2,000 dollar black/blue build

[PCBudgetSolutions]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VdVV

 

I was going to go red/black but the XSPC Raystorm kit has a blue LED and would ruin the entire look.  Also, are there any blue LED fans that that are quiet but move a decent amount of air.  Preferably SP for the radiator and AF for the case.

[Guest Teddybear]

Don't mix your memory - go with 4x4GB instead and save yourself possible future problems.

Also Samsung 840 isn't ideal SSD (only 3000 write cycles), I would recommend buying Corsair Neutron SSD instead (LAMD was specially designed for long lasting perdormance).

Last but not least, buy a stock cooled GPU instead - I am not sure about water-block compatibility.

[garbeth]

you can save some money by buying a 250Gb SSD and a 1Tb HDD for storage instead of a 500Gb SSD, and you can get a better Mobo for gaming like MSI Z77-GD65 dragon. Ando don´t mix RAMs even if they are from the same brand, try to get the same model. for the video card your best option is EVEGA for water cooling block compatibility.

[PCBudgetSolutions]

Well I have the match the slot colors so if it's black/blue then I kind of have to.  Also, 1150 is only dual channel so actually get a quad channel kit could cause issues I believe.  I need a 500GB SSD and cannot go over 350 dollars on that range.  That waterblock is compatible with that GPU, but I will be sure before I order.  I would prefer a pre-installed block, but AMD doesn't make em.  Maybe a GTX 770 4GB might have a hydro copper version for 550ish.  Other feedback is welcomed.

[Thibaudv]

Don't mix your memory - go with 4x4GB instead and save yourself possible future problems.

Also Samsung 840 isn't ideal SSD (only 3000 write cycles), I would recommend buying Corsair Neutron SSD instead (LAMD was specially designed for long lasting perdormance).

Last but not least, buy a stock cooled GPU instead - I am not sure about water-block compatibility.

+1 although I would just use the 840Pro SSD

[PCBudgetSolutions]

you can save some money by buying a 250Gb SSD and a 1Tb HDD for storage instead of a 500Gb SSD, and you can get a better Mobo for gaming like MSI Z77-GD65 dragon. Ando don´t mix RAMs even if they are from the same brand, try to get the same model. for the video card your best option is EVEGA for water cooling block compatibility.

 

If I can find a reasonable M-ATX board with all the same colored ram slots I will go for that, but I cannot have the colors clashing that is a big no no.  Also this is a Haswell build.  I refuse to go back to storage drives, they are WAY too slow for me.  I need at least 400GB in order to stay less than 75% filled, so 480-512GB and my budget for an SSD is 350 atm for the build.  As for GPU blocks, the one I chose is compatible with most HD 7970's but I would prefer a hydro copper series card.  Hopefully the GTX 770 is decent and has one for 550.

[PCBudgetSolutions]

So I will look for gigabytes U series as they often have all black ram slots but would they make a decent M-ATX board is the question?  I saw a Crucial M500 480GB for 330 a few weeks ago, that would be my ideal SSD.  I will hope for a GTX 770 hydro copper series, any other suggestions?

[Guest Teddybear]

you can save some money by buying a 250Gb SSD and a 1Tb HDD for storage instead of a 500Gb SSD, and you can get a better Mobo for gaming like MSI Z77-GD65 dragon. Ando don´t mix RAMs even if they are from the same brand, try to get the same model. for the video card your best option is EVEGA for water cooling block compatibility.

If you mean MSI Z77-GD65 Gaming than that mobo is quite frankly horrible. 

[PCBudgetSolutions]

I am not looking to drop 300 on a mobo, even my 80 dollar gigabyte Z68 with a 4pin power connector handles my I7-2600k @ 4.5ghz.

[Guest]

I would be weary of buying a PowerColor card. There are a number of people on this forum who have purchased one and had issues and unfortunately had to suffer throught their horrible customer support to get them replaced. 

 

I would also go with the suggested changes to your storage configuration as well as dropping the PSU down to a 600w model. A Silverstone Strider Plus 600w will cope with that system fine. Haswell uses less power than Ivy Bridge and a single GPU Ivy Bridge setup struggles to break 400w. 

 

Just noticed you're also going with Sickleflow fans - from the people I've spoken to who brought them, they're pretty horrible. They're also not designed for radiator use. I strongly suggest looking at Silverstone AP121's or Bitfenix Spectre's if you need blue LED fans. 

[PCBudgetSolutions]

I would be weary of buying a PowerColor card. There are a number of people on this forum who have purchased one and had issues and unfortunately had to suffer throught their horrible customer support to get them replaced. 

 

I would also go with the suggested changes to your storage configuration as well as dropping the PSU down to a 600w model. A Silverstone Strider Plus 600w will cope with that system fine. Haswell uses less power than Ivy Bridge and a single GPU Ivy Bridge setup struggles to break 400w. 

 

Just noticed you're also going with Sickleflow fans - from the people I've spoken to who brought them, they're pretty horrible. They're also not designed for radiator use. I strongly suggest looking at Silverstone AP121's or Bitfenix Spectre's if you need blue LED fans. 

I can use any HD 7970 it was just the one that I selected, thanks for the tip.  Also, I refuse to go back to mechanical drives.  I run 2 120GB SSD's atm, and I am a tad short as I am almost 60% filled.  I don't store music just games, but I cannot stand storage drives.  As for the PSU, I went with corsair because of the individually sleeved cables.  Also the PSU has blue lettering, everything including the cables have to be blue.  However I noticed the HW650 also is modular and will fulfill my needs.  I am kinda of stuck on fans atm, I want to use corsair SP 120's for the radiator and corsair AF 120's for exhaust, but how will I get lighting in the case?  I guess I could get LED strips, where would you recommend me getting some from?  LED strips is an area where I know next to NOTHING about.

[PCBudgetSolutions]

I am debating going with the ultra quiet series SP and AF 120 fans because I would like a silent system.  Well quieter at least.  Would push/pull using Corsair SP 120's be pretty effective? In theory I could turn the fans down lower and obtain the same temps as push or pull.  I can't find Bitfenix Pro Blue LED's, I only see red and green :(

[target39]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VdVV

 

I was going to go red/black but the XSPC Raystorm kit has a blue LED and would ruin the entire look.  Also, are there any blue LED fans that that are quiet but move a decent amount of air.  Preferably SP for the radiator and AF for the case.

Actually the Raystorm has 4x (one on each side) 3mm LED holes in the mount plate to accommodate any color LED.The kit does come with 2x 3mm blue LEDs, but you can install different color LEDs such as red for a red and black build. On top of that you can get a ROG Z87 motherboard instead, UV red fluid, red cold cathodes, and compression fittings (if you can afford them). Now that would look sick! Also, I would suggest going with the D5 Vario pump/reservoir combo instead of the X20 750. The XSPC 750 pump is inferior to the D5 pump by a large margin, not only by performance, noise, and heat, but by value and durability. The 750 has had many revisions due to impeller problems, whereas D5 (it is also rebranded by many manufacturers such Swiftech) pump owners have had no problems whatsoever.