3403321 :
My mate is building a top range gaming pc and he wanted to get the parts checked over. The reason for the huge power supply is the end goal is to eventually go SLI.
Here is the component list.
PCPartPicker part list:
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3QQYN
CPU: Intel Core i7-4820K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor (£227.40 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master V8 GTS 82.0 CFM CPU Cooler (£62.50 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth X79 ATX LGA2011 Motherboard (£239.98 @ Dabs)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory (£131.50 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (£96.53 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£40.58 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB DirectCU II Video Card (£529.99 @ Novatech)
Case: Corsair 760T White ATX Full Tower Case (£140.78 @ Aria PC)
Power Supply: Corsair 1200W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£215.98 @ Amazon UK)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer (£13.54 @ Amazon UK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) (£68.69 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card (£20.99 @ CCL Computers)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N53 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter (£26.98 @ Dabs)
Total: £1815.44
That's very similar to the build I'm planning. I'll post my build here so you can compare:
CPU: (Read below)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Silver Arrow IB-E Extreme
Motherboard: Asus Z97-PRO (Wi-Fi AC)
Memory: G.Skill RipjawsX Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM
Video Card: (Read below)
Case: Corsair Vengeance C70 ATX Mid Tower
Power Supply: Corsair 860W 80+ Platinum
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-118BB DVD/CD Drive
Operating System: (Read below)
Sound Card: (Read below)
Wireless Network Adapter: Read below)
Estimated Total (read below): £1550
I've removed the prices because I've looked around elsewhere to find cheaper deals (i.e. eBay) because I've found that PCPartPicker doesn't always show the best deals.
The reason I've not listed a GPU is because I'm going to wait until Maxwell is released and then get two GTX 880s.
Will he be going more than 2-way SLI? If not then the 860w PSU that I've listed will be enough, even for over-clocking. If he is going 2 or 3-way SLI then 1200W will be fine but the top-of-the-line PSU out there at the moment is the Corsair AX1500i 80+ Titanium.
http://www.corsair.com/en-gb/ax1500i-digital-atx-power-supply-1500-watt-fully-modular-psu
A similar thing applies for my CPU. I'm waiting for Broadwell. I'll probably be getting an i7 and over-clocking that. For gaming, the i7-4770K is probably the best CPU right now (on LGA1150 sockets), that is if future games take advantage of the hyper-threading. Bear in mind that some people are saying that the i5-4670K can over-clock slightly better than the i7-4770K.
I've not listed a Wi-Fi adapter because the Asus Z97-PRO Wi-Fi AC comes with the Wi-Fi Go! module and a dual-band antenna. If he wanted to get the Asus Z97-PRO Wi-Fi AC he would need to get an LGA1150 socket CPU like the i5-4670K or i7-4770K (or Broadwell when it's released). The Z97 Pro has automatic over-clocking and '5-Way Optimisation' if your friend isn't comfortable coverclocking himself. It's one of the reasons I'm getting it.
A video demo of 5-Way Optimisation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J81qFsUbROE
The cooler that I've listed is regarded as one of the best air-cooler on the market, if not the best. It performs about as good as the Corsair H100i closed-loop water cooler, as some videos that I've watched have proven. It's a bit cheaper than the H100i, I think.
I've also not listed the 4 extra Cooler Master JetFlo 120mm PWM fans that I'm buying (£32). The case on my list already has one 120mm and two 140mm fans already installed. Four PWM fan splitters are also not listed (£12).
I've not listed an operating system because I already have a copy of Windows 8.1 that I can use. He might want to consider getting hold of a copy of Windows 8.1 without spending any money.
I don't need to buy a sound card because I already have an external Sound Blaster Recon3D USB (~£90) that outputs virtual 5.1 and 7.1 surround. I wouldn't advise getting a gaming headset since the audio is crap on them. A good pair of stereo headphones and an external sound card like mine will save some money. You can even get the Razer Surround software that does it for free:
http://www.razerzone.com/gb-en/surround The ASUS Xonar DG is a good sound card from what I've read.
The case you listed is good. The main reason I want the Corsair Vengeance C70 is because I'm getting a Corsair Vengeance M65 mouse and a Corsair Vengeance K70 keyboard. Yeah, I'm weird like that.
As for RAM, if he's over-clocking, then I'd advise a 2x8GB kit instead of a 4x4GB kit because I've read that over-clocking is more stable with two DIMMs. Also, I'd definitely ask your mate to consider getting the G.Skill RipjawsX 2x8GB 1866MHz because, for gaming, you don't need high speed RAM. 1866MHz is more than enough. Yeah, you might see a difference with higher speed RAM but it will be about 2 or 3 FPS maximum, is that worth the extra £25?
Have a look at this comparison:
1866MHz:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/bulldozer-ddr3-overclocking,review-32455-10.html
2133MHz:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/bulldozer-ddr3-overclocking,review-32455-11.html
2400MHz:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/bulldozer-ddr3-overclocking,review-32455-12.html
...and also this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWgzA2C61z4
The G.Skill RipjawsX 2x8GB 1866MHz should be able to over-clock to 2133MHz if he really wants the higher speed. Be wary that the RAM you buy, whatever it is, will fit under the CPU heat sink. I'm quite sure that the RipjawsX RAM will fit under the Thermalright Silver Arrow.
The system I'm building will be used with a 1080p monitor. 1080p is overkill on this system but I want to be able to hit 120FPS on maximum settings so I can take advantage of the 120Hz refresh rate. The monitor is the Eizo Foris FG2421. It doesn't have G-Sync but with the high FPS the system will be able to push it won't really matter. It also has a VA panel as opposed to an inferior TN panel so it has a much better contrast ratio and viewing angles. The Eizo Foris FG2421 is probably the best 1080p gaming monitor out there.
If he wants G-Sync 1080p and 144Hz then the AOC G2460PG will probably be the best. It's not out yet but it will be soon,
G-Sync with 1440p and 144Hz then the Asus PG278Q is probably the best. Again, not out yet but will be soon.
4K G-Sync: Acer XB280HK No word on the refresh rate but it could be 120Hz.
I should say that I've spent days comparing stuff for my build, asking around on different forums and watching YouTube videos. I'm pretty sure that the system I've listed is totally killer and there isn't really much that can be improved within my budget.
The whole thing, including monitor, keyboard, mouse/mat comes to £2130.
P.S. I apologise for assuming you don't know too much about PCs with all the 'did you know' type of things I said. It doesn't hurt to put it in just in case.
P.P.S I hope you appreciate all the extra information.
P.P.P.S inb4 TL;DR.
Edit: That Cooler Master V8 looks badass, though. If he wants the aesthetics, go for it. If he wants performance, get the Thermalright Silver Arrow IB-E Extreme. It's more expensive, though. The Silver Arrow looks nicer to me anyway.
An Aerocool Strike-X GT would go with that cooler. I'm not sure if it would fit because it's a mid-tower. It's the case I was going to get before the Corsair Vengeance C70.
It would fit the Strike-X ST, though. That case is a full tower. You can fit about 21 fans on it, lol.
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