New build for around 2k. PLX vs x79!!!

[fugaxo]

Approximate Purchase Date: this week

Budget Range: 2250€

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, office work, web surfing, 3d modeling (casual), video editing (casual)

Are you buying a monitor: Maybe later

Parts to Upgrade: totally new build

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: AlienTech, Modding World (Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de are also viable)

Location: Portugal

Parts Preferences: None really

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (max 2-Way)

Your Monitor Resolution: Going for a 1080p 24" in the near future

Additional Comments: I've been gaming/working on a laptop for the last 7/8 years. My last desktop was actually a P4... So now i've decided it is time to go for a new desktop. Right now i have the following components:

Motherboard: Gigabyte z77z-up7 (because of the PLX chip and the slot that bypasses it when using a single card)

CPU: 3770k

Memmory:CORSAIR PC3-15000 1866MHZ 16GB DOMINATOR CL9 (2X8GB) DDR3

PSU:SEASONIC SS-1000XP MODULAR 80PLUS PLATINUM (maybe a little overkill but with the future 2-way crossX the psu will operate in its maximum eficiency range ) (or maybe i'll just get the 860 one)

GPU: ASUS RADEON HD7970 MATRIX 3GB GDDR5 PCI-E] (Top Reviews everywhere. When series 8000/700 are released maybe i sell it or buy another one for CrossX. 3 slot not a problem for the z77z)

SSD:SAMSUNG PRO SERIES 840 ULTRASLIM 256GB 2.5" SATA III

Case:NZXT SWITCH 810 PRETA MATE

The only thing stoping me for ordering already and bugging me is this :
2 way CrossX in z77 with PLX 16x/16x where pci 3.0 is natively supported by IB
or
2 way CrossX in x79 16x/16x where pci 3.0 is not natively supported by SB

What do you think? i read some article in anandtech but i cannot decid myself. The penalty of the PLX would justify going for the high end x79 with a 3930k?

Do you think this platform (mobo+cpu) will last me 3+ years?

 

[J_E_D_70]

The 1155 socket itself if end-of-life but it would work well for your stated timeframe. If your main goal is gaming I don't think the premium for a 3930 is worth it.

No reason to go past about 750W on the PSU, even with dual GPUs.

 

[rvilkman]

i7 3770K with a normal Z77 based mobo, doesn't need to be the ultra high end you have listed
Then 7970, GTX670 or GTX680 and you should be set.

The price premium of the 3930k and X79 is only worth it if you take the 3d modeling and video editing seriously and need the added memory bandwidth, capacity and 6 cores.

The PSU situation is kind of so that as long as you have a quality one and your system works in the proper power usage range it's fine to have a bit of an overkill.
At least you know you have the best and anything you decide to do won't be blocked by lack of juice.

As long as you are running only 1080p the i7 and any of the above graphics cards should do fine for you.

 

[g-unit1111]

For gaming and your uses you will not benefit from X79. Too expensive for not a huge payoff. You also won't benefit really from the 3770K or 1866 RAM. That 1000W PSU is overkill - even two x 7970 won't come close to using 1KW. I'm also not a fan of the Asus gigantic 3 slot card design. That motherboard is way too expensive - you don't need to pay that much for a motherboard. The Switch 810 is a good choice.

Maybe for that budget try something like this:

Case: NZXT Switch 810 Gunmental - 169,10 €
PSU: Seasonic X850 Gold - 215,90 €
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP5 TH - 298,50 €
CPU: 3.4GHz Intel Core i5-3570K - 227,15 €
Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 - 71,90 €
RAM: 8GB Kingston Hyper X Predator DDR3 1600MHz 1.5V - 44,85 €
SSD: 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 - 207,40 €
Storage: 2TB Seagate Barracuda ST 7200 RPM - 99,00 €
Optical: Sony Optiarc 22X DVD Burner - 29,00 €
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition - 408,00 €

Total: 1.770,60 €

I included a less expensive motherboard and a video card that doesn't take up three slots so it will be easier to SLI that video card in the future. The difference will allow you to get a nice monitor and whatever peripherals you need.

 

[rvilkman]

The 3770k does provide improved perfomance in the rendering part of the 3d modeling.
But yeah the above works, it's more which way you want to tweak your machine further.

More memory helps with the editing and modeling so 8 is fine for gaming, 16 or 32 might help with the other uses.

 

[g-unit1111]

The 3770k does provide improved perfomance in the rendering part of the 3d modeling.
But yeah the above works, it's more which way you want to tweak your machine further.

More memory helps with the editing and modeling so 8 is fine for gaming, 16 or 32 might help with the other uses.

Yeah if you want the 3770K and 16GB of RAM just double the RAM on my build and switch out the CPU.

 

[fugaxo]

Wont the noctua nh d14 be very big to fit along the memory dimms?

If i go with the z77x-up7 i rather get the THERMALRIGHT SILVER ARROW SB-E EXTREME because of the color scheme!😛 My only concern is if it will fit with the memory slots so close to the socket!

 

[g-unit1111]

Wont the noctua nh d14 be very big to fit along the memory dimms?

If i go with the z77x-up7 i rather get the THERMALRIGHT SILVER ARROW SB-E EXTREME because of the color scheme!😛 My only concern is if it will fit with the memory slots so close to the socket!

I've personally found that building around a particular color scheme almost never works unless you're a magazine or Falcon Northwest looking to show off. It really limits what hardware you're able to buy and it really limits your system.