Please advise on my build!

Budget:
3500

Expectations:
High-end Gaming Rig - I plan on getting a 1440p 144hz monitor.

Usage:
Almost solely gaming

Special Needs:


Saved Ticket #: 1897438

Specifications::
Chassis Model: Digital Storm Lumos
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K (6-Core) 3.70GHz
Motherboard: ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-E GAMING (Wi-Fi) (Intel Z370 Chipset) (Up to 3x PCI-E Devices)
System Memory: 16GB DDR4 3000MHz Digital Storm Performance Series
Power Supply: 750W Corsair RM750x (Fully Modular)
Expansion Bay: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: External USB - DVD/CD 8x Multi-Drive (Writes and Reads DVDs, CDs)
Storage Set 1: 1x SSD M.2 (500GB Digital Storm M.2 Performance Series)
Storage Set 2: 1x Storage (2TB Seagate / Toshiba)
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 GeForce GTX 1080 8GB (Performance Edition) (VR Ready)
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Z <br><strong></strong>
HPC Processor: - No Thanks
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 2: Corsair H110i GT - 280mm Liquid CPU Cooler (Fully Sealed + No Maintenance)
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: Exotic Cable Management - Blue - (Cable Combs with Custom Color Sleeved Extension Cables)
Chassis Fans: Corsair LED Airflow Performance Edition (Blue) Fans
Internal Lighting: Digital Storm LED Lighting System (Requires Thermal Management Control Board & Software)
Airflow Control: Digital Storm Thermal Management Control Board & Software
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - No Thanks
LaserMark: Option Not Available
Boost Processor: Stage 1: Overclock CPU - Up to 4.7GHz on All CPU Cores
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: USB Drive - Windows 10 Installation (Format and Clean Install)
Virus Protection: Windows Defender Antivirus (Built-in to Windows 10)

This is my first gaming rig and I have been saving up to do it right. I am new to all of this so if any of you see any glaring issues with this build I would greatly appreciate any input!

Edited by KyWildcats - 11 Apr 2018 at 8:46am

Originally posted by bprat22 Hi KyWildcats..... Build looks good to me.      Two recommendations.......change your primary m.2 drive to the 960 pro.    More money but it’s rated tops, comes with its own longer warranty and you know what you’re getting. Drop overclock.    Not really needed since the 8700k Turbos to 4.7 on one core, 4.6 on second, etc.    Not much to gain getting all cores to 4.7 but up to you. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your input! Yes admittedly I know very little about those two things so I will apply your suggestions. Do you have any opinion on whether the sound blaster and the thermal control add on are necessary or will the sound from my motherboard be of good quality?

Originally posted by bprat22 My pleasure.   I personally wouldn’t get a separate sound card or the DS Thermal fan control board.   Motherboard audio is very good, miles ahead of what they were many years ago.   Unless your an audiophile with high end needs, save some money. The DS Control board allows you to monitor temps, but it’s just thermal probes placed within the case to monitor air temps.   Who cares. It’s just the cpu and graphic cards gpu temps that really matter. Any case with decent airflow makes the other temps unnecessary to monitor, unless someone just likes to play.    Plus fan control is easily done in Bios, mobo software, if it’s even needed.   Once set, adjusting fan speeds is rarely needed.

You are a gentleman and a scholar

Get the free lightshow instead. Can't beat free, and you can always turn it off if you want!

Nice. 

Oh, hell ya.    The case’s fan setup and the cpu cooling pick are both excellent.   No worries there.

Well gentleman, looks like I am just around the corner from a welcome upgrade to my console gaming background.

sounds like a novel idea

Originally posted by bprat22     If you want, have DS redirect the shipping to me for a few months of intense burn-in and tweaking.     No charge.

AKA Stage 9

There are games now that will drop into the 60-70 fps on a 1440p 144hz monitor.   That's on Ultra settings.  Reducing the graphics to High makes a difference with very little visual difference, at least for some.

Without knowing what's coming its hard to say.  If your not interested in upgraded in a year or two to the latest card, then the 1080ti does give you headroom.

If you can swing it, $$$ wise , then I'd get the Ti. 

You can save some money going with the 8700 vs 8700k, if you will never overclock.  That's the main difference between the two cpu's.

Yes Id like to be able to have headroom to not have to upgrade the card in a year or two so im thinking the Ti is the way to go. And if the 8700 wont bottleneck the graphics card then I dont see a reason not to switch to that!

The 8700 is not unlocked. If you are going to oc you need the k variant. Also agree it appears it does not require oc to perform well. If you are sure there is no oc in your future then do get the 8700 and not the 8700k.

The 1080Ti is the card to get now if you can afford it. Good luck and keep us posted.

I think Newegg as them in stock and Amazon will get them in stock in 1 week. You can have Digital Storm put the wiring in place and just order a card on your own and pop it right in.