Pre Purchase Review On Gaming Build

Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 07:50
Last edited 14/11/2018 - 09:50 by 1 other user

Been many a year since I did a gaming build, appreciate if anyone has the time to have a look at my parts list and let me know if I'm missing anything.

1440p gaming and VR build.
Already have a corsair modular PS, a 1080Ti and sufficient mechanical storage.

Budget for remaining components $2500 inc monitor, well aware I can do it cheaper, trying to maintain this level of quality, but happy to swap out parts if they are redundant. Happy to spend a tad more if the performance/dollar ratio is good.

Thermaltake View 71 Tempered Glass Edition $219
Intel Core i7 8700K $609
ASUS ROG Strix Z370-G Gaming Wi-Fi AC Motherboard $269
Thermaltake Floe Riing RGB 360 TT Premium Edition $269
Thermaltake Riing 140mm RGB Fan 3 Pack with Controller $79
Corsair Vengeance LPX CMK16GX4M2B3200C16 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 Black $249
Samsung 970 EVO M.2 NVMe SSD 500GB $139
MSI Optix MAG27CQ QHD 144Hz Curved 27in VA Gaming Monitor $549

Delivery $59
Landed $2441

Have I missed anything? Have I made any stupid mistakes?

Computing

Comments

veetor on 14/11/2018 - 09:05

+4

You don't have any RGB on your SSD or RAM, but I gotchu fam.

https://www.mwave.com.au/product/adata-xpg-storm-rgb-m2-2280…
https://www.pccasegear.com/products/42787?PPC=Y&gclid=EAIaIQ…
- Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 09:54
  
  haha gotta keep the kids happy. You might be onto something.
- HighAndDry on 14/11/2018 - 10:16
  
  +1
  
  In case this isn't a joke…. stick to the Samsung SSD lol OP.
  - N1NJ4W4RR10R on 14/11/2018 - 17:24
    
    +1
    
    ^
    
    Although RGB RAM is advisable. It'll allow your system to run 0% faster than an equivalent, non RGB ram system….but 10 billion times cooler.
djkelly69 on 14/11/2018 - 09:49

Any reason you are not getting a G-sync monitor?
- Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 09:57
  
  I don't play a lot of MP, or FPS, not convinced I will suffer tearing issues in our usual gaming habits. I could be wrong of course. So with that thought, it was more a cost saving effort.
  - N1NJ4W4RR10R on 14/11/2018 - 17:26
    
    Eh, it should be fine with a 1080ti and 1440p anyways. Still advisable, but gsync has a stupid premium on it.
    
    *C'mon AMD, give us a 1080ti equivalent
Caped Baldy on 14/11/2018 - 09:56

Maybe go for an 34 inch ultrawide monitor.
- Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 09:59
  
  any recommendations that don't sky rocket the price tag? I can move on price, but I'm fairly happy where it sits.
HighAndDry on 14/11/2018 - 10:18

Honestly only things I can think of are re the monitor too - that's how you're going to be enjoying all of your components (along with other peripherals like headset, keyboard, mouse, VR set? so I assume you have that sorted too).

G-sync is worth it at your build price-point imo even for non-FPS games (I'd personally spend on G-sync over RBG, for example), while ultra-wide is more subjective decision, but given you have a 1080Ti, you'd certainly be able to push the required pixels.
- Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 11:02
  
  Yeah have all the extras sorted already, been stockpiling.
  RGB is here to stay sadly, it's a build for a 12 year olds xmas gift so apparently it's important.
  
  I chose this monitor after a recommendation from a friend who runs similar specs with that screen. He hasn't ran into any tearing issues and has good frame rates. But i'm open to education on the subject before I hit the buy button.
  - HighAndDry on 14/11/2018 - 11:23
    
    it's a build for a 12 year olds xmas gift so apparently it's important.
    
    Ah, you weren't joking when you said you need to keep the kids happy. Wow - lucky kid. (at that age I think I was rocking a PII that turbo'd to 133Mhz…)
    
    But with your build, while you will benefit from a G-sync, considering you have a 1080Ti you're not going to have much screen-tearing issues anyway and the price-jump to a G-sync monitor starts at about double the price of your current choice so… probably not worth it actually.
    - Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 11:27
      
      Yeah price is pushing up there for xmas gift, have a daughter too, but she wants a horse… not sure which lot of research is more stressful to be honest.
      
      ok, hold off on the gsync, can upgrade in the future if needed.
      
      Now taking MB recommendations, see below. :(
  - N1NJ4W4RR10R on 14/11/2018 - 17:27
    
    This is for a kid?! Dam, that kid must behave :smirk:
Jimmycfc on 14/11/2018 - 11:02

You do realise the motherboard you had listed is a mATX?

Build looks pretty solid, it's very similar to my build i did a few months ago. Only thing i can see is the G-sync like most people said, you won't need it now but in a few years it might help out.
- Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 11:07
  
  +1
  
  … dunno how I managed to do that, really glad you picked up on it before I hit the buy button.
  Thank you
  Should have been the ASUS ROG Strix Z370-E, which is now sold out.
  
  back to browsing I guess.
  - Jimmycfc on 14/11/2018 - 11:11
    
    I only noticed it cause i was thinking why didn't i consider getting it.
    I got a Gigabyte Aorus Gaming 7 and stuck a wifi card in - it was either that or the Asus Z370-E.
    Look's like you've done your research!
    - Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 11:21
      
      and annoyingly the Gigabyte Aorus Gaming 7 has been discontinued.
      Wifi isnt a huge issue, can throw in a card too.
      
      Now frantically reading all the other Z370 boards specs to find something similar.
      - Jimmycfc on 14/11/2018 - 12:16
        
        @Ace Ventura: Perhaps look at the Z370-A, i know MSI had some nice ones too but seem's they've also been discontinued.
        
        Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 12:40
        
        +1
        
        @Jimmycfc: Think I'm going with the MSI Z370 PC Pro, similar to the Z370-A feature wise, nice and black so his RGB will look good, few good OC results on pcpartpicker builds. Even a few dollars cheaper. plan on vertical mounting the GPU so the lack of PCIe reinforcement shouldn't be a huge issue. On paper, it doesnt look bad for a cheaper board. 3 year warranty.
        
        Hoping this settles the build, need to go look at bloody horses next for the young miss next.
        
        HighAndDry on 14/11/2018 - 13:32
        
        @Ace Ventura: Where do you live (don't give too specific an answer, internet after all) that you can realistically consider horses as a gift?! (Also are you (not-so) secretly a millionaire?)
        
        But glad you've got the Mobo sorted, that's really needed to tie the whole thing together.
        
        Edit: Ah, dumb question, profile says Ballarat. How much are horses anyway? Where would you even go buy one? How? How much maintenance do they need? So many questions…. (don't feel any obligation to answer, I'm just… wondering out loud)
        
        Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 14:37
        
        +1
        
        @HighAndDry: Nah not dumb, don't actually live in ballarat, it's the closest city though. We live in the pyrenees, on the side of one of the mountains there.
        I say horse, but little miss is only 5 so really looking for one of the smaller breeds. We have started riding lessons, so we have gauged the interest level, but it's still going to be another animal that I have to care for.
        
        Price is very subjective, see ponies for $500 and there is no cap on how high that goes. We hope to spend around $3500, my wife has lovely colt already so we don't have a lot of setup costs, but she will need a saddle at some point in the future.
        
        Not secretly a millionare, likely would keep it secret if I was though. We have a reasonable successful business, and I also work full time. (that sentence will confuse a few).
        Have been able to get the kids working in the farm too, they have done amazing things for their ages this year, caring for stock, feeding, looking after clients, cleaning up crap, the works.
        So this is me trying to reward them for all their unpaid effort.
        
        HighAndDry on 14/11/2018 - 15:27
        
        +1
        
        @Ace Ventura: I want to reply with a more substantive comment but honestly don't have the time. But damn if you don't seem like you have an absolutely idyllic life. Congrats.
        
        ozbjunkie on 15/11/2018 - 18:51
        
        +1
        
        @HighAndDry: Who negs a compliment, bunch of savages around here.
        
        HighAndDry on 15/11/2018 - 19:29
        
        +1
        
        @ozbjunkie: Cheers - that was weird, if people wanted to neg me, plenty of far more controversial comments of mine they could neg.
gofree on 14/11/2018 - 13:38

+1

I would choose the i5 9600K CPU instead and use the $210 price difference towards a 24" or 27" 144Hz+ G-Sync monitor. The i5 9600k is the king bang for buck CPU and while i7 does smash it in multi threaded benchmarks, in real life (read: gaming fps) the results are pretty close. Otherwise very nice set up. Are you looking to adopt any more kids? raises hand
- Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 14:58
  
  +1
  
  I'll admit I bit the bullet already and ordered the 8700k, may look at a g-sync in the future.
  If this build goes well, I might do a build for myself in the new year, show the youngins what us veteran gamers can do. Might get a bit greedy and get myself a g-sync, we'll see how the panel in this build goes first I reckon.
  
  As you see the kids I already have are sending me broke, can't afford anymore.
[Deactivated] on 14/11/2018 - 14:28

+1

Not a bad build at all, but I'd put the 1080Ti and PSU into this, it's a slightly different spread of $'s and touch over budget but your kid will be in RGB heaven. Just add the Corsair Lighting Node Pro.

https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/R4m9Bb

He's a lucky 12yr old that's for sure :)

It includes one of the best 1440p monitors going around.
Ace Ventura on 14/11/2018 - 14:50

Not a bad little list, I bit the bullet and purchased the components as above about an hour ago, with the MSI Z370 PC Pro instead of the mATX I first listed.
Little iffy on if it's the best MB for the job, but it looks good on paper.

Young fella will hopefully build it himself, with my help, much rather he learns the ins and outs.
- [Deactivated] on 14/11/2018 - 21:11
  
  Congrats, enjoy the build!
  
  That MSI board will be fine.
Ace Ventura on 15/11/2018 - 14:34

+1

And I just got a lovely email from PCCG saying my items have been shipped.
Do love a company with a fast turn around. Put the order in early just in case things got held up. Seems it wasn't necessary. Very pleased.
Existenz on 15/11/2018 - 18:24

+1

How about a 3440x1440 monitor, I absolutely love mine. The immersion is on another level compared to your standard ratio screens. Considering the beefy specs of your PC you could easily run the Ultra Wide resolution.
ozbjunkie on 15/11/2018 - 18:49

+1

If it's only for fortnite you should confiscate it indefinitely.
- Ace Ventura on 15/11/2018 - 20:30
  
  +1
  
  haha hell no.
  He will get my steam library in family sharing, none of that crap.
  - ozbjunkie on 15/11/2018 - 20:31
    
    +2
    
    You have taught him well. If only we could all have such stern guidance.
    - N1NJ4W4RR10R on 15/11/2018 - 20:36
      
      A little bit of my soul dies every time I see someone with a 1070+ with an i5 8400+ (and AMD equivalents) ask if their rig can play fortnite.
    - Ace Ventura on 15/11/2018 - 20:50
      
      +1
      
      He's been playing Witcher 3 on my pc lately, been really cool being able to explain the lore and seeing his amazement as he discovers new monsters to slay. It's a cool transition when they move from childrens games to large open world sandboxes.
      
      Can't wait to get him into dark souls haha.
      - ozbjunkie on 15/11/2018 - 21:14
        
        @Ace Ventura: If— By Rudyard Kipling
        
        Were it written today, there'd be a line about playing dark souls and not breaking the controller.
      - N1NJ4W4RR10R on 16/11/2018 - 13:02
        
        @Ace Ventura: Aha! Will definitely enjoy the new rig than!
Ace Ventura on 16/11/2018 - 14:16

Everything arrived at 9am today, less than 48 hours from the time I ordered to the time it was in our grubby little hands. Really pleased with the service from PCCG, everything well packed, no damages, happy days.

I pulled the case out the box so I could get a bit of a look at it, only as I'm planning my own build early next year so I can keep up with the young fella.

Tempered glass looks great, although having it on both sides will make cable management a bit more tricky, but one side will be out of view from the desk anyway.
It's a big case, if we get tired while doing the build, there should be enough space inside to lay down for a power nap.
The top radiator mount can be offset to one side to optimise airflow. Although from first glance, it looks like you must mount the fans under the radiator, not a huge issue but would be nice to try it with fans on top blowing down into rad instead of under rad pulling air through. But I could be wrong.

Didn't realise it had the vertical mount gpu bracket, might go back and get a cable to take advantage of it.
Would be an awesome case for custom watercooling, as all can easily put 3 drives in the back and remove the stack giving plenty of room for reservoirs and pumps.

Really tempted to keep it myself. Was tempted to give the monitor a crack on my PC as well while the boy is at school but I restrained myself and didnt open it.

Now I have to hide it all until christmas.

Thanks for all the help and feedback guys.
- Ace Ventura on 16/11/2018 - 14:42
  
  Although the additional fans I bought are 1st gen rgb while the cooler is 3rd gen.
  Button controlled vs software controlled, not cross compatible. bugger, didn't quite get the research right.
DrKazanovaKK on 11/12/2018 - 22:37

Which monitor did you end up getting and how well does it work with the 1080ti?
- Ace Ventura on 12/12/2018 - 13:31
  
  +1
  
  Picked up the MSI MAG27CQ, its a curved 27" with the VA panel.
  
  We haven't built the pc as above yet as it's my sons xmas gift, but I did hook it up to a mates pc, 1080Ti 8700k build as well, but it's custom cooled and OC'd. We only had a few hours to test it before I had to rebox and hide it, but I was impressed. Vibrant colors, very little backlight bleed, was sitting at about 120fps in fallout 4 with a bunch of pretty mods and ultra settings, 90-110fps in witcher3 with pretty mods again. It's not a gsync monitor, but never had any tearing issues, never dropped frames enough for that to be an issue. Hopefully that stays true when we get the new build done.
  
  Curve might take a bit to get used too, but it felt natural after playing for a while.
  
  Only issue I found with it in that time was the screens menu was in chinese straight out of the box, after some googling, I managed to get it over to english and then we could up to refresh rate to 144hz.
Ace Ventura on 28/12/2018 - 19:19

Thought I would come back and update this, I always hate when the op doesn't come back and end the story, young fella got his components for xmas, we had a family do for boxing day, so build was completed yesterday.

He did the complete build himself, with me watching over and giving advise, answering questions, making sure he didn't do anything stupid. Took most of the day to get her done, plus a couple hours this morning tidying up the cables. It looks very neat, he's done a good job.

We played around this arvo and have the 8700k sitting at 5.0, ran multiple stress tests over about 4 hours, tops out at about 75 degrees, we dropped it to 4.8 for now though to avoid any teething issues.

The view 71 is a beautiful case, well made, tempered glass doors on both sides, on hinges for easy access, also has glass front and top. which looks mint, but it is very heavy, he won't be moving it around often though, if he does he'll have to remove the glass first to make it easier. Cable management is a bit hit and miss, given the glass on both side, short of making custom cables, we opted to run them all in black sleeving against the chassis, so even looking from the rear side, it still looks neat and tidy, certainly not hidden though. It's a huge case, but he wants to eventually work his way up to custom water cooling, so we are future proofed there a bit.

The MSI MAG27CQ is a stunning screen, very small amount of backlight bleed, could only see it in a completely dark room though, colors are stunning, he's been getting amazing frame rates on all of my steam games, no tearing issues found yet with the lack of g-sync.

The riing AIO was a bit of overkill, but it does look great in that case, don't think he's tried the software for it yet, but it looks the part just cycling the colors. It's surprising quiet too, the whole machine is, guess the glass helps with that one.

Stoked with the nvme drive, booting is mere seconds, I'm planning a build for myself soon, think I will be getting a second one for games, the young fella is storing most of his games on 3.5s, and a few of the bigger titles on a sata ssd, after seeing the nvme in action, it's sold me.

All in all, very happy with the components, nothing DOA, no dead pixels, no compatibility issues. Very happy with the prompt delivery from PCCG. Very happy with the young fella listening and learning and building it himself, even if we did end up in a mess of instruction books, empty boxes and plastic wrapping.
And most importantly, the young fella is very happy with the pc, it's running awesome, no crashes, no issues.

thanks for all the advice guys.
greatlamp on 30/12/2018 - 20:58

Why not 9700k :(
extra 2 cores for less than $50

I guess for gaming it isn't really necessary

Pre Purchase Review On Gaming Build

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