First Time Build

Midian_IRL

Hey Guys,
Just looking for a bit of advice on my build. I'm a first time builder, wanted to build a high end gaming PC for quite some time now. I think I have done my research correctly and think all the components I have chosen are compatible.

1. What is your budget? [€3,000]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Gaming - Star Citizen, Watch Dogs, etc]

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [Yes]

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [No]

5. Do you need a monitor? [Yes]

5a. If yes, what size do you need. [24' ]or 27'

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1920x1080/1440x900/etc.] [Yes/No]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Keyboard/Wireless Card]

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [Not initially but when the PC gets older I will]

8. How can you pay? [Credit Card/Laser]

9. When are you purchasing? [2 Weeks hopefully]

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [Limerick]


I tried to use Fluffy's Script but it says I can't post URL links because I am a new user.
Anyhoo, I did a build on Hardwareversand.

Cooler Master Storm Trooper 130,87 € (I want the one with the window so will probably order that somewhere else.)

Intel Core i7-4930K, 6x 3.40GHz 482,36 €

Corsair Hydro Series H100i 92,49 €

ASUS GTX780TI-DC2OC-3GD5 DirectCU II OC, GeForce GTX 780 Ti, 3GB GDDR5, 2x DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort 589,07

ASUS RAMPAGE IV FORMULA, Sockel 2011,ATX, DDR3 277,22 €

16GB-Kit Corsair Vengeance Pro Red PC3-14900U CL 9-10-9-27 (DDR3- 1866) 139,35 €

Samsung SSD 840 EVO Basic 250GB SATA 6Gb/s 113,28 €

Seagate Barracuda 7200 2000GB, SATA 6Gb/s 68,84 €

Corsair AX1200i Digital ATX Power Supply 80PLUS Platinum 1200W 266,08 €

Samsung SH-224DB schwarz 12,37 €

Windows 8.1 64Bit Eng Intl (SB-Version) DVD 82,12 €

Total: 2.254,05 €

I know the power supply is over kill but I plan to add a 2nd graphics card eventually and maybe a 2nd SSD. I think everything should fit in the case, like the h100i etc. I have no idea what monitor or Keyboard I should go with. Any advice on the build would be greatly appreciated. Is there any parts I have forgotten about, should add?
Thanks in advance

frozenfrozen

You'll be happy to hear we can shave about a grand off that price for better performance..!

Games don't take advantage of 4 cores fully let alone 6 (12 hyper threaded...) so a 4770k will outperform the x79 setup.
You'll also get better performance from 8gb of tighter faster ram. You'll not use up 8gb ram from gaming.

You can save 80 euro and buy the windows key from reddit software swap for $10.

Then for the screen I'd recommend a Korean 27" IPS. 2560x1440 resolution, and buy an aftermarket monitor arm (they're VESA mount so it's ok.)

I'm on my phone so apologies for no links and any spelling mistakes.

Midian_IRL

Thanks for all the advice FrozenFrozen. I had been looking at the 4770k also. Was thinking of getting the Maximus VI Formula if heading down that route if only for the awesome looking thermal armor :-) Also, I think that motherboard has built in wifi and I don't think the ramapage iv formula does. I could be wrong on both accounts there though. I'll have a look at those Korean monitors. They seem way cheaper that what I had been looking at. Thanks again.

frozenfrozen

Midian_IRL wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice FrozenFrozen. I had been looking at the 4770k also. Was thinking of getting the Maximus VI Formula if heading down that route if only for the awesome looking thermal armor :-) Also, I think that motherboard has built in wifi and I don't think the ramapage iv formula does. I could be wrong on both accounts there though. I'll have a look at those Korean monitors. They seem way cheaper that what I had been looking at. Thanks again.

I'd advise against wifi especially on a potentially 3k eur build. You'd be much better served by a very long ethernet cable or else powerline adaptors. But if you really really need wifi then having it built into the board is another plus.

for a full 3k build you could be looking at 3 of those korean 27" monitors in surround for gaming. However, my advice would be to go for one 27", have that 780ti powering it no bother, with a 4770k, 8gb 2133mhz(or higher) cas 9 ram, big ssd, and then get a really nice mechanical keyboard, good gaming mouse, headphones and microphone(if needed), a nice chair, and pocket the rest of the 3k budget for tonnes of games, and upgrades for the next few years.

There's a point of diminishing returns when you go a step over an average gaming pc build. It's better to upgrade mid-high tier components every 2 or 3 years rather than going balls to the wall with a 3k build and replace it after 5-6 years.



Also definitely plan to overclock as soon as you get the pc. The unlocked cpus are made with that headroom for overclocking, and it's mad not to take advantage of it. You've chosen an overclocker board in your OP, which would be good if you wanted to do sub zero extreme overclocking business, but if you're not mad into the idea of that then you could easily change to another 'lower end' board, which in practise is only missing the features you would use in ln2 overclocking.


All that said, if you really want to spend 3k on this build, I can definitely find ways of spending it

Midian_IRL

Thanks again. I had the 3k price range stuck in my head for some strange reason really, haha. No point spending that much if it won't add any noticeable difference to performance. Also, some of the components I choose where for cosmetic reasons as well as all their other points. Like the RAM being red to match the motherboard. I still think I want to go with 16gb of RAM, really just because Star Citizen is one of the main reasons I am building the PC and the minimum specs for that will be 8gb Ram so I would like to have more than that. Hoping to run that game on pretty high settings. By switching to the 4770k and maximus board I would have half the money I would need to get a 2nd 780ti, which would be nice :-)

miece16

my build cost €600 and i can play all the current games at 1080p ultra settings and will be able to do so for the next 2 -3 years

frozenfrozen

Midian_IRL wrote: »

Thanks again. I had the 3k price range stuck in my head for some strange reason really, haha. No point spending that much if it won't add any noticeable difference to performance. Also, some of the components I choose where for cosmetic reasons as well as all their other points. Like the RAM being red to match the motherboard. I still think I want to go with 16gb of RAM, really just because Star Citizen is one of the main reasons I am building the PC and the minimum specs for that will be 8gb Ram so I would like to have more than that. Hoping to run that game on pretty high settings. By switching to the 4770k and maximus board I would have half the money I would need to get a 2nd 780ti, which would be nice :-)

You could get 8gb ram now and add 8 more in the future if you need it. The recommended specs for star citizen are 8gb, which means it will run alongside windows / normal things, if you have 8gb of ram. Still if you're set on 16 then go for it, but you'll have to try very hard to use all 8gb when gaming. (couple hundred browser tabs, music player, multiple games open at the same time).


Yep it's a lot of money saved, I'd say don't get a second 780ti though because you'll be getting enough power from one to power the 1440p monitor. With the money you'd spend on a second 780ti your gaming experience would be improved more by spending 600 quid on speakers, headphones, keyboard, mouse, chair. Really don't forget the chair!
Also you wouldn't even need the maximus mobo since you're not into overclocking. I know its tempting to get the 'best' board (where best = most expensive) but you'll get an identical performance from one of the lower price boards, because the premium on the maximus boards is the extreme overclocking features. The money saved would be better spent on more HDDs and having them in a raid array, or more ssds or a really nice chair :cool:

miece16 wrote: »

my build cost €600 and i can play all the current games at 1080p ultra settings and will be able to do so for the next 2 -3 years

Yep completely agree it can be done much cheaper. OP's budget includes monitor and peripherals too, and has what's required for 1440p gaming, but if he were going for 1080 there could be even more money saved. 1440p is the sweet spot for 27" monitors though IMO.

Midian_IRL

Seems like you really want me to get that chair, haha :-) Just wondering, it's probably a stupid question but do you know will there be any additional charges by Irish customs bringing in computer parts from Germany?

IrishStuff09

Midian_IRL wrote: »

Seems like you really want me to get that chair, haha :-) Just wondering, it's probably a stupid question but do you know will there be any additional charges by Irish customs bringing in computer parts from Germany?

Nope, as Germany is within the EU.

Midian_IRL

IrishStuff09 wrote: »

Nope, as Germany is within the EU.

Thought as much but just wanted to make sure. Thanks.

Serephucus

I haven't read through all this thread (apologies), but I'll just throw some general advice out there:

With a budget that big, you should consider what your priorities are for your setup. Do you want watercooling for overclocking and/or silence? Do you want a mechanical keyboard, IPS display, dedicated sound card, high quality speakers and headphones? (The correct answer to all of the above is generally "yes")

Midian_IRL

The answer is yes to most of those, and not initially on the overclocking. Only because this is my first build and I just want to make sure everything is running fine before I go tinkering with it. I will once I get more confident about what I am doing. Bit nervous about the whole build since I haven't done it before.

Midian_IRL

Hey, Just wondering if you'd have any advice on the RAM. I was looking at getting the 16GB-Kit Corsair Vengeance Pro Red PC3-14900U CL 9-10-9-27 (DDR3- 1866) but now I am not sure if I should get the 16GB-Kit G.Skill TridentX PC3-19200U CL10 2400 MHz ( PC3-19200). There are SO many options :-)

Serephucus

Just get whatever's cheap, and looks nice. If there's 1866MHz RAM for a couple of Euro more than 1600, grab that I suppose. Don't bother paying a premium though; RAM speed means next to nothing these days.

Midian_IRL

Thanks Serephucus, I had read as much why trawling through the net. I prefer the look of the Vengeance Pro so I will go with that. Can get the both for about the same price so I will go with the nicer looking sticks.

Midian_IRL

Hey guys, have another question I am hoping ye can help me out with. The parts I ordered from hardwareversand arrived today and I was having a quick look through them. Forgot the PSU would have a German plug. Can I just use an adapter on that, or a regular Irish kettle lead? Would it have any effect on the PSU? Guessing the Monitor will be the same.

bassey

Any auld kettle lead will do

SterlingArcher

As basey said. Kettle, fat ps3 , any will do. Most people have at least one lying around. Same for monitor.

Midian_IRL

Thanks guys. Figured as much but just wanted to make sure before I started plugging stuff in and turning it on.