3k Intel PC Build

[ElZoidberg]

Purchase: this week (or weekend)
Budget: Under $3k before taxes or shipping, if prices are equal I'll use Amazon Prime to ship
System Usage: Gaming, gaming, gaming
Monitor: Yes, want to go WQHD and overclock to 96Hz at least
Parts to upgrade: All parts listed below in current build
OS: Buying Windows 8.1, listed below
Websites: Newegg, amazon
Location: Wichita, KS
Parts: Prefer Intel
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: Yes
Monitor Res: 2560x1440

Why the Upgrade: Giving someone my 5 year old PC and I want to bask in glorious high FPS max quality gaming

Current Build:
Monitor: Perfect Pixel 27" QNIX QX2710 2560x1440 QHD PLS Matte Panel Monitor $369.98
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme4 LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $143.99
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K Haswell Quad-Core 4.0GHz LGA 1150 Desktop Processor BX80646I74790K $339.99
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120 mm PWM Fan $24.99
RAM: G.SKILL Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200) Desktop Memory Model F3-2400C10D-16GTX $189.99
Video Card: 2x XFX Black Edition Double Dissipation R9-290A-EDBD Radeon R9 290 4GB 512-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $419.99
Main Storage: WD BLACK SERIES WD2003FZEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $139.99
SSD SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE500BW 2.5" 500GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $249.99
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries P1-1050-BEFX 1050W ATX12V 2.2 / ESP12V 2.91 SLI CrossFire 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply $159.99
Case: NZXT Phantom 530 White ATX Full Tower Computer Case Includes 1 x 200mm Front, 1 x 140mm Rear 2 x USB 3.0 Fan Controller $89.99
Drive (will barely use): LITE-ON DVD Burner 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA Model iHAS124-14 - OEM $19.99
Windows: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - Full Version (32 & 64-bit) $119.99

Total: $2,674

Changing in:
Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler $69.99
G.Skill Ripjaw Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL10D-16GBXL 149.99
SAPPHIRE TRI-X OC 100362-2SR Radeon R9 290 4GB 512-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 Video Card $409.99
CORSAIR HX Series HX850 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI CrossFire 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply New 4th Gen CPU Certified Haswell Ready $119.99

New Total: $2,619

I have no problem spending my full budget but have already been through the build twice to tweak and cut price that maybe did not add value.

I appreciate any help with this. I will be playing newer games and currently things such as Elder Scrolls Online, Planetside 2, Metro: Last Light, Crysis 3, Total War: Rome II.

 

[DSF]

In terms of cutting prices that don't add value, you don't need a crazy PSU like that. You could spend less than $100 and get a quality 750W PSU that's on sale and be just fine. You can also use DDR3-1600 without an issue performance-wise.

One area you could consider spending more is the CPU cooler. Not that there's anything at all wrong with the 212 Evo, but you have the budget for a really nice air cooler if you want one.

 

[ElZoidberg]

Items that you see would be helpful. e.g. I saw some DDR3-1600 RAM of the same amount but I would not save money. Maybe G.Skill is not the brand. I don't know what brand air cooler is better, my initial build had a closed loop water cooler but given feedback that seemed excessive.

 

[DSF]

Just go to Newegg, filter the RAM for DDR3-1600, 2x8GB and 1.5V, and then sort by lowest price.

Here's one option:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231489

Ginormous heatspreaders aren't necessary though, and in some cases can interfere with the placement of the CPU cooler. (Depends on motherboard layout and cooler, etc.)

The Noctua D14 is well-liked around here in terms of high-performance air, but again it's not strictly necessary. The Evo will be able to cool your CPU.

 

[Freddy1765]

Is there any particular reason for choosing XFX GPUs? Of the R9 290s, the Sapphire Tri-X is generally held as the best of the bunch.
Also, given your budget I don't see a reason to buy one of those Korean panels. I got a Dell U2713HM some months ago and I really like it, the panel itself might be almost the same, but the stand/connections on the back are apparently much better, and the USB 3.0 hub on the Dell is nice to have.

 

[ElZoidberg]

The advice was very helpful. Better and almost $50 saved! I had mostly picked the XFX cards for the 3 free games promotion, but the reviews I saw seem to show the tri-x cooling is much better so I took your advice.

I'm going with the QNIX because I plan to overclock it to 96Hz.

 

[DSF]

All AMD high-end cards should come with free games until the promotion ends.

 

[mfenn]

A pair of R9 290's can definitely suck down the watts. I'd feel a little uncomfortable with 750W, but 850W is a good spot to be at. The HX850 is good, but the design is starting to show it's age. Luckily the EVGA SuperNOVA G2 850W is the same price.

 

[ZGR]

I have the Hyper 212 EVO and while it is great for the price, you will hit a temperature wall at around 4.6-4.7 GHz. I'd spend a little more on the cooler if I had a 3k budget

Edit: nvm saw your new cooler!

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Monitor: Perfect Pixel 27" QNIX QX2710 2560x1440 QHD PLS Matte Panel Monitor $369.98

The only thing I'd question that no one else has mentioned is this.

Unless you really really really want a PLS panel, I wouldn't shell out that much for one of the Korean monitors.

I also wouldn't pay for what I assume is someone checking for dead/stuck pixels ("Pixel Perfect"), especially since the same seller is selling the same model for $50 less without the words "Pixel Perfect" in the title. Hell, there's not even a mention in the description that anyone checks for that before they ship out. And if anything goes wrong, I bet it's you who's gonna be paying return shipping all the way back to South Korea.

You're spending a large chunk of change on a nice machine, I wouldn't cheap out on the main thing that lets you interact with your computer.

FWIW I own a 27" with one of the not-grade-A panels. It was the CCFL-backlit Auria model that Microcenter sells (since updated to LED backlighting), and it was great for the year I had it until someone decided to dick around with the electrical boxes outside one night and the resultant power surge damaged something inside the monitor. The only thing I didn't like about it was the proprietary power brick - why they didn't use a standard kettle lead is beyond me. Might wanna check that with whatever monitor you buy just in case.

Anyway I ended up buying a Dell U3011 for $450 off Craigslist. The build quality compared to the Auria (which I suspect is better than a lot of the Korean monitors) is fantastic, and I'm lovin' the OSD. And it's still got over a year of warranty left. Picked up a 2007FP for $25 as a side monitor and I'm a happy camper.

Oh yeah, and if it's the stand you're worrying about, I highly recommend nabbing a Dell RM361 (RM363?) stand off ebay. Pretty much the same range of adjustability and build quality as the Ultrasharp stands, it even supports my 27" in portrait mode.

 

[ElZoidberg]

A pair of R9 290's can definitely suck down the watts. I'd feel a little uncomfortable with 750W, but 850W is a good spot to be at. The HX850 is good, but the design is starting to show it's age. Luckily the EVGA SuperNOVA G2 850W is the same price.

Yea I chickened out and bought a 1000W power supply which oddly enough ended up being the EVGA SuperNOVA G2 1000W for about $150 after rebate on amazon.

The monitor I'm relying on the good word from Hard Forum, amazon reviews, and newegg reviews. I'll let you know how it goes.

Now time to go sit out on my doorstep and wait for the mailman (ha ha...maybe it all won't come that quick).

 

[mfenn]

The only thing I'd question that no one else has mentioned is this.

Unless you really really really want a PLS panel, I wouldn't shell out that much for one of the Korean monitors.

The OP mentioned that he wanted to overclock the panel, which isn't possible on a Dell. Otherwise I'd agree.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

What do you currently have for a rig?

 

[ElZoidberg]

I got it all put together and tested it a bit. Those R9 290s get super hot. I was playing sleeping dogs and it keeps the video cards going 100%.

The video card on bottom that gets baked by the top card was level about 88C and the CPU occasionally gets up to 70C, but most of the time waffles between mid 50s and low 60s.

Not totally sure what to do about the heat. I have a 200mm intake fan up front. I plan to relocate the drives to the middle and take out the storage bay on bottom to try and help. I'll also order a 140mm fan for the front lower side of the case. I'll probably use that as an intake. Spose I'll see what that does, not totally convinced.

Current setup is 200mm fan front bottom as intake. 140mm exhaust fan on the top back. 2x 200mm exhaust fans on top.

 

[Termie]

With that much heat being exhausted into the case, I would have gone with a liquid CPU cooler, as your huge CPU cooler blocks a lot of the airflow out of the case.

I'd get as many drive cages out of the case as possible, and potentially orient a side fan as an exhaust. Can you get another fan up front? 200mm is large, but it's just one fan, and much of the airflow could be blocked by drive cages.

This is a bit crazy, but I might even try orienting the Noctua vertically to draw heat from the VGA through it and out the top. Not sure it will even fit that way, and it will potentially make the CPU hotter, but it will get hot air moving in the right direction.

 

[ElZoidberg]

You can put one 200mm fan up front or two 140mm fans I think.

http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/134-phantom-530.html

I'm not sure if it works out putting the side fan as an exhaust or not since it's so close to the intake fan. Hopefully the link helps show some of the fan slots.

I'll end up making whatever changes I need to, but we'll try the simpler stuff first.

 

[meloz]

Why not get the Samsung 850 Pro SSD? You have the budget, get the best.

 

[Termie]

You can put one 200mm fan up front or two 140mm fans I think.

http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/134-phantom-530.html

I'm not sure if it works out putting the side fan as an exhaust or not since it's so close to the intake fan. Hopefully the link helps show some of the fan slots.

I'll end up making whatever changes I need to, but we'll try the simpler stuff first.

Ah, I see. To get that window in, NZXT really had to compromise on the side fan placement. Honestly, I don't think it will do any good. It will just interfere with the airflow from the front.

At this point, before buying anything else, I'd see if the CPU cooler can be oriented vertically to blow air out the top. Otherwise, yes, I'd go with dual 140mm fans in front long before I put a side fan in.

 

[Skott]

Put two 200mm fans on top as exhaust. That should help a lot. I went with the more expensive Asus Z97 WS mobo just so I could space the 290x cards farther apart for better airflow. Still, you should be good if you max that case out in good fans I would think.

 

[schmuckley]

better be x99 and ddr4,or your stuff just depreciated to half.
3k and 1150?
Dude;I could build a bomb-type 1150 setup from scratch for under $900

If you provided a solid explanation of why the OP should wait for the products you mentioned, then your post would constructive. As it is, it's borderline thread crapping.

mfenn
General Hardware Moderator