Suggestions for new high end build

[DarkStar_WNY]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
General use and lots of gaming

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
I can probably go up to $4k or so.

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.

Fredonia New York (Western NY)

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 (currently planning on Caselab SMA8) and everything inside it, I will be getting the mouse, keyboard and monitor will be taken care of separately.

I'm thinking a 980 ti for the GPU, a mid sized SSD for the OS, a 1TB SSD for games and a larger WD black 2 TB drive for storage (I have a Qnap NAS for any other bulk storage.

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
I wont be reusing anything.

6) Will you be overclocking?
Yes

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
Leaning toward the Acer 27" Predator 1440p monitor

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Probably about 60 days from now as I'm waiting to see how Skylake processors perform, as well as the Z170 mobos. But I could decide tomorrow to order all the parts and build it ASAP also.

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.
USB3.1 would be nice, and I will want the option of adding a second GPU, other than that I need a decent overclocking board, especially as I will be making a custom loop for this rig, just not during the initial build.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
No, will need new OS key as I'm rebuilding my current rig for my wife.

 

[OldandCrusty]

Congratulations! You'll be able to build a monster with $4k.
Here are some of my thoughts:

1) go with the best case you can afford
Yes that Caselabs case is expensive, but a good case will last for many years. However, also
consider some the high end cases from Phanteks, Lian Li, or Fractal Design and the like.

2) Don't buy a cheap power supply!
A cheap power supply can take out your entire system. And just like a good case, a good power
supply can be used for several builds.

3) Haswell is at the end of it's product cycle. Skylake is expected to be launched in early August, and
is expected to be a significant upgrade over Haswell. If you can wait, do so.

4) Consider going with a nice middle of road 27 inch monitor and a GTX 970 or GTX 980.
In about a year we should finally see the switch to 4k gaming. By saving money now, you will be
able to upgrade to a Pascal based video card, and a 4k monitor.

Good luck, and have fun on your new build!

 

[Dangman]

Considering that you're willing to drop $4000 on this PC, you might as well just wait for Skylake and get that. If I'm about to spend $4000 on a PC, I'd get the latest system possible. As such, that means you're planning way too early.

So ask for advice for your future Skylake setup when Skylake is actually released as any specific hardware recommendations that we provide will possibly be out of date in 60 days.

 

[DarkStar_WNY]

Yeah, this post is a bit early, I was planning on ordering a gunmetal grey SMA8 this weekend, but when I went on Caselab's website only to find that they temporarily stopped offering the white, gunmetal grey, two tone and primer cases, while they work of reducing lead time on orders (which has crept upward to the current 6-8 weeks.)

One thing I would like fellow [H] members opinions about it, if I should go with standard or reverse atx. Because of where my desk is my computer has to sit to my left so a standard case with window shows off the innards to the wall while going with a reverse formatted case would move the components and window to the right side where I can see them (see image below.)

But another possibility I hadn't considered until now is removing the printer table as it isn't used currently, and then moving the organ bench, which my computer sits on, back to where the printer table was and have the computer facing toward the stands current position.

The power/reset button would be inconveniently place but I don't plan on having any internal DVDs so that would be it, and the window and the view of the components would be right next to me.

Thoughts?

 

[DarkStar_WNY]

Congratulations! You'll be able to build a monster with $4k.
Here are some of my thoughts:

1) go with the best case you can afford
Yes that Caselabs case is expensive, but a good case will last for many years. However, also
consider some the high end cases from Phanteks, Lian Li, or Fractal Design and the like.

2) Don't buy a cheap power supply!
A cheap power supply can take out your entire system. And just like a good case, a good power
supply can be used for several builds.

3) Haswell is at the end of it's product cycle. Skylake is expected to be launched in early August, and
is expected to be a significant upgrade over Haswell. If you can wait, do so.

4) Consider going with a nice middle of road 27 inch monitor and a GTX 970 or GTX 980.
In about a year we should finally see the switch to 4k gaming. By saving money now, you will be
able to upgrade to a Pascal based video card, and a 4k monitor.

Good luck, and have fun on your new build!

Yeah, I learned my PS lesson many years ago, with pre-built rigs and have been using Corsair AX series PS on the builds I did for my son, and another family member.

I'm planning on using an AIO cooler for the CPU at first, and an air cooled GPU as well, and then once the next gen or GPUs come out I will be building a custom loop to cool the CPU/GPU and buy a pair of the EVGA HydroCopper versions of the new GPU and putting the 980 ti into my sons computer to replace his current 670.

 

[mls1995]

wait for skylake, I'm doing the same here

 

[DarkStar_WNY]

wait for skylake, I'm doing the same here

That's the plan, I'm hoping it pulls me away from wanting a 5960X that I really don't need since I don't do video editing or anything like that, but I've always wanted an Extreme edition cpu.

 

[Dangman]

Yeah, this post is a bit early, I was planning on ordering a gunmetal grey SMA8 this weekend, but when I went on Caselab's website only to find that they temporarily stopped offering the white, gunmetal grey, two tone and primer cases, while they work of reducing lead time on orders (which has crept upward to the current 6-8 weeks.)

One thing I would like fellow [H] members opinions about it, if I should go with standard or reverse atx. Because of where my desk is my computer has to sit to my left so a standard case with window shows off the innards to the wall while going with a reverse formatted case would move the components and window to the right side where I can see them (see image below.)

But another possibility I hadn't considered until now is removing the printer table as it isn't used currently, and then moving the organ bench, which my computer sits on, back to where the printer table was and have the computer facing toward the stands current position.

The power/reset button would be inconveniently place but I don't plan on having any internal DVDs so that would be it, and the window and the view of the components would be right next to me.

Thoughts?

Whether or not to go reverse ATX in situation is dependent on two factors:
1) Whether or not that reverese ATX case is actually a good case for the money as some reverse ATX cases could be crap.

2) Just how badly and how often you want to see your cable management skills.

As for reversing the PC so that the PSU and the various cables are facing away from the way, that seems rather messy IMO.

 

[DarkStar_WNY]

Whether or not to go reverse ATX in situation is dependent on two factors:
1) Whether or not that reverese ATX case is actually a good case for the money as some reverse ATX cases could be crap.

2) Just how badly and how often you want to see your cable management skills.

As for reversing the PC so that the PSU and the various cables are facing away from the way, that seems rather messy IMO.

1) Well as I am currently planing on using a Caselabs SMA8 the quality will be the same be it standard or reversed.

2) Well other then when it's first built I wont likely be sitting there looking into the case for prolonged periods of time, but I would like to show off the custom water cooling loop, and of course having it visible would make it much easier to keep an eye on the fluid level

I wouldn't say messy, so much as simply needing longer cords/cables and thus mandating some cable management for the power, video, USB cords and such.