Putting Together a Gaming Rig - Help Wanted MEGATHREAD

If you'll excuse the drama of the title, this is where I am going to put my PC build ideas and ask for advice. We have a LINE chat for this very topic, but I felt this would be a good as an additionally spot to have builds/suggestions locked in permanently.

This is the current build I am looking at. I haven't made any modifications to it. Clickity Click.

For posterity, here is the long and short of the specs:
- CPU: Intel i7 (might upgrade to an i9 just because fuck it)
- GPU: GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER (might upgrade to a TI because fuck it)
- RAM: 32 GB
- Memory: 1 TB SSD + 4 TB Mech. HD

- Monitor

There are some compatability issues mentioned in the comments. It's small things like this that really make me want to rely on a third party to build it for me, but I keep getting reassured I don't need to do that. lol
- Didn't realize the tower was mid-sized. Getting a full size tower fixes that.

Well, a full pick out won't lead to compatibility issues. Which this build with it's wimpy mid-tower case can't properly fit in the cooler unit to the top of the case. I'm a full tower bro. More space, better air flow, easier to slot in upgrades when the time comes.

Also, damn on the storage space. A 500 GB SSD will store any set of games just fine. Easy enough to remove those you are not playing or have beaten. Same goes for 4 TB extra drive. Unless you're a video editor that's a bit much.

You also know me when it comes to GPUs and using last years model. Getting a 2070 Super is $150-$200 cheaper... and don't tell anyone but they do everything a 2080 can do.

Here's a build I did for you (I love you that much, Jeff): https://pcpartpicker.com/list/mHZZDx

Better tower, better motherboard, slimmed down memory storage, not so different card for cheaper. Same price point but that tower won't lead to any component space issues and many note it as the best full tower out there. No serious compatibility issues beyond the board having space for extra power that this power supply can't give. Always easy to pick out a different power supply that can facilitate that.

Sweet. I'll give it a look tomorrow.

Yeah, storage seemed a bit high.

As for GPU, I am leaning more toward buying a TI rather than going the other way. I am not as concerned with what the card can do now. I am concerned with what the card can handle 3-4 years from now.

Also, good call on the tower. Didn't even realize the first build had that little weak ass mid-tower.

Iron and Metal wrote:

As for GPU, I am leaning more toward buying a TI rather than going the other way. I am not as concerned with what the card can do now. I am concerned with what the card can handle 3-4 years from now.

Depends on what you want to play as well and at what resolution. 4k? 2080 Super/TI. 1080 or 1440? 2070 Super/TI.

Most games are going to accommodate older GPUs as not all games set out to be benchmarks and general optimization is much better than it's ever been. Really the 2060, 2070, and 2080 series are all good for like 3-4 years at their optimal resolutions.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/7LF4hg

Price Point: ~2k.

CPU:
9700k here. Don't think bumping up to an i9 is gonna get you any extra. Intel over AMD for better overclocking, down the road. Don't be swayed by the 9700kf, its lacks an onboard graphics, which you will need when your gpu shits the bed.

Cooler:
Just the one off your link. It works, that's all you really care about. Put it on the top panel as an exhaust for now, move it to side panel intake when you overclock. Exhaust means the cold air hits your GPU first, which I'll explain why you want it when I get there. Intake means it cools your cpu before the rest of your system, keeping it colder than everything else. Good stuff when you overclock it.

MOBO:
Nothing fancy. It does the job and has room for everything you need. Z390 chipset is as modern as it needs to do what you want.

RAM:
Ripjaws are the best 3200MHz IMO. If you want 3600MHz, go for the trident Z for about 50$ more.

Storage:
4TB Hard disk drive, nothing fancy, it holds information, that's all you really care about. You can honestly get a cheaper HDD, slower, it won't make a noticeable difference because you've got an SSD with some room, to keep your games on.

1TB M.2 NVMe SSD. Yeah, its just under 3x the cost of the one in your link, but responds ~2x faster, and reads/writes >25x faster. And it's a tiny little stick that hides under a panel in your mobo. Super fucking cool. This guy won't need an upgrade for a long time.

GPU:
This is where its all at. 2080 Super, she'll keep kicking for a while. It's an XS, meaning its ~15mm smaller than its counterpart, but for 200$ less (iirc), its worth it. The smaller size means it will heat up more, this is why you're mounting your cpu radiator as an exhaust, keep the GPU cold and you won't have any problems. By the time you're overclocking your processor, your GPU may be obsolete, and you can upgrade it for a pack of gum and a blowie. If you don't want to worry about it, shell out the extra cash and get the Ventus OC, or even a 2080ti model, mount your cooler as intake and stay frosty.

Case:
Solo's right about the full tower, more space, better air, more cooler. The PC-o11 has that modern architecture feel with all the glass you could ask for. If you want something that looks more exotic, check out the cooler master 760T or the ThermalTake v71. And if you want to crumb on a case, get the iBUYPOWER Snowblind. It's got a display on the side that you can slap your stats on for constant, real time updating temps, clocks, power draw, fan speed, you name it. It's just 8x as expensive...

PSU:
Bumped you to a full modular, gold certified efficiency. 20$ more but has all the bits you'll need for easy upgrading and is all around better. 20$ here means you save 200$ when you need to upgrade and want that extra 4pin on your mobo. Just keep those extra cables around.

So, that dope ass case can hold up to a 360mm fan. Is the cooling offered by a 3-fan/360 significantly better than a 2 fan/240?

For both of you, this thread is now 5 months old lol. Any big changes you would make given the time that's passed?

Waiting until the 3000 series cards become available from nvidia is a direct upgrade to what we had originally. With a 2080 super on market for 750, the closest 3000 series in budget is the 3080, starting at 700. Its 50 merica bucks cheaper, and also runs literally twice as fast.

The problem is actually getting one at MSRP. It will probably end up being more expensive than the 2080. Worst case scenario you buy a 3070, which is still wildly faster, and will probably end up being cheaper than our original idea. Either way, waiting until they become available in October is probably the wise choice.

One additional point of note, the 3k series has a higher power draw (surprise) than previous cards. If you pick to upgrade, just do the math and make sure your power supply can fork up the watts.