Okay, so...I posted a few pages back, and I've updated my build slightly. I'm an animator/designer/podcaster/game player, and I'd like this build to last years (current computer is an upgraded 2007 Mac Pro, FYI). Before I order all of this, tell me what I may be missing so I don't blow it all up (I know I don't have anything for cable management). I haven't chosen a keyboard yet, and I have existing Windows installation discs and I already have a mouse. Just need a little reassurance here, or for someone to point out the thing that's going to catch on fire as soon as I plug it in. PCPartsPicker tells me there are no incompatibilities, and it'll come to about...$1778, give or take.
CPU - Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor
CPU Cooler - Corsair H55 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard - MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard
Memory - Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory
Storage - Sandisk Ultra II 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive & Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card - MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card
Case - Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply - Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive - Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer
Monitor - Acer K272HULbmiidp 60Hz 27.0" Monitor
Thermal Compound - Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste
Hmm, $1778 seems oddly expensive, I was able to put together a similar build with a GTX 980 for about $1840, only about $60 more. Granted, it is more expensive overall, but the difference between the GTX 970 and 980 is supposed to be about $200, not just $60. Of course, if you decide you only need a GTX 970, then my build will be only about $1630 with a GTX 970.
PCPartPicker part list /
Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($362.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BL 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($159.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2800 Memory ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($87.30 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Toshiba 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.80 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB FTW ACX 2.0 Video Card ($521.37 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Acer K272HULbmiidp 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1836.36
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-25 15:03 EDT-0400
My build includes the Phanteks PH-TC14PE air cooler, which should be a more capable heatsink than the Corsair H55 which is Corsair's lowest end water cooler. In fact in
TechPowerUp's testing, the Phanteks cooler is able to trade blows with the Corsair H110 and H100, both of which are much larger and more capable than the H55.
For X99, you want quad channel DDR4 memory which means 4 sticks. Installing 2 sticks will still work, but you don't get the benefit of quad channel mode.
The Toshiba 2TB drive should be similar to the WD Black models (7200RPM and 64MB cache) but cost much less. They do have a shorter warranty period (3 years VS 5 years) though.
The Corsair 500R is a larger model in the same product line as the 200R. It does cost somewhat more money, but the 200R won't fit the Phanteks air cooler, so I picked the 500R instead.
The EVGA 750 watt power supply is semi-modular and has enough wattage to allow for GTX 980 SLI.
Thermal paste isn't needed as the cooler already comes with it pre-applied. If you wanted to have thermal paste on hand for future use, then just add it back to the list.
I got an i3 4170 for my second build, is that okay for gaming? Got a 960 and 8gb ram. Most taxing game will be DA:I or Skyrim with some mods.... am I in for a bad surprise?
I've heard that Dragon Age: Inquisition refuses to run on dual-core processors (without a hack). From what I can find, it's said that people have been able to run it on i3 processors, so I think you're safe..