Feedback on build

otzie689

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Apr 16, 2010
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Im building a new system for ventual overclocking. Im starting with an initial build that ill add onto later. initial build

case - thermaltake armor+ vh600lbws built in LCS

mobo - MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard

CPU - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ965FBGMBOX

ram - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ

PS - Thermaltake TR2 TRX-750M 750W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.91 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

video card - SAPPHIRE 100283-3L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

HDD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

eventually ill add more hard drives, another video card, sound card, and extend the water cooling. any tips or suggestions in reference to the config for wattage or overclocking needs?
 
CPU: The X4 955 is the same chip as the 965, but without a factory overclock. Save some money and get it instead.

RAM: Get the CAS Latency 7 version. It should only cost you a few bucks more, and they'll be faster, especially when you overclock.

PSU: Don't get that POS. Thermaltake makes very bad PSUs. Grab a 650W (all you'll need for Crossfire and overclocking) from Antec, Corsair, SeaSonic or Silverstone.

Rest is fine.

I will say that not many people here put much stock in water cooling. You can get just as high of an overclock with less noise and a heck of lot less costs by sticking with air.
 

otzie689

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Apr 16, 2010
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Hmm. I was under the impression water cooling was more silent. Look's like i'll look into that some more. any suggestion on a CPU fan+HS? looks do play a factor with the see through side panel.

thanks for the tips, ill switch the PSU and ram out.
 
Think of it this way. With water cooling, you've got less fan noise, but they you have the noise the pump produces. Also, the noise is more focused towards the outside of the case, as the radiator needs to sit right near the outside of the case. With a good air cooler, you'll have some louder fan noise (depending on the fans of course), but no other noise. The fan noise is also centered inside the case, allowing the sound to be dampened.

Also, you don't have the chance of bumping the case and causing major damage...
 

gkorjax

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May 7, 2009
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Check out the 690 II Advanced case. I'm using that and the Hyper 212+ on my P2 x4 B50 @ 3.4 Ghz and things are very cool. The 212+ is pretty cheap...I'd say give it a shot before water cooling. The case is setup for water cooling, if you want to go that route.
 

otzie689

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Apr 16, 2010
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I actually decided to just go with the normal armor+ and get a cpu fan and heat sink, not because of noise but because im still novice at building rigs and i dont have the confidence yet to install a LCS, nor the cash to buy replacement parts.