My First Highend-ish Gaming Desktop Build

[chino_tribo]

I want to build a gaming desktop that can run any current games with ease at highest graphics settings. I also want a build that I don't need to upgrade anytime soon, and is easy to upgrade when the time comes. Here is what I've come up with so far. My target budget is $1500-$2000 and this rig will be used for gaming and for software development.

For now, I only need a single powerful video card but I've chosen parts that are SLI compatible for future upgrades. I also chose a power supply with higher wattage to accommodate. I also opted to include higher priced peripherals that look cool.

If I add another video card later, I'm not sure if it will fit in the case as one card barely fits in the allotted space (based from the measurements). I am also not sure if the power supply can handle the extra card. Any comments on this build? Any suggestions for better parts?

Thank you!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($309.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 120V 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Intel DP67BGB3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($95.88 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($149.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: OCZ Vector Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.48 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($499.99 @ NCIX US)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N180UB 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT LEXA S (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Kingwin 850W ATX Power Supply ($65.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: ViewSonic VX2370Smh-LED 23.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: A4Tech G800V Wired Gaming Keyboard ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Mouse: Cobra AZZOR Wired Optical Mouse ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Other: V7 SA0706B-8N6 6 ft. 7 Outlets 1200 Joules Home/Office Surge Protector ($11.99)
Total: $1754.19
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-19 19:28 EST-0500)

[EDIT] I did the following changes to the build based on comments and after a little more reading
- Processor - changed to the Haswell i7-4770k, as suggested
- Motherboard - changed to one with an LGA1150 socket, as suggested
- Memory - old memory seems to be compatible with 1155 socket
- SSD Storage - read online that 128GB boot drive seems insufficient
- Power supply - as suggested

What do you think?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 120V 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($133.60 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.48 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($499.99 @ NCIX US)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N180UB 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT LEXA S (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: ViewSonic VX2370Smh-LED 23.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ B&H)
Keyboard: A4Tech G800V Wired Gaming Keyboard ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Mouse: Cobra AZZOR Wired Optical Mouse ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Other: V7 SA0706B-8N6 6 ft. 7 Outlets 1200 Joules Home/Office Surge Protector ($11.99)
Total: $1921.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-21 23:34 EST-0500)

 

[zared619]

I swapped out the motherboard and the PSU. The motherboard you chose doesn't work too well with Haswell line CPU's. With a high-end build, the PSU is the life of the build, and you want to get a good one.

Here's the revised build.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($319.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 120V 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($149.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: OCZ Vector Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.48 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($499.99 @ NCIX US)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N180UB 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT LEXA S (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: ViewSonic VX2370Smh-LED 23.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: A4Tech G800V Wired Gaming Keyboard ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Mouse: Cobra AZZOR Wired Optical Mouse ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Other: V7 SA0706B-8N6 6 ft. 7 Outlets 1200 Joules Home/Office Surge Protector ($11.99)
Total: $1837.32
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-19 20:02 EST-0500)

 

[chino_tribo]

Thank you. I will look into your suggestions. By the way, I am not sure, but isn't Intel i7-3770k from the Ivy Bridge line?

 

[Transmaniacon]

Why go with Ivy Bridge? Haswell is faster and the same price:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 120V 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.94 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($88.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.48 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($499.99 @ NCIX US)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N180UB 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT LEXA S (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: ViewSonic VX2370Smh-LED 23.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ B&H)
Keyboard: A4Tech G800V Wired Gaming Keyboard ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Mouse: Cobra AZZOR Wired Optical Mouse ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Other: V7 SA0706B-8N6 6 ft. 7 Outlets 1200 Joules Home/Office Surge Protector ($11.99)
Total: $1847.25
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-20 08:51 EST-0500)

 

[chino_tribo]

Thank you for your thoughts. Originally, I only selected the most powerful i7 processor supported by the motherboard I chose. After a little reading, it seems the i7-4770k only has a small performance increase compared to 3770k and not worth the price increase? Do you think otherwise?

 

[Transmaniacon]

Socket 1155 is a dead-end path, Broadwell should be coming to 1150 sometime next year. Haswell is supposedly 5% faster than Ivy Bridge, for an extra $20 I think it's worth it to get the newest CPU, you can choose a cheaper motherboard than I linked.

 

[chino_tribo]

Noted on your suggestion. I will read more on this. Thank you.

 

[chino_tribo]

Socket 1155 is a dead-end path, Broadwell should be coming to 1150 sometime next year. Haswell is supposedly 5% faster than Ivy Bridge, for an extra $20 I think it's worth it to get the newest CPU, you can choose a cheaper motherboard than I linked.

I've updated the build based on your suggestions. Thank you for your input.