PC build around $2.5K

[manwich]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming, Virtual Machines, video editing (sony vegas), photoshop, browsing.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$2000.00
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Leesburg, VA
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.
RAM, PSU, GPU, HDD, SSD, aftermarket cooler for cpu, monitor, speakers/headset, OS, optical drive.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
Case: Fractal Design R4, CPU: Intel 4770K, MOBO: ASUS Sabertooth Z87
6) Will you be overclocking?
Probably just overclocking the CPU
7) 7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
1920x1080
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
This week
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.
Already have the mobo.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
no


This is what I already have:

Intel 4770K CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116901

ASUS Sabertooth Z87 motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131976

Fractal Design R4 case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352021

This is what I plan to buy:

PSU: Seasonic X850 - $177
Cooler: Corsair H100i liquid cooler - $110
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256gb - $231.51
HDD: Western Digital Black 2tb - $160
Optical Drive: ASUS Blu-ray burner - $85
OS: Windows 7 pro 64bit - $130
Monitor: ASUS VS238H-P 23" LED monitor - $160 (I would like to get 2)
Headset: ASUS Orion Pro - $116
Speakers: Creative Inspire T12 - $80

I'm not sure what RAM I should get. I would like to have 4x8gb sticks at 1600 speed.

I'm waiting on the Nvidia gtx 760ti, I think I will buy 2 of those but just have to wait til the end of this week.

Any suggestions???
Is the monitor a good choice?

Thanks.

 

[KENNYB]

If you live near a Microcenter get a 4770K and Sabertooth combo. Will save you some duckets.

 

[manwich]

If you live near a Microcenter get a 4770K and Sabertooth combo. Will save you some duckets.

That's exactly what I just did today lol.

 

[tiraides]

If you live near a Microcenter get a 4770K and Sabertooth combo. Will save you some duckets.

The OP already has the processor and motherboard.

This is what I plan to buy:

PSU: Season X850 - $177
Cooler: Corsair H100i liquid cooler - $110
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256gb - $231.51
HDD: Western Digital Black 2tb - $160
Optical Drive: ASUS Blu-ray burner - $85
OS: Windows 7 pro 64bit - $130
Monitor: ASUS VS238H-P 23" LED monitor - $160 (I would like to get 2)
Headset: ASUS Orion Pro - $116
Speakers: Creative Inspire T12 - $80

I'm not sure what RAM I should get. I would like to have 4x8gb sticks at 1600 speed.

I'm waiting on the Nvidia gtx 760ti, I think I will buy 2 of those but just have to wait til the end of this week.

Any suggestions???
Is the monitor a good choice?

Grab the Corsair AX850 instead of the Seasonic X850. They're essentially the same PSU, but the AX850 is currently on sale.

Do you really need a Blu-ray drive? Do you watch a lot of Blu-ray movies? I ask because you're spending $80 on a Blu-ray combo drive when you can find a DVD burner for around $20.

On that same token, how much are you planning on overclocking the i7-4770K? If you're pursuing a modest overclock (under 4.5GHz), you could do it with the much cheaper Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO (or the even cheaper Hyper 212 Plus).

As for RAM, right now, NewEgg and Micro Center have the Crucial Ballistix Sports 2x8GB DDR3 1600 dual-channel kit on sale for around $100.

I need more time to research the monitor(s) and the GTX 760 Ti. When was the video card expected to arrive?

 

[manwich]

Grab the Corsair AX850 instead of the Seasonic X850. They're essentially the same PSU, but the AX850 is currently on sale.

Where did u see it on sale?

Do you really need a Blu-ray drive? Do you watch a lot of Blu-ray movies? I ask because you're spending $80 on a Blu-ray combo drive when you can find a DVD burner for around $20.

Yes

On that same token, how much are you planning on overclocking the i7-4770K? If you're pursuing a modest overclock (under 4.5GHz), you could do it with the much cheaper Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO (or the even cheaper Hyper 212 Plus).

I like the h100i and like way it looks. Wanted to do wc for this build

As for RAM, right now, NewEgg and Micro Center have the Crucial Ballistix Sports 2x8GB DDR3 1600 dual-channel kit on sale for around $100.

What about this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104361

I need more time to research the monitor(s) and the GTX 760 Ti. When was the video card expected to arrive?

They should be released by Thursday or friday

 

[tiraides]

Grab the Corsair AX850 instead of the Seasonic X850. They're essentially the same PSU, but the AX850 is currently on sale.

Where did u see it on sale?

Use the NewEgg promo code DYM15, which expires tomorrow.

Do you really need a Blu-ray drive? Do you watch a lot of Blu-ray movies? I ask because you're spending $80 on a Blu-ray combo drive when you can find a DVD burner for around $20.

Yes

Stick with what you chose.

On that same token, how much are you planning on overclocking the i7-4770K? If you're pursuing a modest overclock (under 4.5GHz), you could do it with the much cheaper Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO (or the even cheaper Hyper 212 Plus).

I like the h100i and like way it looks. Wanted to do wc for this build

Fine. Stick with the H100i.

As for RAM, right now, NewEgg and Micro Center have the Crucial Ballistix Sports 2x8GB DDR3 1600 dual-channel kit on sale for around $100.

What about this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104361

I don't like it. The Kingston Hyper X Black set is more expensive and has a higher CAS Latency than the Crucial Ballistix Sport. Stick with the Crucial kit.

I need more time to research the monitor(s) and the GTX 760 Ti. When was the video card expected to arrive?

They should be released by Thursday or friday

Why are you going with a GTX 760 Ti SLI setup? Which game requires that much power?

 

[tonyftw]

Everything with your build seems fine. The only thing I can add if you are trying to save a bit, get a seagate 2tb hd, instead of the caviar black. Outside of its warranty, there's relatively nothing special about them.

If you do see yourself needing 32gb of ram, I would advise to wait for a deal.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148666
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231610
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226405
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226389
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226407

A release date on the 760 ti is unknown. Nothing indicates it will be released this week.

 

[tiraides]

If you do see yourself needing 32gb of ram, I would advise to wait for a deal.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148666
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231610
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226405
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226389
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226407

May I ask what the advantage is in buying a 4x8GB kit versus, say, two 2x8GB kits? In the case of an RMA, one would be in a significant disadvantage.

 

[tonyftw]

May I ask what the advantage is in buying a 4x8GB kit versus, say, two 2x8GB kits? In the case of an RMA, one would be in a significant disadvantage.

They're guaranteed to work with each other. Some sticks can be finicky at times, when mix and matching.

 

[manwich]

Why are you going with a GTX 760 Ti SLI setup? Which game requires that much power?

Idk. I like my games to look nice. Might try just one 760ti and see how that suffices.

 

[manwich]

Everything with your build seems fine. The only thing I can add if you are trying to save a bit, get a seagate 2tb hd, instead of the caviar black. Outside of its warranty, there's relatively nothing special about them.

If you do see yourself needing 32gb of ram, I would advise to wait for a deal.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148666
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231610
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226405
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226389
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226407

A release date on the 760 ti is unknown. Nothing indicates it will be released this week.

Hmmm ok. If nothing happens in a week I'm gonna buy something regardless.

I read somewhere that nvidia would release a card each week. I guess we'll find out

 

[manwich]

I found these Crucial Ballistix for around $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Might actually go with these since they so much cheaper and have nice timings. Was looking for something more aesthetically pleasing, but I'll take yall's advice and go with these since the price with performance is nice compared to all the other RAM. I'm afraid if I wait on the RAM, prices will go up even more....

 

[tiraides]

Sure, go with that.

Jump on the AX850, too, as the promo code expires soon. Then again, the cheaper HX750 can also handle a dual GTX 670/760 Ti SLI configuration.

 

[manwich]

Sure, go with that.

Jump on the AX850, too, as the promo code expires soon. Then again, the cheaper HX750 can also handle a dual GTX 670/760 Ti SLI configuration.

Yes I will good sir.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[tiraides]

Hold tight... I still haven't had time to look at the monitors.

Don't buy those just yet.

 

[manwich]

Hold tight... I still haven't had time to look at the monitors.

Don't buy those just yet.

Don't worry, I'm not buying any monitors until I have a video card. For now I'll use my brother's old monitor.

So far I just bought the necessities for the build.

 

[tiraides]

... Which are...?

 

[manwich]

... Which are...?

Basically everything we've discussed.

What I already had:
4770K
ASUS Z87 Sabertooth
Fractal define R4 case

What I just bought:
Crucial Ballistix sport 32gb 1600 ram
Corsair AX850 psu
Corsair H100i cooler
ASUS blu ray burner
Samsung 840 pro 256gb SSD
WD black 1tb HDD
Windows 7 pro 64bit OS

 

[manwich]

So all the parts that I stated in the post above, should be in by next week.

Since Idk when the 760ti will come out and that was my first choice for a video card, I'm thinking maybe getting the MSI gtx 770 (just one and not SLI) after my next paycheck. However if the 760ti is released sometime in the next week and a half, I'll probably jump on that.

With that said, any reccomendations for a monitor? I listed a possible choice already but I don't know anything about monitors. I would like to have a dual monitor setup, not for gaming but for better productivity.

 

[Dangman]

With that said, any reccomendations for a monitor? I listed a possible choice already but I don't know anything about monitors. I would like to have a dual monitor setup, not for gaming but for better productivity.

Then in that case you want an IPS monitor for their better colors then. Important when doing photoshop work. So I recommend this budget IPS monitor:
$170 - Asus VS239H-P Black 23" LED IPS Monitor

 

[manwich]

Then in that case you want an IPS monitor for their better colors then. Important when doing photoshop work. So I recommend this budget IPS monitor:
$170 - Asus VS239H-P Black 23" LED IPS Monitor

Looks like a good deal to me.

 

[manwich]

So I finally got it all put together, booted the system up last night and everything ran fine works smoothly. Although I was freaking out the first minute during boot up because I was looking at the BIOS and it displays the CPU temps, and they were slowly rising from 30C to 40C, 50, 60, and up to mid 70s. I was like crap my water pump is dead... and then all of a sudden I heard this rush of water inside my case and I guess that's when the pump kicked in or maybe something was blocking inside the tubing, and the temps plummeted to 30C.

Weeww.. but anyway. I need a monitor atm because I'm using my TV for a monitor since it's the only thing that uses HDMI for the onboard video. (waiting for gtx 760 to come out supposedly by the end of this month). So I'm thinking about getting the following:

ASUS IPS monitor - $169.99
ASUS Orion Pro Headset - $109.99
Creative T20 speaker system - $89.99
Razer gaming mouse pad - $14.99

I'm hoping the rumors are true about the 760 coming out this month, and if it's not released by then I'll pick something else.

 

[Dangman]

For the audio stuff, you might want to hit up the Computer Audio subforum as those guys know more about audio gear than we do.

Good to hear that your build is going fine so far.

 

[manwich]

For the audio stuff, you might want to hit up the Computer Audio subforum as those guys know more about audio gear than we do.

Good to hear that your build is going fine so far.

Yea and thanks guys for all the help and suggestions so far, really appreciate it.