New PC Advice.

[Task Force]

My advice for a build

I5 4690k, if your not overclocking your cpu, you could just get a non K sku CPU , depending on if you want to overclock your cpu... If so, get a Z 97 chipset, they tend to be pretty good in features (also IIRC Z series chips are the only chip that supports SLI, the other ones only have 1 x16 PCI 3 lanes) . But don't go crazy, Remember if your not overclocking a motherboards generally a motherboard, and you'll not see much of a difference.

For brands, so far I've had no real issues with my current gigabyte board, though be warned for some reason the RAM slots are backwards (atleast on my z87) so instead of them being 1234 they're 4321. I had a issue where I put my memory into what where actually the 4 2 slots and the computer had issues, put them in the 3 1 slots. all was fine.

Im not really sure you can get 580s (id have to look) so depending on how much you want to spend (and how well two 580s actually perform remember not all games support SLI) I'd get a set of 7 or 9 series GPUs if you want to do SLI, I've been running 770s in SLI for over a year now and had no issues. Im currently running the witcher 3 on ultra/high on 1440p with no issues.

For memory I always advice a nice 1600 cas 8-9 kit, for gaming you only really need 8 gigs of memory.

For cooling, despite the fact i'm using a H100i, there is no real need for water cooling unless you plan on doing major overclocking, hell if your not going to overclock you probably could get something in the 40 USD range thats decent and it'll do the job. Though as said before you could get a D-14 which for average overclocking should be everything you need and is a good cooler.

As for your PSU I do not believe you will be able to run SLI on 650 watts, and once you factor in overclock I'm almost sure you wont. I would advice you something in the modular in the 750 area.

As for storage if you need it. After putting a SSD in my current build I personally recommend them (also since the price for them has dropped) for system drives, and use normal HDDs for storage.



So to sum it up from my point of view

Devils Canyon I5 4690K

Z97 motherboard

580 x2 if you find another 580 and decide that's what you do, though You would get more performance out of two 960s if your budget allows it, as if I remember correctly (and its 6 am and I've not slept.) they out perform the 580, and use less power.

750 watt psu should hold you over with this build, I know there's some... calculator on the Internets that will try to figure out what wattage your going to use but I font remember where I've seen it.

8 gigs of some low CAS ram, High frequency ram is really pointless for gaming in every benchmark I've seen and person I've talked to who got high Mhz/CAS Memory.

Storage is all what you want, as I said a SSD is nice but not necessary, in the end HDDs are still perfectly fine.

Regards, and good luck with your PC
TF

PS: If you've got any questions just message me on steam.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Final parts ordered today, should be here Friday ready to be hidden away until I've got the guts to annoy the wife.

Like one of those new-build or converted house programmes on the telly, I've gone over my original budget, the whole thing is coming in around a grand (GBP) give or take. For that I could have bought a nice pre-built system for a hassle free life.

Just thinking of the final build, and how much more playable DCS stuff will be.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Forgot to say thank you for the input you guys gave.

[antikristuseke]

What will the build be like?

[Herr-Berbunch]

Case - Corsair Carbide 540 Air (twin chambers separating mobo, cards and components from PSU and HDDs - plus it's lower than my current Xigmatek case which has feet and top radiator cover removed to fit under desk)

Mobo - Gigabyte G1 Sniper Z97 (hate my current GB mobo so this better be all I expect,and more)

CPU - i5-4690K

Cooler - Corsair H100i water cooler

RAM - Corsair Vengeance 16 GB (2x8)

PSU - EVGA 650w G1

GPU - Asus R9 290X

Storage - 1x 256 GB SSD for OS, 1x 256 GB SSD for select games, 1x 2TB Seagate HDD for everyday storage (plus my current SSD/Sata drives will move across.

OS - I'll risk 10, but prepared to go back to 7 depending on experiences with 10

I plan on overclocking and just the single card for now but will up the power when I decide to crossfire. One step at a time.

[Task Force]

Just a warning about water cooling, If you though your room was hot before. It will be like a sauna now, since the heats being dumped out of the case more efficiently.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Delay with GPU, all due Monday.