Need system for Skyrim Ultra Settings w/ Mods, focus on being future-proof

[robinssq]

I am putting together a new rig to play Skyrim on Ultra settings with mods enabled. I play on a 1920x1200 monitor. My other goal is to have a system which will run for the next several years without needing to build again from scratch. I don't mind needing to upgrade the RAM or Video Card in 24 months but I want to make sure this is expandable and doesn't need a new mobo in a couple years to handle new games. I also want to run a VirtualBox with Ubuntu on this system for programming but I'm sure that won't be a constraint.

Approximate Purchase Date: within the month, not urgent

Budget Range: no specific budget, goal is on long term bang for my buck. I would like to stay under $1500 without monitor, keyboard. Cheaper is always better but I don't want to sacrifice ability to upgrade down the road.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, software development

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: Starting from scratch

Do you need to buy OS: Yes (windows 7 or 8)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: No preference

Location: Massachusetts USA

Parts Preferences: None

Overclocking: Maybe (again focus on long term value and expandability)

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (again focus on long term value and expandability)

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: Run Skyrim on Ultra w/ mods, Rome Total War 2 as well

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Only computer I use in Macbook Pro Retina 13", need a gaming Rig and long term desktop solution

 

[X79]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($147.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($92.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 4GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF X ATX Full Tower Case ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($24.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.73 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1364.61
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-14 16:55 EDT-0400)

Because:

- Update to date Intel CPU. No overclocking means you save money.

- Superb motherboard, which supports SLI.

- Ideal amount of RAM for gaming.

- A quality SSD for faster booting of programs and not least windows itself.

- Plenty storage and it's caviar black, which is for performance and reliability.

- A sweet GPU with lots of VRAM (Video RAM. Crucial for all the mods you'll run) that will run the game well.

- A Full-Tower case, for lots of space to upgrade. It's destined for the long-term and easily re-useable.

- A quality PSU, that'll provide plenty juice for your rig, but also multiple GPUs.

- Standard optical drive.

- Windows 8 64bit. However you can see the changes in the build below:



PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($147.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($127.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($92.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 4GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF X ATX Full Tower Case ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($24.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1412.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-14 17:00 EDT-0400)

- This has more RAM. It'll depend on how frequently and heavily you use those VMs. More would be better.

- Windows 7 added instead.


Notes:

Both systems are quite nice. I think they're nice because they're upgradeable. The motherboard

has plenty features and allows for SLI and that means once the FPS starts dropping, you can just

find another GTX 670 with 4GB RAM to put in. Or a new GPU altogether. Without knowing the future...

You've got the latest CPU socket (LGA 1150) and so that might come in handy. With the big case and nice

PSU you're set.

 

[markwp]

LINK to pcpartpicker.

Get the best gpu you can afford. IMO, a single card solution is ALWAYS better than sli/xfire. I put an 850w psu in for overhead in case you really want to sli. If not, drop down to 650w.

Mark

 

[ryanskeltis-1367868]

im looking to do the exact same thing! have you had any more help at all?