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[Aztechnology]

Whenever there is flakey reliability like this, it's usually the board.

I know they are going to want me to RMA it. The issue is I don't particularly want this board again with how many threads there are about this issue and reviews on newegg etc (at least 50-60% of the 1-3star reviews reporting this issue). I foresee a lot of RMA BS now and in the future. There's been a few threads with people switching out the RAM for different RAM and having that fix the issue, but I don't have any other DDR4 ram for testing. Everyone who seems to be having this issue purchased the same Mobo/Ram/CPU combo.

Maybe it's time to confirm that hypothesis. Cheaper than dealing with RMA shipping constantly or replacing the board entirely.

 

[ombz]

Just in case anyone else has a 350D I thought I'd share that a Noctua's NH 15S does fit even though it's height with a fan (165mm) is over the specified limit. I tried searching for awhile to verify compatibility before I bought it but only found a couple examples that suggested it may work.

 

[Aztechnology]

You would definitely want a better CPU cooler. The 6800K is a high-end CPU. The Cooler master 212 is okay, but if you were building this machine, you'd at least run a Noctua D14 or a 240mm closed-loop liquid cooler. That, and it heats up pretty steeply when overclocked. You'd also want to add a larger mechanical hard drive or SSD. 120GB is not much once you've got a Windows installation and programs.

Other than that, yeah; it's pretty good. Buying pre-built will save you a mountain of hassle.

Something like this would be fine for it. I have a Seidon 240mm liquid cooler with a heavy overclock and it never goes above 40-45c

 

[zeroeffect]

Why's the 1080 $50 more than Nvidia usually prices that series of GPU? Did they add something special? I think I might wait for a 1080 Ti. No reason to upgrade a 980 right now...but that 1080 is beastly. I wonder if they'll do a refresh or sit on these cards for 2 years. Founders Edition...is that some kind of gimmick NVIDIA? lol.

 

[Arkanius]

Does anyone have an Phanteks Enthoo Evolve ATX (Tempered Glass or not) ?

I want to know how the noise is with the case. Most reviews completely skip this important part. I'm undecided between this and the Dark Base 900 by BeQuiet.

 

[CHC]

Ugh so I still can't get my 2133 MHz RAM to be stable.

Seems it's matter of adjusting SA / IO voltage.

But it looks like my motherboard (MSI P67A-G43-B3) doesn't actually HAVE System Agent / IO voltage options in the BIOS, that only comes in the higher-end mobos.

Any other way to adjust that setting or am I just shit outta luck here?

 

[dragn]

to everyone whos about to buy a new cpu, please look into voltage controls in your bios. my 6700k used 1,4vcore on auto and now its only using 1,2 with offset mode on -0,025. temps went from 70-72 down to 60 and from 75watt to 50 in just cause 3

 

[dragn]

Ugh so I still can't get my 2133 MHz RAM to be stable.

Seems it's matter of adjusting SA / IO voltage.

But it looks like my motherboard (MSI P67A-G43-B3) doesn't actually HAVE System Agent / IO voltage options in the BIOS, that only comes in the higher-end mobos.

Any other way to adjust that setting or am I just shit outta luck here?

is there no advanced mode in your uefi ?

 

[mr2xxx]

How much resale value does a delidded CPU lose? In my case a 3570k?

 

[Hazardous Metal]

Is this http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/h3FXsY/evga-power-supply-220gs0650v1 PSU a good enough PSU to overclock a 980ti? I have a number of peripherals plugged in so I'm kind of concerned. Any thoughts?

 

[dragn]

Is this http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/h3FXsY/evga-power-supply-220gs0650v1 PSU a good enough PSU to overclock a 980ti? I have a number of peripherals plugged in so I'm kind of concerned. Any thoughts?

yes thats enough

 

[mochi~]

My build!
I'm waiting for corsair ML120 fans to be on sale so I can replace these stock fans..
http://pcpartpicker.com/b/xKYrxr

 

[purvispisgah]

First, I want to thank everyone that contributes to this thread. What an incredible resource!

I am going to be building a new HTPC in the next 2-3 weeks, depending mostly on how long it takes to procure the video card. I will be using this in my living room primarily to game on a 1080P TV. I am interested in VR, but doubt I will be willing to jump into that for at least another year if not more. I am not someone that cares about the highest end graphics by any means (my current setup includes a 6950), but my rig is pretty long in the tooth and I have recently gotten some extra cash. I tend not to buy the newest games, but everyone likes to play things on high settings, right?

I don't have any plans to overclock. I would not be totally opposed to the idea, but I'm probably just too lazy to bother.

I live in the US and my budget is between 850-1100.

I will be transferring over a couple of internal HDDs, everything else will be new. I would really like this setup to be quiet. My current machine is a bit noisy, and it's not unbearable, but I'd be willing to pay a little more for less noise.

I've picked out some components utilizing the excellent builds linked in the OP. Below is my PCPartPicker list:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($110.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($92.00 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone GD09B HTPC Case ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($78.10 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($36.00 @ B&H)
Total: $659.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-01 21:49 EDT-0400

-I went with a less expensive (but hopefully still relatively future proof) CPU because it's cheaper by itself, and it also comes with a cooler. Is the cooler ok? Does anyone know how noisy it is? I looked for some reviews but didn't really see anything specific.

-I'm wondering if I could go with a slightly cheap motherboard (such as this:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128863)since I don't plan to overclock. What do you guys think?

-The RAM is not something I'm really married to. I want 16GB and I've had success with G.Skill before. I wanted something DDR4 3000 based on the recommended build specs, is this a good idea?

-The 250 GB SSD is important to me. I have a 128GB now, and it is just too small with Windows on it as well. I believe 250 will work and I have heard good things about Samsung drives. I will transfer some standard HDDs over from my current build.

-I like this case. I have a Silverstone case now that has worked fairly well, and this one seems better laid out and more accommodating. It needs to fit into a space 19.5" wide x 17.5" deep x 11" tall. This looks like it will fit that bill and can fit a standard ATX case with a large video card. It only has one 120mm fan, and space for 2 80mm and 1 more 120mm. Any recommendations for good, quiet fans? Also, how many should I get and what intake/exhaust ratio should I shoot for?

-A modular power supply is a must for this build. I cheaped out last time and have regretted it everytime I've opened my current PC. Never again.

-I need the wifi adaptor and this one is PCI and goes up to AC frequencies.

Finally, I need to decide on a video card. I've been looking at the new 480s, but I am worried about the noise on the reference fans, and I don't know when the cards with aftermarket coolers will release. I could possibly dish out the cash for a 1070, but I feel like at 1080P, I would be wasting my money a little. Future-proofed, but might not be a great investment for someone that doesn't exactly stay super current with their Steam library.

The biggest problem is that neither of these cards is readily available at the moment. As said before, the 480 with better cooling has an unknown release date (unless I am mistaken), and 1070s seem awfully hard to come by. There is another GAF member in the Buy/Sell/Trade thread with this card for $215:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487088. I have reached out to this person, but haven't heard back. This card looks like it would be super quiet and the benchmarks for the 970 at 1080P look better in most games than the 480. I don't mind buying used and have had good luck with B/S/T thread transactions before (that's where I got my current 6950). Should the 4GB of VRAM scare me off? Will this card be sufficient for a not-too-high-end user at 1080P? Is there another potentially better option I haven't considered?

Last but not least, a Windows license. I have a Windows 7 Pro license on my current machine that was obtained legitimately, but I have no idea where the product key is now. I would like to put Windows 10 on the new machine. I've read people suggesting procuring an inexpensive Windows 7 or 8 key, installing, then upgrading this for free to Windows 10 prior to the July 29th end date for the update. Does this seem like the smartest route? Would I be able to transfer my Windows 7 license to the new machine, upgrade that machine to Windows 10, and still use 7 on the old machine at least long enough to transfer everything over? Would the current Windows 7 machine stop working altogether after the license transfer?


I know that's a lot, and I really appreciate any help/feedback I can get. Thanks in advance!


Edit:
There is a new post in the B/S/T thread where someone else is selling a 970. The following link compares the two cards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=%2D1&IsNodeId=1&Description=gigabyte%20g1%20gaming%20970&bop=And&CompareItemList=%2D1%7C14%2D487%2D088%5E14%2D487%2D088%2C14%2D125%2D684%5E14%2D125%2D684&percm=14%2D125%2D684%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24

The EVGA card is listed at $215, and the Gigabyte card is listed at $185. I don't see much of a significant difference between them, although the EVGA card is probably quieter. The problem is the specs for the Silverstone case have it supporting cards up to 12.2", while the Gigabyte card is 12.28". Are these spec values usually spot on, or is there a little wiggle room? I'd hate to buy a card that doesn't fit. The EVGA card is listed at ~10" and would comfortably fit. Any suggestions?

 

[snack]

GTX 1060... Wonder how it compares to the RX 480 in terms of pricing.

 

[xkramz]

i need a RGB solution for my pc case. any ideas?

 

[opticalmace]

Ive been recently eyeing a 1070 from my current 970, but don't really know if that's the best path or not. I know my oc'd 2500 at 4.4Ghz is still no slouch, but wouldn't mind upgrading in some sense. Just can't decide if I'd be better off starting with a new cpu/mobo/ram and keeping the 970 (maybe another 970 in sli?), or maybe trying to get more life out of my 1155 setup with a 3770k and faster ram. Or do you think my 2500 would be up to the task of powering a 1070? Any advice or ideas? thanks!

What games do you play and what resolution/refresh rate is your monitor?

 

[Momentary]

My build!
I'm waiting for corsair ML120 fans to be on sale so I can replace these stock fans..
http://pcpartpicker.com/b/xKYrxr

Damn that is CLEAN. Love it.

 

[camequipped]

Does anyone have an Phanteks Enthoo Evolve ATX (Tempered Glass or not) ?

I want to know how the noise is with the case. Most reviews completely skip this important part. I'm undecided between this and the Dark Base 900 by BeQuiet.

I have the regular ATX not TG and its alright. You can definitely hear the fans depending on your set up and fan curve but its nothing too loud either. I went from a NZXT s340 and the noise on the phanteks is definitely quieter. To sum up, i wouldn't trade this case for anything else seeing that I placed aesthetics very high on my list but there are definitely quieter options.

 

[Hazardous Metal]

Umm... so, I tried overclocking my MSI 980ti by +199 core clock speed and now my Firestrike score is only 9000-ish versus the 16Kish I was getting before. Removing the clock speed boost isn't changing anything either. Am I fucked?

 

[opticalmace]

Umm... so, I tried overclocking my MSI 980ti by +199 core clock speed and now my Firestrike score is only 9000-ish versus the 16Kish I was getting before. Removing the clock speed boost isn't changing anything either. Am I fucked?

Reboot?

 

[Hazardous Metal]

Reboot?

Just rebooted and still getting bad performance in FireStrike. I'm scared now.

 

[e90Mark]

i need a RGB solution for my pc case. any ideas?

NZXT Hue

 

[23qwerty]

Just rebooted and still getting bad performance in FireStrike. I'm scared now.

Reinstall GPU drivers? Possibly use that program that clean uninstalls video drivers can't recall what it's called atm maybe someone else does.

 

[HooYaH]

Reinstall GPU drivers? Possibly use that program that clean uninstalls video drivers can't recall what it's called atm maybe someone else does.

Display Driver Uninstaller.

 

[23qwerty]

Display Driver Uninstaller.

That would be the one

 

[Subaru]

So guys, I need some help
I've bought a new PC using the guide from the first topic.

I5 6600k, the 212 heatsink
2x8gb RAM (Corsair) DDR 4 3000Mhz
Asus Z170-A

My pc is freezing.

I've tested PCSX2 and FFXII keeps losing performance (it starts 400% at turbo mode and while I'm playing the performance keeps droping until is under 100%).

GTA V is freezing my pc, the game starts ok and then became slower and slower until it freezes. I tried to run the benchmark, which starts at 60fps and at the airplane part reaches 10 fps.

I'm monitoring temperatures with CPUID and only the motherboard had 70C, the CPUs hardly goes to 50C.

I've run memtest and the memories seems fine

I don't know what can be, but it seems this is not an uncommon problem.

Oh, one thing: the memories are at 2133 MHZ (1.2V) even that I've bought 3000Mhz memories
http://www.centralcomputers.com/p-4...black-heat-spreader-cl15-1productproduct.aspx

This one.

EDIT: more infos
I was using my previous windows 10 HD, but I've formated and I still have problems;
I'm using my GTX 670 from my previous computer, as well my Corsair 650

Thanks =)

 

[opticalmace]

So guys, I need some help
I've bought a new PC using the guide from the first topic.

I5 6600k, the 212 heatsink
2x8gb RAM (Corsair) DDR 4 3000Mhz
Asus Z170-A

My pc is freezing.

I've tested PCSX2 and FFXII keeps losing performance (it starts 400% at turbo mode and while I'm playing the performance keeps droping until is under 100%).

GTA V is freezing my pc, the game starts ok and then became slower and slower until it freezes. I tried to run the benchmark, which starts at 60fps and at the airplane part reaches 10 fps.

I'm monitoring temperatures with CPUID and only the motherboard had 70C, the CPUs hardly goes to 50C.

I've run memtest and the memories seems fine

I don't know what can be, but it seems this is not an uncommon problem.

Oh, one thing: the memories are at 2133 MHZ (1.2V) even that I've bought 3000Mhz memories
http://www.centralcomputers.com/p-4...black-heat-spreader-cl15-1productproduct.aspx

This one.

EDIT: more infos
I was using my previous windows 10 HD, but I've formated and I still have problems;
I'm using my GTX 670 from my previous computer, as well my Corsair 650

Thanks =)

What are your GPU temperatures like while running these benchmarks? GPU could be throttling or overheating.

Re: the ram, you'll have to set them to the correct specifications in the bios. If you're lucky you can just enable XMP. In either case, set it to the correct voltage (1.35V).

 

[wihio]

Does anyone have an Phanteks Enthoo Evolve ATX (Tempered Glass or not) ?

I want to know how the noise is with the case. Most reviews completely skip this important part. I'm undecided between this and the Dark Base 900 by BeQuiet.

I do not own either of the cases you mention, but I know HardwareCanucks have some review videos that at least mention the sound of the Phantek with tempered glass. If I remember correctly, the sound with the glass was only slightly louder than without the glass. They also just added a review of the DarkBase 900.

I am currently researching a new case, and I think I have decided on the Fractal Design Define R5.

 

[ISee]

How much resale value does a delidded CPU lose? In my case a 3570k?

They loose value over time, but you can get some money back.
I was able to sell my MB+RAM+3570k (w/o cooler because I reused it) for 250€ on ebay.de.
For comparison I bought my 6700k, the asus z170-a and 16gb of ddr4 3000mhz ram for ~580€. In the end my upgrade only cost me ~360€ (because of ebay fees). That's okay.

 

[WadeitOut]

NZXT Hue

Nailed it

 

[Megabat]

-I went with a less expensive (but hopefully still relatively future proof) CPU because it's cheaper by itself, and it also comes with a cooler. Is the cooler ok? Does anyone know how noisy it is? I looked for some reviews but didn't really see anything specific.

-I'm wondering if I could go with a slightly cheap motherboard (such as this:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128863)since I don't plan to overclock. What do you guys think?

-The RAM is not something I'm really married to. I want 16GB and I've had success with G.Skill before. I wanted something DDR4 3000 based on the recommended build specs, is this a good idea?

-The 250 GB SSD is important to me. I have a 128GB now, and it is just too small with Windows on it as well. I believe 250 will work and I have heard good things about Samsung drives. I will transfer some standard HDDs over from my current build.

-I like this case. I have a Silverstone case now that has worked fairly well, and this one seems better laid out and more accommodating. It needs to fit into a space 19.5" wide x 17.5" deep x 11" tall. This looks like it will fit that bill and can fit a standard ATX case with a large video card. It only has one 120mm fan, and space for 2 80mm and 1 more 120mm. Any recommendations for good, quiet fans? Also, how many should I get and what intake/exhaust ratio should I shoot for?

-A modular power supply is a must for this build. I cheaped out last time and have regretted it everytime I've opened my current PC. Never again.

-I need the wifi adaptor and this one is PCI and goes up to AC frequencies.

Finally, I need to decide on a video card. I've been looking at the new 480s, but I am worried about the noise on the reference fans, and I don't know when the cards with aftermarket coolers will release. I could possibly dish out the cash for a 1070, but I feel like at 1080P, I would be wasting my money a little. Future-proofed, but might not be a great investment for someone that doesn't exactly stay super current with their Steam library.

The biggest problem is that neither of these cards is readily available at the moment. As said before, the 480 with better cooling has an unknown release date (unless I am mistaken), and 1070s seem awfully hard to come by. There is another GAF member in the Buy/Sell/Trade thread with this card for $215:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487088. I have reached out to this person, but haven't heard back. This card looks like it would be super quiet and the benchmarks for the 970 at 1080P look better in most games than the 480. I don't mind buying used and have had good luck with B/S/T thread transactions before (that's where I got my current 6950). Should the 4GB of VRAM scare me off? Will this card be sufficient for a not-too-high-end user at 1080P? Is there another potentially better option I haven't considered?

Last but not least, a Windows license. I have a Windows 7 Pro license on my current machine that was obtained legitimately, but I have no idea where the product key is now. I would like to put Windows 10 on the new machine. I've read people suggesting procuring an inexpensive Windows 7 or 8 key, installing, then upgrading this for free to Windows 10 prior to the July 29th end date for the update. Does this seem like the smartest route? Would I be able to transfer my Windows 7 license to the new machine, upgrade that machine to Windows 10, and still use 7 on the old machine at least long enough to transfer everything over? Would the current Windows 7 machine stop working altogether after the license transfer?


I know that's a lot, and I really appreciate any help/feedback I can get. Thanks in advance!


Edit:
There is a new post in the B/S/T thread where someone else is selling a 970. The following link compares the two cards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=%2D1&IsNodeId=1&Description=gigabyte%20g1%20gaming%20970&bop=And&CompareItemList=%2D1%7C14%2D487%2D088%5E14%2D487%2D088%2C14%2D125%2D684%5E14%2D125%2D684&percm=14%2D125%2D684%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24

The EVGA card is listed at $215, and the Gigabyte card is listed at $185. I don't see much of a significant difference between them, although the EVGA card is probably quieter. The problem is the specs for the Silverstone case have it supporting cards up to 12.2", while the Gigabyte card is 12.28". Are these spec values usually spot on, or is there a little wiggle room? I'd hate to buy a card that doesn't fit. The EVGA card is listed at ~10" and would comfortably fit. Any suggestions?

Hi! I think you are pretty much on the right track. I'll just throw out a few tidbits.

- You need a Z170 motherboard to use memory faster than 2133MHz. It is definitely worth having faster memory in some situations. Also, the Gigabyte HD3P is essentially the same board with USB 3.1 Type-A and Type-C ports. Not at all necessary, just kinda nice.

- An i5-6500 should be okay for a few years. It looks like your budget might allow you to stretch $100 to an i7-6700, though.

- The Intel stock cooler is okay. It's not incredibly quiet. You could replace it with a Noctua L9i, D9L, or L12.

- At 1080p, 4GB is definitely enough VRAM. For someone who plays a wide variety of games, I think an RX 480-level GPU is all you'll ever need at 1080p. I have similar needs, and I was thrilled with the GeForce 960 at 1440p. You might want a faster GPU for VR, but it could be prudent to get a $200-250 GPU now and upgrade when you become dissatisfied.

- Maybe hold on a month or so to buy a new GPU. It's a little bit wild right now. If you want something soon, try EVGA B-Stock. I have a reference GeForce 660 from them ($30) and all I had to do was replace the thermal paste and it runs fine. For an open-air-cooled Maxwell card, I bet it arrives in great working order. 970s ususally go for around $250.

- You could try a bigger, cheaper SSD, like an A-Data SP550. You can get a 480GB model for ~$95 on sale.

- 650W is a little much, even if you go crazy and get a 250W graphics card. I'd find a 450W unit.

Hope this helps.

 

[LordAlu]

Does anyone have an Phanteks Enthoo Evolve ATX (Tempered Glass or not) ?

I want to know how the noise is with the case. Most reviews completely skip this important part. I'm undecided between this and the Dark Base 900 by BeQuiet.

We built one that we were testing window patterns on at work yesterday.

This had a Corsair H100i v2 at the front, with two 140mm fans at the top and a 120mm(?) fan at the back. It wasn't what I would call loud, but you could hear the low noise of the fan and I could just about hear the pump. The 1080 in there wasn't under load either so that was silent - I don't know how it would be with that running too.

If you're after silence then that Dark Base 900 is probably the way to go, the previous BeQuiet! cases are really damn quiet.

 

[TokiDoki]

Ive been recently eyeing a 1070 from my current 970, but don't really know if that's the best path or not. I know my oc'd 2500 at 4.4Ghz is still no slouch, but wouldn't mind upgrading in some sense. Just can't decide if I'd be better off starting with a new cpu/mobo/ram and keeping the 970 (maybe another 970 in sli?), or maybe trying to get more life out of my 1155 setup with a 3770k and faster ram. Or do you think my 2500 would be up to the task of powering a 1070? Any advice or ideas? thanks!

If you're on 970 already , I'm thinking starting off with Skylake upgrade would be the better path . Then only think of GPU upgrade the next gen . Here's me speaking from i5 2500k @4ghz with 1070 .

 

[LilJoka]

Just rebooted and still getting bad performance in FireStrike. I'm scared now.

You cannot break a card by just increasing the core clock.
Use GPUz and monitor the sensors tab. Check the core speed is as expected and check if the card is being throttled. There is a sensor that reports the reason why a card maybe downclocking.

 

[LilJoka]

First, I want to thank everyone that contributes to this thread. What an incredible resource!

I am going to be building a new HTPC in the next 2-3 weeks, depending mostly on how long it takes to procure the video card. I will be using this in my living room primarily to game on a 1080P TV. I am interested in VR, but doubt I will be willing to jump into that for at least another year if not more. I am not someone that cares about the highest end graphics by any means (my current setup includes a 6950), but my rig is pretty long in the tooth and I have recently gotten some extra cash. I tend not to buy the newest games, but everyone likes to play things on high settings, right?

I don't have any plans to overclock. I would not be totally opposed to the idea, but I'm probably just too lazy to bother.

I live in the US and my budget is between 850-1100.

I will be transferring over a couple of internal HDDs, everything else will be new. I would really like this setup to be quiet. My current machine is a bit noisy, and it's not unbearable, but I'd be willing to pay a little more for less noise.

I've picked out some components utilizing the excellent builds linked in the OP. Below is my PCPartPicker list:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($110.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($92.00 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone GD09B HTPC Case ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($78.10 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($36.00 @ B&H)
Total: $659.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-01 21:49 EDT-0400

-I went with a less expensive (but hopefully still relatively future proof) CPU because it's cheaper by itself, and it also comes with a cooler. Is the cooler ok? Does anyone know how noisy it is? I looked for some reviews but didn't really see anything specific.

-I'm wondering if I could go with a slightly cheap motherboard (such as this:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128863)since I don't plan to overclock. What do you guys think?

-The RAM is not something I'm really married to. I want 16GB and I've had success with G.Skill before. I wanted something DDR4 3000 based on the recommended build specs, is this a good idea?

-The 250 GB SSD is important to me. I have a 128GB now, and it is just too small with Windows on it as well. I believe 250 will work and I have heard good things about Samsung drives. I will transfer some standard HDDs over from my current build.

-I like this case. I have a Silverstone case now that has worked fairly well, and this one seems better laid out and more accommodating. It needs to fit into a space 19.5" wide x 17.5" deep x 11" tall. This looks like it will fit that bill and can fit a standard ATX case with a large video card. It only has one 120mm fan, and space for 2 80mm and 1 more 120mm. Any recommendations for good, quiet fans? Also, how many should I get and what intake/exhaust ratio should I shoot for?

-A modular power supply is a must for this build. I cheaped out last time and have regretted it everytime I've opened my current PC. Never again.

-I need the wifi adaptor and this one is PCI and goes up to AC frequencies.

Finally, I need to decide on a video card. I've been looking at the new 480s, but I am worried about the noise on the reference fans, and I don't know when the cards with aftermarket coolers will release. I could possibly dish out the cash for a 1070, but I feel like at 1080P, I would be wasting my money a little. Future-proofed, but might not be a great investment for someone that doesn't exactly stay super current with their Steam library.

The biggest problem is that neither of these cards is readily available at the moment. As said before, the 480 with better cooling has an unknown release date (unless I am mistaken), and 1070s seem awfully hard to come by. There is another GAF member in the Buy/Sell/Trade thread with this card for $215:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487088. I have reached out to this person, but haven't heard back. This card looks like it would be super quiet and the benchmarks for the 970 at 1080P look better in most games than the 480. I don't mind buying used and have had good luck with B/S/T thread transactions before (that's where I got my current 6950). Should the 4GB of VRAM scare me off? Will this card be sufficient for a not-too-high-end user at 1080P? Is there another potentially better option I haven't considered?

Last but not least, a Windows license. I have a Windows 7 Pro license on my current machine that was obtained legitimately, but I have no idea where the product key is now. I would like to put Windows 10 on the new machine. I've read people suggesting procuring an inexpensive Windows 7 or 8 key, installing, then upgrading this for free to Windows 10 prior to the July 29th end date for the update. Does this seem like the smartest route? Would I be able to transfer my Windows 7 license to the new machine, upgrade that machine to Windows 10, and still use 7 on the old machine at least long enough to transfer everything over? Would the current Windows 7 machine stop working altogether after the license transfer?


I know that's a lot, and I really appreciate any help/feedback I can get. Thanks in advance!


Edit:
There is a new post in the B/S/T thread where someone else is selling a 970. The following link compares the two cards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=%2D1&IsNodeId=1&Description=gigabyte%20g1%20gaming%20970&bop=And&CompareItemList=%2D1%7C14%2D487%2D088%5E14%2D487%2D088%2C14%2D125%2D684%5E14%2D125%2D684&percm=14%2D125%2D684%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24

The EVGA card is listed at $215, and the Gigabyte card is listed at $185. I don't see much of a significant difference between them, although the EVGA card is probably quieter. The problem is the specs for the Silverstone case have it supporting cards up to 12.2", while the Gigabyte card is 12.28". Are these spec values usually spot on, or is there a little wiggle room? I'd hate to buy a card that doesn't fit. The EVGA card is listed at ~10" and would comfortably fit. Any suggestions?

Not sure why you want a humongous case in the living room. Here is an ITX option.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($197.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-L9i 57.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($41.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H110M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($67.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($92.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Founders Edition Video Card ($449.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Silverstone RVZ02B HTPC Case ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Silverstone Strider Gold 450W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply ($87.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1057.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-02 04:36 EDT-0400

Use magic jelly bean keyfinder on your w7 PC to get the key.
Then try to install 7 on the new PC with that key, then upgrade it to 10.

ITX boards tend to have wifi onboard.

HDDs are noisy, especially when there is more than 1 and tend to resonate. Either get a new single drive like a 3TB or consider network storage.

 

[cormack12]

Orders mine Thursday night, there was an error on the order processing which meant it missed Friday delivery. Out on the courier's van now - not coming till 5pm :/ Gutted. Waiting feels like forever. Also, is there a 'general PC gaming thread'?

 

[Aztechnology]

Orders mine Thursday night, there was an error on the order processing which meant it missed Friday delivery. Out on the courier's van now - not coming till 5pm :/ Gutted. Waiting feels like forever. Also, is there a 'general PC gaming thread'?

Outside of building we fall into general OT's on a per game basis. There's no PC gaming OT other than this.

 

[cormack12]

Outside of building we fall into general OT's on a per game basis. There's no PC gaming OT other than this.

Ah, quick bit of advice then? Last time I had a PC I only used Steam and the WoW Lancher pretty much. There seems to be loads more clients/options now like GMG, GoG, Ubi's client. What's the deal with keys - can I just purchase a key for Rise of the Tomb Raider and it will be fine to bring into steam? Seen a lot of info about keys and getting banned?

 

[Vinterbird]

Is now a good time to buy a new CPU, or is there a HBM2 level of radical change coming in the near future for the CPU market?

 

[mrklaw]

Of course it will help with loading times, boot times and it can be a worthwhile investment overall because who likes waiting for stuff to load and people handling large files daily should definitely get it. But it won't bottleneck your processing power or your overall performance in games and the difference in loading times between a ssd and a m.2 drive isn't dramatic in normale scenarios like office, webbrowsing, boot up time or gaming.

Even with a normal SSD, my windows boots to the login screen faster then my monitor can turn on

 

[Vuze]

Ah, quick bit of advice then? Last time I had a PC I only used Steam and the WoW Lancher pretty much. There seems to be loads more clients/options now like GMG, GoG, Ubi's client. What's the deal with keys - can I just purchase a key for Rise of the Tomb Raider and it will be fine to bring into steam? Seen a lot of info about keys and getting banned?

Keys are fine, moreso if you don't need a VPN to activate them. Worstcase scenario if you buy from a shady seller like G2A etc: Your key will get revoked and t he game removed from your library, but no other consequences.

Don't activate RU etc gifts through VPN on Steam however or buy stuff with a foreign VPN.

 

[EatChildren]

Potentially stupid question, but is there such thing (with legitimate use) as a PCI extension cable?

I have a Xonar DG that uses PCI 2.2, but the slot on my Z170-AR MBO is right under the PCI where my GPU is plugged in. So close that the GPU's fan is partially blocked by the Xonar.

I'd like to separate the two to get better airflow.

 

[23qwerty]

Keys are fine, moreso if you don't need a VPN to activate them. Worstcase scenario if you buy from a shady seller like G2A etc: Your key will get revoked and t he game removed from your library, but no other consequences.

It's worth noting the odds of that happening are near zero

 

[ISee]

Potentially stupid question, but is there such thing (with legitimate use) as a PCI extension cable?

I have a Xonar DG that uses PCI 2.2, but the slot on my Z170-AR MBO is right under the PCI where my GPU is plugged in. So close that the GPU's fan is partially blocked by the Xonar.

I'd like to separate the two to get better airflow.

Of course. In different sizes, lengths, orientations etc. Some very small builds wouldn't be possible without them.

Example from amazon.de

Is now a good time to buy a new CPU, or is there a HBM2 level of radical change coming in the near future for the CPU market?

Intels new Kabylake (supposed to be release Q3/Q4 2016) won't bring significant changes to the table compared to skylake. Most improvements concentrate on the iGPU and it will get native usb 3.1 support (skylake boards use thrid party chips for usb 3.1 connectivity). It may even be 5-10% faster but don't expect huge performance gains.

AMDs Zen is also supposed to be release this fall/winter. Performance wise we know nothing but some vague promises from AMD. Only time will tell.

 

[Sourtreats]

Does anyone know why my taskmanager shows my CPU speed at 5.81GHz? I overclocked my i5-2500k from 3.3 to 4.4. About a week ago and the 2 days ago I upgraded to Windows 10. Since then my task manager has shown my CPU at a worrying speed. I checked with CPU-Z and it says its at 4400MHz.

I don't know if its any correlation but since updating from W7 to W10, I've been having a lot of issues running DOOM with major FPS spikes.

 

[EatChildren]

Of course. In different sizes, lengths, orientations etc. Some very small builds wouldn't be possible without them.

Example from amazon.de

Awesome, thanks. Shame that a lot of local providers don't seem to think these cables are a thing.

 

[Gareth Bale]

Does anyone have an Phanteks Enthoo Evolve ATX (Tempered Glass or not) ?

I want to know how the noise is with the case. Most reviews completely skip this important part. I'm undecided between this and the Dark Base 900 by BeQuiet.

Tempered glass. No issues with noise at all. The Phanteks stock fans are really good as well. I replaced them all with Silent Wing 2s, but you really don't need to as they aren't loud. PC is silent when I'm not doing anything intensive, and its right next to me on the desk (fans at like 40% below 40 celcius or something like that).

Best case I've ever owned.

Not going to lie though, that DB 900 looks incredible. Especially the Pro version.

 

[nightmare-slain]

tried overclocking my CPU (i7-6700K) but i guess i'm realising i really dont know what i'm doing.

i got it to 4.6Ghz and was running just fine in AIDA64/Firestrike and playing games (GTA V/Overwatch/Rocket League/Dark Souls 2) but the voltage was close to 1.45V and i've read that it's way too high. i don't want to burn out my CPU so turned it down to 4.5Ghz and the voltage dropped to 1.35V and of course was running just fine in AIDA64/Firestrike and playing games. However, I tried Prime95 Blend test and got an instant BSOD. now I'm at 4.4Ghz. i let Prime95 do up to 10 tests and no instability. temperature isn't an issue. during the prime95 test the cpu was sitting mostly about 65C and the max was 70C.

should i just settle with 4.4Ghz or can i push it a bit more while staying under 1.4V and 75C? when i'm adjusting the settings i'm doing it in the BIOS and changing the multiplier. voltage is set to auto. when i try manually setting it sometimes it turns red. also, my motherboard has a 1 click overclicking setting. when i enable that it sets it to 4.4Ghz so does that mean it's the best i can do?

 

[anddo0]

Opinions on the MSI Nightblade?

I've never built a PC, but it seems easy enough. However the Nightblade stuck out to me. I recently did a custom config of the Nightblade at xoticpc, and it came out to $1600 (US) with a 1070 and 17 67k, add a monitor and it comes close to my custom build at pc parts picker.

Also, any opinions on this monitor- Asus VG248QE https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B2HH7G0/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[LilJoka]

Opinions on the MSI Nightblade?

I've never built a PC, but it seems easy enough. However the Nightblade stuck out to me. I recently did a custom config of the Nightblade at xoticpc, and it came out to $1600 (US) with a 1070 and 17 67k, add a monitor and it comes close to my custom build at pc parts picker.

Also, any opinions on this monitor- Asus VG248QE https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B2HH7G0/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Which nightblade mnodel?