My first PC build

[AlexM37881230]

Hello, I'm planning on building a PC that can run these mods:

Optimized Vanilla Textures by tony971 (optional but recommended, start "Texture Installer.exe" in Data folder after installation.)
Ruins Clutter Improved by raiserfx
Cinematic Fire Effects 2 HD by Ichibu >>FPS<< (my preference is Cinematic Fire FX Legacy)
HD Enhanced Terrain by Hritik Vaishnav -SkyrimENB (Type 2, Old but best)
The Skyrim Distance Overhaul LOD Improvement by Grieche
SkyFalls and SkyMills - Animated Distant Waterfalls and WindMills by SjoertJansen (Do not install optional New Skyrim LOD and install the patch for SDO)
Static Mesh Improvement Mod - SMIM by Brumbek
Skyrim HD - 2K Textures - Skyrim HD FULL - Landscape, Dungeons, Towns, Misc, Rifton by NebuLa >>FPS<< (use LITE version for better FPS)
OR NobleSkyrimMod HD-2K by Shutt3r (Also install SMIM patch from it's optionals!)
OR Skyrim Realistic Overhaul by Starac (not available on Nexus, but my favorite. You will have to google for it)
Vivid Landscapes - Dungeons and Ruins by Aron (also install SMIM Compatibility patch and if using ELFX also ELFX Compatibility patch!)
Vivid Landscapes - Volcanic Area by Aron
aMidianBorn Caves and Mines by CaBaL
Immersive Roads by 32cm OR Real Roads for Skyrim by dukefx >>FPS<<
Skyrim Flora Overhaul by vurt >>FPS<< (my favorite: SFO v1.71 + AOF Trees LODs from SFO optionals)
TreesHD_Skyrim_Variation by namotep
Skysight - Simply Bigger Trees by fadingsignal >>FPS<<
4K Parallax Treebark by FKPX3118 (don't forget to install the SBT patch!)
Immersive Fallen Trees Mod by Jurassic4LIFE
Fences of Skyrim - No more flickering fences by Therobwil (my favorite)
OR 3D-2D Fences from The Ruffled Feather - Mod Collection by SparrowPrince
Verdant - A Skyrim Grass Plugin by Preeum >>FPS<<
(use Dark grass textures - 1K VERSION and set iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure=15 and iMinGrassSize=70 in Skyrim.ini)
OR Grass on Steroids by Skyrimaguas (i'm using iMinGrassSize=40 in Skyrim.ini, set it to 75 for better performance)
Natural Grass Texture Floor by emd
Install RealVision Flora Patch from my optional files to adjust some oversaturated and too bright plants and grasses to work with RealVision ENB
High Definition Ivy - 2K by Josh Ezzell and Replacement Ivy by Thonk
RUGNAROK by Gamwich OR Detailed Rugs by raiserfx
Realistic Water Two by isoku >>FPS<< (my preference, also install Realistic Water Two - ENB Textures from his optionals!)
Watercolor for ENB and Realistic Water Two by paganmetalf (strongly recommended to get intended water brightness!)
Transparent wave spray Retexture for realistic water 2 by Pfuscher aka Zerwas1
optional landscape textures from Pure Waters by Laast (specific landscape textures (HD) for water areas)
AOF Detailed Mountains by AnOldFriend (my preference) OR Vivid Landscapes - Rocking Stones and Mountains Parallax by Aron
Vivid Landscapes - Cliffs and Creeks by Aron (also install Rocking Stones and Mountains Parallax - Compatibility Patch if you use his rocks!)
Vivid Landscapes - Tundra Moss Revised by Aron (also use its SMIM compatibility patch)
Dust Effects by HHaleyy OR Finer Dust by CptJoker
Realistic Smoke and Embers by isoku (my preference) OR Better embers by Dragonborn77
Now install Skyrim_Particle_Patch_for_ENB-All-In-One and Skyrim_Subsurface_Scattering_Patch_for_ENB by mindflux from here or my optional files but do NOT overwrite SMIM, say "No to mod" if NMM asks to overwrite SMIM!

I did research on PC parts and came up with this, but I'm no expert in building a gaming PC. My budget is within $900-to-$1000. So, please let me know if I need to change any specs:

PC Specs

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690k Processor 3.5 GHz LGA 1150 BX80646154690K ($235.00 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: Gigabyte AM3+ AMD DDR3 1333 760G HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX Motherboard GA-78LMT-USB3 ($52.99 @ Amazon)

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB Kit (4GBx2) DDR3 1600 (PC3-12800) 240-Pin UDIMM Memory BLS2KIT4G3D1609DS1S00/BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00 ($44.49 @ Amazon)

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-75E250B/AM) ($96.18 @ Amazon)

Storage: WD Blue 1TB Desktop 3.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s 7200rpm Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Amazon)

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Super Clocked ACX 2.0 4GB GDDR5 Graphics Card ($319.99 @ Amazon)

Case: NZXT Guardian 921 RB ATX Mid Tower Case, Black 921RB-001-BL ($62.78 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: Corsair CX750 Builder Series ATX 80 PLUS Bronze Certified Power Supply ($82.74 @ Amazon)

Total: $947.16

 

[AlexM37881230]

After examining both options, I found a way to keep some elements from my original post and both options but I had to increase the target budget to $1700. I know that G.Skill TridentZ Series has impressive RAM but I trust Crucial more since I had to look up what people used most. I liked the idea of having two hard drives. I went for the Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB and kept WD BLACK SERIES. I swapped the Corsair Liquid Cooler for a slightly cheaper but extremely reliable and higher customer rated Corsair Liquid Cooler.

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($349.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: CORSAIR Hydro Series H50 120mm Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler - Intel Only ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A GAMING M5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($169.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Technology Ballistix Sport 32GB (4x 8GB) 288-Pin UDIMM DDR4 2400 MT/S (PC4-19200) Desktop Memory Module Kit, Unbuffered, 1024Meg x 64, CL 16, NON-ECC, 1.2V ($145.98 @ Adorama Camera)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-75E250B/AM) ($92.00 @ B&H)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.00 @ B&H)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card ($449.95 @ B&H)
Case: DIYPC VT380-W ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.88 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit ($129.88 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1649.53

 

[emeck]

I don't really see the point of 32gb of ram, as 16 is already more than enough(please elaborate your usage), but i'll keep it there. The cooler you chose would most likely limit how far you can overclock your cpu, if you cared much about that. Also, with current deals, you can fit a bigger SSD in the build with your new budget, though the base price is approximately $20 overbudget. Or if you didn't really care, i could keep your choice of storage and presumably have enough to put in a good kit of faster RAM from crucial, corsair, g.skill, whichever to your liking.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($349.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H50 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A GAMING M5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($177.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($128.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($143.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.00 @ B&H)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card ($449.95 @ B&H)
Case: DIYPC VT380-W ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.88 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit ($129.88 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1665.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-07 00:54 EDT-0400

 

[AlexM37881230]

I prefer 32GB RAM at 2400 over 16GB since this PC will be multi-purpose. Games, media, and modding. Is their a CPU Cooler that doesn't limit overclocking? I don't mind going over budget.

 

[AlexM37881230]

I had to re-do my build because I felt that it didn't look right. I went to PCPartPicker.com, created an account, and started playing around with the different parts available to me. I finally built a rough draft of the PC I'll be building in the near future. Here's the link, tell me what you think.

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/AlexM3789/saved/N78Ff7

I had to change some parts but I really like how the PC looks like with the current specs. I just need a professional to tell me if I did a good job. Thank you for giving me ideas, it really helped.

 

[emeck]

Please note that I am not a professional, just simply a random person from the community.

As for the build, everything looks good, though I will note that it is usually not the best idea to put two different kits of ram together, as they are not tested to work together or have the same timings. Also, do note that there could possibly be clearance issues with the ram and CPU cooler, this is not a guarantee, as the kit you chose seems to be low-profile, but it is a good thing to know.

The only other thing I would comment on is the case. There is the more up to date r5 and S versions, but I guess that's more of personal preference.

Glad I could be of help though. Hope you have a good time with that build. (I know I would :])

 

[AlexM37881230]

Hold on. I'm a bit slow... Isn't the RAM I chose the same? Is the CPU Cooler too big? I got the little one NOT the thick one. Also, I did some research on the 1070 card. Would I be better off with the 980ti?

 

[emeck]

On paper the ram you chose is the same, but each kit comes with different timings, so two different kits would not have been tested to work well together. There may sometimes be a hit on performance however, this is not always the case. Especially if you are technical enough to be able to change the timings to match.

I have no experience with that CPU cooler, nor have i read much about it, i was just pointing out that with some coolers, there may be clearance issues, though as long as your ram is low profile (lpx in corsair's case) it usually should not be a problem.

For the GPU, if you wanted the most performance you can get, the 1070 is for you. However you can sometimes find a 980ti (usually used) for much cheaper. That decision is up to you.

 

[AlexM37881230]

Oh I see. I didn't realize kits can have different timings. I'm assuming to change the timings to match I'd have to use BIOs. Where would I go to see timing on the kits? I was wondering about the GPU since I noticed the 1070 only had 6.2 tflops.

 

[emeck]

Yes, you would need to match the timing through the bios, though each manufacturer's bios is different in some way or another, and i also have an older AMD chip, so i wouldn't know where to find them in the bios. Unless you meant on the website when you buy it. And now that i think about it more, this may apply mostly to two completely different kits, but it wouldn't hurt to take precaution anyways.

There doesn't seem to be that much of a difference between the 1070(~6.5tflops) and the 980ti(~6.1tflops), however, you will see the 1070 outperform the 980ti in most if not all cases.

 

[AlexM37881230]

Okay. I guess I'll do okay when I build this PC. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[emeck]

Good luck, feel free to pm me in the future if something arises.