New First Time Builder Seeking Advice

[austination123]

Hello Everybody,

So this is going to be my first time building a PC, and I'm just seeking some friendly advice on a few burning questions I have. First off, I plan on dropping anywhere from 1200-1500 dollars on my computer, and plan on building before I go back to school at the end of August. I will mainly use my computer for gaming, multitasking, and possibly using GIS programs if you know what those are, which can be tasking on CPUs. So lets jump right into the questions.

1) CPU
Okay so as of right now, I am considering a Ryzen 1600, 1600x, or i5 7600k. My first question is whether or not there is any advantage in buying a 1600x over a 1600. I know you can overclock the 1600 to similar speeds of the 1600x, and it comes with a cooler, so what are the benefits to getting this 30 dollar(ish) more expensive processor? Also, is there a reason I should go with the 7600k, even if I am leaning towards Ryzen at the moment? I know the intel cpu will likely outperform the 1600 in most games in average fps, but Ryzen tends to get better minimum frame rates resulting in a smoother experience (or so I've heard). Will ryzen perform better in the future due to more threads and software optimization, or does the higher clock speed of the intel processor take the win?

2) GPU
Pretty simple here, just asking for speculation. I'm leaning towards a gtx 1080, as my goal is to game in 1440p with frames above 60. Will the 1070 be enough for my needs, or will the extra 100 dollars of the 1080 be worth it, especially when considering future games? Also, I know AMD is coming out with vega soon, and I am curious as to your opinions on it. Do you think AMD will make a card that is worth waiting for, as in will it outperform a 1070/1080 for a cheaper price? I have no problem waiting until July/August, since I work 30+ hours a week and am taking a chemistry class and likely won't have time to build until August, but is Vega truly worth waiting for?

3) Misc
Lastly, I just have a couple extra questions:

a) I've heard Ryzen works better with fast memory (like 3000+), have you guys found this to be true? And are there still a lot of issues with RAM running at those fast speeds on AM4 mother boards?
b) I do admit I have some interest in RGB. I'm currently looking at a phanteks p400s tempered glass case, which comes with an RGB strip, and I also am looking at an ASUS STRIX B350 Gaming motherboard, which has some RGB on it and comes with asus aura software. So I guess my question is can I link the case lighting and mobo lighting together through this software? And also, I see that Trident Z RGB RAM is only a 25 dollar premium (I believe) over the Corsair Vengeance LPX at 3200 speeds. Will I be able to control that lighting through the software as well, and do you guys think RGB RAM is worth that price premium? Lastly, I absolutely love the look of the Kraken x52 AIO, I think it is gorgeous. I know it comes with its own software, but does it sync up as well? And do you think it is overkill for the processors and overclocking I am looking at?

Thanks for all the advice and opinions, can't wait to see what you all have to say.

Cheers

 

[CountMike]

Look at my sig for my system.
1. I went for 1600x because it's faster at default and just as fast as non-x which would have to be overclocked and still not able to catch up with x model's OC. X models don't come with a cooler but to OC non x you'd still have to get aftermarket cooler.
2. Vega is still an unknown performance and price vise while GTX 1080, specially higher performance models are more than enough for anything you can throw at it game wise. In either case, Ryzen 1600 and up can handle it.
a. Yes it's true, Ryzen does benefit from faster memory and even dual channel, tried it myself. From 2133MHz to 2933MHz memory just CPU scores went up more than 15%
b. I was never into those lights , bells and whistles visuals so I'm not sure if all that stuff would work as advertised but that's not different than Intel stuff in that respect.
3.

 

[King Dranzer]

Here is the list:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($327.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus - TUF Z270 MARK 2 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($131.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($105.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($75.99 @ Best Buy)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB Gaming OC 11G Video Card ($704.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design - Core 2300 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair - TXM Gold 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1530.25
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-21 09:47 EDT-0400

For 1440p GTX1080Ti is better suited unless you plan on upgrading GPU in every 1.5Yrs.
RGB build at this price point is not gonna happen unless you compromise on performance which I don't recommend.
This can handle anything you through at it unless you plan running background applications while gaming.
Last I checked majority of GIS programs are not highly multi-threaded and instead require higher clock speed and IPC to perform well.

For your work and requirements Intel i7-7700K is better than Ryzen R5 or R7.

 

[austination123]

Wow that is an absolute beast of a system. I did not realize GIS was based on clock speeds, that is very helpful. Would a 1080 really be obsolete 2 years in the future for 1440p gaming? I never really pictured myself with a 1080 ti but I could definitely afford this build. Thanks for the input

 

[austination123]

Look at my sig for my system.
1. I went for 1600x because it's faster at default and just as fast as non-x which would have to be overclocked and still not able to catch up with x model's OC. X models don't come with a cooler but to OC non x you'd still have to get aftermarket cooler.
2. Vega is still an unknown performance and price vise while GTX 1080, specially higher performance models are more than enough for anything you can throw at it game wise. In either case, Ryzen 1600 and up can handle it.
a. Yes it's true, Ryzen does benefit from faster memory and even dual channel, tried it myself. From 2133MHz to 2933MHz memory just CPU scores went up more than 15%
b. I was never into those lights , bells and whistles visuals so I'm not sure if all that stuff would work as advertised but that's not different than Intel stuff in that respect.
3.

CountMike, did you encounter any issues with your RAM not running at high speeds it specified out of the box? And so far, any regrets or other issues with your Ryzen processor or is it running like a dream?
Thanks for you answers man

 

[King Dranzer]

Wow that is an absolute beast of a system. I did not realize GIS was based on clock speeds, that is very helpful. Would a 1080 really be obsolete 2 years in the future for 1440p gaming? I never really pictured myself with a 1080 ti but I could definitely afford this build. Thanks for the input

Majority of aspects in GIS software depend on clock speed. There are few areas where multi threading kicks in but even with that most of the software commonly used are unable to utilize 4Cores/8Threads to max. Going for anything with higher core count in not gonna help.

Go for GTX1080Ti unless you are sure to upgrade GPU in 1.5-2Yrs. If you go for GTX1080 and are unable to upgrade the GPU to a better on 1.5-2Years for some reason(like some other important requirement comes in and you have to spend saved budget for that and unable to upgrade GPU) then that can be dis-satisfactory as you will be required to bring the settings down to medium-high to maintain 60fps. With GTX1080Ti you can go for a 3Years which means even if you are unable to upgrade GPU in next 2Yrs for some reason you can still play at very high-ultra settings and get 60fps.

If you are sure to upgrade the GPU in Two years and want a good looking build with GTX1080 reply.

 

[CountMike]

I had some problems with RAM at the beginning until last beta BIOS (0803) with AGESA 1.0.0.6 code for my MB. Now it runs at it's best XMP setting of 2933MHz and in dual mode. No regrets as CPU scores at 4GHz are better (a bit) than i7 7700K at 4.9 GHz although single core scores are a bit less. Either processor is good enough to feed any 1080 in it's best configuration.
Only possible regret I might have is that I didn't get R7 1800x because I don't play any new games and using computer for CAD and other work mostly. I just might go for it in few months. Main "trick" with Ryzen is to have a good MB. Main problem that plagues Ryzen is a shortage of good BIOS versions to unleash it's full power. There's also a problem of benchmark SW that can't get all that processor can offer. Even at 100% usage no benchmark can make it sweat and when properly adjusted temperatures do not blow the top like it used to happen to my FX system.

 

[madmatt30]

To say extra threads & core count won't help in gis applications is kind of short sighted, if you're rendering map data in the background and/or other heavy multitasking them of course it will , no doubt about it.

I'd go ryzen 1700 for your uses personally (because I did myself)

Stick with the stock cooler for now until more cooling systems actually come 'with' the brackets instead of having to order separately & wait weeks for them to arrive.

All b350/x370 boards have rgb headers .
I personally don't think the trident z rgb is worth the extra when a couple of cheap 5050 strips will give you all the internal lighting you need.

 

[austination123]

Wow that is an absolute beast of a system. I did not realize GIS was based on clock speeds, that is very helpful. Would a 1080 really be obsolete 2 years in the future for 1440p gaming? I never really pictured myself with a 1080 ti but I could definitely afford this build. Thanks for the input

Majority of aspects in GIS software depend on clock speed. There are few areas where multi threading kicks in but even with that most of the software commonly used are unable to utilize 4Cores/8Threads to max. Going for anything with higher core count in not gonna help.

Go for GTX1080Ti unless you are sure to upgrade GPU in 1.5-2Yrs. If you go for GTX1080 and are unable to upgrade the GPU to a better on 1.5-2Years for some reason(like some other important requirement comes in and you have to spend saved budget for that and unable to upgrade GPU) then that can be dis-satisfactory as you will be required to bring the settings down to medium-high to maintain 60fps. With GTX1080Ti you can go for a 3Years which means even if you are unable to upgrade GPU in next 2Yrs for some reason you can still play at very high-ultra settings and get 60fps.

If you are sure to upgrade the GPU in Two years and want a good looking build with GTX1080 reply.

Yeah if you have a 1080 build ready to go I wouldn't mine seeing it just to compare costs and such

 

[austination123]

I had some problems with RAM at the beginning until last beta BIOS (0803) with AGESA 1.0.0.6 code for my MB. Now it runs at it's best XMP setting of 2933MHz and in dual mode. No regrets as CPU scores at 4GHz are better (a bit) than i7 7700K at 4.9 GHz although single core scores are a bit less. Either processor is good enough to feed any 1080 in it's best configuration.
Only possible regret I might have is that I didn't get R7 1800x because I don't play any new games and using computer for CAD and other work mostly. I just might go for it in few months. Main "trick" with Ryzen is to have a good MB. Main problem that plagues Ryzen is a shortage of good BIOS versions to unleash it's full power. There's also a problem of benchmark SW that can't get all that processor can offer. Even at 100% usage no benchmark can make it sweat and when properly adjusted temperatures do not blow the top like it used to happen to my FX system.

So just out of curiosity, do you think Ryzen will only continue to improve as more updates and motherboards are rolled out? I know it's speculation but do you know if this will improve general performance and games? And could you possibly suggest a really good mobo or two for me to look at thanks? Thanks

 

[austination123]

To say extra threads & core count won't help in gis applications is kind of short sighted, if you're rendering map data in the background and/or other heavy multitasking them of course it will , no doubt about it.

I'd go ryzen 1700 for your uses personally (because I did myself)

Stick with the stock cooler for now until more cooling systems actually come 'with' the brackets instead of having to order separately & wait weeks for them to arrive.

All b350/x370 boards have rgb headers .
I personally don't think the trident z rgb is worth the extra when a couple of cheap 5050 strips will give you all the internal lighting you need.

So far, how is your 1700 working out for you? Any major issues or are you happy with the result. And how has the stock cooler worked so far for you?

Thanks for your input

 

[CountMike]

I had some problems with RAM at the beginning until last beta BIOS (0803) with AGESA 1.0.0.6 code for my MB. Now it runs at it's best XMP setting of 2933MHz and in dual mode. No regrets as CPU scores at 4GHz are better (a bit) than i7 7700K at 4.9 GHz although single core scores are a bit less. Either processor is good enough to feed any 1080 in it's best configuration.
Only possible regret I might have is that I didn't get R7 1800x because I don't play any new games and using computer for CAD and other work mostly. I just might go for it in few months. Main "trick" with Ryzen is to have a good MB. Main problem that plagues Ryzen is a shortage of good BIOS versions to unleash it's full power. There's also a problem of benchmark SW that can't get all that processor can offer. Even at 100% usage no benchmark can make it sweat and when properly adjusted temperatures do not blow the top like it used to happen to my FX system.

So just out of curiosity, do you think Ryzen will only continue to improve as more updates and motherboards are rolled out? I know it's speculation but do you know if this will improve general performance and games? And could you possibly suggest a really good mobo or two for me to look at thanks? Thanks

Yes, improvements are coming for sure and not only BIOS but also manufacturing process. As AMD promised no changes of socket for next 4 years, compatibility with future processors is practically guaranteed. Those are reasons Intel suddenly decided to improve their products instead of those spoon fed bit by bit they were doing without serious competition. Next few years are promising to be interesting until they again hit a technological wall.

 

[King Dranzer]

Here is the RGB build GTX1080:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($326.69 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair - H100i GTX 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Corsair)
Motherboard: Asus - STRIX Z270F ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($173.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($80.06 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus - GeForce GTX 1080 8GB STRIX Video Card ($554.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT - S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair - TXM Gold 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1559.01
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-21 15:50 EDT-0400

Here is non RGB build GTX1080:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($326.69 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus - TUF Z270 MARK 2 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($131.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($105.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($80.06 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1080 8GB SC2 Gaming iCX Video Card ($537.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design - Core 2300 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair - TXM Gold 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1366.12
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-21 15:54 EDT-0400

There is only 10-15% price increase in the build but the performance goes up by 25-30% when you go from GTX1080 to GTX1080Ti.

 

[austination123]

I had some problems with RAM at the beginning until last beta BIOS (0803) with AGESA 1.0.0.6 code for my MB. Now it runs at it's best XMP setting of 2933MHz and in dual mode. No regrets as CPU scores at 4GHz are better (a bit) than i7 7700K at 4.9 GHz although single core scores are a bit less. Either processor is good enough to feed any 1080 in it's best configuration.
Only possible regret I might have is that I didn't get R7 1800x because I don't play any new games and using computer for CAD and other work mostly. I just might go for it in few months. Main "trick" with Ryzen is to have a good MB. Main problem that plagues Ryzen is a shortage of good BIOS versions to unleash it's full power. There's also a problem of benchmark SW that can't get all that processor can offer. Even at 100% usage no benchmark can make it sweat and when properly adjusted temperatures do not blow the top like it used to happen to my FX system.

So just out of curiosity, do you think Ryzen will only continue to improve as more updates and motherboards are rolled out? I know it's speculation but do you know if this will improve general performance and games? And could you possibly suggest a really good mobo or two for me to look at thanks? Thanks

Yes, improvements are coming for sure and not only BIOS but also manufacturing process. As AMD promised no changes of socket for next 4 years, compatibility with future processors is practically guaranteed. Those are reasons Intel suddenly decided to improve their products instead of those spoon fed bit by bit they were doing without serious competition. Next few years are promising to be interesting until they again hit a technological wall.

So would you recommend a 1700 or a 1600 series chip? Would the extra cores/threads of a 1700 perform better in the future, or will a 1600 be more than sufficient.

 

[austination123]

Here is the RGB build GTX1080:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($326.69 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair - H100i GTX 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Corsair)
Motherboard: Asus - STRIX Z270F ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($173.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($80.06 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus - GeForce GTX 1080 8GB STRIX Video Card ($554.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT - S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair - TXM Gold 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1559.01
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-21 15:50 EDT-0400

Here is non RGB build GTX1080:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($326.69 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus - TUF Z270 MARK 2 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($131.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($105.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($80.06 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1080 8GB SC2 Gaming iCX Video Card ($537.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design - Core 2300 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair - TXM Gold 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1366.12
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-21 15:54 EDT-0400

There is only 10-15% price increase in the build but the performance goes up by 25-30% when you go from GTX1080 to GTX1080Ti.

Awesome man thanks for all the build ideas, really appreciate it.

 

[madmatt30]

You're in an enviable position mate because you have time to sit back & see if the platform matures anymore.
It will definitely IMO , after the initial grounding issues regarding ram comoatibility/speeds etc progress has been fairly swift.

Re 1600 vs 1700 - in all honesty the 1600 is going to be enough for 99.999% of home users no matter what the workload.

My purchase of the 1700 was simply because I got abbulk buy deal at a very good price & kept one for myself.
At the minute the price difference between the 1600 & 1700 is huge & I honestly don't think that $100 gap conveys the fairly minimal performance difference between them.
The 1600 is simply the best value CPU on the market today.

A build for you to peruse (don't consider it final , its just to show what you can do with your money)

Included a link to a 5050 lighting kit underneath , you only actually need the strips & connectors but its cheaper to buy a decent kit.

2 of those straight to the rgb headers will give you programmable internal lighting.
The rest of the kit could be used for rear monitor or desk lighting.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($199.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock - X370 KILLER SLI/ac ATX AM4 Motherboard ($138.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($143.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($99.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Toshiba - 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($61.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 1080 8GB DUKE OC Video Card ($504.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Phanteks - ECLIPSE P400S TEMPERED GLASS ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1279.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-21 16:56 EDT-0400

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0155L3YLK/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1498078431&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=hitlights+rgb+remote&dpPl=1&dpID=51%2BOqUYGnLL&ref=plSrch

 

[austination123]

You're in an enviable position mate because you have time to sit back & see if the platform matures anymore.
It will definitely IMO , after the initial grounding issues regarding ram comoatibility/speeds etc progress has been fairly swift.

Re 1600 vs 1700 - in all honesty the 1600 is going to be enough for 99.999% of home users no matter what the workload.

My purchase of the 1700 was simply because I got abbulk buy deal at a very good price & kept one for myself.
At the minute the price difference between the 1600 & 1700 is huge & I honestly don't think that $100 gap conveys the fairly minimal performance difference between them.
The 1600 is simply the best value CPU on the market today.

A build for you to peruse (don't consider it final , its just to show what you can do with your money)

Included a link to a 5050 lighting kit underneath , you only actually need the strips & connectors but its cheaper to buy a decent kit.

2 of those straight to the rgb headers will give you programmable internal lighting.
The rest of the kit could be used for rear monitor or desk lighting.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($199.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock - X370 KILLER SLI/ac ATX AM4 Motherboard ($138.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($143.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($99.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Toshiba - 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($61.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 1080 8GB DUKE OC Video Card ($504.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Phanteks - ECLIPSE P400S TEMPERED GLASS ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1279.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-21 16:56 EDT-0400

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0155L3YLK/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1498078431&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=hitlights+rgb+remote&dpPl=1&dpID=51%2BOqUYGnLL&ref=plSrch

Awesome man thanks for the suggestions. I definitely am leaning towards a 1600 right about now, and LED strips seem like a good option. Appreciate the sample build as well!!

 

[CountMike]

I would recommend the X version for any of Ryzen chips specially if you don't want to OC. It scales up and down nicely and most BIOS versions allow changes to reaction times. 1600X on a good and a feature rich MB and you'd get a helluva good machine without much effort.
Only minus, if you can call it that, is higher price because it is a bit more expensive and also doesn't come with OEM cooler and relatively good aftermarket one is required. A cooler like CM 212Evo would suffice. Overclocking an X model like R5 1600x is also very easy. Mild overclock could be achieved by using Tpi II option in BIOS as that signifies that a good cooler is installed and lets XFR function boost frequency to theoretical 4.1GHz although normally it's about 4093 - 4096 MHz.