First build in nine years...

[Madbrood]

Hello chaps!

 

This is my first post in this section... I'm scared, be gentle with me

 

As the topic says, I'm planning my first build in nine years. Back then it was 2.8GHz Northwood Pentium 4, 1GB RAM, a 256MB Sapphire Radeon 9800XT, 250GB HDD, 17" CRT... them were the days. Now you're all talking about "SATA" and "SSD" and "cable management", it's all very imposing Needless to say, I've spent hours looking into this PC malarky again, and feel ready to build my new system - I'm really just posting this as a sanity check.

 

The rig will primarily be used for gaming (very high/ultra settings @ 1080p mostly), particularly Arma 2 and 3. I also hope to use it for some video editing and 3D modelling/rendering, but not too much. So, without further ado, here's the parts list - have I missed anything, or can you guys think of anything better?

 

Case: Fractal Design Define R4

Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Hero

CPU: 4770k

Cooler: Corsair H100i

Memory: 8GB Corsair Vengeance LP (Black)

GPU: Asus GTX780 DirectCU II OC

SSD: 120GB OCZ Vertex 3

HDD: 2TB Seagate Barracuda 

PSU: Corsair AX760

 

As far as case/rad fans go, do you guys have any recommendations? I was going to go for Noctua NF-F12s as I want a quiet-ish system, but they don't go with the red/black scheme I have going on

 

How does that look?

 

[Butterfish]

Pretty nice build. Though i would go for the Arc Midi R2. #R4isTooMainstream

[WoodenMarker]

Where are you shopping from? Budget?

You're getting parts that are more expensive than they need to be there. 

Pretty nice build. Though i would go for the Arc Midi R2. #R4isTooMainstream

R4 looks better imo.

[Wauthar]

4770k is a bit overkill for gaming and a bit of video editing, get yourself an i5 would be my suggestion.

 

Other than that, looking sleek!

[Madbrood]

Buying in the UK. 

 

I realise the 4770k is a little OP for what I want, but something is telling me to get HYPAR THREADZ for future games. It's only £80 of a difference... would I be better served putting that into 16GB memory instead? This is all within my budget, I've priced it all already.

 

Any recommendations for case/rad fans? Or should I just stick with stock?

[wtfxmitchell]

780ti

[rhyseyness]

Looks like a decent build.
I'd probably get a 4670k if it's primarily gaming rig.

Maybe upgrade to a 780ti if that's the case (using money saved on CPU).

I'd also recommend a different SSD. A samsung evo or an OCZ vector

Hope this helps

 

p.s. Epic that you're from Dundee, my Grandad lives there  

 

EDIT: I just read the thing properly

[brob]

Pretty darn good.

 

I would have gone for a smaller psu, 650W is more than adequet. Seasonic G Series 650W 80Plus Gold or M12II Bronze 80Plus Bronze.

 

As to fans, here is some reading http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/120mm-fan-roundup-3.html and http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/120mm-fan-roundup-4.html. There should be enough data there to help you decide what would be best for your build. The fans on the H100i are fairly decent so the benefit of putting something else on the rad is marginal. That said, you'll see lots of pictures of SP120s with their red, white, or blue color rings mounted on H100i rads.

[Madbrood]

What's the benefit of the Vertex over the Vector? I'll look into those PSU's, thanks I'd forgotten about the SP120s!

[WoodenMarker]

Buying in the UK. 

I realise the 4770k is a little OP for what I want, but something is telling me to get HYPAR THREADZ for future games. It's only £80 of a difference... would I be better served putting that into 16GB memory instead? This is all within my budget, I've priced it all already.

Any recommendations for case/rad fans? Or should I just stick with stock?

HT is not really beneficial to games. HT doesn't add cores but uses the same 4 cores differently. This optimizes the power for certain applications but games already efficiently uses the cores so HT doesn't help much. The extra money shouldn't be put into ram that you won't use. Your money is better saved for future upgrades than spending more than you need to for now. 

Something like a 8350 would be better for gaming as they are actual cores (people argue they are not. It depends how you define a core). 3d rendering also often loves the 8 cores.

 

You need to quote a post or tag a member or else they won't get a notification you replied to them. 

I'd forgotten about the SP120s!

No...SP120's are pretty darn loud... Corsair fans aren't quiet in general.

 

My recommendations: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/228U7

Replace the h100i fans with Sickleflows. Stick with the stock case fans. Use 3 of these for front intake and rear exhaust if you really want to push the red lighting: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/xigmatek-case-fan-clff1452

[Madbrood]

Your money is better saved for future upgrades than spending more than you need to for now. 

Something like a 8350 would be better for gaming as they are actual cores (people argue they are not. It depends how you define a core). 3d rendering also often loves the 8 cores.

 

No...SP120's are pretty darn loud... Corsair fans aren't quiet in general.

 

My recommendations: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/228U7

Replace the h100i fans with Sickleflows. Stick with the stock case fans. Use 3 of these for front intake and rear exhaust if you really want to push the red lighting: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/xigmatek-case-fan-clff1452

 

Still learning For some reason, I have my heart set on an Intel rig... probably because it's what I know. If you guys reckon the 4770k is too much for my uses, I've no hesitation in getting the i5 instead. I'll look into the Sickleflows though - thanks for that.

[Butterfish]

Seasonic G Series 650W 80Plus Gold

^This

 

 

(Check my sig)

[brob]

 

No...SP120's are pretty darn loud... Corsair fans aren't quiet in general.

 

 

Do you have any data to support this claim?

[brob]

Still learning For some reason, I have my heart set on an Intel rig... probably because it's what I know. If you guys reckon the 4770k is too much for my uses, I've no hesitation in getting the i5 instead. I'll look into the Sickleflows though - thanks for that.

 

The rig you outlined is pretty good for its intended use. The i7 will be of benefit in games that are designed to make use of it. But the biggest benefit to you will be in video editing and 3D modelling & rendering.

[Madbrood]

The rig you outlined is pretty good for its intended use. The i7 will be of benefit in games that are designed to make use of it. But the biggest benefit to you will be in video editing and 3D modelling & rendering.

 

Video editing/rendering is very much a secondary use though. If the i5 would suffice, I'll go with that.

[WoodenMarker]

Still learning For some reason, I have my heart set on an Intel rig... probably because it's what I know. If you guys reckon the 4770k is too much for my uses, I've no hesitation in getting the i5 instead. I'll look into the Sickleflows though - thanks for that.

The 8 cores for the 8350 would be better for gaming and is much cheaper than the i7. The 8 cores would also be better for video editing and 3d work than the i5.

The i7 isn't too much. It's just expensive and a 8350 would be better suited in your case for both performance and price.

Do you have any data to support this claim?

SP120 High Performance fans are 35 dBA and even the quiet edition ones are 23dBA. The Sickleflows are 19dBA. Also, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7xjUgasRiY

[brob]

Video editing/rendering is very much a secondary use though. If the i5 would suffice, I'll go with that.

 

With the exception of a few games i7 does about 3%-5% better in gaming. For the difference in cost most people do not consider an i7 worth the investment.

 

It's my opinion that if the budget has room, an i7 is a good investment. Games are most likely going to get more demanding and gpu will get more powerful and hungry for data, something has to feed them. In a gaming system gpu is the most important component. If an i5 means a more powerful gpu is possible, then an i5 is the route to go.

[AlwaysFSX]

You totally need a cd drive in that machine

[brob]

SP120 High Performance fans are 35 dBA and even the quiet edition ones are 23dBA. The Sickleflows are 19dBA. Also, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7xjUgasRiY

 

No idea where you got the 19dBA from. I guess you haven't seen this graph, from this article, which clearly shows the Sickleflows running up to 46 dBA to push just over 33 cfm. Roughly similar to the SP120 High Performance.

 

I'm not trying to suggest that the SP120s are the best fan out there. I simply object to inaccurate claims that they are significantly louder than other fans. Their sound profile is similar to other high performing fans.

[Madbrood]

If an i5 means a more powerful gpu is possible, then an i5 is the route to go.

I'm not sure if I can squeeze a 780Ti in, but I'll look at the numbers on my lunch break

 

You totally need a cd drive in that machine

Left that out - getting a bluray drive!

[Madbrood]

p.s. Epic that you're from Dundee, my Grandad lives there

 

Cool, it's not often I encounter people that have even heard of Dundee!

[WoodenMarker]

You totally need a cd drive in that machine

Most people don't really need them.

No idea where you got the 19dBA from. I guess you haven't seen this graph, from this article, which clearly shows the Sickleflows running up to 46 dBA to push just over 33 cfm. Roughly similar to the SP120 High Performance.

I'm not trying to suggest that the SP120s are the best fan out there. I simply object to inaccurate claims that they are significantly louder than other fans. Their sound profile is similar to other high performing fans.

The 19dBA is it's specification which is the measurement of the fan alone in a theoretical 0 dBA environment. 

The graph you linked are of test results in a non silent room. In these tests that are not in very expensive and quiet environments, 40 dBA is what it should be when it ramps up to 2000rpm in a normal environment. You should be keeping it 1400rpm or below.

I'm not sure if I can squeeze a 780Ti in, but I'll look at the numbers on my lunch break

Left that out - getting a bluray drive!

The 780 Ti isn't really a good value. If you take a look at the 780 price drop, you can see how much of a premium Nvidia really puts on their high end cards.

Sure you need a bluray drive? I see many people get them and never use them. 

[FlRST1]

• i can sense overclocking on the way with the H100i, so go with I5 as its cheaper and no HT means less heat output and means easier to overclock.
• saving money from CPU try to invest it on 780ti even a reference card will give you at least 15% more in performance
• PSU is overkill for your rig, you can go for 600watt which is mentioned on the 780 box as a requirement, unless you plan for SLI in future then go for 850watt as 250watt more is the video card requirement as per Nvidia.
• SSD OCZ had a lot of bad reviews, i never owned one but ill be more on the safe side and get a corsair or samsung the ones with 5 years warranty. samsung got a very good customer reviews.

Best of luck,

[rhyseyness]

 

• i can sense overclocking on the way with the H100i, so go with I5 as its cheaper and no HT means less heat output and means easier to overclock.
• saving money from CPU try to invest it on 780ti even a reference card will give you at least 15% more in performance
• PSU is overkill for your rig, you can go for 600watt which is mentioned on the 780 box as a requirement, unless you plan for SLI in future then go for 850watt as 250watt more is the video card requirement as per Nvidia.
• SSD OCZ had a lot of bad reviews, i never owned one but ill be more on the safe side and get a corsair or samsung the ones with 5 years warranty. samsung got a very good customer reviews.

Best of luck,

 

Apologies, but I disagree with some of what you said.

The 4770K i7 has no hyperthreading anyway, and hyperthreading doesn't necessarily mean more heat output. The 4770k is just as "overclockable" as the 4670k

The 760W PSU should be large enough for SLI in the future.

OCZ SSD's are great, but I wouldn't go with the vertex 3 (a vertex 4 or vector would be fine though).

Other than that, your arguments are sound: Samsung SSDs are always a good bet, and a 780ti would be a good upgrade if he doesn't need the CPU power instead

 

EDIT: See below, sorry

[AlwaysFSX]

Most people don't really need them.

It was sarcasm..