Unicorn build

[Snorlaxi]

I want to build myself a gaming computer that will run basically everything there is today, and will continue to run games for a few years. I know there are people here who know a lot about this, so I want to know how much should I expect to spend if I want a PC like this.

Also, how good is this "unicorn" build that is on the mainpage right now? Can I expect it to run todays top games on ultra with good fps?

I appreciate any help I can get, thank you.

[Fluorescent0]

About 1k$ (tower only) is what I'd consider as a good estimate for 1080p.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($135.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: GeIL EVO Veloce Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($53.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($92.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($249.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $922.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-11 19:56 EDT-0400)

Changing out the 760 for a 770 (+150$) ensures that you're able to play everything currently available on the market but crysis 3 at highest details on 60+ fps. With the 760 listed above you might have to do a few tweaks with the settings on a few of the most GPU intensive games.

[Snorlaxi]

About 1k$ (tower only) is what I'd consider as a good estimate for 1080p.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($135.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: GeIL EVO Veloce Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($53.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($92.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($249.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $922.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-11 19:56 EDT-0400)

Changing out the 760 for a 770 (+150$) ensures that you're able to play everything currently available on the market but crysis 3 at highest details on 60+ fps. With the 760 listed above you might have to do a few tweaks with the settings on a few of the most GPU intensive games.

If I wanted to play even crysis on ultra with 60+ fps, what should I change on your build?

Also, what about that unicorn and narwhal build on the mainpage? What can I expect from them, gamewise?

[Fluorescent0]

Get a 780 (+200$ compared to a 770, +350$ compared to the build above).

A cheaper alternative (100$ less) comes with SLI'ing 760, but that adds all the overhead of SLI obviously.

Those are considering you don't really care about antialiasing. If you want antialiasing maxed as well, SLI 770. (800$ on the GPU instead of the 250$ in the build above)

[Snorlaxi]

Could you guys say to me your thoughts on the narwhal and unicorn build? How do you think they would run crysis 3?

I'm not really that crysis fan, I'm just using it as a goal. If my build can play it on ultra, than I can expect it to be good enough to run 2014 or 2015 games in the future, right?

[Toffie]

Crysis is horrible coded, not worth the extra money. Your computer is gonna be overkill for everything else on the market.
These benchmarks also use 8x msaa which is stupid and you wont see a difference from 2x msaa.

Running at 2x AA + sliders to highest settings nets me about 70-75 fps, every other game runs 100 + fps (BF3/Far Cry 3/ Tomb Raider)

Anything over the 2x TXAA/MSAA is highly overrated.

[Snorlaxi]

Oh, I see... So I can forget crysis and just go with narwhal or fluorescent0's build and I should be fine for the next few years?

If so, then I'll just do that.

[Toffie]

I would get a 770 at the very least then mate.

[Snorlaxi]

I would get a 770 at the very least then mate.

Will I have to get a better power supply if I change the 760 for a 770?

Also, why does it say "SSDs are always optional" on the mainpage builds? Should I just skip it?

[Toffie]

The suggested XFX550 is fine for the 770.

Not sure what you mean by the SSD though ?