$10k-$12k Gaming PC Build Ideas

So, I'm looking to put together a solid gaming PC that'll be ready to tackle 2014 head-on, so I'm curious to hear what you guys think.

I've already decided on the Thermaltake Level 10 case, so here is what else I need on my list:

- A power supply capable of handling an SLI setup with an ASUS GTX 760
- A new motherboard
- New RAM (aiming for 16 GB)
- An Intel i5 4670K with MSI Z87 (that's the current target, though I'm open to better if it exists...)
- A cooler—I previously used a Corsair H50, so I definitely want to stick with that kind of tech
- SSDs—the bigger the better, provided the price-to-performance ratio makes sense

Any suggestions or bright ideas?

Going with this case will get you the same results for $367 less, which lets you put that extra cash toward components that actually impact gaming performance. If you're planning on dropping over $3,000, then this case might make sense.

Alexander Moore67 said:http://www.edigital.com/case_reviews...&partner=10001
This case will get the job done just fine, and you'll end up spending $367 less, which means more cash left over to upgrade the parts that actually matter for gaming. Honestly, if you aren't planning on dropping over $3,000 on this build, there's really no point in going this route.

I already own a high-end case. 🙂

80+ Gold power supply
http://www.newegg.com/p/details/product...6A096867C.aspx

When in 2014? It doesn't really make sense to build one now if you're planning on buying something in March or whenever 😉

crimsonstag84 said:It's 2014. Why bother building now if you're just going to buy everything fresh in March or whenever? 😉

+1 🙂

Motherboard:
RAM:
SSD: (they cost about half as much—around $250+)

crimsonstag84 said:What are you even doing in 2014? It makes zero sense to build anything right now if you’re planning on buying new gear in March or whenever. 😉

This is my plan for 2014, just so we're all on the same page.

It's basically the foundation for a rough estimate. 😉

Matthew Anderson said:My 2014 plan—this is where I'm starting from.

The groundwork for a rough estimate. 😉

Alright, here’s a breakdown for a $12,000 configuration, though personally, I think spending that much is overkill—if you're looking for a high-end rig, you could honestly build something killer for under $10,000... and frankly, there’s no point in going with two weaker cards when you have such a massive budget. Even if two GTX 760s might edge out a single GTX 780 for a moment right now, I highly doubt you'll be adding a second GTX 760 down the road once they start losing steam. With this setup, you could just drop in another GTX 780 later and call it a day—much easier! Also, I'm a bit skeptical about those "K" series processors; the performance gains from overclocking are pretty negligible, yet they drive up temperatures so much that you could end up in a real mess if you're new to overclocking...

Intel i5 4670K
MSI Z87-GD65
Patriot Viper3 2X8GB (16GB) 1600Mhz
MSI GTX 780 TF OC 3GB
WD Caviar Black 1TB
WD Caviar Green 3TB
Kingston SSD 120GB V300
LG DVD±RW 24x GH24NS95 SATA black bulk
Corsair H90
Frotron Raider S PSU 650W 80+ Silver
Zalman mid tower case black ( Zalman Z12 Plus)

$4062 Future IT

Timothy Fisher79 said:Alright, here’s a build around the $12k mark, though personally, I think spending that much is overkill if you just want a high-end rig—you could definitely put something killer together for under $10k...

Intel i5 4670K with MSI Z87
MSI Z87-GD65
Patriot Viper3 2X8GB (16GB) 1600Mhz
MSI GTX 780 TF OC 3GB
WD Caviar Black 1TB
WD Caviar Green 3TB
Kingston SSD 120GB V300
LG DVD±RW 24x GH24NS95 SATA black bulk
Corsair H90
Frotron Raider S PSU 650W 80+ Silver
Zalman Z12 Plus

$4062 Future IT

Look, I already have the case, the GPU, the DVD drive, and the hard drives. I was asking about the stuff from my original post. 😉

So yeah, any recommendations are welcome. I just picked up one GPU and grabbed a second identical one to go with it. I'm looking to you guys for ideas on everything else.

If I recall correctly from our previous discussions about gaming builds, you mentioned having a 2500K—switching that out for an i5-4670K would be total madness.
Haswell chips like the 4670K, along with Ivy Bridge models like the 3570K, tend to come with some pretty subpar thermal paste pre-applied, which leads to higher temps compared to the 2500K and limits your overclocking potential.
Essentially, when you look at the clock-for-clock performance, the difference with the 4670K is negligible. The 2500K actually holds its own because it can hit much higher overclocks while staying cooler. In many ways, it’s the superior choice...

Some enthusiasts know how to pop the lid, swap out the factory paste, and successfully drop those temperatures click

Besides, you aren't going to feel any real-world difference in gaming when comparing them at the same clock speeds—and don't forget that the 2500K has way more headroom to push even higher. You'd just be throwing money down the drain.

1 x Intel Core i7-4930K Extreme Edition (3.4GHz, 12MB, S2011) box
1 x MSI X79-GD65-8D, s2011, D3, S3, U3, FW, SLI, Dr
1 x Samsung 250GB 840 EVO Basic SSD
1 x Corsair H90 cooling
2 x Patriot Viper3 Blue Sapphire 1866MHz, 8GB (2x4GB)
1 x Corsair AX760 PSU, 760W, Platinum AX Series

Total: $3554
Future IT

Matthew Anderson said:I've already got the case, the GPU, the DVD writer, and all my drives ready to go. I was really just looking for input on what I mentioned in my intro. 😉

So, please—don't hold back on the recommendations! I recently picked up one graphics card and just scored a second identical one. Now, I’m turning to you guys for some creative ideas on how to round out the rest of the build.

Honestly, if you ask me, it’s all a bit pointless—building a gaming PC with 16GB of RAM? And pairing it with a processor that costs twice as much as an Intel i7-4770K when the performance gap in actual gaming is basically negligible? In my opinion, it’s massive overkill. But hey, to each their own, I suppose—just let me tell you plainly: $3333 you're throwing money down the drain!!! ☕

A PC running 16GB of RAM, an Intel i7-4770, and an NVIDIA GTX 780 is complete overkill for a standard 1920x1080 resolution setup. Unless, of course, you're planning on running five monitors at once—but even then, I'm telling you, you're just wasting cash by falling for that old marketing trick that "bigger" or "more expensive" always means "better."

Matthew Anderson, if I were you, I’d put that cash toward a dual or even a triple monitor setup with 27'' screens or bigger. Honestly? I’d probably just go for 32''.
It’s way more cost-effective than trying to build a whole new rig from scratch. First off, that i7 processor is total overkill for gaming—it's just extra money down the drain. Second, there's really no point in messing around with SLI if you've already got two decent GTX 760 cards in there.
The only thing I’d actually suggest upgrading is an SSD, specifically that beefier one Benjamin King2 recommended right here. If you're feeling fancy, maybe grab a Corsair H90 cooler, and potentially a new motherboard—though your current one handles SLI (and AMD Crossfire) just fine, so you don't strictly need it.

As for power supplies, here are my picks: OCZ ModXStream Pro, 700W... CORSAIR 650W, RM Series, 80 PLUS® Gold

Timothy Fisher79 said:Honestly, the whole thing is kind of pointless. A gaming PC with 16GB of RAM? And a processor that costs twice as much as an Intel i7-4770, even though the performance gap in actual gaming is pretty ridiculous? In my book, it's massive overkill. But hey, if that's what you want, go for it. Just let me tell you straight: $3333 you're just throwing money away!!! ☕

A PC running 16GB of RAM, an Intel i7-4770, and an NVIDIA GTX 780 is total overkill for 1080p resolution. Unless you're trying to run five monitors at once, I'm telling you, you're just flushing cash down the toilet by falling for the marketing trick that "bigger and more expensive" always means "better."

That’s exactly why I asked for recommendations again. I wasn't looking for a useless argument, but oh well, I guess there's no point in arguing. 🙂

Drew Sanchez82 - I didn't even mention the i7. 🙂

Budget option:

1 x Intel i7-4770K 3.50GHz, Haswell
1 x CORSAIR 650W, Corsair RM Series, CP-9020054-EU, 80 PLUS® Gold
1 x Corsair H90, liquid CPU cooling
1 x DDR3 8GB (2x4GB) Kingston, 1600MHz, CL9, HyperX Genesis, KHX1600
1 x ASUS Z87-A, 1150, Intel Z87, DDR3, 4 slots, 1600 MHz
1 x Kingston SSD 240GB HyperX 3k, 2.5", SATA 3 6G, R/W:555/510 MB/s

$2401 ADM

Matthew Anderson said:That’s why I asked for recommendations again. Not to start some useless back-and-forth—but hey, no point arguing... 🙂

Drew Sanchez82 — I didn't even bring up the i7. 🙂

Can you drop a link to which monitor(s) you're using?

Matthew Anderson said:That’s exactly why—once again—I was asking for recommendations. It wasn't meant to spark some pointless back-and-forth argument, but hey, I guess there's no stopping that once it starts. 🙂

Drew Sanchez82 — I didn't even bring up the i7. 🙂

Look, I get all five points you're making. I just felt like I couldn't be much help, so I reacted that way—mostly because, clearly, we don't see eye to eye on everything.

Matthew Anderson said:@Drew Sanchez82/">@@Drew Sanchez82 - I didn't even bring up the I7. 🙂

Look, I know you didn't, but other people were offering suggestions on why my comment implies you don't need this stuff.

You forgot to mention what you're actually running right now. If I remember correctly, you've got an i5 2500k, 16 GB of RAM, an NZXT Kraken, and those dual GTX 760s.

Honestly, that i5 2500k is still one of the best Intel gaming CPUs out there when you look at value for money. You really don't need to swap it yet. Just overclock it to 4.3-4.5 GHz and keep cruising; it'll serve you well for years.
Your RAM is fine, and your motherboard is solid enough since it supports SLI/Crossfire.
So, if I were in your shoes, I'd just grab that one part mentioned and jump straight into a triple monitor setup. That’s how you’ll actually feel like you upgraded. With the other parts being suggested, you wouldn't even notice a real difference in your in-game performance.