Final thoughts, suggestions

[Mainer]

Hi all,
So I'm upgrading my computer and was looking for some feedback. I previously started a thread back in March where I was looking for help in building a system. Basically, the only condition is that I'm using an iMac for a monitor. So that said, I'm going with one of the suggested builds, but made a change in the operating system to windows 8.1. If anyone could provide any insight, feedback, etc before I make the purchases, as I know alot can change in a few months in the computer world, that would be great.


[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sJjTzy)

CPU | [Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74770k) | $259.99 @ Micro Center
CPU Cooler | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-...r-rr212e20pkr2) | $29.98 @ OutletPC
Motherboard | [Asus Z87-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-z87a) | $124.99 @ NCIX US
Memory | [A-Data XPG V2 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/a-data-...3u2400w8g11dgv) | $169.99 @ Newegg
Storage | [Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial...-ct240m500ssd1) | $109.99 @ Amazon
Video Card | [Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyt...r928xoc3gdrev2) | $279.99 @ Newegg
Case | [Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal...se-fdcadefr4bl) | $79.99 @ Newegg
Power Supply | [Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg620m) | $59.99 @ NCIX US
Optical Drive | [Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-op...rw24b1stblkbas) | $16.98 @ OutletPC
Operating System | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | $89.98 @ OutletPC
Case Fan | [Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfa14pwm) | $15.99 @ NCIX US
| Total | Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $1237.86

[Deleted]

Try this build and its minor modifications:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($334.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($123.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($144.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan ($15.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1265.89
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

I'd also consider changing the SSD tot he MX100 for the same price.

[Mainer]

Try this build and its minor modifications:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($334.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($123.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($144.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan ($15.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1265.89
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

I'd also consider changing the SSD tot he MX100 for the same price.

I'm not well-versed in pc building, why the changes? and the MX100 over the SSD?
Thanks

[Deleted]

I'm not well-versed in pc building, why the changes? and the MX100 over the SSD?
Thanks

The MX100 is slightyl larger for the same price and has slightly better overall performance over the M500.

For the total fo an extra $40, you can get the most up-to-date CPU/motherboard, AIO water-cooling and an equal-quality case. In addition, the 2400MHz is more likely to put a ceiling on your overclocking capacity. THE GPU I selected is fine, as is the one you selected, but I changed it to reduce the overall cost of my build.

[Mainer]

The MX100 is slightyl larger for the same price and has slightly better overall performance over the M500.

For the total fo an extra $40, you can get the most up-to-date CPU/motherboard, AIO water-cooling and an equal-quality case. In addition, the 2400MHz is more likely to put a ceiling on your overclocking capacity. THE GPU I selected is fine, as is the one you selected, but I changed it to reduce the overall cost of my build.

With all due respect (and thanks for your input) I have absolutely no interest in water cooling. Too risky and I'm not handy with hands-on if something happens. I'm sticking with non-liquid based cooling systems lol. So with the mobo and gpu/i7 you selected those won't have an issue with everything else? Also, with the videocard, will that be able to use my imac as a monitor? In regards to the case you chose, which is nice cuz it's cheaper, will that fit everything?

Also, is the videocard you selected better than the one I posted?

Thanks so much!

[Deleted]

With all due respect (and thanks for your input) I have absolutely no interest in water cooling. Too risky and I'm not handy with hands-on if something happens. I'm sticking with non-liquid based cooling systems lol. So with the mobo and gpu/i7 you selected those won't have an issue with everything else? Also, with the videocard, will that be able to use my imac as a monitor? In regards to the case you chose, which is nice cuz it's cheaper, will that fit everything?

Also, is the videocard you selected better than the one I posted?

Thanks so much!

1) It makes sense to be wary of AIO solutions, but with the air cooler you already have, you're going to need low-profile RAM;
2) There will be no issues with those two items unless one's faulty;
3) That depends on what connections your iMac has - if it has any of DVI, HDMI or DisplayPort, then you'll have no problems;
4) The case I chose is arguably one of the best cases out there, in terms of value and aesthetics;
5) GPUs with njon-reference cooling are typically fairly close to one-another in terms of performance (normally 1-3 FPS between low-end, midrange and high-end out of the box).

[Mainer]

1) It makes sense to be wary of AIO solutions, but with the air cooler you already have, you're going to need low-profile RAM;
2) There will be no issues with those two items unless one's faulty;
3) That depends on what connections your iMac has - if it has any of DVI, HDMI or DisplayPort, then you'll have no problems;
4) The case I chose is arguably one of the best cases out there, in terms of value and aesthetics;
5) GPUs with njon-reference cooling are typically fairly close to one-another in terms of performance (normally 1-3 FPS between low-end, midrange and high-end out of the box).

1) I'm not quite sure what you mean by low-profile RAM and how to identify it. Is the RAM I/You chose low-profile? Also, what do you recommend to do for sticking with non-liquid cooling?
2) Fair enough
3) Per another poster in the earlier thread, whatever videocard I go with "you'll need to be sure your video card has a mini-display port output. Adapters (like HDMI-to-mini-display port) won't work." I know the card I had had it, not sure about your's.
4) Cheaper and a good value? Sign me up. Good find. Thanks
5) I assume gpu=videocard? Excuse my ignorance but I don't know what you mean by njon-reference cooling. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the videocard you chose is very similar in output but is just cheaper?

Again, thanks alot!

[Idrinkwhiterussians]

If you are worried about the AIO cooling solution, you could go with:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock 3 113.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: PNY XLR8 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($139.00 @ Amazon)
Total: $198.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

The RAM is low profile (meaning it doesn't have a giant cooler sticking up from it) and will fit under this air cooler, which happens to be an excellent piece of kit.

[Mainer]

If you are worried about the AIO cooling solution, you could go with:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock 3 113.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: PNY XLR8 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($139.00 @ Amazon)
Total: $198.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

The RAM is low profile (meaning it doesn't have a giant cooler sticking up from it) and will fit under this air cooler, which happens to be an excellent piece of kit.

I appreciate your help IDWR, with the air cooler you suggested, the picture looks like a fan but it says "fluid dynamic bearing" does that mean it incorporates the "dreaded" liquid cooling or is it non-liquid?

If it's non-liquid, then it's the better choice of everything we've listed so far to use with low-profile RAM?

So if I'm understanding you and TAC: what I listed originally ran into potential heating issues with the cooler and RAM. To remedy that, TAC suggested liquid cooling for my original build and his build; or use low-profile RAM if I want to stick with non-liquid cooling, for which my original cooler may not have fit and you suggested a cooler that would fit.

[Idrinkwhiterussians]

I suggested low profile RAM and a very good air cooler (fluid dynamic is the type of bearing the fan uses). The cooling offered by it is quite on par (read: better) with the AIO cooler that was suggested. The RAM will fit with any cooler that you may put on. It saves a headache of fitment with any air OR liquid cooler.

These two changes are what I would make with Chicken's build. (and the MX100 SSD)

[Mainer]

Here is my final build, thanks to everyone for their help!

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/6JtMTW) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/6JtMTW/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k) | $339.99 @ Amazon
**CPU Cooler** | [be quiet! Dark Rock 3 113.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/be-quiet-cpu-cooler-bk018) | $59.99 @ NCIX US
**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyt...oard-gaz97xsli) | $120.99 @ Amazon
**Memory** | [PNY XLR8 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/pny-mem...16384kd31600x9) | $139.00 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial...ct256mx100ssd1) | $109.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Video Card** | [XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-r9280xtdfd) | $259.99 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-300r) | $59.99 @ Micro Center
**Power Supply** | [Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg620m) | $59.99 @ NCIX US
**Optical Drive** | [Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-op...rw24b1stblkbas) | $16.98 @ OutletPC
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | $89.98 @ OutletPC
**Case Fan** | [Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfa14pwm) | $24.99 @ Mwave
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $1281.88