Upcoming Build

[HeathCliff]

So after a lot of research on upcoming and existing tech, I've finally come up with a somewhat rough build for my 4 years in uni that will be built this time in early September. I am planning on using this computer for serious 3D designing, video editing, digital art and hardcore gaming. So naturally, this will have to be an Intel build. I am only planning on buying the key components as for now and buy the rest along the way.

Now moving along to the specs:

Case: Corsair Air 540
CPU: Intel i7-4770k
Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Formula
Ram: Corsair Vengeance Pro Red 16Gb (8Gb x 2)
GPU: Asus DCU2 GTX 780
Cooler: Corsair H100i
PSU: Corsair AX860(i)

SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 128Gb
HDD: (See Below)
ODD: (Your recommendation)

Monitor: (Still to choose)
Keyboard: TT eSports Meka G-Unit Illuminated (Cherry MX Blacks FTW)
Mouse: Func MS-3
Headset: Asus Vulcan ANC

Fans: A lot of Corsair AF and SP series fans.

I currently have a wd 1tb hdd which will be my primary hdd for the first few months. From then on, I will be purchasing WD Blacks seasonally. The SSD will only hold my OS and regular day to day software however a may buy a second and RAID 0 'em. The 256GB is well out of my budget and seems unrealistic as I hardly ever fill an SSD.

 

I am planning on purchasing these components whenever I can and I will expand it there on after. Some of which are:

 

-Second set of Ram
-Second GPU for SLI
-Sound card (I am planning on an Asus Xonar Phoebus Solo)
-A second 128Gb SSD

-Huge amounts of HDD's

-2 extra monitors

And now for the water-cooling and modding

The main reason why I went with the Asus 780, is that EK generally make waterblocks for the DCU2 so there is no reason to worry in the future. I am planning on a dual loop with some significant modding. One of which is custom cabling to reduce the clutter behind the tray so that I will be able to fit 2(?) radiators which will be drawing air inwards from the modded side panel. These will be either 240 or a 360 if it will fit and will be primarily used for the GPU(s). The front radiator will have UN radiator mounts holding the D5 pump with the mod kit and top (similar to singularity computers) and along with the top radiator which will cool the cpu and mosfet)

If all goes as planned, then great! If not, I may have to improvise.

I hope you can give some feedback on my build as well as help me pick out things like a good external ODD, a good monitor for gaming and design and finally your thoughts on whether a 860 will be able to run all of this.

Thank you anyone and everyone who took their time to read this and helped with the feedback!

[terrytek]

So after a lot of research on upcoming and existing tech, I've finally come up with a somewhat rough build for my 4 years in uni that will be built this time in early September. I am planning on using this computer for serious 3D designing, video editing, digital art and hardcore gaming. So naturally, this will have to be an Intel build. I am only planning on buying the key components as for now and buy the rest along the way.

Now moving along to the specs:

Case: Corsair Air 540

CPU: Intel i7-4770k

Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Formula

Ram: Corsair Vengeance Pro Red 16Gb (8Gb x 2)

GPU: Asus DCU2 GTX 780

Cooler: Corsair H100i

PSU: Corsair AX860(i)

SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 128Gb

HDD: (See Below)

ODD: (Your recommendation)

Monitor: (Still to choose)

Keyboard: TT eSports Meka G-Unit Illuminated (Cherry MX Blacks FTW)

Mouse: Func MS-3

Headset: Asus Vulcan ANC

Fans: A lot of Corsair AF and SP series fans.

I currently have a wd 1tb hdd which will be my primary hdd for the first few months. From then on, I will be purchasing WD Blacks seasonally. The SSD will only hold my OS and regular day to day software however a may buy a second and RAID 0 'em. The 256GB is well out of my budget and seems unrealistic as I hardly ever fill an SSD.

 

I am planning on purchasing these components whenever I can and I will expand it there on after. Some of which are:

 

-Second set of Ram

-Second GPU for SLI

-Sound card (I am planning on an Asus Xonar Phoebus Solo)

-A second 128Gb SSD

-Huge amounts of HDD's

-2 extra monitors

And now for the water-cooling and modding

The main reason why I went with the Asus 780, is that EK generally make waterblocks for the DCU2 so there is no reason to worry in the future. I am planning on a dual loop with some significant modding. One of which is custom cabling to reduce the clutter behind the tray so that I will be able to fit 2(?) radiators which will be drawing air inwards from the modded side panel. These will be either 240 or a 360 if it will fit and will be primarily used for the GPU(s). The front radiator will have UN radiator mounts holding the D5 pump with the mod kit and top (similar to singularity computers) and along with the top radiator which will cool the cpu and mosfet)

If all goes as planned, then great! If not, I may have to improvise.

I hope you can give some feedback on my build as well as help me pick out things like a good external ODD, a good monitor for gaming and design and finally your thoughts on whether a 860 will be able to run all of this.

Thank you anyone and everyone who took their time to read this and helped with the feedback!

 

good build, but a couple questions...

 

1.What is your budget? This stuff seems very expensive.

 

2. i would ditch the wd black for a barracuda 1tb instead of the shitty wd. They will crap out after a few years, trust me.

[HeathCliff]

good build, but a couple questions...

 

1.What is your budget? This stuff seems very expensive.

 

2. i would ditch the wd black for a barracuda 1tb instead of the shitty wd. They will crap out after a few years, trust me.

Well, I'm planning on buying as much as possible when the sales hit and if I don't manage the whole initial list, then I'll buy the rest later on. I have currently save up £1500 after a lot of part-time work and selling. I am well aware that the initial price for the formula will be ridiculous, but hopefully, i'm saving that for last. Thanks for the heads up on the HDD's (I was basically on the hunt for the best reviews in UK stores). 

 

Also, are you familiar with any good external ODD's? I can't use a standard 5.25" one as it'll interfere with the radiators in the back. I was thinking of one of Samsung's ODD as they look pretty good. 

[SuperPug]

I currently have a wd 1tb hdd which will be my primary hdd for the first few months. From then on, I will be purchasing WD Blacks seasonally. The SSD will only hold my OS and regular day to day software however a may buy a second and RAID 0 'em. The 256GB is well out of my budget and seems unrealistic as I hardly ever fill an SSD.

An idea for your storage: use the second ssd you're planning on getting to cache the mechanical harddrive instead of doing RAID 0. Putting SSD's in RAID 0 is kinda pointless anyways.

 

Am i mistaken or are you planning on putting 2x 240/360 in the side PLUS a radiator in the front?

Because 3 radiators seem kinda overkill to me... I personally would go for a 360(front) + a 280(top) combination in a single loop and put the pump + reservoir behind the mobo tray.

 

Singularitys builds are awesome! hasn't uploaded a vid in a while tho :(

 

the 860 watts will be enough... for now - but when you start adding another gtx-780 plus OC'ing cpu and gpu plus adding more harddrives over time plus a dual loop it might get a little tight...

[HeathCliff]

An idea for your storage: use the second ssd you're planning on getting to cache the mechanical harddrive instead of doing RAID 0. Putting SSD's in RAID 0 is kinda pointless anyways.

 

Am i mistaken or are you planning on putting 2x 240/360 in the side PLUS a radiator in the front?

Because 3 radiators seem kinda overkill to me... I personally would go for a 360(front) + a 280(top) combination in a single loop and put the pump + reservoir behind the mobo tray.

 

the 860 watts will be enough... for now - but when you start adding another gtx-780 plus OC'ing cpu and gpu plus adding more harddrives over time plus a dual loop it might get a little tight...

 

Thanks. I will consider the cache idea and regarding the w/cooling, I will use 2 360 rads for the SLI 780's (behind the tray) and a 360 + 240 for the CPU and mosfet (in the front). If goes as planned, then I'll have a beast build :D

 

Also, I'd doubt a 4770k, twin 780s and dual pumps will draw anything further than 800W. If it comes to worst, I'll won't overvolt them that high and remove any excessive  HDD/components that aren't in use. 

 

( there is no such thing as overkill... :) )

[SuperPug]

"I will use 2 360 rads for the SLI 780's (behind the tray) and a 360 + 240 for the CPU and mosfet (in the front). If goes as planned, then I'll have a beast build :D"

 

- you sir are quiet mad :P ...very curious to see how it turns out tho be sure to post a picture when done or better yet do a build log!

[WoodenMarker]

For digital art, it helps to have a larger ssd for editing cache. Trust me when I say it builds up quite quickly. You should bump up to a 250GB samsung 840 (non pro). The 840 pro is marginally faster than the non pro and it's not worth it. You won't even be able to tell most of the time.