GTX 1080 Founder's Edition Build

[soxrok2212]

Hello, first time building a desktop! I have run through this build a few times with more experienced people and they have given me a green light but would like to confirm here as well.

Before anything, here is what I am going to be doing with this setup:
    
     1. oclHashcat
     2. Gaming (GTA5 and similar)
     3. 4k video editing/picture editing
     4. Average uses (YouTube, 4k video watching, etc)
     5. Hosting small personal servers in a VM for streaming/SSH access, etc.

Other notes:

     1. I have an absolute MAX budget of $3,000
          -Also need to buy a monitor.
     2. Primary OS will be Windows 10
     3. I may buy some non-critical components used from eBay/Amazon or similar

Part List:


      Case: Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ATX http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-Evolv-ATX.html
      Motherboard: ASUS Z170-A https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-A/
      Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K http://ark.intel.com/products/88195/Inte...o-4_20-GHz
      CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-...r-212-evo/
      GPU: Nvidia GTX 1080 Founder's Edition http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-...e-gtx-1080
      RAM: 32GB G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 3200 http://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-3200c16d-32gvk
      SSD: 512GB Samsung 950 Pro M.2 http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/memor...Z-V5P512BW
      HDD: 2TB Seagate Barracuda 3.5"
      PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 750 Gold 80+ http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.asp...G2-0750-XR


Semi-Complete Build: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pDQBD8

Questions:

     1. Are there any alternative/better/cheaper parts you'd recommend?
     2. Am I safe buying reference design cards for both hashcat and some gaming/video editing?
     3. The case I'm buying has 3 fans, 2 intake in the front, one output in the back. There is room for either a CPU watercooler or 3 120mm fans or 2 140mm fans at the top, should I add these in too?
     4. Am I safe using a cheap CPU cooler if I plan on overclocking this CPU and using it for rather processor intensive stuff?

Thanks!

[soxrok2212]

As GTX 1080 benchmarks have come in, I would like to bump this! I reconfigured from the initial build and have cut the cost a little bit with not much cost to performance. What do you think? Thanks.

[atom]

Not sure what you're expecting from us

[soxrok2212]

Answers to the 4 questions at the bottom of the post and whether or not my hardware choices will be suitable for what I'm looking for and as well as cooling/processing/etc. Thanks!

[farhod]

     1. Are there any alternative/better/cheaper parts you'd recommend?
     2. Am I safe buying reference design cards for both hashcat and some gaming/video editing?
     3. The case I'm buying has 3 fans, 2 intake in the front, one output in the back. There is room for either a CPU watercooler or 3 120mm fans or 2 140mm fans at the top, should I add these in too?
     4. Am I safe using a cheap CPU cooler if I plan on overclocking this CPU and using it for rather processor intensive stuff?

1. No idea why you go for a phanteks tower there are way better and cheaper cases. You should also consider, do you actually need a m.2 SSD. From my experience a regular sata SSD is sufficient. You will not get that difference like going from HDD to SSD. Also going for an overclocked RAM will not have a drastic performance boost and kingston is offering way cheaper DIMMs.
2. you should get a reference card, there are a lot of topics about this in the hardware section.
3. it depends on what airflow you want to get. in most cases 3 fans are enough with two for the intake and one for out.
4. this cooler will fit your needs if you do not overclock it.

[stepMode]

regarding the reference design cards, they are the better choice for cracking or other high GPU load work. The problem with reference design cards is they can get pretty noisy, so if you wanna use this PC for gaming/video editing etc. mainly and only occasionaly crack things with it I would consider the volume and how you can deal with it.

[farhod]

The problem with reference design cards is they can get pretty noisy, so if you wanna use this PC for gaming/video editing etc.

You can always install an aftermarket cooler on your 1080 if you want to have a better temperatures in the tower case, but you will increase the temperature inside the case. EVGA allows to install an aftermarket cooler without breaking RMA.
Also it is worth to mention that there are 2 EVGA cards that have a non-reference cooler on the reference PCB. Friend of mine was lucky to get an EVGA gtx 970 ACX 2.0 with a reference PCB with aftermarket cooler. And it seems that that PCB was manufactured by the Nvidia, it has an Nvidia logo on it. But it is a gamble, will you get a reference cards with non stock cooler or a card fully manufactured by the EVGA.

[stepMode]

Yeah of course you can install a custom cooler afterwards.

[soxrok2212]

I've seen a few videos on thermal throttling of the 1080 while gaming and the processor maxes out at ~83 degrees Celsius with the fan at 100% and the cutoff temp at like 92 IIRC. I'm certainly going to be using hashcat a fair amount but also will be doing video editing and a bit of gaming in spare time.

Also, @farhod I currently have an M.2 SSD in my newer computer (and a SATA SSD in my old computer) and really only want it for 4k video editing. Makes things much faster. I also like the Phanteks case of aesthetics. Good looking case.

[farhod]

I've seen a few videos on thermal throttling of the 1080 while gaming and the processor maxes out at ~83 degrees Celsius with the fan at 100% and the cutoff temp at like 92 IIRC. I'm certainly going to be using hashcat a fair amount but also will be doing video editing and a bit of gaming in spare time.

Nvdia confirmed that it has some issues with FAN speeds and promises to fix this with the next driver: http://wccftech.com/nvidia-geforce-gtx-1...ssues-fix/

There are plenty of reasons to go for 1080 FE especially if you want to do cracking, but until Nvidia does not release a stable and well working driver you will see those issues. I'm also going for a 1080 FE at the moment and I know, that I will have to wait some time for a stable driver.

Also, @farhod I currently have an M.2 SSD in my newer computer (and a SATA SSD in my old computer) and really only want it for 4k video editing. Makes things much faster. I also like the Phanteks case of aesthetics. Good looking case.

It is a personal preference, can't argue with that