Looking for help in my first gaming build

Level 2 Apollo with better processor for editing applications, larger hard drive for storing videos and photos, better quality PSU, and an air-cooler (should work just as well, if not better than the 120mm rad). If you can stretch it, go for extra memory for the video editing and the Noctua cooler has gotten excellent reviews (the Cooler Master unit selected here was the benchmark before the Noctua was introduced).

Configuration URL:     https://www.digitalstormonline.com/configurator.asp?id=1151331
Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Digital Storm Apollo
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 4790K 4.0 GHz (Codename Devils Canyon) (Unlocked CPU) (Quad Core)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE Z97X-SLI (Intel Z97 Chipset)
System Memory: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W EVGA SuperNOVA
Expansion Bay: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: - No Thanks
Storage Set 1: 1x SSD (120GB Samsung 850 EVO)
Storage Set 2: 1x Storage (2TB Western Digital - Black Edition)
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 970 4GB (Includes PhysX)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
HPC Processor: - No Thanks
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: High-Performance Copper Heat Pipe Cooler
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
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: Stage 1: Overclock CPU 4.0GHz to 4.4GHz
Boost Graphics Card(s): - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (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
Portable Gaming: - 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)

For the budget you gave, yes. I wouldn't run your games concurrently with photo/video editing software...too much resource demands. But you could do photo/video editing alongside web browsing and word processing. Make sure you have enough page file space on your SSD, and that will help the responsiveness of your computer if you go above the amount of memory you have in your machine (like I said, if you can stretch for the memory, that would be the best improvement beyond that spec...8GB will work but 16GB gives you that much more room).

Thinking about it...take the OC on the processor off...the 4790K have a base clock of 4.0GHz and boost clock of 4.4GHz; all you'd be gaining is a bump in base clock speed (and with multicore enhancement, the difference is probably even less). Add the 16GB 1600MHz RAM in, giving you $2061, and with the $50 off in the special offer, that'll be close to $2k again.

The case selection, whether the Apollo, Velox or Bolt 2 makes no difference in the performance.   With identical parts like the mobo, graphics card, etc they all perform equally.

The Velox does have the best cooling.  The Bolt 2 being a small form factor, only allows for a single graphics card and doesn't offer the Haswell E's, like the 5930k 6 core cpu.

For the build you were shown, any of the cases work.  It comes down to space available, room to work on upgrades and what you like for looks. 

Good Luck.

I believe the build you were shown was based on the budget you were going for and does give you a larger hdd and psu.     But, if the $2000 is a bit steep, I would suggest the Vanquish level 4 for $1399.    It will give you about the same performance as the other .  
 
The Vanquish lvl 4 has the i5- 4690k cpu vs the i7-4970k in the original build.   The i7-4790k does have hyper-threading, meaning more threads, and does make multi- tasking, editing,etc. a little quicker, but the i5-4690k will certainly get the job done.   They're both excellent choices.

The Vanquish lvl 4 does have a smaller hard drive and smaller power supply than the build shown to you, but again, for most people the 1TB drive and the 600 watt psu is all you need.  

If the $2000 is a stretch than the Vanquish lvl 4 for $600 less will give you almost the same results for a lot of applications.    You really can't beat the Vanquish for best bang for your buck.

Hope this helps and stay in touch.










Edited by bprat22 - 23 Feb 2015 at 8:34am