Need advice on 1st gaming PC build

[spatel240sx]

I am helping my cousin build his 1st gaming PC which is aimed at running The Witcher 3 upon release. I have helped him pick what I feel are the best and most cost effective parts out right now but am worried about one main aspect of the build, the GPU. Originally my cousin had the GTX 980 to ensure he could max out all the settings at 1080p but I explained how its not really going to affect the graphics all that much if he has to turn down few settings to get a stable FPS with the 970. My only gripe is after seeing how the 970 has been performing with games like GTA V I wonder if it would be smarter for him to spend the extra money and get the 980 instead.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Hdjqyc - I could not get him to change his water cooling or case so those are pretty pricey for the build but out of my control.

 

[firo40]

IMO its really not worth the price to go up to a 980 over a 970 especially at 1080p I don't get what you mean about gtav preformance being bad with the 970 my buddy maxes it at 1080p just fine 60average and he's using a worse CPU (3570k)

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I'm on your side with the case and cooler. 68dbA is extremely load.... I couldn't sit in the same room with the thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cTf0Vq1j4Ec

I'm leaving the room when CPU hits 55%

So yes, I'd lose the 100i.... it's an extremely loud cooler that gets it's tail handed to it by cheaper air coolers like the Noctua NH-D15. If ya gonna spend $120 on a CLC with a weak pump and aluminum rad, you might as well move up to the Swiftech H220-X which you can:

Expand the loop and add more radiators, GPU water blocks etc
Is all copper
Doesn't have mixed metals which promote galvanic corrosion
Is 1/6th as loud

http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/cooling/liquid/40870-swiftech-h220-x-open-loop-240mm-cpu-cooler-review?showall=&start=3

In terms of performance, well….we could simply leave it at the fact that the H220X is simply the best performing out-of-the-box cooler you can buy today. Period..... 240mm CLCs can’t touch the H220X in all out performance, and at tolerable noise levels the H220X flat out embarrasses them.

RAM - 2133 available at same price
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32133c9d16gtx

Storage - On;y the stuff that is stored on the SSD goes faster.... Gamed on the HD won't be affected. Improve performance by 50% with an SSHD (9.96 MB/s) over the WD Black 6.34 MB/s ... an extra $20 doubles size to 2 TB

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/hdd-charts-2013/-17-PCMark-7-Gaming,2915.html

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st1000dx001
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dx001

There is not a 240mm CLC or air cooler that can beat it, and it does it at 20+ dB quieter than the competing CLCs. To sum it up; the H220X offers better performance, lower noise, better aesthetics, flawless design and build, better components and the option of expandability when compared to a CLC. Putting it gently, choosing any CLC over the H220X would be doing yourself a huge disservice.

GFX - I'd strongly suggest the cheaper MSI 970.... better performance, better componentry. The Gigabyte and MSI break 1500 Mhz in just about all the reviews....the Asus / Giga almost never.. Why is explained here (read component details on VRM phases, chokes, caps, cooling here):

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2014/09/19/nvidia-geforce-gtx-970-review/1

As for the 970 versus 980 issue.... consider option 3.... two 970s. If ya can fit a 980 in ya budget, that's $540. Two MSI 970s are $640 .... however, two 970s gets you two Witcher 3 coupons..... he can sell you one for a $10 discount (send one to your house and one to his) and now he gets a 50% performance increase for just $50

Consider the Enthoo Luxe ($150) / Pro ($100) cases.... more room, more features, built in fan control.

Save $23 on the PSU, there's half the $ needed for the 2nd 970
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20750xr

 

[spatel240sx]

@ Firo40 - Thanks, that's exactly what I was thinking too. As far as the 970 and GTA V I have only read things about issues on forums and don't really have any personal experience with it but I am happy to hear the card is just as good and I thought.

@ JackNaylorPE - Wow thanks for the in depth response. The better cooling system at least leaves room for future SLI with the cooling block and the case is much better than the original he had picked. I have also switched some of the other things around and created a new list - http://pcpartpicker.com/p/WYdgmG

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Cooler - The 220-x is best bought direct from Swiftech
http://www.swiftech.com/H220-X.aspx

Look at the H240-X while ya there ... 36% more cooling area for $10

RAM - I'd rather have 2133 CAS 9 than 2400 CAS 11

Case - The white versions look incredible. Here's the Luxe just before installing h240-X. If he's into LEDs, the extra case fans and LED system are well worth the $50 and cheaper than buying separately.

HD - If he has the $10.... the SSHD is 50% faster... it works like this.... with ya OS on the SSD w/ maybe 2-3 games and some apps.... all your other games are on the slow HD. With the SSHD for the rest of the games... let's say say start playing Far Cry 3 .... all the files you regularly access will be moved to the SSD portion of the drive.....as you move to different areas, the files for new areas will take the place of the old. Then ya start playing FC4 ... all the FC3 files get moved off ad the FC4 files get moved on.

Failure rates are in the same ballpark.... Out if 1000 drives sold, 7 get replaced under warranty between 6 and 12 months.... 11 of the SSHDs will be returned in the same period....IOW, 99.3% of Black drives survive 12 months versus 98.9% for the SSHDs.... given the margin of error I really don't think about reliability rates unless they exceed 2% failures.

 

[spatel240sx]

As of right now Swifttech seams to be out of stock on both models on their website but I will try to order the parts through them if they com in stock by the time of purchase. I have also lowered the ram down to DDR3-2133 and choose the white case but didn't spring for the Luxe to keep the prices down. I may abandon the SSD and just go with a 64gb for OS only to help shave off a little more cost but have also added a backup SSHD after reading your explanation it really sounds like a good investment especially at the price point. Here is the new link to the build so far - http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fYcFrH

I have also thrown together my own version of the build. I feel the cooler is extremely unnecessary as he doesn't want to overclock and the extra ram is not really needed at this time for a strictly gaming computer. I have also opted to just use an SSD and just use and old hard drive as a secondary. I kept the case because that is one of the few parts I regret going cheap on during my build but the rest is based on better performance for cost.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/MjcFrH

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I wouldn't do 64 GB.... if a user comes and asks for a build w/ one I turn them down ... has too many coming back .... "please please please, clean out my SSD

RAM is CAS 11.... you are nit getting anywhere near the same thing when looking for less expensive RAM when ya keep speed and go from CAS 9 to CAS 11. The reason its cheaper is that it's slower

Look at the latency impact;

CAS x 1000 / DDR speed

2400 CAS 10 = 4.17 ns
2133 CAS 9 = 4.22 ns

As you can see the two are comparable, CAS 11 is not.

2133 CAS 11 = 5.16 ns

This CAS 9 is $2 cheaper, but blue ... red is $3 more
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f317000cl9d8gbxm
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32133c9d8gxl

The 212 is a decent cooler.... for it's price.... be careful you don't overtighten mounting ... I have done 3 builds for users who damaged their MoBos (cracked board or broken circuit traces) installing it.

Look at the Phanteks before deciding .... tower and fans match the case color ... will get you 7 to 10C better than the 212
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709001