$2000 Gaming PC
I'm looking to build my first gaming PC in about 10 years. Would like to be able to play the newest games and play them at a high FPS. Looking at also getting the HTC Vive later this year (if possible). So any money I Get back from rebates will go towards a purchase of the HTC Vive. I also play bass guitar and I am looking for a way to record directly to my PC and do some light audio editing as a hobby. Also I am looking to keep the build neat and clean inside the case. So any kind of cable management is a plus.
What is your budget? $2000.00 USD
Are you okay with mail in rebates? I only have $2000. But if anything has rebates I will gladly send them in for money back.
What is your usage (gaming, video editing, 3D rendering, etc.)? Please list specific games and applications, if possible. Gaming and some light audio recording and editing. I play bass guitar and would like to be able to record to my PC. For game I want to be able to play games like the upcoming Mirrors Edge, Blizzard games (starcraft 2, diablo3, overwatch, etc), and other new games. Also want to see if I can build a PC that will handle VR. I'm looking at the HTC Vive and I might want to get that later this year.
Do you have any interest in overclocking the CPU? If so, please specify why you want to overclock, as it has little to no impact on gaming performance. I have no interest in overclocking unless its worth it.
When are you buying? Don't post until you're ready to buy, or ready to buy within 2-3 days. I have the money now. If I need to get something from Microcenter, I have a friend that can pick it up for me tomorrow (this Friday 3/11).
What country are you buying in? If you're buying in the U.S., do you have access to in store Microcenter/Frys deals? I live in Western Mass but I have a friend that works in Boston where the nearest Microcenter is and he agreed to pick up items for me tomorrow (Friday 3/11).
What peripherals do you currently have, if any (this includes mouse, keyboard, monitors/TVs, and headphones/speakers)? Please list them, exact names/model numbers are preferred. I only have Sony Playstation Gold headset that I can use. I need everything else
Do you require peripherals (mouse, keyboard, headphones, etc.)? If so, please list them. I need everything but headphones. I would also like to get the Steam Controller.
If you require a keyboard, do you have any knowledge of switch types? (Click here for a guide) If so, do you have a preference? No preference
If you require a mouse, what is your grip style? (Click here for a visual guide) I use palm grip.
If you require headphones, what is your preferred form factor (over ear, on ear, or in ear)? Do you have a preferred sound signature? What genres do you prefer to listen to, and do you require isolation? I have Sony Playstation Gold Headset I can use.
Do you require a monitor? Yes
Do you require an operating system? If you need one, do you have access to DreamSpark or a similar program that allows you to get an OS for a reduced price/free? I need an operating system and have no access to Dreamspark or anything similar.
Is wired internet a possibility? Wifi is discouraged unless absolutely necessary. I need Powerline. My modem and router are in a different room and I cant wire through the walls. Please include this in the build.
Do you have any components already in your possession which can be used in this build? If so, please list them. I have nothing. This is completely from scratch.
Posted Mar 10, 2016, 9:21 PM UTC
Hey u/gunvalkyrie,
Build updated for out of stock parts as of 3/11/2016 1PM EST
$2000 gets you the whole enchilada!
This build is going to be an excellent gamer and should serve your audio needs well.
The CPU and HDD are things your friend can pick up at microcenter, I didn't include tax in the price but its 1.0625% I believe..
The motherboard, PSU and Case are all ready for a second 980ti graphics card should you find you need one in the future to drive the 1440p monitor I included in the latest games. Currently a single 980ti is good for ~60FPS at 1440p resolution but the QNIX monitor can be overclocked to 96Hz+ reliably, so a second 980ti down the road may be a great addition to keep the rig current. I included a case and fans that would keep 2 cool, just make sure if you do get another, its just like the one In this build with that blower cooler style and the fans go on the side of the case to blow on the cards.
The rest of the build is pretty standard with all the things you asked for:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
I purposefully left out the audio because its nice to be able to give u/Mad_Economist some budget to play with occasionally. He is our local audio guru and should be able to sort out your headphone needs as well as maybe some advice for what kind of hardware you require for your instrument feeds.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Awesome work! Lets up the price a bit on the keyboard and see what that looks like with a quieter sound. After that I think I'm ready to buy this. I think 400 should be enough for u/Mad_Economist to suggest a interface for me. Would you suggest I wait for his input before starting to purchase everything?
I'll be home in an hour To fix that keyboard, and if you end up needing more cash for Your audio pickups we should wait for mad To weigh in yeah.
Thanks! Also, my friend picking up the stuff from microcenter just remembered that he has a Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB brand new that he is gifting me. I'm assuming I can replace the ADATA Premier with this, right?
Most definitely.
OK, I spoke to Mad and he was indisposed ATM, but he had some questions.
I gather you want to record your bass onto your computer, but:
No I only have basses. I was thinking of picking up a Sansamp Classic in the future. I would like playback through headphones/speakers if possible, while recording as well. I'm not including the Sansamp in my PC budget though. I will find some money in the future for that.
Edit: To clarify I plan on buying the Sansamp, so pretend like I have it.
Ciao, just got back. How many instruments and mics do you need connected to the interface at once?
Is that a Z97 Extreme4? Seems to have the same issue as the Extreme3(same board with an extra feature). Replace ASAP.
Dang, I thought the 4 was good? - better update the sticky.
u/gunvalkyrie - build updated!!!
Awesome thanks for the quick update.
So, does the Z97 chipset not benefit from dual channel memory?
The chipset doesn't 'benefit' from anything. Programs that use the memory - more so.
Specifically for OP however, the additional memory bandwidth of dual channel ram wont help in gaming or audio production at all.