New Build To Discuss

Hardware Build a PC
1

Well, I hope some people can help me, I have posted before but need some help making a Gaming PC build. I have already setup a list of what I would like to see but any adjustments or opinions are welcome. I would like to keep my build under 2000 dollars CAD, but I have already past that limit a while ago, please suggest some reductions, in cost but not in performance:

CPU: Intel Core i7-3930K 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($549.98)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100 92.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99)
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus VI Extreme DDR3 1600 LGA 1156 Motherboard ($432.70)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($144.98)
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX780 SuperClocked 3GB GDDR5 384bit ($659.99)
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX780 SuperClocked 3GB GDDR5 384bit ($659.99) (SLI)
Hard Drive: Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($229.99)
Hard Drive: Seagate Constellation ES.2 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($368.99)
Case: Corsair Obsidian Series Black 800D Full Tower Computer Case ($273.99)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 1250W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($212.50)
Optical Drive: Asus BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($61.98)
Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-fi Titanium ($149.99)

PS: I would like to keep it a Intel build, but if someone has a better reason for me to change to AMD I'll see.

Thank you for reading

2

Personal opinion from the top down...

Your motherboard socket needs to fit your cpu socket. i7 sandy is 2011, the mobo is 1156. I wouldn't get an i7 anyway.  i5s are fine unless you have cash overflowing from your pockets.  If you're adamant on getting that cpu go with a Asus Rampage IV Extreme LGA 2011.

Drop the Corsair H100 and get a nice air cooler. I use a Noctua NH-D14, make sure it fits if you're going to get it.  Water cooling is a pain and if you're not going all out on it you're better off with an air cooler.

I like your Memory, GPU, and SSD picks, but I would go for a cheaper 3TB drive.  If you're fine with the price I would still get a cheaper HD and upgrade to a bigger SSD.

I think the case is rediculously expensive for all it is, but then again, your taste, your money.

Really nice finishing touch with the Sound Card.  That's something I really want, but keep putting off getting.

3

Thank you for the feedback.

I would personally like to have a water-cooling unit in my build, as I have read about the advantages it would bring to overcloking my CPU.

And what case would you recommend for me? I would want to stay with Corsair because I like the minimalistic look they give to my build. 

I was also thinking about getting some red fans to add a nice red touch to the build along with red acrylic piping for the watercooler.

Do you have any reductions I could put to reduce the price to 2000 dollars CAD? Or you could just make a new list in PartPicker. If so, I would like a 780 4GB as a must and watercooling if possible. Thanks

4

PS do you know how to bump a post on this forum?

5

It bumps itself everytime it's posted on.  If you're diehard on water cooling and don't want to go to all the hassle of making a custom watercooling system the the H100 would work.  I'll agree that it does have a nice minimalistic look as long as you can hide the radiator somewhere. Temps with a high end air cooler are just as good for overclocking, if not better than an H100 though.  If you're sticking with a minimalistic look and sticking with Corsair, then the case you picked is exactly what you want. Something to check out is an Antec 900.  I realize the stock case fans are blue, but they can be swapped with red ones.  I have a red keyboard and a red mouse, so on my next order I'll probably be picking up a few red led case fans too.  If you're looking to reduce price on this build I would get a cheaper HD and probably a 120GB SSD.  Also having an i5 wouldn't hurt. If you really want to get the price down you could go with the new AMD CPUs, which aren't bad at all, really.  

Links and such

Antec 900 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

Sidenote: the huge fan on the top of the Antec would be prime for the H100 radiator.

HD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822178338

SSD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820239045

Air Cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

i5 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

i5 motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131830

AMD 8 core cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113284

AMD AM3+ mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128514

Do a little bit of research. I have to be at work in 8 hours so I'll ttyl haha.

6

ps here is a list of all the amd cpus that fit on that motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006519%2050001028%2040000343%20600213781&IsNodeId=1&name=Socket%20AM3%2b

Games really don't use all 8 cores so a 6 core or 4 core is good, but I think both next gen consoles have 8 core cpus, so that may be changing soon.  Don't hold me to that though. 

7

Yea, I might look into the Fan(it has this dark red color I DISLIKE a lot though). I guess I could make do with this setup. Hmm.. I was thinking a tri-monitor setup, I already have a 27" monitor by Dell, Thinking something like Catleap

8

I threw your rig together, and it was far more than $2000 CAD.

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/15QLV

You are almost twice as much.

This is a very unbalanced rig, with lots of overpriced parts. 

Personally, I'd go with a system like this: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/15QR5

You will never need more than the CPU power of a 3770k for gaming. Haswell runs pretty hot, as well, and has nominal performance gains over Ivy.

The Gigabyte UD5 Z77 will handle a 4.6 to 4.8gHz on that 3770k easily, and the Phanteks PH-TC14PE, which out-performs the H100, will keep it nice and cool.

You will not use 3TB of HDD. Ever. I'd invest in a nice, large SSD instead, like the 500GB Samsung 840, which will be much faster than the Constellation, and entirely silent.

The 780s are monsters, but you are mugh better off with a pair of high-end 7950s, like the MSI Twin Frozr 7950s, which are fully unlocked, have a great VRM, and look fantastic. At 1080p, you will max essentially all games, and at 1440p, games will be above 30 FPS easily.

If you like the 800D for the looks, then the Fractal Design R4 will look great. Fantastic looks, solid build quality, cable management, and airflow, but for a much better price.

That PSU is massive overkill; you could power quad 780s with it! Not to montion the price. For twin 7950s, and twin 780s even, a solid 750W PSU, like the Corsair AX750, will be plenty. The AX750 is really efficient, has a low ripple, is built really well, and is fully modular for cable sleeving and cable management.

Lastly, I wouldn,t get 4GB sticks of RAM; instead, 8GB sticks offer more room to upgrade. G.SXILL Sniper looks great, is cheap, and at 1866mHz CL9, is plenty fast.

9

Ok... Finally off work and home. If I were in your position and had $2000 Canadian to blow, I would panhandle $66.16 and buy this.

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/166ie 

If you're dead set on water cooling just switch the NH-D14 to a H100.  However, I'll warn you again.  The extreme benefits of water cooling are from the bigger, custom water cooling builds.  A quality push-pull heatsink will have lower temps than a small watercooling loop.  If I had to water cool my system the H100 would be right down at the bottom of the list beside thermal pasting a metal cup full of water on my cpu.  For all the maintenance and pain you're going through with watercooling, it's a "go big or go home" deal. Also if you mess up with an air heatsink your cpu will overheat and your comp will auto shut down  - all parts intact for you to re-set the heatsink.  If you mess up, or even get faulty parts with watercooling, well then.... your brand new $2000 computer is fried, and I'd bet that "I accidently got water over everything" isn't covered in the warranties.