New PC Build - Looking for Feedback

[r0und3r988]

Hello all -

I am finally looking to make a new rig (first since 2010) and looking for some feedback. Any and all replies are much appreciated.

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: Within the next week.

Budget Range: $1400~

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming and future VR

Are you buying a monitor: Not yet. Will be getting a new gsync closer to the holidays. The 2 monitors I have listed in the partpicker are my current monitors and I wanted to make sure I would be able to still use both with the new gtx 1070.

Parts to Upgrade:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($349.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170XP-SLI ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($142.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($58.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card ($454.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($107.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($115.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH238H 23.0" Monitor ($115.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1551.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-26 15:58 EDT-0400

Do you need to buy OS: No - Question: I currently have a legit copy of win 10 and have made a usb install off of the windows site. How will activating that new license work?

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg - due to a reimbursement program where I work, all parts must be on the same receipt.

Location: City, State/Region, Country - NC, USA

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU and Nvidia GPU - open to other brands for rest of parts

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in the future should more games support it successfully.

Your Monitor Resolution: 2 x 1920x1080. When I upgrade in the fall, I plan to get a 1440p gsync.

Additional Comments: I am actually buying a 850 evo not an 840. I did not see an 850 evo listed.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Current motherboard is starting to fail and having memory issues. Plus, I would like to be able to game at higher settings.

 

[Barty1884]

Some comments:

1. If your 'legit' copy of Windows 10 is OEM, you will need a new copy. OEM ties to the motherboard it's installed on and activation of it on another setup/motherboard is 'officially' not allowed.

2. Consider the i5-6600K over the i7. There's still only a very light argument for an i7 for gaming. Money would be better spent elsewhere.

3. If you plan to OC heavily, I'd invest in a better cooler than the H7. It's fine for mild overclocks, and substantially better than any stock cooler (although Skylake K chips don't have a stock cooler), but you'd be better with something like an NH-D15 on air or Kraken X61 for liquid AIO.

I'd suggest this - it gets you below $1,400 with an OS, an 850EVO, and a quality PSU with a bit of extra headroom for OCing & SLI

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($88.49 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170X-UD3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($122.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($91.66 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB SC Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card ($454.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1372.05
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-27 13:04 EDT-0400

 

[r0und3r988]

Some comments:

1. If your 'legit' copy of Windows 10 is OEM, you will need a new copy. OEM ties to the motherboard it's installed on and activation of it on another setup/motherboard is 'officially' not allowed.

2. Consider the i5-6600K over the i7. There's still only a very light argument for an i7 for gaming. Money would be better spent elsewhere.

3. If you plan to OC heavily, I'd invest in a better cooler than the H7. It's fine for mild overclocks, and substantially better than any stock cooler (although Skylake K chips don't have a stock cooler), but you'd be better with something like an NH-D15 on air or Kraken X61 for liquid AIO.

I'd suggest this - it gets you below $1,400 with an OS, an 850EVO, and a quality PSU with a bit of extra headroom for OCing & SLI

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($88.49 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170X-UD3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($122.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($91.66 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB SC Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card ($454.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1372.05
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-27 13:04 EDT-0400

Thanks for the feedback. I have a few follow up questions.

1. As for the i5 over the i7, I had initially looked at the i5 but decided to go with the i7 as that is what I have currently. Will I see any noticeable differences? I do tend to multi-task as far as playing a game on one monitor and having multiple programs/browsers open on the other.

2. For overclocking, I planned to go up to 4.3/4 for the i7 or 4 on the i5. Will my setup be fine for that?

3. 750w power supply seems like a lot considering most online calculators were saying I could get away with 550.

4. I was hoping to stick with a mid tower case. Is there any reason you suggest a full tower? I also went with my choice because I would prefer a case that is designed to be a bit quieter. My current Antec 300 is a bit loud when the fans get going.

5. As for my current monitor setup, will I see any problems with the 1070? I checked and the newer of the two has a DVI-D port while the older does not. I would assume that I would just use the HDMI port on the older.

6. As for memory, I have always been partial to G Skill. Is there any reason to go with crucial instead?

Again, thanks for the feedback.

 

[Barty1884]

1. The i5 should be more than capable of those tasks. The i7 is not a 'bad' choice by any means, it's simply additional funds that (IMO) would be better spent elsewhere.

2. For your overclocks, I wouldn't suggest those are worth it. You're planning/aiming for 100MHz over the 'boost' clock speed (i7 to 4.2 and the i5 to 3.9). If that's the only scale of OC you want, the H7 is totally fine......I'd honestly just question whether it's worthwhile. The NH-D15 is one of the best air coolers. With it, you should be able to see 4.3 from the i5 fairly easily. 4.4-4.5 doesn't seem out of reach either given the right cooler & a little bit of luck. With the i7, 4.6 seems to be a realistic aim (on air). Reviews show it capable anywhere from 4.7-4.9, but voltages get a little scary from 4.7 & up. Again, the right cooling & a pinch of luck.

3. The build I posted has the ability to draw a little under 400W at stock speeds. Add in another 1070 in future (as you mentioned SLI), you're adding another potential 150W....... then the unpredictability of OCing adding additional power draw... Ideally, you want to put as little strain on your PSU as possible. That being said, a quality 650W would be fine for SLI + OCing. The 550W would cut it a little close IMO (after a second GPU alone, let alone OCing). Besides, the Capstone I linked is also a quality, Gold rated unit.........for $30 less than the G2 (although that is a great PSU). Again, frees up some extra funds for a better cooler etc.

4. Mid tower will be fine. Case is the single most 'personal preference' component in a build. I just included a well reviewed unit to show what else you can do with the money. Provided your case fits your components, you're fine.

5. I can't envisage any issues with your current monitors, providing you have the appropriate inputs. You can pair whichever you like, that work with your monitors. DVI-D + HDMI sounds like your best option, but if one happens to support DisplayPort, you might want to consider 1x DP + 1x HDMI, but either way, you're fine.

6. The long and short....IMO, RAM is RAM. If you have a brand preference, no harm in sticking with them. As an FYI, if you decide you want to go with the NH-D15 cooler, either pick up some low-profile RAM, or raise the front fan of the cooler a little to clear taller RAM.