First Build Need Help/Advice with components

[DamianRGT]

Hi guys,
So this is my first post. I am frequently on this site reading other posts, but i have decided that it is too hard to find the right answers for me sometimes.

So this is my first build and im looking to build a rig that will run any game i through at it at high fps with nice graphics settings. I also plan on doing a little video editing and just allround computer stuff. browsing etc
I am looking to not go any higher in price than i already am, and i would really like to bring down the price without losing too much performance if possible.
I Dont plan on doing much OCing

Any Suggestions are welcomed

So my current components are:

Processor: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core
Motherboard: Asus Z87M-PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" SSD
Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM
Graphics Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 4GB
Case: ??
Power Supply SeaSonic 550W ATX12V / EPS12V

Thanks

 

[Computerchap]

Since this is mostly a gaming rig I would suggest dropping to a i5, also 2TB is quite a bit, you could drop to 1. Then upgrade to a 770.

 

[Tradesman1]

For any video editing, the 4770K and hyper threading are very helpful in terms of speeding things up and productivity, and 2TB isn't quite a bit, if doing a lot of video editing I would suggest more -

 

[Computerchap]

You're right. I didn't notice him mentioning video editing.

 

[DamianRGT]

Since this is mostly a gaming rig I would suggest dropping to a i5, also 2TB is quite a bit, you could drop to 1. Then upgrade to a 770.

how would i benefit from an i5 over an i7? and would upgrading to the 770 make alot of difference since im already going for a 760 4gb?

 

[DamianRGT]

also does anyone have any advice for a nice looking, but reasonably cheap case? i want this rig to stand out and i like lights

 

[Computerchap]

The CM storm enforcer is a good one, also upgrading to the 770 definitely would make a difference. an i5 for gaming gives the same performance as the i7 for gaming, but if you're video editing get the i7.

 

[Keira2142]

I ran an i5 in my current gaming rig. I don't do any video editing, transcoding, encoding, 3d editing, anything like that. Just gaming, studying, watching movies, whatever the hell I wanna do I can do it with the i5. Running Crysis at full 1080p and 16xq antialiasing doesn' worry it at all, even during the most intense level fo the game, Assault. Drop the i7, its completely unnecessary unless you want to be doing some seriously intense stuff. Upgrade to a 770, most people would say a 4 gig if you can but its not 100% necessary. The extra memeory only really shines with multi monitor and intense anti-aliasing/resolutions. For a single monitor @ 1920x1080, 2g is fine

 

[Tradesman1]

Might look at the HAF 912 and change fans to LED ones, makes for a good looking rig

 

[Keira2142]

I stongly recommend a Zalman Z-11. Around $105 here in Aus, so closer to 95 in America. Absolutely awesome case, I love it. Cable management is decent, quality is excellent, cooling is the same and features are the same. Cant go wrong there.

 

[DamianRGT]

okay thanks for your help everyone, also if i am not going to be doing any OCing will i need to get a CPU cooler?

 

[Tradesman1]

See how it goes, I don't like the packaged coolers that come w/ CPUs (either Intel or AMD) but they might suffice for you, many are on the loud side

 

[Computerchap]

The CPU cooler should work fine if you're not overclocking.

 

[Keira2142]

Some AMD CPUs don't even come with one! That was a while ago though, when they were first introducing the 6 cores I think? Anyway if you don't overclock, and for gaming you should never have to, you don't need an aftermarket cooler. even under pretty heavy load, as in 90% average across all four cores, my i54670 sits at around 65 degrees on an average day and 70 on a hot one. Intels stock coolers used to be ALOT better, but they cut some costs and its not really an issue. Anyone who would upgrade the current ones would have upgraded the previous ones anyway so no real loss.

Also, if you're not overclocking, and even my i5 760 first gen @ the stock 2.8 ghz doesn't need any overclocking whatsoever for BF4 fully maxed, you don't need hte unlocked multiplier, which is the K version.

 

[DamianRGT]

ok so i dont need to get a cooler at the moment. However there is still one decision that is bugging me, i cant decide on whether to go for the gtx 770 2gb or the gtx 760 4gb? what are your guys opinions? i plan on playing on a 42 or 50 inch plasma tv as well so i need to keep that in mind. Also that Zalman Z11 does look very nice thanks Keira2142 im considering getting it.

 

[Keira2142]

No worries mate. I honestly love it. I run 5 internal hdds, four of which are full sized 5.25" sata drives, stacked on top of eachother, at a safe distance of course. Now the Zalmans main intake is at the front. See those scoops on the side? The front intake fan channels air down those scoops, and theres small, 50mm (I think) fans on both sides of the bulky scoops which force that fresh, cool air straight onto my HDDs. Seriously, all four stacked on top of each other, top out at 25 degrees C on a hot, 35 degree aussie day. They love cooler than room temperature, spoilt bastards 😛

I can hear your worried thoughts from here though: Doesn't that mean that all the air is hot by the time it gets into hte main compartment? Logic would suggest that, but no. Because the HDDs never get a chance to heat up properly, they don't heat hte air enough to make an impact. Before my Mobo died, I had my GTX560Ti running my second monitor aswell as dedicated to physX and my GTX770 running my primary monitor and the bulk of my games (with the obvious exception of physx). So thats two super clocked edition GPUs right? With my CPU right above them. the 560Ti absolutely cruizes all day long, at around 40 degrees and my 770 is sitting on a very comfortable 65-70 under heavy, BF4/Crysis kind of load. My CPU under around 90% load (average over four cores) usually tops at the same, around 65 degrees on a hot day. Then the two ehaust fans push out hte hot air out hte top and back of the case. Fantastic.

The giant hardware rant (sorry bout that) brings me to point three: Cable management. With all my hdds and the two GPUs, actually managing my cables is flat out impossible while still having them all reach. So this isn't a biggie for me at all. Don't get me wrong, it is still decent, it will route your ATX and 12 volt rail with no issues whatsoever, the header cables are all routed behind from the factory. No worries at all there. but its not as super duper as some of the more upmarket models. Again I couldn't give a toss, cos I was never gonna use it anyway.

Bottom line: Very god quality, excellent cooling, nice window, decent cable management and a very sweet electric blue LED look plus the physical styling makes this the best $100 case I've ever seen.

 

[Computerchap]

ok so i dont need to get a cooler at the moment. However there is still one decision that is bugging me, i cant decide on whether to go for the gtx 770 2gb or the gtx 760 4gb? what are your guys opinions? i plan on playing on a 42 or 50 inch plasma tv as well so i need to keep that in mind. Also that Zalman Z11 does look very nice thanks Keira2142 im considering getting it.

I would go for the 770 as no games really right now use 2 GB of VRAM and probably won't for a while. The 770 offers better performance and is better for gaming.

 

[DamianRGT]

i was thinking of getting the G skill trident X 2400mhz 16 gb ram, would this be a good decision? reasons for answers? also apparently G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB2400 Memory operating voltage of 1.65V exceeds the Intel Haswell CPU recommended maximum of 1.5V+5% (1.575V) does this matter alot?

 

[Tradesman1]

No, that recommendation is for the stock 1600 DRAM that the CPU supports natively, most all 2133 and up DRAM requires 1.6- 1.65 for voltage

 

[Keira2142]

I run 8 gigs of Gskill ripjwas @ 1600 mhz in my rig and I've never used all of it. opening every game and programming I've got gets it up to about 90%, and of course every game and program is rather laggy, but thats my CPU choking up not the ram (and rightly so).

Its a repeat of the CPU mantra: Unless you're going to be hosting serers or doing some seriously intense 3-D work, more than 8 gigs of Ram is nothing but an ego shot. And 8 gigs @ 2400 will be freaking fast.

Also, something that alot of rookies get sucked in by is frequencies. If I pitted my 8 gigs @ 1600 mhz CAS9 against 8 gigs of corsair ram @ 2400 mhz CAS12, what would you say is better for gaming? The answer is mine. 3 micro seconds might not sound like much to you, but when your CPU is doing several thousand IO/PS, that 3 micro seconds can yield a 10 FPS in crease, I've seen it happen. Don't just look at frequencies and capacity, thats a rookie mistake.

 

[Tradesman1]

Agreed, especially if all you do is gaming as DRAM is primarily just a conduit for data from CPU to GPU, however if you really use your system, you will find a big boost from high freq/low CAS DRAM and the more the better, when your multi-tasking and using memory intensive apps doing video, imaging, CAD, etc, running VMs that's where lots of DRAM and the faster the better shine 😉