Build Advice Build Advice -- i7-13700kf/4700-Ti

[adamiani]

It's been about a decade since my last build, five years since the last major upgrade-- it's getting to the point where performance is an actual issue. Need something that'll ideally last me a similar length of time for gaming and game development, Photoshop, a little bit of 3d work (Houdini, 3ds Max, UE5)-- maybe in the $2200-2700 range, current generation but not paying the premium for being on the bleeding edge.

I've got a prospective list that seems like it might work.

I don't do this often so I'm very open to general advice, but I'm mostly a little bit nervous about a couple compatibility notes that PartPicker is throwing me-- the cooler possibly needing a mounting adapter to work with the motherboard (?), something about making sure the power for the 16-pin PCIe adapter not being daisy chained, and uncertainty about the physical size of the enclosure being able to fit everything.

I'm also unsure if I need a sound-card in the current generation?


https://pcpartpicker.com/user/ADamiani/saved/#view=hFb2kL

CPU:Intel I7-13700 KF
Cooler: NZXT Kraken X63 98.17 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-P
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 32 GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6300 CL32 Memory
Main Storage: Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB
Supplemental Storage: Seagate Barracuda Compute 8 TB 3.5" 5400 RPM Internal HD
Video Card: GeForce RTX 4070-TI
Case: NZXT H510 Flow ATX Mid Tower
Power: Corsair RM850
OS: Windows 11 home
Sound: Sound Blaster Audigy Rx

 

[Zerk2012]

It's been about a decade since my last build, five years since the last major upgrade-- it's getting to the point where performance is an actual issue. Need something that'll ideally last me a similar length of time for gaming and game development, Photoshop, a little bit of 3d work (Houdini, 3ds Max, UE5)-- maybe in the $2200-2700 range, current generation but not paying the premium for being on the bleeding edge.

I've got a prospective list that seems like it might work.

I don't do this often so I'm very open to general advice, but I'm mostly a little bit nervous about a couple compatibility notes that PartPicker is throwing me-- the cooler possibly needing a mounting adapter to work with the motherboard (?), something about making sure the power for the 16-pin PCIe adapter not being daisy chained, and uncertainty about the physical size of the enclosure being able to fit everything.

I'm also unsure if I need a sound-card in the current generation?


https://pcpartpicker.com/user/ADamiani/saved/#view=hFb2kL

CPU:Intel I7-13700 KF
Cooler: NZXT Kraken X63 98.17 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-P
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 32 GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6300 CL32 Memory
Main Storage: Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB
Supplemental Storage: Seagate Barracuda Compute 8 TB 3.5" 5400 RPM Internal HD
Video Card: GeForce RTX 4070-TI
Case: NZXT H510 Flow ATX Mid Tower
Power: Corsair RM850
OS: Windows 11 home
Sound: Sound Blaster Audigy Rx

The video card is out of stock unless you pay like 854 for it from a 3rd party seller on Amazon, way overpriced for that power supply and again 3rd party seller.

The 980 Pro I believe is one that has problems that they say was fixed with a firmware update so if you buy it make sure you update that. I would also split the drives up more.

The cooler depends on when it was made as to if it has the needed brackets. Will probably have to be mounted in the front of the case.

Most people don't need a sound card.

Corsair sells a 16 pin adapter, this one is white. Type 4 would also work with the lower priced RMx 850 and you could buy the white 24 pin cable from cable mod for less than the risky purchase from a 3rd party seller with a 74% positive feedback from Amazon.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/corsai...VbfHjBx3PsQDdEAYYBiABEgJhkvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[geofelt]

You can build as is.

My thoughts:

Spend another $25 or so for the I7-13700K version with integrated graphics.
If you ever have a graphics card issue, it can keep you going.
As a plus, you get quick-sync which may be of help in video editing:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...uick-sync-video/quick-sync-video-general.html

On cooling, so long as you get new stock, the X63 should include a lga1700 mount.
If it does not, NZXT will likely send you one free or for a modest charge.

But...
Your case is a nice one and is good for air cooling.
A cooler like noctua NH-D15s would cost less, be quieter, and last longer.
Noctua maintains a list of suitable coolers for a processor.
Here is the list for the 13700k:
https://ncc.noctua.at/cpus/model/Intel-Core-i7-13700K-1640
The NH-D15s is a high compatibility version of the NH-D15 that will clear tall ram heat spreaders.
It has about the same cooling capability as a 280 aio.

It turns out that intel performance using DDR4 and DDR5 is comparable.
DDR4 based will cost you less.

I suspect that a rtx4070ti is a good card. There is a continuous spectrum of price/performance so you will likely get what you pay for.

Corsair rm850 is about right. Consider 950w if you might want to upgrade graphics in the future.
A psu will only consume what is demanded of it regardless of the max capability.
Seasonic focus is also a good alternative.

Pay a bit more for the retail version of windows.
You get ms support and if you ever need to change out your motherboard, you are covered.

Integrated HD sound is quite good.
At the very least, try it out first.
You can always add a discrete sound card later.
Sound cards in the past seem to be tricky to support so I would not jump on one without research.

 

[Why_Me]

Not sure if they have the Samsung Pro problems worked out yet but here's a few money savers.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/VZ...ie-40-x4-nvme-solid-state-drive-ct2000p5pssd8
Crucial P5 Plus 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVME SSD $122.99

or ...

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4K...tb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-wds200t3x0e
Western Digital Black SN770 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVME SSD $124.99

If you want to avoid the hassles of an AIO then this cooler is every bit as good as a 240 AIO.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/GCjBD3/deepcool-ag620-6788-cfm-cpu-cooler-r-ag620-bknnmn-g-1
DeepCool AG620 Dual Tower CPU Cooler $49.99

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/deepcool-ag620-air-cooler

https://www.deepcool.com/products/C...al-Tower-CPU-Cooler-1700-AM5/2022/15900.shtml

or the RGB version of that cooler ...

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Mk...k-argb-6788-cfm-cpu-cooler-r-ag620-bkanmn-g-2
DeepCool AG620 BK ARGB Dual Tower CPU Cooler $49.99

https://www.deepcool.com/products/C...al-Tower-CPU-Cooler-1700-AM5/2022/16082.shtml

Low profile RAM so it doesn't impede the cpu cooler.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Yc...ddr5-6400-cl32-memory-f5-6400j3239g16gx2-rs5k
G.Skill Ripjaws S5 DDR5-6400 32GB (2x16GB) CL32 $142.99

The locked i7 12 & 13 gen give you near identical performance while running cooler as in less watts.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/xz8bt6/intel-core-i7-13700f-21-ghz-16-core-processor-bx8071513700f
Intel Core i7-13700F $369.98

https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...-30m-cache-up-to-5-20-ghz/specifications.html
Processor Base Power: 65W
Maximum Turbo Power: 219W

With the money saved you can upgrade to a better case such as better cooling (two front intake fans) not to mention this case is easier to build with.

https://pcpartpicker.com/search/?q=lian+li+lancool+216
Lian Li LANCOOL 216 ATX Mid Tower Case $102.99 - $109.99

https://lian-li.com/product/lancool-216/

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/lian-li-lancool-216-review

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykbhuv6yLBc

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nZhqlO8-ek

 

[adamiani]

Thanks for all the advice everyone!
What I think I am hearing:

1. Spring for the integrated graphics on the 13700K
2. Future-proofing may require moving to a ~950 MW power supply
3. Ditch the sound card
4. 4070-Ti is out of stock-- may need to pay the extra $50 for the OC version on Amazon?
5. Switch to lower-profile RAM
6. I will need a 16-pin power adapter for the 4070, but this is an inexpensive add-on.
7. I may need an lga1700 adapter, depending on how new the cooler is (see below).

Bigger issues:
7)The Samsung 980 has had issues in the past and is not trusted. Concern: The alternatives list themselves as being significantly slower on most of the raw R/W speed metrics-- is that going to be an actual issue? The Crucial P5 Plus seems closest.

8) Cooling/Case
Consensus seems to be that I don't need to go to liquid cooling on this, but may wish to consider a traditional fan in a case with better airflow?
I'm planning on mounting it horizontally to fit under a lowish table, which I imagine would impact the airflow? I do really like the two-tone tempered glass aesthetic of the H510, but I don't want to sacrifice a lot of performance on that front.

 

[geofelt]

1. check
2. 950w has no negatives excepting the price.
3. check. You can always add one later.
4. You will get fair value from a factory overclocked card.

I would avoid the most extremely overclocked models.
5. Fancy ram heat spreaders are mostly marketing and increase the price.
The NH-D15s(not the nh-D15) has room for tall ram.
https://noctua.at/en/nh-d15s-chromax-black/specification

1. My understanding is that cards which need such an adapter will come with one.
2. The noctua coolers will come with the adapter.

7) Nothing wrong with legitimate Samsung 980 2tb devices. New stock will come with the fixing firmware. You can verify that the firmware is current with Samsung magician. SSD benchmarks are done at high queue depths which is unrealistic.
Most of what we do is small random I/O one at a time. Response times are very comparable. The performance killer is when the device is over 90% full.
But, be aware that there are fake Samsung 980 pro devices being sold:
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/fake-samsung-980-pro

The top dog might be the 990 PRO.



8) What is the height available to you under the table?
A photo of your space might help.
Looking at the H510, there is limited intake space to admit airflow to the front fans.
Worse, on you lay the case on the side, that intake will be blocked.

 

[adamiani]

8) Yeah, current setup is definitely sideways in a 1’x2’x16” frame. As long as it’s over 16” deep it rests on the lower bars, so it’s actually off the ground with nonzero airflow, but almost certainly impaired compared to an upright.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R-nTppnHoqwIDoFvwZHDkT9eibmWHrMh/view?usp=drivesdk

 

[geofelt]

Do you need an external dvd drive like is on the case you are now using?
Most cases today will not have one.
The case would be fine with a good air cooler and a mesh front intake.
But, I am a bit concerned about how one would orient the radiator horizontally with an AIO.
Air will collect at the highest point in the system and I am concerned that one of the tubes will gather bubbles, making the unit ineffective.
If you use a MATX motherboard, you could buy a Fractal design pop air mini which included dvd drives:
https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=100007583 4802 600546036 600030551