New Intel Build, Questions Regarding RAM and PSU

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sekito

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Aug 17, 2011
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So I'm going to build a new rig using a Sandy Bridge i7 2600K since I've heard MANY great things about it.
Below are the current specs + questions:

CPU: i7 2600K [Locked In]
Heatsink: Cooler Master Hyper 212+ [Locked In]
Thermal Paste: Arctic Silver 5 [Locked In]
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) [Locked In]
Case: Corsair 600T [Locked In]
Mobo: ASRock Z68 EXTREME4 GEN3 [Locked In]
PSU: Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-900 900W [Locked In]
HDD: Crucial M4 128GB [Locked In]

GPU:Sandy Bridge [Until I see a good deal for the 6950 2GB version but definitely before Battlefield 3 comes out.]
 
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If you are building a gaming machine, the 2600k offers no significant improvement over the 2500k in gaming. If you utilizing apps which utilize hyperthreading, ie. photoshop then you should get the 2600k.

As for mobo, it all depends on what you want to do really. Z68 offers 3 basic advantages:

1) You can use a 64GB or smaller SSD as a cache and make your hhd faster. This is negated if you ever plan to buy a 120GB SSD and store your OS on it.

2) Trans coding is faster using the z68 integrated graphics on the SB processor.

3) You don't need a dedicated GPU if you use the integrated graphics on the SB's processor.

besides that, gaming and all other performance is the same.

if you are not utilizing those above features, I would get a p67.

p67 boards:
GA-P67A-UD5 (IMO best OC board for the price)
ASRock P67 EXTREME4 GEN3 LGA 1155 (best future proof, feature-full mobo)
ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.1) LGA 1155

z68 equivalents:
GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD5 LGA 1155
ASRock Z68 EXTREME4 GEN3 LGA 1155
ASUS P8Z68-V PRO LGA 1155 Intel Z68

You can find all these boards at newegg.com As you can see, z68 is priced higher than the p67 equivalents.

RAM: Get 8gb G Skill Ripjaws at 1600mhz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

SSD: DO NOT GET THE AGILITY 3. First of all, it uses SLC nand which at 50% capacity, dramatically reduces performance. Second, it's an OCZ drive so unless you like the RMA process, I would not get the OCZ.

Get the m4 crucial, it avoids the sandforce problems:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

You should probably also get an HDD and just use your SSD as a boot drive. HDD:
samsung spinpoint f3 1tb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=samsung%20f3%201tb



 
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Ah thank you for the suggestions, regarding the processor, I get half off through an Intel employee 😀, so I don't see why I wouldn't get the 2600K haha. Also I will be using programs required by Computer Science/Engineering courses so I think the Hyper Threading might come in handy. As for SSD, since you suggested the Crucial M4, would the Intel 510 Series 120GB be a better choice (I might be able to get it at a price comparable to the M4, maybe slightly higher.). Since SSDs are still rather expensive, maybe I'll just get the Spinpoint and wait until next year for an SSD. For video card I'm pretty sure I would rather get the 6950 than the 560 ti.
 
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I'll help if you tell me when ivy bridge is coming out lol j/k. yes 50% off 2600k - i would stock up on that.

the m4 is slightly faster than the 510 120gb in read and write benchmarks: http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=30751&page=1

but you will notice no real world difference so get whichever is cheaper. no one beats intel reliability.

 
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I have no idea when Ivy Bridge comes out lol. I think I will get the Cruicial M4. Would my heatsink get in the way of the ripjaws? Also noob question, what is transcoding?

Just a thought: What if I get 2x 64GB M4 and RAID...
 
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The ripjaws are pretty low profile so I think you will be fine.

Transcoding is just the conversion of audio or video, you can change the format/size/aspect ratio etc e.g. MPEG2 to MP4 (for ipod)

If you use RAID then you lose TRIM feature, at least that is how it is for the SSDs using the sandforce controllers. Most of the higher capacity SSD are really RAID0 all-in-one if you like.
 
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I would not RAID ssds - there might be people who disagree but raid 0 increases failure rates and ssds are not exactly a time tested device that is 100% reliable in the first place.

a single 120gb ssd will be a much better option.
 
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Oh... well that makes sense, It's just that on the link you showed me it showed a RAID of the M4 and it was way faster than everything else so I thought it might be a good idea. I read somewhere that the z68 boards have the Smart Response Technology and it improves hard drive performance, is it worth it?
 
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you can't use smart response with ssds over 64gb...I guess you could partition a 120gb and maybe use half as a cache but no one does that.

The best setup is a 120gb ssd for the OS + commonly used apps ie. office, photoshop, etc. and a storage drive - 1tb or so.


With ssds, the larger size, the faster the performance. so a 64gb ssd performs slower than a 120 gb ssd.
 
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TRIM is OS dependent and is a command for SSDs...so the m4 can utilize TRIM if on an OS which supports TRIM..windows 7 supports TRIM
 
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Now I'm considering getting a GTX 560 Ti since I could use an 8800GS as a PhysX card, but does having a PhysX card really make a difference? Also since the GTX 560 Ti has 1GB VRAM and the 6950 has 2GB VRAM I was wondering how VRAM really affects gaming performance. I like my 1080P 😛

How much power do I need for the PSU to support this system with overclock and possibly SLI or CFX in the future?
 
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Even without a PhysX card the CPU will handle it, adding that extra card is just taking the load off the CPU.

1GB VRAM is enough for 1080P right now but who knows in the future, maybe by the time you need 2GB VRAM the 560 and 5950 will be low end anyways.
Right now 2GB is better for resolutions over 1080P or multi-monitor setups.

As for power, I'd say a minimum of 750w for just 2 cards and overclocked CPU.
minimum of 850w (maybe more) for 2 card + 1 PhysX card and overclocked CPU.
 
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That is the first time I've seen a LEPA PSU, had it look it up.
It's OEM is Enermax but this one is made by Sirfa - they also make units for enermax and OCZ.

There are better ones in that price range like the TX850 v2 and XFX core 850w, but for $69.99 with Rebate that is pretty good value and is modular while the other 2 aren't.

You can't really go wrong with any of those 3 motherboards they are good brands.
 
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Hm.... Would you recommend that I go higher than 850W? I want to be safe and go higher but 950W power supplies are about twice the price of the LEPA PSU and I'm not sure if I really NEED the extra power.

Say I'm running i7 2600K at 4.2GHz, 2x6950 (maybe a little OC, just a little), 4x4GB RAM, Crucial M4, on the ASUS Mobo, in a HAF X case, would the 850W PSU hold?

Also I have eliminated the Gigabyte mobo, would you recommend the ASROCK or ASUS mobo?
 
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The asrock board or the asus pro-v board are great options. I would personally go with the asrock - best price for the features.
 
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I'm considering getting a Mid Tower case now, I will be going to college and will have to move the thing so I think I should go mid tower, even though I really want the HAF X. Any recommendations for a mid tower say... under $100? Would be nice if it has USB 3.0.
 
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haf 912 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=haf%20912

Still coolermaster, decent size, under 60$, even less with the rebate. Plus its what I have for my rig 😛

The only drawback is that my case fans on the top of the case get pretty loud during gaming 😛

edit: Doesn't have usb 3.0, but your choice of motherboard comes with a 3.0 breakout box that you can mount in the front of the case 😛
 
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