$3000 budget build
 

Hey all, looking for advise and criticism for a friends build.

starting with NCIX's dream machine elite as a base to work off of simply because it's likely a well thought out build (incorrect assumption?). Parts are as follows.

i7 3930k
Asus p9x79 pro atx mobo
Asus gtx 670's in sli
16gb corsair vengeance blue 1600
corsair hx1050 psu
corsair h100i cpu cooler
corsair 650d case
Seagate 3tb harddrive
intel 520 120gb ssd
asus blueray

I'm suggesting the 650d becuse he wants something smaller, cheaper and isn't worried about costmetics. Honestly, he'd be happy with a cardboard box but I'm swaying him to do the build justice and get something that'll boost resale.....also hoping he gets bit by the bug.

He games pretty intensely, wants to stream highest res possible. I'm sure it can be done for cheaper, but he's got the money and wants nothing holding him back. What parts should be possibly consider swapping out? Input, please...thanks!

If he games vs thread intensive things I would say take a step back with the cpu and bump up the GPUs if that is even needed? Is he running 3D or multi monitor/resolutions????

If running multi monitor AMD has the edge with memory at high resolutions. 3D I dont know enough about it to say who is better, but Nvidia has been in that camp longer. If he is only running a single monitor with no 3D I would say go with 1 680 or a 7970, you only go multi gpu if you have to.

1 single big gpu is less of a pain in the ass then 2 smaller ones.

Gaming, and streaming/frapsing while gaming.

Dual monitors, no 3D. Likely picking up 1440 monitor.

Spec at least a 240GB SSD. He'll run out of room pretty quickly with that 120GB once he installs a few large games and it's a PITA moving your steam/origin libraries between your HDD and your SSD.

Also, this may be subjective, but I would recommend the Corsair 600T over the 650D, especially with that budget and rig.

+1 for the bigger SSD. It's a bit shocking how big some of the newer titles can be. Max Payne 3 was like 30GB for example and even something like Arkham City was closer to 20GB

Got that right Still love my Neutron 240 but its almost full might be time for 2 or 3 more in raid :P

Dont go under 240 They fill damn fast and when you run out its a piss off knowing what to move or what not

+1 for stepping back on the cpu. the only real benefit of the x79 is extra pci-e lanes and I don't think even dual 670's will trouble a z77.
6 cores is really only warranted for HEAVY rendering, transcoding and the like, the 3770k is more than capible for gaming editing etc

Grab a good (but not overkill) z77 board, i7 3770k at least a 256GB SSD.
Personally I would go for Gskil or Mushkin ram and definitely not a seagate HDD (1year warranty WTF?)

If going for the 670's I think the MSI PE is one of the better and should be a better price.
If he is using 2 x 1920x1080 monitors at the moment (gaming on one) a single 670 will be enough, going to 1440 would definitely benefit from a second.
Maybe do a bit of wait and see if he's not in a rush? 1 GTX Titan would be *drools*

If going sli go for a bit taller case than mid tower, Hate the idea on having the second card trying to suck air off the top of my PSU.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Turns out this $3000 build is final cost of the system to his door plus a new 120hz 1440 monitor...so we're scaling back on a few things.

Great_big_abyss, is there a reason you suggest the 600t? I've got the 650 myself and am in love with it. Only grief I've experienced is limited space behind the motherboard tray. I've really had to think out the cable management so that the case closes without interference from cables, and even then there's some rubbing.

Sorry, I got my model numbers mixed up. 650D All the Way

120hz monitor at 1440.. They exist (without going the mod'ed korean ones)?

You'll need a very beefy GPU set-up for that res and that fps. IMO go 1 or the other.
My 670 will pull solid 60FPS in some games @1440 but others it dips below the magic 30(still ok to play with occasional and only momentary sub 30 fps).
Either he wants max settings @120FPS or @1440, not going to get both without looking at tri-sli 670's minimum.
He'll either have super smooth frames or super-high detail (whats the point of 1440 if not at max settings) if he goes for anything less.