Please help me build a Bolt 3

Hi forum members...So I've somehow come up with 25 configurations of various PCs from 4 different sites. Haha. Somehow, I keep coming back to Digital Storm and the Bolt 3. There are cheaper configs and boxes out there but it's all about that case, bout that case. Isn't that a song? Can you help an indecisive guy out so he can pull the trigger?

Some thoughts:
- Man do i like that cooling unit with the red tubes. I like the way it looks but do I need it with my build? I specced it with a 980 with NO overclocking.
- Worth it if I did overclock everything and add the upgraded cooling unit?
- Replace the 980 with a Titan X for future proofing?
- Does Digital Storm have better Memorial Day sales? haha

Budget:
$2500 for computer only. Could stretch more if needed.

Expectations:
Must be a small form factor for living room since it will be hooked to a 65" TV at 1080p but soon to be replaced with 4K TV this year. Must play games at high/ultra settings at 1080p 60fps or higher and 4k in the foreseeable future. Needs to last for 4 to 5 years before upgrading.

Usage:
Only to be used for gaming to supplement my consoles. It will become the default platform for any AAA games as well as games I can't get on consoles. Mostly games from Steam and god forbid, Origin and Uplay. :-/

Special Needs:
Fairly quiet would be nice. Need to know best way to minimize dust going into it as well. Must make my PS4 and Xbone quake in fear.


Saved Ticket #: 1183005

Specifications:
[Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Pre-built Digital Storm Bolt 3
Exterior Finish: Black Brushed Aluminum Hairline Finish
Trim Accents: - No Thanks
Processor: Intel Core i7 4790K 4.0 GHz (Codename Devils Canyon) (Unlocked CPU) (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS Z97I-PLUS (Intel Z97 Chipset) (Mini-ITX)
System Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 600W SilverStone SX600-G (Gold Plus Rated) (Supports up to GTX TITAN X)
Expansion Bay: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 8x / CD-Writer 8x)
Storage Set 1: 1x SSD (250GB 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 4GB (Includes PhysX)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
HPC Processor: - No Thanks
Extreme Cooling: High Performance Cooler with Five Heatpipes
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Fans: Standard Black 120mm Fans
Internal Lighting: Remote Controlled Internal + Front Panel RGB LED Lighting
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)

Hi bxstrb,

Your system will do find with 1920 x 1080 but it isn't going to give you smooth viewing with 4K. Even a Titan is going to be marginal. In any event if you want 4K I don't think a single 980 is going to do it for you.    

Frank

Edited by FrankW - 20 Apr 2015 at 5:26am

Hi bxstrb....   The Bolt  can't do a sli setup like you said.  The mobo only has the single Pcie x16 slot.

Here's a link that shows the gtx 980 at various resolutions......

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1351

The Titan X is roughly 20% better in fps.  Here's another link to check out.....

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/201346-nvidia-geforce-gtx-titan-x-reviewed-crushing-the-single-gpu-market/2

Hope this helps. 


EDIT... for 4K, you can play pretty much anything, but game settings and fps will drop.   4K is about a 1920x1080 times 4.   Needs a lot more horsepower. 


Edited by bprat22 - 20 Apr 2015 at 6:01am

Yeah, for max flexibility, a case change would help.   Here's a couple of comparisons just for fun 

                                          Length............Width........Height

Bolt 3............                         15"                 5.8"(edited)              18.3"

Coridium(Corsair 450D)....   19.4                8                  19.5

Air 540                                  18.3               13                 16.4

The Coridium is 4" longer but the other specs are close.    Assuming my specs are right, not as much difference as some might think, imho.

Bolt 3 does have the feet for laying it flat. 

Just something to think about. 



Edited by bprat22 - 20 Apr 2015 at 7:09am

Hi bxstrb,

bprat22 has given you some good information. I think you might be smart to rethink your Bolt case. Having only one PCIe x16 slot is very limiting for 4K. A Titan would help you with 4K but two 980s would be better for 4K. That is better for games that are optimized for SLI.

I don't know how a 4K TV works for gaming.

The cases that bprat22 suggested are two very good cases and would look good in a living room. I think that the Air 540 with its boxy design would look less computer like. The Corsair 450D is a neat case that is not too big.

Frank

The Coridium Case:


The Air 540 Case:

DS does use that Air 540 in their configs.    Not pre-configured but there to select.  Go to the Apollo section for example, and select Change under the Chassis Model.  Then from there, just plug in the case you want, the  gtx 980, the drives you want, etc. 

If sli is the goal, just make sure to select a sli capable mobo, like the Gigabyte Z97X, Asus Sabertooth, etc.   


Edited by bprat22 - 20 Apr 2015 at 8:23am

https://www.digitalstormonline.com/configurator.asp?id=1183357

Congrats Gunner GzR on your new computer. Heck I'm excited for you. So you got dual 970s in your rig? I'm still deciding on dual cards now OR a single card now and replace it in 2 years when technology has improved to the point that one card can do 4k easily.

I guess I'm really hoping for the 1 card solution so I can have my Bolt 3 case, fits in my budget right now, and less hassle if a game doesn't have SLI support at launch. I need to read up more on the benefits/drawbacks of 2 cards versus 1 card.

Edited by bxstrb - 20 Apr 2015 at 12:32pm

Sli can be turned off and on in Nvidia Control Panel.   


You are better off with a single card if possible, but for 4k, right now, no single gpu can handle it at higher settings and frames.   Who knows down the road.

Thanks..yeah that sounds like its beyond my skill level. I'll either go with the single card and a bolt or the air 540 case with dual cards. Thank you all for your help.

Edited by bxstrb - 20 Apr 2015 at 7:16pm