New PC Build and Shipping Question

Hey guys, this is my first custom PC purchase, and first desktop I'll be owning in a long time. I just wanted to post this up here to see if any of you spotted some glaring errors in my machine configuration that I didn't see. I've been doing a lot of research and Digital Storm is the best money-for-machine bargain so far (at least of all the builders that seem trustworthy). I also don't want sealed liquid cooling because the risk of a leak is not something I'd like.

I do have a question on shipping, though. How vulnerable are these machines in the shipping process? I'd have to pay $400 for freight shipping, which is a ton of money, versus $300 for wooden crate. I definitely don't want just standard ground shipping because people tend to throw/drop things, but is air or crate shipping that much worse than freight? I never ordered from here, and this will be my first custom gaming desktop (I used a laptop from the now defunct J&D store, so I never needed shipping). I just also still need a monitor/mouse/cheap headset, and am planning on using a somewhat older keyboard to save some money.

Also, if you see any ways to cheapen without too much performance loss, I'd love to know your ideas. I am certainly not an expert from only having read articles for a week or so.

And are the expensive fans effective for this case, or do fans work better for other cases? Thanks a ton in advance for any responses.

Configuration Code: 1012803
Total Price with Instant Savings: $2,653.00

Budget:
3k ceiling

Expectations:
Long lasting machine (at least 5 years). Won't be able to hear the fans through any walls. Will be able to upgrade to add SLI w/ 2nd 780 Ti in the future for added lifespan.

Usage:
Regular AAA games. looking forward to the new LOTR game/DA:I

Special Needs:
Needs to fit on a desk with a hutch, so 19" or less depth. I don't want to put a computer horizontally on the desk, or diagonally. That seems like an accident waiting to happen.

Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Black OPS Enix Edition
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) <br><strong></strong>
Motherboard: ASUS Z97M-PLUS (Intel Z97 Chipset) (MATX)
System Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 850W Corsair RM850 (Optimized for Silence) <br><strong></strong>
Expansion Bay: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: DVD/CD 8x Multi-Drive (Writes and Reads DVDs, CDs)
Storage Set 1: 1x SSD (128GB Samsung 840 PRO) <br><strong></strong>
Storage Set 2: 1x Storage (1TB 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 780 Ti 3GB (Includes PhysX)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
HPC Processor: - No Thanks
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 2: Noctua NH-D14 SE2011 Extreme Performance <br><strong></strong>
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Fans: Upgrade All Fans to Corsair Airflow Performance Edition (Up to 6 Fans) <br><strong></strong>
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 <br><strong></strong>
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)

Hey Mike850, re: cost savings, instead of 780Ti , consider AMD R290X .  Nvidia is more popular here but from what I can tell, you get comparable 780Ti performance for much less .    I initially was worried about the noise and heat from the initial releases with the stock reference cooler but learned that DS carries Asus or XFX that run quieter and cooler as a result of their own cooler implementations.

I also went with the Noctua as I had the same concern about the risk of liquid leak as you have.

Thank you for the responses. I don't think I'll be switching the graphics card because I've liked having Nvidia cards better than the AMD card I've had, but I do appreciate the feedback. And thank you for the answer to my rather silly wifi question, I don't know why that reviewer would've included that if it was just a matter of putting an adapter in like I thought.

Anyone have an opinion on the Virtue case vs. the Enix case? I'm pretty much going back and forth between the two, though both would have nearly identical specs. I think the only thing I'm unsure of is which case would be better cooled, particularly with the Noctua fan, and which case would be louder/quieter.

The Z97M- plus motherboard doesn't work with sli.   For future sli capable, choose the Gryphon mobo and your good to go.

Good luck.

Thank you for all the responses. I definitely will be switching to the Gryphon motherboard. And a larger SSD does seem to be a good idea as well.

Originally posted by PcKiller Do you live close to the east coast? I live in PA. and got the $400 dollar shipping, and mine went by rail. As a long time trucker, that is the best way to send a PC. As in a semi trailer it will be bouncing all across the country. I know.

Yeah, I'm as east as you can get. that $400 shipping is really, really painful to look at. it's like 15% of the total cost of just the computer, and that's without a monitor or any of the other accessories i'm gonna have to get from somewhere. But I do trust your judgment on this because I don't like the idea of this thing bouncing in a plane and/or a truck for 3,000 miles. Rail definitely seems the most secure way to ship this thing.

Nice Rig!!