Critique My Build

Hello everyone

I have recently started a full time job after completing my course at university (college). My wage packets have started coming in and I think that I should have enough to purchase the parts for a new build very soon.

My primary use for this system is going to be gaming. At the moment I would like to play at ultra, if possible, in 1080p, this is due to me only having 1080p monitors at the moment. In the future I would like to purchase a 1440p monitor, and would hope to game at a high quality in that resolution also.

Another use that I may have for it is web development. This would however not be very often at all.

My preference for the system is an Intel CPU, and I would prefer an AMD graphics card as I prefer them as a company. However, at the moment there are no graphics cards on the Red side that fit my above criteria, so I have gone for an NVidia 1070.

The parts list is listed below:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor (£293.88 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (£97.98 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A GAMING M5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard (£142.53 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory (£80.98 @ CCL Computers)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£128.28 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card (£429.98 @ Novatech)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case (£64.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Power Supply: Corsair RMx 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£89.42 @ CCL Computers)
Total: £1328.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-20 18:58 BST+0100

I have a maximum budget of around 1400 pound, but only if there is a particular component that is worth the price increase.

The main things that I am concerned with in the above is whether the i7 6700k is worth the extra £80 over the i5 6600k. Also, whether or not I need a 650w power supply, or whether it would suffice to have a 550w.

Thanks for any advice or criticism that you can give.

If you think that you may go SLI in the future for that 1440p goal I'd recommend an 850w PSU. And for CPU cooling air might be preferable for long term reliability. be quiet! selected primarily for aesthetics since you are looking at a windowed case.

The GTX 1070 is only slightly better than the GTX 980 Ti.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor (£293.88 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG R1 Ultimate 76.0 CFM CPU Cooler (£70.98 @ Ebuyer)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A GAMING M5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard (£142.54 @ More Computers)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory (£80.98 @ CCL Computers)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£128.28 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Superclocked ACX 2.0+ Video Card (£349.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case (£76.59 @ CCL Computers)
Power Supply: XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£85.60 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £1228.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-20 20:07 BST+0100

I was considering the Dark Rock Pro 3, as I believe that is quieter. However, I feel that a water cooler is more aesthetically pleasing.

The PSU upgrade is a possibility. Thank you for that.

1 Like

Thank you for the advice. However, the reason I went with the 1070 is that I aiming for the system to last a longer period of time.

Therefore, I would prefer a current generation GPU.

Thank you though.

NZXT Kraken X61 106.1 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB SC Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card
EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/hm7QD8

For gaming I would say, the i5 is good enough and the money saved here, you could invest in the psu upgrade (if you really consider later SLI).
I have the Corsair AX860i proposed by Calvus and it's a good choice.
Or just add some LEDs... :) Or use to upgrade peripherals...

Is there any reason why you are suggesting an NZXT cooler over a Corsair one. From what I have heard/read Corsair is a very reputable brand for water cooler.

Also, why EVGA over MSI? Is there an particular reason or is it just in related to the warranty?

Have you considered a Corsair SSD over the samsung one maybe?

Just noting all the parts you have seems to be mostly corsair / msi,

If you want longevity, then you may as well go for an i7 5820k. I also swapped the air cooler, for a H110i GTX in this build. And put an EVGA GTX 1070, with the ACX cooler.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor (£359.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H110i GTX 104.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (£99.95 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: MSI X99A SLI PLUS ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard (£178.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory (£65.99 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£128.28 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB SC Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card (£417.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case (£76.59 @ CCL Computers)
Power Supply: XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£85.60 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £1413.38
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-20 23:10 BST+0100

Okay, I had a feeling it was. Just trying to squeeze as much out of the system as possible, within the budget that I have. I would like it to last a long time. My current system has reached a point where it is struggling to run games that it should have no issue with. I don't want that to happen to this machine any time soon.

LEDs and peripherals are later goals. I would like to get the system up and running first. I already have peripherals that I am happy with. LEDs aren't massively important for the moment as the system will be under a desk. Besides they aren't that expensive that I can't get them the next time I get paid. Or is it a pain to put LEDs in after a build is complete?

If I decide to make an Intel build in the near future I might go with evga x99 and evga 1070 their a good brand very nice warranties on their stuff.

No its not... I wasn't really serious about that :)

But still I don't see any advantages for gaming in an i7 CPU.. since you're on a budget, i5 is the better choice IMO.

Does the Corsair one have any advantages over the Samsung one.

The parts being mostly Corsair/MSI is just a coincidence to be honest.

I dont know if it has any advantages to be honest, from an aesthetic point of view though it adds consistency to the overall build.. 'really not that important though' lol

I would just like all the power in honesty. That's the main reason of wanting an i7 over an i5.

But I will consider downgrading a little.

I think if you have the budget then its a wise choice going with the i7 I mean you wont lack anything in the next few years with that cpu and so you get a bit of longevity with that purchase too.

EVGA for its build quality
NZXT performs better, will look better and match the case

Build in the op looks good to me sofar.