$2500 gaming/editing rig

[discant]

Hello guys.

I have been asking questions in the Buyer's Guide II thread and have received quite a few good advices so I realise I should start a thread and update the components I have gone/am going for.

So first, a little about the use of this computer.
I'm a gamer (who isn't? haha), I photoshop, and am learning how to edit music and videos.
Hence, explaining the reason for building a rig like this.

Let me just share my possible rig.

CPU+MOBO: Asus Maximus VI Formula + Intel i7-4770k (BUNDLE by tradepac: $867)

GPU: Was looking at the GTX780 but the price is kinda high. After considering suggestions I received, I'm going to wait for the R9 290 non-reference versions. (~$550)

Case: Was looking at the Corsair 750D ($230, read it from one of the threads), but I'm considering the Phantex Enthoo Primo (US$250, not sure of pricing and availability in SG)

PSU: Going for a 850W one because I will go SLI/Xfire in the future. I don't know which brand and model to go for.

RAM: ADATA 1600mHz, suggested to me in the other thread ($170)

HDD: WD 2TB Green ($110)

SSD: Intel 530 Series 240GB (US149.99=S$185) (Golden Deal by Amazon, ended)

Optical Drive: Asus ODD, are there any alternatives?
OS: Windows 8 Home
Cooler: Do I need one? Will overclock in the future and if I don't need it now, I will get one when I do overclock.
Desktop Monitor: Any suggestions?

As Black Friday Sales and Cyber Monday are coming, I hope that people can suggest possible substitutes to the components. As always, the thread is open to comments and criticisms on my choices. Hope that the thread will benefit new aspiring pc builders out there.

Thank you.

Discant

 

[Jian19]

The case around $440 in sls

 

[royfrosty]

Overkill Mobo. And all your items sure cannot fit in the budget.

Just get the MSI Z87 G45 Gaming + I7-4770k ~ $633
ADATA 8gb 1600mhz x 2 ~ $170
WD Green 2tb ~ $110
Intel SSD Amazon hoot ~ $185 (excluded from budget)
R9 290 non ref ~ approx $580 (allocated budget)
Superflower Golden Green 850w 80+ Gold if you can find in SLS ~ $168 (PM me if you want my 1month old one)
Corsair 750D ~ $220
Silverstone PSU extension wires as it may not reach your 9 pin ~ $25 Most PSU cannot reach that height as the chassis is too big.
Samsung ODD ~ $21
Corsair H100i or H110 ~ $150
Dell U2312HM 23inch ips monitor ~ $248
Windows 8 ~ $120

Total ~ $2445 Buy at tradepac. DIY

 

[discant]

Overkill Mobo. And all your items sure cannot fit in the budget.

Just get the MSI Z87 G45 Gaming + I7-4770k ~ $633
ADATA 8gb 1600mhz x 2 ~ $170
WD Green 2tb ~ $110
Intel SSD Amazon hoot ~ $185 (excluded from budget)
R9 290 non ref ~ approx $580 (allocated budget)
Superflower Golden Green 850w 80+ Gold if you can find in SLS ~ $168 (PM me if you want my 1month old one)
Corsair 750D ~ $220
Silverstone PSU extension wires as it may not reach your 9 pin ~ $25 Most PSU cannot reach that height as the chassis is too big.
Samsung ODD ~ $21
Corsair H100i or H110 ~ $150
Dell U2312HM 23inch ips monitor ~ $248
Windows 8 ~ $120

Total ~ $2445 Buy at tradepac. DIY

Hello! Thanks for the reply.

I will go with your suggestion on the MSI MOBO. Would it be better if I go for the MSI-GD65? (bundle priced at $706) considering the OC features it has that the G45 doesn't.

Also, would this build be good for custom water-cooling? I understand that the Enthoo Primo features easier water-cooling options. But I think by then, I will familiarise myself with water-cooling already. That being said, is it worth it for me to go beyond my budget to get the Enthoo Primo? I am also considering that there may be future versions of the case and at the time, I would already be working for quite some time so I will have more budget for upgrades. (leaning towards the cheaper option)

Again, thank you for your help!

 

[ryuxdragonx]

Idk I find corsair cases overpriced though they are nice. Consider the Antec eleven hundred? It's quite close to full tower and it saves you about 70 from that corsair one from mynextcom

 

[royfrosty]

Hello! Thanks for the reply.

I will go with your suggestion on the MSI MOBO. Would it be better if I go for the MSI-GD65? (bundle priced at $706) considering the OC features it has that the G45 doesn't.

Also, would this build be good for custom water-cooling? I understand that the Enthoo Primo features easier water-cooling options. But I think by then, I will familiarise myself with water-cooling already. That being said, is it worth it for me to go beyond my budget to get the Enthoo Primo? I am also considering that there may be future versions of the case and at the time, I would already be working for quite some time so I will have more budget for upgrades. (leaning towards the cheaper option)

Again, thank you for your help!

The gd65 is pretty much overpriced IMO. Whatever the g45 offers the gd65 is slightly better by having a genie oc button. But its isn't feasible to take out the chassis and press the button to oc.

Next is it isn't that worth to pay $400++ on a enthoo primo. And I already have included a 240mm water cooling setup for you. The 750D can fit in the cooler without an issue.

 

[discant]

The gd65 is pretty much overpriced IMO. Whatever the g45 offers the gd65 is slightly better by having a genie oc button. But its isn't feasible to take out the chassis and press the button to oc.

Next is it isn't that worth to pay $400++ on a enthoo primo. And I already have included a 240mm water cooling setup for you. The 750D can fit in the cooler without an issue.

Hello!

For cooling, from what I read in forums etc, the H100i and H110 are both quite loud.
Is this true? I mean have you experienced it?

And would it be better if I go for a air cooler now. And then go custom water cooling in the future?

UPDATE: I got a Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8x2GB kit @USD114.99

Thanks.

Discant

 

[royfrosty]

Hello!

For cooling, from what I read in forums etc, the H100i and H110 are both quite loud.
Is this true? I mean have you experienced it?

And would it be better if I go for a air cooler now. And then go custom water cooling in the future?

UPDATE: I got a Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8x2GB kit @USD114.99

Thanks.

Discant

No unless you are using the 2 stock fans that comes with it. But imo it can be adjusted or with a simple swap of the 2 stocks fan out.

 

[EatSnakeWarrior]

Hello!

For cooling, from what I read in forums etc, the H100i and H110 are both quite loud.
Is this true? I mean have you experienced it?

And would it be better if I go for a air cooler now. And then go custom water cooling in the future?

UPDATE: I got a Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8x2GB kit @USD114.99

Thanks.

Discant

i didnt even try the stock fans and simply replaced them with 2 scythe GTs
its at max rpm but i cant hear an thing

if you're not going to heavily overclock a bang for buck aircooler like

cm hyper x should do the trick

 

[discant]

i didnt even try the stock fans and simply replaced them with 2 scythe GTs
its at max rpm but i cant hear an thing

if you're not going to heavily overclock a bang for buck aircooler like

cm hyper x should do the trick

Thanks for the reply!

Would that be the CM Hyper 212X? Where and how much can I find it at?

Having said that, how much are the scythe GTs?

Discant

 

[discant]

No unless you are using the 2 stock fans that comes with it. But imo it can be adjusted or with a simple swap of the 2 stocks fan out.

What fans would you recommend for me to swap out?

Thanks

Discant

 

[EatSnakeWarrior]

Thanks for the reply!

Would that be the CM Hyper 212X? Where and how much can I find it at?

Having said that, how much are the scythe GTs?

Discant

cm 212 hyper x you can probably get it @ $55 (could be less, im not sure)
try tradepac



scythe gts (1850RPM) cost around $22/fan


i wanted to try liquid cooling for the heck of it, but it turned out to be rather meh, as im not intending to overclock for now


the down side about air coolers is that is a huge bulk of metal, but it gives you a better price/performance ratio.

another cooler for oyu to consider would be the noctua nh-d14 -one of the best and silent air coolers in the market

no point getting locally as from what i've heard their distributor in sg has closed down.

Amazon.com: Noctua 6 Dual Heatpipe with 140mm/120mm Dual SSO Bearing Fans CPU Cooler NH-D14 - Retail: Electronics


downside is that, its pretty huge and rams might not fit if it has huge heat speaders

 

[pa9797]

Bro, why dont u pay for a little more and get the LGA2011
Rampage IV Black Edition and bundled it with a 4820K proc.

This will give you more headroom for SLI and photoshop.

SSD go for Samsung EVO or EVO pro

 

[discant]

Bro, why dont u pay for a little more and get the LGA2011
Rampage IV Black Edition and bundled it with a 4820K proc.

This will give you more headroom for SLI and photoshop.

SSD go for Samsung EVO or EVO pro

I don't see myself going extreme with the rig in the next 3-4 years. And what do you mean by pay a little more. How much is that?

Discant

 

[discant]

cm 212 hyper x you can probably get it @ $55 (could be less, im not sure)
try tradepac



scythe gts (1850RPM) cost around $22/fan


i wanted to try liquid cooling for the heck of it, but it turned out to be rather meh, as im not intending to overclock for now


the down side about air coolers is that is a huge bulk of metal, but it gives you a better price/performance ratio.

another cooler for oyu to consider would be the noctua nh-d14 -one of the best and silent air coolers in the market

no point getting locally as from what i've heard their distributor in sg has closed down.

downside is that, its pretty huge and rams might not fit if it has huge heat speaders

I'm going with the Crucial Ballistix Tactical 16GB (2x8GB) kit (hooted from amazon)
And for mobo, maybe the Maximus VI Hero.

How many air coolers should I get? the picture looks like it has 2?

 

[shadow84]

Gt AP-15 can be bought at $20 at #02-32...

 

[EatSnakeWarrior]

I'm going with the Crucial Ballistix Tactical 16GB (2x8GB) kit (hooted from amazon)
And for mobo, maybe the Maximus VI Hero.

How many air coolers should I get? the picture looks like it has 2?

there is only one in the picture

btw do you need the features form the Maximus VI Hero? its kinda pricey :\

 

[EatSnakeWarrior]

Gt AP-15 can be bought at $20 at #02-32...

going to hoot 3 now! cant stand my corsair 540 intake fans noise

 

[shadow84]

going to hoot 3 now! cant stand my corsair 540 intake fans noise

Mine seemed a little noisy at 12v... Not sure if it is due to vibrations from the screws or what. Need find those dampers or noctua's rubber screws.

 

[chemisery]

If you're still looking at Corsair 750D and you are patient enough to wait for the delivery from Amazon, you can get it @ USD$129.99 now, while the bf sale is still in effect. The only thing will be getting the shipping waived by the CSO which will depends on the CSO and your nego skills. Also, not forgetting that there will be a chance that there will be scratches on the case due to the delivery. If you're up for it I am sure your wallet will be glad too!