So last week, we did a really awesome performance build, ideal for 1080p gaming. This week, we're going in the complete other directionti 4K Ready gaming machine. This is what people think of when they think of a gaming machine, and this will definitely make everyone envious of your gaming prowess. Especially the "console peasants".

Before we get started, I wanted to talk a little bit about this build. While it would be very easy just to take the most expensive components that all work together and throw them all together, that is never the point of these. We want stuff that regular people might be able to eventually scrape together and have some fun with, which is why we haven't made a $3000 build. Yet. This is "affordable" 4K ready, so keep that in mind with some of the components we use. Let's get started.

CPU: Intel i5-4690k

While there are some other CPUs people might go with, I think this one is the best choice for a gaming machine ready for the next major graphical leap. It's relatively fast out of the gate, but overclocks really well thanks to the Devil's Canyon update to the silicon, allowing for better thermals, resulting in overall lower temperatures or higher performance at previous 4670k temperatures. Perfect for gaming, which is what we're focusing on.

CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i

Touted as a really good water cooler by a lot of people, the H100i will not only keep everything nice and cool, but also allow great overclocking at reasonable temperatures. It will also help keep noise levels down, because you don't need to have fans set as high as you would with a traditional air cooling setup.

Motherboard: Asus Z97 SABERTOOTH Mark2

While probably not the greatest looking board to most, it has a certain rugged feel to it. It also has 8 USB ports in the back, 4 of which are USB 3.0, heatsinks on the important parts, enough fan headers for almost any system, and a USB 3.0 header. It also has 6 PCI-e slots, 2 of which are PCI-e 3.0 x16, allowing full SLI support which is perfect for this build.

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB

Instead of the usual 8GB of RAM, we'll go with 16GB to give you a little more oomph in case you want to do some video editing or rendering. It is also clocked at 1866Mhz, so if you get this RAM, make sure you use the XMP profiles to get the best performance. It's fast, capable, and pretty cheap considering the the features.

SSD: SanDisk Ultra Plus 128GB

A relatively standard SSD, it'll be more than enough for your OS, a few games, and your favourite programs. It's snappy, it's inexpensive, and reliable.

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2TB

Just like every other Seagate hard drive we feature on here, but this time it's 2TB. Perfect for games, movies, music, etc., and because of the SSD, you'll have plenty of space for everything you want.

GPU: 2x EVGA GTX 970 ACX 2.0

Yea, since this is a 4K build, it would make sense to double up on GPU power. EVGA's GTX 970 has been getting rave reviews because of the new ACX 2.0 cooler on it. The fins on the fan are shaped differently from the old ACX cooler, allowing for better cooling potential and better overclocking. And they come in at an amazing price, considering a single GTX 980 is close to $550. Highly recommend two 970s for 4K, they beat everything when you consider the price.

Case: Fractal Design R5 Window

While cases are very subjective, the Define R5 is really quite amazing. The successor to one of the quietest cases ever, and the R5 really has everything going for it. People praise this thing, and with good measure. Great airflow, silent, and looks pretty nice too. Our admin loves his R4, so you'd love the R5.

PSU: Corsair CSM750

This 80+ Gold supply will power your system and then some. This system practically sips power if you consider what goes into it, and something this powerful would have required a 900W PSU a year ago. The lower power could most likely be due to the Maxwell-based GTX 970s, but either way, this PSU will do the job. And it's semi-modular, making cable work a breeze.

So, there you have it. A 4K Ready Gaming Build. This is not for the faint of heart, and this will last most people a long time. If you're using a 1080p monitor or TV, this is overkill in the highest regard, and even at 1440p this machine will crush games. For the price of around $1600 USD if you shop around, before taxes and OS, you could build this machine and be laughing as you'd have a computer envious of the most elite members of the PC Master Race.

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