help with build

looking to pay closer to 2000 than 3000 for the best bang for my buck. friends of mine said come to DS, so here i am checking it out. so far everything looks awesome. i love the idea of the forum for config help. i know next to nothing on how to config a good setup for what i need and that is youtube, gaming, and home finance. i don't need a monster rig just something to run games on max settings and still be close to 2000. thanks for any replies

Budget:
[2000-3000]

Expectations:
[gaming and home finance]

Usage:
[daily]

Special Needs:
[none]


Specifications:
Chassis
Chassis Model: Digital Storm Apollo (Black)

Core Components
Processor: Intel Core i7 6700K 4.0GHz (Codename Skylake) (Unlocked CPU) (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS Z170 PRO GAMING (Intel Z170 Chipset) (Up to 5x PCI-E Devices)
System Memory: 8GB DDR4 2666MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX1000i (Digitally Controlled Power)

Storage / Connectivity
Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black)
Optical Drive: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Storage Set 1: 1x SSD (120GB Samsung 850 EVO)
Storage Set 2: 1x SSD (120GB Samsung 850 EVO)
Storage Set 3: 1x Storage (1TB SeagateWestern DigitalToshiba)
RAID Config: RAID 1: Mirroring: Drive Failure Data Fault Tolerance Protection (Requires 2 Similar HDDs)
Internet Access: Wireless PCI-E ASUS PCE-N53 (Dual Band Performance) (Supports 802.11n/g/b)

Graphics / Multimedia
Graphics Card(s): 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB (VR Ready)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio

Digital Storm Engineering
Extreme Cooling: H20: HydroLux LITE: Integrated Cooling System (CPU Only)
HydroLux Tubing Style: Flexible Tubing (Requires HydroLux Liquid Cooling System)
HydroLux Fluid Color: Red Fluid (Requires HydroLux Liquid Cooling System)
Cable Management: Exotic Cable Management - Red - (Cable Combs with Custom Color Sleeved Extension Cables)
Chassis Fans: Standard LED Performance Fans (Red) (Up to 6 Fans)
Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (Red)
Airflow Control: Strike-X AeroCool Temperature Display & Fan Controller (Requires Chassis Airflow Upgrade)

Digital Storm TwisterBoost Technology
Boost Processor: Stage 1: Overclock CPU - Up to 4.4GHz (Depends on Cooling and Motherboard)
Boost Graphics Card(s): Yes, Overclock the video card(s) as much as possible with complete stability
Boost OS: Yes, Disable and tweak all of the non-crucial services on the operating system

Software
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows CD)
Virus Protection: FREE: McAfee AntiVirus Plus (1 Year Service Activation Card) (Not Pre-installed) ($35 Value)

Accessories / Goodies
Surge Shield: APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7 (7 Outlet) 120V Surge Protector
Speakers: Logitech Z313 2.1 System (Includes Subwoofer)
Keyboard: CM Storm Devastator Bundle (Blue LED Edition) (Gaming Keyboard & Gaming Mouse)

Customer Care
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 10-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty (3 Year Labor & 1 Year Part Replacement)

Originally posted by bprat22 Hi freakdaddy... .... For best bang for your buck, the Vanquish level 4 will give you a little better performance for less. But it doesn't allow any customizations. Your build has options you'd have to add yourself if really wanted.

For your budget, this would seem to be the best option.

But then again, I'm biased. I love my Vanquish lvl 4.

Our pleasure. 

If in the budget and OK with your significant other, then keep the Lite cooling and the fan controller.  Nothing wrong with a powerful and great looking rig.  

Good luck.

Originally posted by Snaike Around my house, we refer to her as "She who must be obeyed..." ol'lady is the older cat.

is this more of what you were talking about db188?
Chassis Model: Digital Storm Apollo (Black)

Core Components
Processor: Intel Core i7 6700K 4.0GHz (Codename Skylake) (Unlocked CPU) (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS Z170 PRO GAMING (Intel Z170 Chipset) (Up to 5x PCI-E Devices)
System Memory: 16GB DDR4 2800MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series
Power Supply: 750W EVGA SuperNOVA (750 B1)

Storage / Connectivity
Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black)
Optical Drive: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Storage Set 1: 1x Storage (1TB Western Digital - Black Edition)

Storage Set 2: 1x Storage (1TB Western Digital - Black Edition)

Storage Set 3: 1x Storage (1TB Western Digital - Black Edition)

RAID Config: RAID 5: Performance + Drive Failure Protection (Recommended) (Requires 3 Similar HDDs)

Internet Access: Wireless PCI-E ASUS PCE-N53 (Dual Band Performance) (Supports 802.11n/g/b)

Graphics / Multimedia
Graphics Card(s): 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB (VR Ready)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio

Digital Storm Engineering
Extreme Cooling: H20: HydroLux LITE: Integrated Cooling System (CPU Only)
HydroLux Tubing Style: Flexible Tubing (Requires HydroLux Liquid Cooling System)
HydroLux Fluid Color: Red Fluid (Requires HydroLux Liquid Cooling System)
Cable Management: Exotic Cable Management - Red - (Cable Combs with Custom Color Sleeved Extension Cables)
Chassis Fans: Standard LED Performance Fans (Red) (Up to 6 Fans)
Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (Red)

Digital Storm TwisterBoost Technology
Boost Processor: Stage 1: Overclock CPU - Up to 4.4GHz (Depends on Cooling and Motherboard)
Boost Graphics Card(s): Yes, Overclock the video card(s) as much as possible with complete stability
Boost OS: Yes, Disable and tweak all of the non-crucial services on the operating system

Software
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows CD)
Virus Protection: FREE: McAfee AntiVirus Plus (1 Year Service Activation Card) (Not Pre-installed) ($35 Value)

I'd go with an SSD over a RAID array. For boot times, you have to wait for the RAID controller to boot and initiate itself before it can do so for the system. For all other performance, the random read/write of an SSD will still be much quicker than a RAID of HDDs unless you are working very large files that aren't fragmented, which isn't often unless you are working professionally with large files.

For bang-for-the-buck in a little above $2k, I would look to do something like this:

Configuration URL:     https://www.digitalstorm.com/configurator.asp?id=1367863
Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Digital Storm Coridium
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i5 6500 3.2GHz (Codename Skylake) (Quad Core) (Not Overclockable)
Motherboard: ASUS Z170 PRO GAMING (Intel Z170 Chipset) (Up to 5x PCI-E Devices)
System Memory: 16GB DDR4 2666MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series
Power Supply: 850W EVGA SuperNOVA
Expansion Bay: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Storage Set 1: 1x SSD (1TB Samsung 850 EVO)
Storage Set 2: - No Thanks
Storage Set 3: - No Thanks
RAID Config: - No Thanks
RAID Card: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Graphics Card(s): 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB (EVGA HYBRID Edition) (VR Ready)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
HPC Processor: - No Thanks
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 2: Corsair H110i GT - 280mm Radiator Liquid CPU Cooler
HydroLux Tubing Style: - Not Applicable, I do not have a custom HydroLux liquid cooling system selected
HydroLux Fluid Color: - Not Applicable, I do not have a custom HydroLux liquid cooling system selected
Cable Management: Premium Cable Management (Strategically Routed & Organized for Airflow)
Chassis Fans: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Airflow Control: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - No Thanks
LaserMark: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Standard Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Automatic Overclocking
Boost Graphics Card(s): - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows CD)
Virus Protection: FREE: McAfee AntiVirus Plus (1 Year Service Activation Card) (Not Pre-installed) ($35 Value)
Office: - No Thanks
Game: - No Thanks
Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
Branded Gear: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 10-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty (3 Year Labor & 1 Year Part Replacement)

The "K" processors have a large premium on them right now and you need to push it beyond a level 1 overclock to make them worth the premium. The Multi-core Enhancement feature on the Asus motherboard will push all four CPU cores at maximum Turbo boost, in effect overclocking the processor. The limited multi-threaded application use will make the lack of Hyper-threading a non-issue.

Graphics performance will significantly benefit from a better graphics card. Hence the 980 Ti card. It will come with a factory overclock, but it is easy to overclock it some more without voiding the warranty.

For liquid cooling, again, getting bang-for-the-buck you can't beat All-in-one units. The CPU cooler isn't much more than a high-end air cooler and the GPU has one built in for a bit more, but much less than a custom loop.

Go out and buy a WiFi card yourself. Look for an 802.11ac card that supports MIMO. MU-MIMO cards will be coming out in the near future; that technology will help when you have a lot of devices connected to the same router.