My final(?) rework of my first new build in 7+ years

[SirFelixCat]

This is my first new rig in a LONG time and after weeks of research & a first round of suggestions, this is what I've come up with. This will be for gaming (eventually 4K), some video editing, and general use. Once the prices come down a bit, I'll be getting a 2nd 980 Ti video card, so that explains the beefier PSU.

Feedback welcome and I'd appreciate any first hand accounts on why x is better than y, if that's the case.

Thanks y'all!



PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($319.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: *Cooler Master Nepton 240M 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($98.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Thermal Compound: *Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.39 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VIII HERO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($103.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 950 PRO 512GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($347.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($149.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Superclocked+ ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($659.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($107.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Fractal Design GP14-WT 68.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($14.98 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Fractal Design GP14-WT 68.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($14.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Logitech G710 Plus Wired Gaming Keyboard ($90.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G602 Wireless Optical Mouse ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $2290.14
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-26 12:23 EDT-0400

 

[Ken g6]

I recommend NT-H1 over Arctic Silver 5. No personal experience from me, but [post=34297433]Idontcare has such experience[/post].

There was also somebody complaining on this forum recently that his G.Skill DDR4-2666 1.2V didn't meet its specs. But I can't find who it was right now.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Feedback welcome and I'd appreciate any first hand accounts on why x is better than y, if that's the case.

Thanks y'all!

Doesn't the Nepton come pre-applied with thermal compound? Unless you're planning to de-lid, I wouldn't spend any extra money on thermal compound at all.

I'm torn about whether or not I think you're overspending on the SSD. On the one hand, you probably are. On the other hand, M.2 and NVMe is kinda the new thing. It's up to you, but you should be aware that you can get excellent 500GB SATA SSDs for considerably less:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226689

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1116797-REG/crucial_ct500mx200ssd1_500gb_mx200_sata_2_5.html

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M8ABFX6/?tag=pcpapi-20

There are a large number of mechanical drives that are considerably less expensive than the WD Black, here are a few Toshiba's that offer at least as much capacity, and comparable performance, at lower cost:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/997710-REG/toshiba_dt01aca300_3tb_7200_rpm.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1087069-REG/toshiba_ph3400u_1i72_4tb_desktop_3_5_internal.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822149570

 

[007ELmO]

That is too much money for an SSD, I am not torn on that. Also based on 7+ years of no upgrade, I see you want to be on the bleeding edge, I do too - but the lesson there is to go one step down to save money. I agree on the 980TI though, so I might be hypocritical there (lol). 4K gaming is not here yet, even with SLI 980TI. By the time you want to play 4K, the games you will be playing are going to be old as molasses with SLI 980TI. So please don't include that in your consideration, friend!

I'm planning on doing 3K resolution, that I think a 980TI can do, but I will be playing old games with it - iRacing, simulation games, etc.

 

[Ketchup]

For a 7+ year upgrade, you might do better to spend you money on a good SATA SSD. Most of these M.2 devices are doing significantly better is sequential reads and writes, which your OS drive will not do. Get a larger Samsung 850 Pro instead.

 

[SirFelixCat]

Alright, based on suggestions, I made the following changes:

- 850 Pro instead of the 950 Pro I had originally.
- Nctura DH15 instead of the liquid cooling (the case and RAM have enough clearance)
- Bumped up the PSU to 850w to make sure I have plenty of clearance for a 2nd Ti, if I decide to go that route...plus Newegg had a sale
- Stepped down to the Gigabyte Z170 Gaming 5 mobo, as it had everything I needed.
- I ended up staying with the WD HDD for storage (coupled with the 850 as my boot drive) simply because I have never had an issue with any drive of theirs knock on wood and it was worth the piece of mind w/ it.
- I ended up saving about $200 off of the rig which I'm going to put towards the a new monitor (ASUS PG279Q) early next month.


Thanks very much for the help, y'all!

 

[MikaelRT]

Alright, based on suggestions, I made the following changes:

- 850 Pro instead of the 950 Pro I had originally.
- Nctura DH15 instead of the liquid cooling (the case and RAM have enough clearance)
- Bumped up the PSU to 850w to make sure I have plenty of clearance for a 2nd Ti, if I decide to go that route...plus Newegg had a sale
- Stepped down to the Gigabyte Z170 Gaming 5 mobo, as it had everything I needed.
- I ended up staying with the WD HDD for storage (coupled with the 850 as my boot drive) simply because I have never had an issue with any drive of theirs knock on wood and it was worth the piece of mind w/ it.
- I ended up saving about $200 off of the rig which I'm going to put towards the a new monitor (ASUS PG279Q) early next month.


Thanks very much for the help, y'all!

Let us know how this setup goes. I'm considering a very similar build.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

This is my first new rig in a LONG time and after weeks of research & a first round of suggestions, this is what I've come up with. This will be for gaming (eventually 4K), some video editing, and general use. Once the prices come down a bit, I'll be getting a 2nd 980 Ti video card, so that explains the beefier PSU.

Feedback welcome and I'd appreciate any first hand accounts on why x is better than y, if that's the case.

Thanks y'all!



PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($319.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: *Cooler Master Nepton 240M 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($98.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Thermal Compound: *Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.39 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VIII HERO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($103.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 950 PRO 512GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($347.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($149.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Superclocked+ ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($659.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($107.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Fractal Design GP14-WT 68.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($14.98 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Fractal Design GP14-WT 68.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($14.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Logitech G710 Plus Wired Gaming Keyboard ($90.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G602 Wireless Optical Mouse ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $2290.14
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-26 12:23 EDT-0400

Nice build. I like most of the components but would go with one of the Samsung 850 EVO drives as they are much cheaper than the 950 you specified. Newegg has a 500GB 850 EVO 3D SSD for $179.

Also - I think you will really like the mouse and keyboard combo you specified. I have the 710 keyboard and a G520, and love them both. The 710 has a great feel to it, especially if you are not partial to the feel of a more traditional mechanical keyboard. Its feel is basically halfway between a rubber dome KB and a "true" mechanical keyboard. Very nice IMO.

 

[doubledeluxe]

256GB EVO 850 are $75 on newegg too.

 

[DigDog]

i have the nepton and i would not buy it again. instead i would either get a noctua, or if i really wanted an AIO, i would go with corsair.

also, i dont like that logitech kb, it's just a fancy rubber dome kb for the same money as a proper mechanical.

i would also ofc get a zowie fk1/fk2, or a deathadder, but the 602 is a fine choice.

you can get 2x 240Gb SSD for $160. or even better, 4x SSD @ $320 and save a total of $180 by removing the mechanical drive.
unless idk, you actually need more than 1Tb of space.

 

[MongGrel]

Alright, based on suggestions, I made the following changes:

- 850 Pro instead of the 950 Pro I had originally.
- Nctura DH15 instead of the liquid cooling (the case and RAM have enough clearance)
- Bumped up the PSU to 850w to make sure I have plenty of clearance for a 2nd Ti, if I decide to go that route...plus Newegg had a sale
- Stepped down to the Gigabyte Z170 Gaming 5 mobo, as it had everything I needed.
- I ended up staying with the WD HDD for storage (coupled with the 850 as my boot drive) simply because I have never had an issue with any drive of theirs knock on wood and it was worth the piece of mind w/ it.
- I ended up saving about $200 off of the rig which I'm going to put towards the a new monitor (ASUS PG279Q) early next month.


Thanks very much for the help, y'all!

Looks pretty nice to me after the adjustments, I still prefer an air cooler over an AIO myself.

I imagine it's a Noctua DH15, I'm not being a spelling nazi, just figure it was a typo.

As far as HDD's I still use WD Blacks or RE's myself in everything I have for storage. Have many old ones still plunking along just fine myself.

 

[SirFelixCat]

Well, a week after the build and I couldn't be happier, honestly. It's dead quiet, SUPER cool and mind-blowingly fast.

Thanks for all the feedback and help, y'all.


The only downside is that my wife is now pretty hella jealous and I'm now having to build her a similar rig, but with a stepped-down video card

 

[Ketchup]

That's great! Thanks for the update.