New Gaming PC, $2k

[hglaser]

[H]ey all,

This is my first build since 2008 or so. I've limped along on low settings and minor upgrades for a long time, but finally hit the last straw. I'm looking to drop around $2k on a brand new rig.

1) What will you be doing with this PC?
Primarily Gaming. Both AAA and indie, but AAA requirements, especially DA:I, are driving this build. I'll also do a lot of work on this machine, hence the pricey keyboard.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$2k

3) Which country do you live in?
San Francisco, CA

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget?
CPU, Motherboard, RAM, Video Card, SSD, PSU, CPU Cooler, Keyboard, Mouse, OS, Monitor

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing?
HDD, Case, DVD Drive

6) Will you be overclocking?
Not right away, but it's an option down the line.

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
Buying a monitor with this build. Planning on gaming at 27" 1440p.

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
In the next day or two.

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.
USB 3 and gigabit networking. Eventually, overclocking and perhaps SLI as a way of upgrading without throwing away my video card. No plans for RAID, etc.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS?
Need to buy Win 8.1 64bit

Here is my current thinking:

$240 - Intel i5-4690K
$140 - Asus Z97-A
$350 - Gigabyte GTX 970 GV-N970WF3OC-4GD 4GB
$150 - Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 RAM
$235 - Crucial MX100 CT512MX100SSD1 2.5" 512GB SATA III SSD
$50 - Cooler Master Seidon 120V
$75 - SeaSonic G Series SSR-550RM 550W Power Supply
$140 - Das Keyboard Model S Professional
$50 - Razer DeathAdder
$100 - Windows 8.1 64bit OEM
$450 - BenQ AOC Q2770PQU 27-Inch 1440p Monitor

Total: $1980

I'm especially curious:

1. Is gaming at 1440p on a GTX 970 realistic?
2. Is this the right GTX 970?
3. Is this the right Z97?
4. Is this the right power supply? Is 550W enough for this machine?

Thanks in advance. Any and all advice is much appreciated.

Edit: Formatting

 

[tiraides]

Your PC tower choices are fine.

If you're serious about gaming at 1440p, you should consider the GTX 980 instead of the GTX 970 for a "starter" single-card option.

Along those same lines, if you feel that SLI is in your immediate future (within the next six or eight months), then get the following power supply now, while it's still on sale:

$140 - Corsair HX850 850 watt power supply (plus $20 discount with promo code EMCWWWW35, ends 11/17)

 

[hglaser]

Thanks for your quick response. This is really helpful.

If you're serious about gaming at 1440p, you should consider the GTX 980 instead of the GTX 970 for a "starter" single-card option.

Do you think the GTX 970 won't perform at 1440p?

If it won't, and I kept the GTX 970 and planned to game at a lower resolution, I'd want a different monitor, right?

Along those same lines, if you feel that SLI is in your immediate future (within the next six or eight months), then get the following power supply now, while it's still on sale:

$140 - Corsair HX850 850 watt power supply (plus $20 discount with promo code EMCWWWW35, ends 11/17)

It seems like the price of a second GTX 970 + the higher-cost PSU makes this option more expensive than the GTX 980. If the 970 won't perform today, then I'm guessing the better option is the 980, and we'll leave SLI for the more distant future.

 

[tiraides]

Do you think the GTX 970 won't perform at 1440p?

If it won't, and I kept the GTX 970 and planned to game at a lower resolution, I'd want a different monitor, right?

One GTX 970 can perform at 1440p, but the GTX 980 performs better. Depending on the game, that may be the difference between going under or over 60FPS (at High or Ultra settings). (For many gamers, 60FPS, not 30FPS, is the new "bare minimum" standard -- and they still want their graphical bells and whistles.)

It seems like the price of a second GTX 970 + the higher-cost PSU makes this option more expensive than the GTX 980. If the 970 won't perform today, then I'm guessing the better option is the 980, and we'll leave SLI for the more distant future.

How badly do you want SLI as an option? How well do you want to play games? How much visual quality do you want with your games?

Your answers to those questions will determine whether the extra costs are worth the trouble.

 

[hglaser]

OK, thanks for your feedback, that's really helpful.

I think rather than bumping up the video card(s), let's bump back the resolution to 1080p. So that leaves 3 options:

1. Get the 27" monitor, game on older games on 1440p, game on newer games at non-native resolution.

2. Get a 23"/24" 1080p monitor, e.g.:

$270 - BenQ XL2411Z Black 24" 144HZ 1ms 1080p Monitor

3. Stick with my current monitor (a 22" LG Flatron) and wait for G-Sync 1080p monitor prices to come down.

Thoughts? More feedback on the rig would also be welcome.

 

[Dangman]

In regards to the questions in your OP:
1) Yes
2) What case are you planning on reusing? That Gigabyte is a pretty long card.
3) Yes.
4) For a single GPU system, yes and yes.

For your recent post:
Option 3. Gives you the most flexibility.

 

[hglaser]

Nice catch.

It's a big ol' Silverstone full tower that's been with me forever. I don't have the model # any more, but it's either the TJ10 or similar: http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=146&area=en

Just got out a tape measure: there's 14.5" for a video card between the back of the case and the beginning of the drive bays. Looks like the card is 12.2" long. Should be enough, no?

You guys are the best. Thanks for your help. More feedback welcome.

 

[Dangman]

Yes that's enough clearance.

I would spend the extra cash for the 4790K if possible since there are already a few games taking advantage of the i7's HT feature like BF4.

 

[hglaser]

Interesting, not the 980? (Yeah, the 4790K is $110 more, whereas the 980 is $230 more.)

To be honest I probably won't get either. I'm going to want a new monitor soon if not right now, so I probably want to save the cash for that.

 

[Dangman]

Interesting, not the 980? (Yeah, the 4790K is $110 more, whereas the 980 is $230 more.)

To be honest I probably won't get either. I'm going to want a new monitor soon if not right now, so I probably want to save the cash for that.

The 980 isn't worth it from a price to performance and historical standpoint due to the volatile nature of the video card market.

Since Intel is basically increasing the performance of their CPUs by 5% every generation and that software hasn't caught up with the hardware, that means that past Intel CPUs have had a pretty long life. If you had bought a Core i5 2500K in 2011, your next worthwhile upgrade won't be until 2016 at the earliest. If you had bought a Core i7 920 in late 2008, 2013 to 2014 was your next real upgrade.

Not to mention that Intel changes sockets every CPU generation which means that whatever CPU you get now is pretty much the CPU you're stuck with for the next 4-5 years. So there's some sense in getting the 4790K if you can afford it. If you can't, the i5 is still viable.

 

[hglaser]

Ordered! Stuck with the i5 and the 970 for now, as a new monitor is coming soon to a household near you^H^H^H me.

Maybe I'll post some pics as I put it together.