$3k 7 Monitor Haswell Build

[sharknice]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming on 1 screen while multitasking on the other 6. I play a lot of competitive FPS games and StarCraft 2. I'll be getting a lightboost monitor and it is important that I'm able to get 120fps @1080p. I'll be going with NVIDIA video cards because they have better lightboost compatibility.
I often watch several 1080p streams at once while gaming. So I would like to have my 6 non-game screens powered by other video cards so performance isn't affected on the gaming screen.
I also do web and game development, some Adobe photoshop and premier video editing, and some streaming through twitch. It would be nice to be able to stream in 1080p.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Around $3000 USD. It isn't a strict budget at all but that is about how much I would like to spend after shipping and tax.

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible
Eden Prairie, MN, USA. I'm 15 minutes from a Microcenter and willing to buy there. I also have an Amazon Prime account so I get free 2 day shipping on a lot of things.

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
case - full tower case with wheels
power supply - powerful enough for 4 video cards
mother board - Haswell compatible with 4 or more x16 slots, onboard video with 2 HDMI or DVI connections, able to do 5.1 surround sound through 3.5 jacks.
CPU - Haswell
CPU Cooler - air cooler that allows me to OC a little
RAM - DDR3 16GB is probably enough
video cards - I need 1 card or some SLI'd cards to power a 1920x1080@120hz for games and other video card(s) to power my other 6 monitors.
SSDs - I want two 250+ GB SSDs. One that will have the OS and select applications and one that will have games on it.
HDDs - One 2+ TB hard drive that will be used to store movies and other files, and another with at least 1 TB of space that I'll use for other windows applications and games that don't fit on the SSDs.
optical drive - something I can use to install the OS

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
I have a Geforce GT 220, 210, and a 9800 GT that I can use if I need them to power some monitors. I'm going to use my old PC as a media center so I can't spare any other parts from it.
I will be reusing my monitors, speakers, keyboard, mouse, microphone, webcam

6) Will you be overclocking?
Just a little bit I'll probably OC the CPU a few hundred mhz and do a little bit of GPU OCing.

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
I will be grabbing a 24" 120hz 1920x1080 lightboost monitor, but not until after the build is complete.
I have 6 ViewSonic monitors I will be using. None of these have DisplayPort. They all have DVI and HDMI. I don't want to have to use VGA on any of them. V3D245 (1920x1080@120hz), VP2250wb (1680x1050@60hz), VX2233wm (1920x1080@60hz), VX2439 (1920x1080@60hz), VX922 (1280x1024@75hz), and VX2453 (1920x1080@79hz).

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
A week or so, I'm not in a big hurry and could wait a month if some new parts or good deals are coming soon.

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
I need SLI support and a lot of x16 slots, preferably 4 or more. I will probably SLI 2 cards and use the other slots to power my other 6 monitors.
I also want onboard video to be able to power 2 monitors through DVI or HDMI.
I need at least 4 SATA 6GB/s slots for my 2 SSDs and 2 HDDs.
I have 5.1 speakers that I need run through the 3.5" jacks. The microphone I use is USB and I run my headphones through my monitor's HDMI sound.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Probably Windows 8 Pro 64 bit. I want to be able to do windows 8 development and I'm sure it will aslo be required if I want to do any Xbox One development. I get all versions of Windows for free through my MSDN subscription.


The biggest requirement of this build is that I need to be able to run 1 gaming screen at 1920x1080 resolution and get 120+ fps and still be able to run 6 other screens off of other video cards.

This is what I have come up with. If you have any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated.

case
$154.99 newegg
COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP Steel ATX Full Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160
Full tower and wheels are a must have for me.

power supply
$254.99 amazon
Seasonic SS-1250XM X-Series ATX PC Power Supply
http://www.amazon.com/Seasonic-SS-1250XM-X-Series-Power-Supply/dp/B00607JLWU/
Upgraded to 1250 Watts. I wan to be able to run 4 video cards.

mother board
$409.99 amazon
Gigabyte Z87 LGA 1150 4 Way SLI Overclock ATX Motherboard
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Z87-1150-Overclock-Motherboard/dp/B00CU4L6CU/
This is the only 4 slot x16 motherboard I could find.

cpu
$279.99 microcenter
Core i7 4770K 3.5GHz Socket LGA 1150 Boxed Processor
http://www.microcenter.com/product/413248/Core_i7_4770K_35GHz_Socket_LGA_1150_Boxed_Processor
I think this is the fastest Haswell out and it isn't much more expensive than the others.

cpu cooler
$33.24 amazon
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan (RR-212E-20PK-R2)
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-RR-212E-20PK-R2/dp/B005O65JXI/
I also have an extra fan so I can put 2 on it.

memory
$128.38 amazon
Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (CMZ16GX3M2A1600C9)
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Desktop-Memory-CMZ16GX3M2A1600C9/dp/B0085IWXB8/
My peak usage right now is usually around 8GB. The jump from 12 to 16 GB isn't much money so I might as well get 16GB.

video cards
2X $399.99 = $800 newegg
MSI Gaming N770 TF 2GD5/OC GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127741
These will drive a single gaming monitor. 2 of these perform better and are cheaper than a Titan. I need to be able to run games at 120+ fps to take advantage of lightboost.

$134.99 newegg
ZOTAC ZT-61002-10M GeForce GTX 650 2GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500271
This will drive 4 of my other monitors. It is the cheapest card that can drive 4 displays with HDMI and DVI connections. The others force you to use VGA or display port for at least one screen. If I get this it should leave me an extra PCI slot open in case I want add another card for triple SLI or a budget card to drive more monitors

SSDs
2X $220.00 = $440 amazon
Samsung Electronics 840 Pro Series 2.5-Inch 256 GB SATA 6GB/s Solid State Drive MZ-7PD256BW
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-Series-2-5-Inch-MZ-7PD256BW/dp/B009NB8WRU/
I need one for my OS and select applications and one for games.

SSD mount
2X $4.99 = $10 amazon
Rosewill 2.5-Inch SSD/HDD Plastic Mounting Kit for 3.5-Inch Drive Bay RX-C200P
http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-2-5-Inch-Mounting-3-5-Inch-RX-C200P/dp/B00558OP9O/
I need these to make the SSDs mountable.

HDDs
2X $99.99 = $200 amazon
Seagate Barracuda 2 TB 7200RPM SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch Internal Desktop Hard Drive, Retail Kit (STBD2000101)
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-7200RPM-Internal-STBD2000101/dp/B005OKQUJ6/
I need 1 for movies and other files, and another for any programs that won't fit on the SSDs. The price jump from 1 to 2 TB is so small that I might as well get 2TB for both.

optical drive
$17.99 newegg
LG 24X DVD Burner - Bare Drive Black SATA Model GH24NS95 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136259
All I need it for is to install the OS. I have a blu ray drive now and never use it. I stream or download everything.

Total: $2,864.50

 

[Dangman]

I would swap out the HSF for the Corsair H80i considering how many video cards you're planning on cramming into that system.

In addition, I would up the PSU to the Seasonic X-1250.

Case wise, I'd look at the FT02 or RV03 cases since both cases have a better layout for GPU cooling than the Coolermaster.

 

[sharknice]

I would swap out the HSF for the Corsair H80i considering how many video cards you're planning on cramming into that system.

In addition, I would up the PSU to the Seasonic X-1250.

Case wise, I'd look at the FT02 or RV03 cases since both cases have a better layout for GPU cooling than the Coolermaster.

Thanks.

I will switch to the Seasonic X-1250 (updated the OP). It seems better than the Corsair equivalent and I think I was a little low with the 1050 watt I had before.

I don't really feel comfortable making the jump to water cooling for the CPU. I'm not going to overclock that much so I think I will be fine with air cooling.

Those cases don't have wheels available for them which is a deal breaker for me.

 

[Dangman]

I don't really feel comfortable making the jump to water cooling for the CPU. I'm not going to overclock that much so I think I will be fine with air cooling.

Well good because I recommended a liquid cooling AIO. Not an actual water-cooling setup (which would cost $250+ FYI). Like I said, with 3+ GPUs + the relatively high temperatures of the Haswell CPUs + overclocking = a real need for a liquid AIO setup like the Corsair H80.

Those cases don't have wheels available for them which is a deal breaker for me.

How often do you move the case?

 

[sharknice]

Well good because I recommended a liquid cooling AIO. Not an actual water-cooling setup (which would cost $250+ FYI). Like I said, with 3+ GPUs + the relatively high temperatures of the Haswell CPUs + overclocking = a real need for a liquid AIO setup like the Corsair H80.

How often do you move the case?

I run a hyper 212 in my current PC which has 4 GPUs in it and it is still keeping pretty cool and silent with an i7 930 OC'd from 2.8 to 3.2Ghz. I'm kind of worried about using an AIO because it seems like something that could fail a lot easier than a standard heatsink and fan, and if it fails I would have to replace the whole thing, whereas a heatsink isn't going to fail and the fans are easily replaceable.

I go to LANs every few months and the wheels make moving it a lot easier. I live in an apartment so I have long halls and a big garage I have to transport my PC through. Being able to just roll it down the hall and through the garage to my car is a lot easier than having to carry it. The back of my desk also has a 1.5" wide by 1.5" high piece of wood stretching over where the case sits and the wheels provide about 2 inches of clearance so the case fits nicely over that part.

What exactly are the advantages of those other cases over the Haf 932? Would it be better to upgrade to a Haf X? The Haf X has the same wheels as the Haf 932.

 

[Dangman]

I run a hyper 212 in my current PC which has 4 GPUs in it and it is still keeping pretty cool and silent with an i7 930 OC'd from 2.8 to 3.2Ghz. I'm kind of worried about using an AIO because it seems like something that could fail a lot easier than a standard heatsink and fan, and if it fails I would have to replace the whole thing, whereas a heatsink isn't going to fail and the fans are easily replaceable.

Which GPUs though? You may have a point about the potential failure but it's really rare for those AIO liquid coolers to fail in the first place.

What exactly are the advantages of those other cases over the Haf 932? Would it be better to upgrade to a Haf X? The Haf X has the same wheels as the Haf 932.

The key advantage of thoses cases are their 90 degree rotated motherboards allows for a quieter and cooler setup than most standard ATX cooling setups. As you can see here, the FT02 does offer better cooling than the Coolermaster HAF X:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/08/12/silverstone-ft02r-w-review/2

With that said, the HAF X isn't a bad case when it comes to cooling. However, I'm personally not a fan of the HAF X since its quality doesn't seem to fit the pricing for it.

 

[tonyftw]

With that said, the HAF X isn't a bad case when it comes to cooling. However, I'm personally not a fan of the HAF X since its quality doesn't seem to fit the pricing for it.

Agree. That case is fairly outdated tbh. I went from a haf-x, to storm trooper (before going mini-itx), and saw absolutely no difference in internal temperatures.

The silverstone cases danny suggested, are excellent op.