Building computer, decisions to make!

[virtus822]

So I am building a PC right now and I have some decisions to make... I have my case (Thermaltake Level 10 GT), my power supply (Seasonic G750 Semi-Modular), multiple 7200rpm drives, and my graphics card (MSI GTX 760). I stopped building this PC last month because I knew that the z97 motherboards would be coming out shortly. So I returned my z87 and waited... Now the z97 boards are out.

 

1st question: What suggestions do you guys have for the motherboard? I'm not really interested in MSI, but I like EVGA and Gigabyte. Is the m.2 that big of a deal? Or will SATAexpress suit me just as well? They both are rated for 10Gbs/sec.

 

2nd question: Intel just delayed Devils Canyon and Broadwell. I would like to overclock, but would like to wait for DC or Broadwell. Until then I am looking at getting a cheap Pentium G3240 that will fit in the 1150 socket, then I will upgrade to one I really want later on. Does this sound like a good plan?

 

3rd question: What kind of SSD should I get and what size? I'm thinking either 128 or 256 since I will have OS installed as well as most of my weekly programs like Photoshop etc.

 

Bonus question: What is my best bet for being able to use my SSD with Sata Express? There's not much info on this yet...  

 

If you can answer any of these that would be great! Thanks!

[m1n1h4mm3rd]

I have no experience with any boards other than ASUS so I can't be of service there.

 

However, I can give some advice regarding the SSD. I'm currently running my OS (win8), battlefield 4, and a few other small programs with about 15GB free on a 120GB intel drive. BUY SOMETHING BIGGER IF YOU WANT PHOTOSHOP, FLASH, etc. I'd say 240 should be heaps; 180 minimum if you can find one. Samsung 840 EVO/PRO seem to be very popular in terms of performance/value; as are Intel.

 

Also, I'm sure you are aware as to where the pentium chips sit on the CPU scale. If you're happy to sit with something like that until you are ready for something of greater performance, go for it. It just comes down to whether you desperately need the system functioning ASAP; no matter how sluggish it will be.

 

Hopefully this helped.

[WoodenMarker]

1. M.2 and sata express aren't a big deal atm. Not sure if they will be in the future.

2. No. Don't downplay your specs and plan to upgrade to something that isn't even released or benchmarked yet.

3. 120GB sounds fine. I have Adobe, Autodesk, and plenty of other content creation programs and I still have ~30GB free on my 120GB Samsung 840.

Bonus: Not exactly sure what you're asking.

[virtus822]

I have no experience with any boards other than ASUS so I can't be of service there.

 

However, I can give some advice regarding the SSD. I'm currently running my OS (win8), battlefield 4, and a few other small programs with about 15GB free on a 120GB intel drive. BUY SOMETHING BIGGER IF YOU WANT PHOTOSHOP, FLASH, etc. I'd say 240 should be heaps; 180 minimum if you can find one. Samsung 840 EVO/PRO seem to be very popular in terms of performance/value; as are Intel.

 

Also, I'm sure you are aware as to where the pentium chips sit on the CPU scale. If you're happy to sit with something like that until you are ready for something of greater performance, go for it. It just comes down to whether you desperately need the system functioning ASAP; no matter how sluggish it will be.

 

Hopefully this helped.

I don't know why I said EVGA, I meant ASUS and Gigabyte. I'm guessing you have been happy with your ASUS boards?

My plan with getting the Pentium is because I plan to later build a Home Theater PC. So the Pentium would be plenty for that and have low wattage.

And thanks for your response about the SSD. That was helpful.

 

 

1. M.2 and sata express aren't a bit deal atm. Not sure if they will be in the future.

2. No. Don't downplay your specs and plan to upgrade to something that isn't even released or benchmarked yet.

3. 120GB sounds fine. I have Adobe, Autodesk, and plenty of other content creation programs and I still have ~30GB free on my 120GB Samsung 840.

Bonus: Not exactly sure what you're asking.

 

M.2 and SATA express are the biggest changes to the Z97 chipset. It is inevitable that they will be used in most high end systems by next year.

My "bonus" question was whether I could get an SSD right now that is fast enough to make use of the future 10Gb/sec ports. I'm not sure if the SSD drives themselves are going to change at all, or whether it will only be the cable and the ports on the motherboards.

Sorry if that question is unclear, I'm still trying to figure out how the next gen storage options are going to work.

[m1n1h4mm3rd]

I don't know why I said EVGA, I meant ASUS and Gigabyte. I'm guessing you have been happy with your ASUS boards?

My plan with getting the Pentium is because I plan to later build a Home Theater PC. So the Pentium would be plenty for that and have low wattage.

And thanks for your response about the SSD. That was helpful.

 

 

 

M.2 and SATA express are the biggest changes to the Z97 chipset. It is inevitable that they will be used in most high end systems by next year.

My "bonus" question was whether I could get an SSD right now that is fast enough to make use of the future 10Gb/sec ports. I'm not sure if the SSD drives themselves are going to change at all, or whether it will only be the cable and the ports on the motherboards.

Sorry if that question is unclear, I'm still trying to figure out how the next gen storage options are going to work.

 

ASUS have been nothing but good to me!

[WoodenMarker]

M.2 and SATA express are the biggest changes to the Z97 chipset. It is inevitable that they will be used in most high end systems by next year.

My "bonus" question was whether I could get an SSD right now that is fast enough to make use of the future 10Gb/sec ports. I'm not sure if the SSD drives themselves are going to change at all, or whether it will only be the cable and the ports on the motherboards.

Sorry if that question is unclear, I'm still trying to figure out how the next gen storage options are going to work.

Even if they will be used, whether they start becoming 'essential' or even that useful is another thing. 

No, not yet.