Building new Gaming RIG - Need some tips on what to get

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Jan 23, 2012
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Hello so I'm building my new computer, here's what I got so far:

Mobo: Asus Sabertooth Z77
Ram: G.SKILL 2X8GB DDR3 2400Mhz
CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K Quad Core @ 3.5Ghz
GPU: EVGA GF GTX 680 4GB FTW Graphics Card with Backplate (getting another in the future)
SSD: OCZ Vertex 4 256GB
HDD: 2TB iOmega (my old one)

So here's what I need:

-Cooler: Thinking about Corsair H100
-Case: Has to have good cable management and fit a H100 or similiar cooler
-PSU: Has to be ready for the 2nd GTX 680

- Anything else I might have forgotten

I have like ~650£ to spend for this parts.
 
Solution
n1ghtr4v3n
Memories are overkill and also make sure they are running at 1.5V. Standard for IvyB and Haswell is 1600MHz @1.5V, act accordingly.

Sabretooth are overrated. Its just polished for the looks. You can go for a cheaper board for the same quality. (and its for Ivy Bridge, you need a board for Haswell, z87 chipset)

If you are going for SLI soon, 4gb version is also overkill, there is absolutely no need. In fact, switch to a 2gb version of GTX770. You'll have better performance. + There were some benchmark comparisons between 4gb and 2gb version of the same GPU's, 4GB's are performing sligtly lesser. Keep that in mind. If you can dig the archives of Tom's you'd see... Im just lazy to do it lol...

Instead of OCZ Vertex, everybody would...
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1. Won't work. You need a Z87 based motherboard for haswell. And... sabretooth tends to be overpriced.
2. Save some money, and buy a 4670K instead. Few games use more than 2-3 cores, so the hyperthreads of the i7 are largely useless. Use the funds for a better graphics card.
3. The graphics cad is the real engine of a gamer. The GTX680 is a good card, but I would look at a GTX770 instead. Can you afford a GTX780?
4. No game, by itself will use more than 2-3gb. But, ram is cheap, I like 16gb. There is not a lot of benefit to real performance with 1600 speed ram. Save yourself some there.
5. I like a 240gb ssd. But, Intel and Samsung have better track records.
6. Do you have a cpu cooler in mind? Haswell needs decent cooling for good overclocks.
 
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Memories are overkill and also make sure they are running at 1.5V. Standard for IvyB and Haswell is 1600MHz @1.5V, act accordingly.

Sabretooth are overrated. Its just polished for the looks. You can go for a cheaper board for the same quality. (and its for Ivy Bridge, you need a board for Haswell, z87 chipset)

If you are going for SLI soon, 4gb version is also overkill, there is absolutely no need. In fact, switch to a 2gb version of GTX770. You'll have better performance. + There were some benchmark comparisons between 4gb and 2gb version of the same GPU's, 4GB's are performing sligtly lesser. Keep that in mind. If you can dig the archives of Tom's you'd see... Im just lazy to do it lol...

Instead of OCZ Vertex, everybody would advise Samsung 840 Pro 256gb. Thats what I will also do.

For PSU, go for Seasonic Gold or Platinum series. Thats the best you can get from a PSU, at least 750W (stable power, not peak) is recommended for SLI.

For case, I advise NZXT, CoolerMaster, Fractal Design, Zalman, Corsair. 50£-70£ range cases are more than just fine.

H100i would be good, you can go for Kraken x60 too, in fact it performs better...


Here is a list of parts... Dont mind about prices just wanted to give you an idea about the full system and power consumption and stuff...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor (£257.99 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X60 98.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (£117.12 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£153.96 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (£131.50 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (£179.99 @ Aria PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£50.87 @ Scan.co.uk)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) (£310.79 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) (£310.79 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout 2 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£74.65 @ Scan.co.uk)
Power Supply: SeaSonic M12II 850W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£117.73 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer (£13.15 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £1718.54
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-15 14:40 BST+0100)

good luck...
 
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Solution
For a cpu cooler, I suggest an air cooler. Air cools about as well in a decent case, costs less, is quieter, and more reliable.
I hear too many tales of woe when a liquid cooler leaks.
I might suggest Noctua, NH-D14 or even U14S.

Any case with at least 2 120mm intake fans will do the job. Looks count, pick one that appeals to YOU. I like simple cases like the Antec 300-two. Lian li makes top quality cases like the LIAN LI PC-7B plus II . A front intake washable filter is a plus to me.

A GTX680 needs about a 600w psu. Even a GTX780 or titan could use a 600w psu. If you really want to plan for sli, you need 200w more.
Whatever you do, buy only a top quality psu like Seasonic.

Here is my canned rant against sli:
-----------------------------Start of rant----------------------------------------------------
Dual graphics cards vs. a good single card.

a) How good do you really need to be?
A single GTX650/ti or 7770 can give you good performance at 1920 x 1200 in most games.

A single GTX660 or 7850 will give you excellent performance at 1920 x 1200 in most games.
Even 2560 x 1600 will be good with lowered detail.
A single gtx690 is about as good as it gets.

Only if you are looking at triple monitor gaming, then sli/cf will be needed.
Even that is now changing with triple monitor support on top end cards.

b) The costs for a single card are lower.
You require a less expensive motherboard; no need for sli/cf or multiple pci-e slots.
Even a ITX motherboard will do.

Your psu costs are less.
A GTX660 needs a 430w psu, even a GTX680 only needs a 600w psu.
When you add another card to the mix, plan on adding 150-200w to your psu requirements.

Even the strongest GTX690 only needs 620w.

Case cooling becomes more of an issue with dual cards.
That means a more expensive case with more and stronger fans.
You will also look at more noise.

c) Dual cards do not always render their half of the display in sync, causing microstuttering. It is an annoying effect.
The benefit of higher benchmark fps can be offset, particularly with lower tier cards.
Read this: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-stutter-crossfire,2995.html

d) dual card support is dependent on the driver. Not all games can benefit from dual cards.

e) cf/sli up front reduces your option to get another card for an upgrade. Not that I suggest you plan for that.
It will often be the case that replacing your current card with a newer gen card will offer a better upgrade path.
The Maxwell and amd 8000 series are due next year.
-------------------------------End of rant-----------------------------------------------------------

On the ssd, I might avoid the vertex. It has a bad track record:
http://www.behardware.com/articles/881-7/components-returns-rates-7.html
A top brand like Samsung or intel should cost no more.
 
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