TechPowerUp Builders Digest - $1700

[qubit]

Can you fit 4 turbochargers and 10 radiators onto a computer ??

I'm sure there's a way...

 

[btarunr]

@btarunr You gonna do an unlimited budget build article - effectively the Bugatti Veyron of PCs? I think that would be epic.

Next week $800, then $1,200, then $2,400, then "xXx_$I'm Rich$noscope_xXx"

 

[Deleted member 138597]

This is a nice addition to TPU, and addresses few shortcomings of Tom's Hardwares' SBM, like including monitor & peripherals and a bit higher budget for more air to breathe - oh and the exclusion of $100-ish OS.

I like the hardwares chosen, they all makes sense, although a case with better airflow would've been better unless it targets mATX size build.

BUT....

Where's the bulk storage?

Where's an HDD????????????????????? $1700 AND NO HDDDD??????!?!?!?!!?!?!?!!?

 

[Blue-Knight]

Where's an HDD????????????????????? $1700 AND NO HDDDD??????!?!?!?!!?!?!?!!?

HDD is in the past. The future is SSD. LOL!

 

[Ja.KooLit]

HDD is in the past. The future is SSD. LOL!

only 250gb ssd? so you always uninstall, download your games whenever you want other game?

 

[Blue-Knight]

only 250gb ssd? so you always uninstall, download your games whenever you want other game?

I agree 250GB is not so much nowadays. But you must be able to fit at least 4 or 5 AAA games in there. LOL!

 

[tabascosauz]

I agree 250GB is not so much nowadays. But you must be able to fit at least 4 or 5 AAA games in there. LOL!

Come on. Windows is not inexistent in size and unless you use your rig EXCLUSIVELY for gaming (absolutely no other programs), 240/250/256GB SSDs are a bit small, considering that they boil down to about 200-205GB of usable space.

But seriously. One drops $1700 on a computer and can't afford to swap out that $90 250GB SSD for a $190 500GB SSD? Very few people that I know of actually need the 2TB of a platter. Or I could just be very spoiled on solid state storage with my SSD 530 + 850 EVO

 

[n-ster]

But the 1440p monitor be fine with the alternate GPU, you can always add a FreeSync monitor in the suggestions if you'd like.

GTX 970 might not perform like the 980 or the Ti, but you have to make some room somewhere. It's still a very capable card, that can later on be SLI to get the performance desired. It is also such great bang per buck/power usage/noise


A DDR4, gtx 980 Ti build can't have 10-15$ accessories, 36$ case etc that belong in the 800$ build, makes no sense

The case has to go, true. However, the GTX 970 would probably have been more suitable for an end of 2014 / start of 2015 build, and the Gsync monitor wouldn't be compatible with one of the alternate graphics cards.

 

[Ikaruga]

With all due respect, I'm, - as someone who built computers for decades (just like most of us here) - honestly shocked. Why would any "expert" recommend a motherboard he can't be sure its reliability about? Don't get me wrong, that board might turn out to be the best z170 board out there, but there is no way anyone can know that at this moment. I never understood how people can "play" with the money of others like this. If some enthusiast wants everything on the first day, that is one thing (and we probably all endorse it here), but recommending technology to others as their suggested "first gaming PC builds" with parts we only have a few weeks/months of experience with...... Can't help it (and I'm really sorry) but I think it's just plain unprofessional.


Just my two - insignificant - cents.

 

[Ja.KooLit]

Come on. Windows is not inexistent in size and unless you use your rig EXCLUSIVELY for gaming (absolutely no other programs), 240/250/256GB SSDs are a bit small, considering that they boil down to about 200-205GB of usable space.

But seriously. One drops $1700 on a computer and can't afford to swap out that $90 250GB SSD for a $190 500GB SSD? Very few people that I know of actually need the 2TB of a platter. Or I could just be very spoiled on solid state storage with my SSD 530 + 850 EVO

well id rather get a 100$ 2TB HDD than additional 250gb SSD for same price. I use my computer for storage / back up. Multimedia, family photos and videos. And of course I still have online storage but better to have atleast 2 backups for all important stuff. Dont you agree?

 

[Ikaruga]

well id rather get a 100$ 2TB HDD than additional 250gb SSD for same price. I use my computer for storage / back up. Multimedia, family photos and videos. And of course I still have online storage but better to have atleast 2 backups for all important stuff. Dont you agree?

You can't backup anything to just one HDD, they are unreliable, you need raid to do that, and then it's better to have a small NAS somewhere in the house instead of multiply HDDs inside your case. You can also just encrypt the hell out of your data and upload it into some cloud too (if you have a fast connection).

 

[timta2]

You can't backup anything to just one HDD, they are unreliable, you need raid to do that, and then it's better to have a small NAS somewhere in the house instead of multiply HDDs inside your case. You can also just encrypt the hell out of your data and upload it into some cloud too (if you have a fast connection).

RAID is usually a terrible idea for a backup.

 

[Ikaruga]

RAID is usually a terrible idea for a backup.

I do a full image backup of my systems every week, and I store them (10 versions back) on my backup-NAS which is simple raid1 box. I know there are much better solutions, but this is quick and easy, and I got used to it. I also upload my encrypted "must have" stuffz to the cloud each month (never deleted old versions yet, but will have to soon because of free space issues), and I annually tape-out anything I consider important.

 

[tabascosauz]

well id rather get a 100$ 2TB HDD than additional 250gb SSD for same price. I use my computer for storage / back up. Multimedia, family photos and videos. And of course I still have online storage but better to have atleast 2 backups for all important stuff. Dont you agree?

As nice as it sounds, I'd pass up on the 2TB platter. I'd rather store my PSDs and finalised JPEG library in a Intel or Samsung SSD that tells me exactly how it is doing. I have Dropbox for a backup but having my library on a HDD is just slow and unpredictable.

 

[XSI]

Who's going to spend $650 on a GPU and $36 on a case? $249 on a CPU and $18 on headphones?
A gaming build is all about equilibrium, the parts have to match the whole.

i would, actually i did few years ago. 2x8800 gt costed ~500 eur
case costed 35eur. pc case is not so important in many cases lol

i do not understand 100+ $ cases

 

[Ja.KooLit]

You can't backup anything to just one HDD, they are unreliable, you need raid to do that, and then it's better to have a small NAS somewhere in the house instead of multiply HDDs inside your case. You can also just encrypt the hell out of your data and upload it into some cloud too (if you have a fast connection).

well I have on my main rig and one on my portable hdd and actually my family memories are also backed up in my laptop. I am maybe just lucky but so far never had a failed back up hdd. Although I started to backup on atleast one hdd since my friend has a failed hdd long time ago and all his memories are almost 100% gone.

Every people has a different opinion / ways to back up stuff.

But anyway, we are going to somewhere which is not according to OP thread. ( Sorry btw ).

 

[PLAfiller]

A DDR4, gtx 980 Ti build can't have 10-15$ accessories, 36$ case etc that belong in the 800$ build, makes no sense

It makes perfect sense for me. A $150 mouse, won't make you a better gamer per se. With a limited budget the first thing I cut is the case. I don't see how spending $350 on peripherals and $150 on a case would be beneficial to the whole build if budget is at hand.

The $800 build can go perfectly fine with an A4Tech/ Bloody mouse with 5-6 programmable buttons for less than 20 bucks IMO. (back-button is a must and from my humble experience their software is pretty alright).

@Ikaruga , I disagree with you. Why we have warranties then? What do you mean unproven/ untested hardware? In my opinion it either works or it doesn't. I don't think the TPU's team advice on the topic can be considered unprofessional. A lot of effort and research went into the article. If I had the cash I'd be the first to jump on new tech, even if it is sub-standard ))

 

[Ikaruga]

@Ikaruga , I disagree with you. Why we have warranties then? What do you mean unproven/ untested hardware? In my opinion it either works or it doesn't. I don't think the TPU's team advice on the topic can be considered unprofessional. A lot of effort and research went into the article. If I had the cash I'd be the first to jump on new tech, even if it is sub-standard ))

I highly disagree, so many things can go wrong with new architectures. For example, lets assume there is a flaw in the chipset again (which happened more than once with Intel chipsets, but there were instruction and other flaws as well). In that case, the users with their first gaming PC won't be able to do anything until the next stepping comes out, then they will need to RMA their first motherboards... that's a lot of trouble potential for nothing. You should never recommend untested and unproven technology for others as their entry to the wonders of the PC world, it's too risky. Again, I'm not saying that this motherboard is bad, or anything like that, I hope that's clear.

 

[BiggieShady]

I highly disagree, so many things can go wrong with new architectures. For example, lets assume there is a flaw in the chipset again (which happened more than once with Intel chipsets, but there were instruction and other flaws as well). In that case, the users with their first gaming PC won't be able to do anything until the next stepping comes out, then they will need to RMA their first motherboards... that's a lot of trouble potential for nothing. You should never recommend untested and unproven technology for others as their entry to the wonders of the PC world, it's too risky. Again, I'm not saying that this motherboard is bad, or anything like that, I hope that's clear.

Gigabyte's ultra durable series are universally recommendable ... new chipset got tested and I wouldn't be surprised that @cadaveca already tested this motherboard and review is just waiting to be finalized.

 

[needforsuv]

no i7? i am shocked

 

[Ikaruga]

Gigabyte's ultra durable series are universally recommendable ... new chipset got tested and I wouldn't be surprised that @cadaveca already tested this motherboard and review is just waiting to be finalized.

There are things you can't test out that easily, even if you are as experienced as Dave. Remember Intel's fdiv bug, it took a long time until it was discovered... but to give you a more recent example, one of my friends sold his 3770k on day one and bought a 4770 only to be able to optimize his database project for TSX-NI, he had to replace motherboard as well and for nothing, since it turned out it's buggy and it's now disabled in every Haswell build by a Bios patch.
Again (for the third time), that Gigabyte board can be the best bang for the buck ever, it's not the point I tried to make. You recommend something for people who don't know how to build a PC, or how to gather the needed parts by themselves. The article even says it's for first builders. A gaming PC is usually a big investment for people who do it for the first time, and I still think it's just not right to gamble when it's not absolutely necessary. I only try to help and now I feel I'm the enemy here:/

 

[micropage7]

wooow nice, but if i have $1700 right now maybe i consider to put some DP for a new car

 

[BiggieShady]

I only try to help and now I feel I'm the enemy here:/

Why would you feel as an enemy when someone disagrees with you?
This may seem like a legitimate question, but it's really only a rhetoric one.

 

[Ikaruga]

Why would you feel as an enemy when someone disagrees with you?
This may seem like a legitimate question, but it's really only a rhetoric one.

nah, not because of that. But if nobody agrees with me, then perhaps I'm wrong

 

[plonk420]

oh nice, i was just about to angrily retort "and where the hell can you find the TX3??" as they seemed to be out of stock from Newegg and Amazon for the longest time... UNTIL NOW</Clarkson>