-22 19:04 EDT-0400

Also if you want to save some cash you could get a cheap air cooler if you dont want to overclock very high and dont mind the look.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2

Thanks for the suggestion, though I do want to stay away from liquid cooling. I don't think that would be my thing.

 

[gamer1357]

This is with an OS. You could put the remaining budget toward a bigger SSD or pocket the rest.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($338.97 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($559.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series SP120 Quiet Edition (2-Pack) 37.9 CFM 120mm Fans ($25.33 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($17.35 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($17.35 @ Amazon)
Total: $1696.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-22 19:04 EDT-0400

Also if you want to save some cash you could get a cheap air cooler if you dont want to overclock very high and dont mind the look.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2

Thanks for the suggestion, though I do want to stay away from liquid cooling. I don't think that would be my thing.

Alright, then a nice air cooler should do it. Maybe a noctua? Although the be quite coolers are pretty good and are colored black instead of noctuas brown.

 

[MasterDell]

I love Be Quiet! Coolers But here would be a 2k build for me:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock 3 113.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($203.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Source 530 ATX Full Tower Case ($79.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2015.79
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-22 20:37 EDT-0400

 

[ForestDingo]

I love Be Quiet! Coolers But here would be a 2k build for me:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock 3 113.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($203.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($549.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Source 530 ATX Full Tower Case ($79.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2015.79
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-22 20:37 EDT-0400

The 980 SLI is pretty tempting...

Could I swap out the CPU to the 4790 without any problems with this build?

Edit - wouldn't it make sense to hold off on SLI'ing right off the bat, and get another 980 down the road when they come down in price/more intensive games come out?

 

[MasterDell]

Yes it would make sense. I will be doing that with the 970's when the next Nvidia GPU series comes out

 

[ForestDingo]

Yes it would make sense. I will be doing that with the 970's when the next Nvidia GPU series comes out

So I could swap out the CPU's no problem? Plenty of power and such?

 

[gamer1357]

Yes it would make sense. I will be doing that with the 970's when the next Nvidia GPU series comes out

So I could swap out the CPU's no problem? Plenty of power and such?

Yes his build has plenty of power and should be good to go. Although if you are going to get a 4790 non k, an h97 board would be the better option considering its half the price of the maximus.

 

[ForestDingo]

Yes it would make sense. I will be doing that with the 970's when the next Nvidia GPU series comes out

So I could swap out the CPU's no problem? Plenty of power and such?

Yes his build has plenty of power and should be good to go. Although if you are going to get a 4790 non k, an h97 board would be the better option considering its half the price of the maximus.

I didn't realize there were two separate models, but I do mean the 4790k.

 

[gamer1357]

Yes it would make sense. I will be doing that with the 970's when the next Nvidia GPU series comes out

So I could swap out the CPU's no problem? Plenty of power and such?

Yes his build has plenty of power and should be good to go. Although if you are going to get a 4790 non k, an h97 board would be the better option considering its half the price of the maximus.

I didn't realize there were two separate models, but I do mean the 4790k.

The one with the k next to it has an unlocked multiplier and can be overclocked while the other cannot. But since you're getting the k version then his build is a good one.

If you want to stay under $2000 and get an i7 I would recommend this motherboard, otherwise the asus one is great.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-fatal1tyz97xkiller

 

[MasterDell]

Don't get a H97.. You can't SLI with H series boards. I added the Maximus 7 for overclocking in the future as well as SLI in the future

 

[ForestDingo]

So everyone agrees that I should build MasterDell's computer setup?

MasterDell's setup going once,
going twice....


Anyone have any last minute suggestions? 😀

 

[logainofhades]

I would probably go SLI 970's, right off the bat. Price/performance on those is pretty awesome. I also wouldn't buy a gigabyte branded GPU.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($338.96 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright TS-140 73.6 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($142.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($209.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($101.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($339.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($339.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 730T Black ATX Full Tower Case ($90.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1835.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-23 13:48 EDT-0400

 

[logainofhades]

If you really want GTX 980, though, this would be my pic for such a system. I just don't think the GTX 980 is worth the price premium over the 970.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.74 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright TS-140 73.6 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($559.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($559.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 730T Black ATX Full Tower Case ($90.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1931.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-23 13:53 EDT-0400

 

[ForestDingo]

I would probably go SLI 970's, right off the bat. Price/performance on those is pretty awesome. I also wouldn't buy a gigabyte branded GPU.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($338.96 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright TS-140 73.6 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($142.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($209.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($101.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($339.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($339.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 730T Black ATX Full Tower Case ($90.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1835.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-23 13:48 EDT-0400

Is SLI'ing really better? From what I've read, not all games are created equal in terms of how well they run it. Because of this, I was under the impression a single beastly card is better than SLIing (as even some games don't support it)

Edit - Also for the second list, the 4790k is mandatory. So I'd have to swap it out (not sure if that screws up the build or anything)

 

[logainofhades]

A 980 is better than 970, but not $200 better.

 

[Because0789]

I would probably go SLI 970's, right off the bat. Price/performance on those is pretty awesome. I also wouldn't buy a gigabyte branded GPU.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($338.96 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright TS-140 73.6 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($122.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($142.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($209.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($101.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($339.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($339.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 730T Black ATX Full Tower Case ($90.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1835.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-23 13:48 EDT-0400

Is SLI'ing really better? From what I've read, not all games are created equal in terms of how well they run it. Because of this, I was under the impression a single beastly card is better than SLIing (as even some games don't support it)

Edit - Also for the second list, the 4790k is mandatory. So I'd have to swap it out (not sure if that screws up the build or anything)

For ~$110 more you get 50-60% more performance in games that support SLI and games that need SLI tend to support it, for a lot of other games they don't because they don't need to.