Optimizing my rig.

[Zotk7]

Hi all, I'm new to these forums but wanted to seek some help optimizing the new gaming rig I'm building.
I'll list my specs and I'd appreciate any feedback you guys could offer regarding the components and how well suited they are with each other. I'll post links at the end.

So I've been looking at the ASROCK z77 Fatal1ty Professional Mobo, paired with Intel's i7 3770k processor. I've done a fair bit of research into whether I should choose SB or IB and have drawn the conclusion of IB, purely for future proofing. THE CPU will be watercooled but I haven't drawn a conclusion as to which cooler I'm going to use but I have been looking at the Antec Cooler H2O 920 Liquid Cooling System.

I've purchased a HIS HD 7970 GPU already, so the only change there would be if I got a second one much later down the line but right now I'm sure it'll be able to handle all I can throw at it.

Corsair Vengeance 16gb @ 1600Mhz and CL9 is the conclusive RAM, after much research. I know 8gb is usually enough on the RAM front, but again I really am looking to future proof.

I plan on running 2 x 1tb Seagate Barracuda in RAID 0. I don't know a great deal about RAID 0 other than roughly how it works, so advice is needed here!

As for the PSU, I've already got a Silverstone Strider 1000w Modular 80plus Silver, which should be sufficient, even with future crossfire.

I'll be running Windows 7 Ultimate Edition on a OCZ Vertex 4 SATA III 128gb SSD. All this will be housed in a Silverstone Raven 3 full tower and be displayed on 3x 24" 1920x1080 monitors.

So my questions are, can you see any potential bottle necking in my rig? Do you have any advice with better components for similar price? Is there any advice you can offer or do you have any questions regarding my setup? I should also add that I do intend to overclock the rig, probably up to 4.4-4.6Ghz, depending on volts/temps.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to reading what you have to say!

Adam.



Not entirely sure what your stipulation is for posting links but I hope these are okay:

ASROCK z77 Fatal1ty Professional - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-063-AK
Intel 3rd Gen Core i7-3770K CPU - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-403-IN
Antec Cooler H2O 920 Liquid Cooling System - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-006-AN
HIS HD 7970 GPU - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-048-HS
Corsair Vengeance 16gb @ 1600Mhz CL9 - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-048-HS
1tb Seagate Barracuda - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-257-SE
Silverstone Strider 1000w Modular 80plus Silver - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-233-SV
OCZ Vertex 4 SATA III 128gb - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-106-OC
Silverstone Raven 3 full tower - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-092-SV

 

[andreas_vak]

if only for gaming get 3570k an asrock extreme4 which is the best for the money and a 850watt psu should be enough but check it to 100% sure and if you can afford get a seasonic or corsair or xfk because i hear a lot of good coments on these three i dont kbow about silverstone but if you know its good then go for it....an 8gb ram is enough but i dont seeproblem with 16gb and if you are gonn be gaming on three monitors then you are gonna need for sure a second gpu...if not and the other two for other and one for gaming then its oki!!!fo Liquid Cooling System i cant tell you because i dont know!!

 

[Zotk7]

Thanks for your quick reply Andreas.
I chose the 3770k over the 3570k for future proofing purposes, and in case I decide to take up a new hobby of video editing any time soon! I appreciate your input regarding the mobo, I will look into the extreme4 reviews. I already have the 1000w PSU, and believe it or not that was a compromise, I was originally looking at the 1200w! I didn't want to be short of power when it comes to running two or even three GPUs. Silverstone are a solid brand, the PSU is very well built and the case is incredible imo (incase you take them into consideration on any future builds).
Thanks again for your advice!

 

[andreas_vak]

oki...look i have to tell you somethig...you could easily get the 7970 ghz vapor x instead of his...you should have done some more homework before buying it but i hope you the best...

 

[Zotk7]

Thanks for the advice once more. As it turns out, although I have purchased the 7970 there has been an issue with it and I have to get it returned so now could be the time to swtich the order! I will definitely look into the Ghz edition.

 

[andreas_vak]

vapor x is consider the best until now...if you can grab it...if you want to go nvidia then go....you cant go wrong and mostly look the details of the brand..for example i'm buying an EVGA gtx 670 ftw because its a great gpu and because evga is the best at customer support...consider this plz!!!and always go for the best brands even if a little more expensive..what you are paying you are getting!!!best of luck!!

 

[Zotk7]

I'm reading reviews of the Sapphire 7970 Vapor-X Ghz edition as we speak! Best of luck with your GPU and I will definitely consider getting this card!

 

[boulbox]

i5s are still great with video editing dont look down on it.

would chaneg SSD into this one just for the great price and not much of a performance loss

http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/part/a-data-internal-hard-drive-asp900s3128gmc

don't get all in one liquid cooling, get this instead of that junk
http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/part/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhd14

you should not do a 3way SLI/CFX unless you watercool or change the system into a 2011 system(very pricey) just due to heat and space

so get this instead
http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/part/xfx-power-supply-p1850bnlg9
allows for CFX 7970 GE

 

[Zotk7]

Great, thanks for the advice, I will definitely look into those. I've never heard of A-data before, are they a quality, trusted manufacturer?

Sure, do you think the Noctua will offer better cooling than the all-in-one, why do you consider it 'junk' in comparison (out of curiosity)

I've considered the 2011 but priceerformance gain ratio is wayy off right now for what I'll be using it for. If I were to install a proper water cooling system, what would you recommend?

 

[boulbox]

They are a very nice brand, little bit underrated but very good overall.

they made great SSDs like Crucial but is a bit more up to date than them. OCZ Vertex 4 is maybe the only SSD i trust from them as i had countless drives fail from them(different versions anyways)

if it is just Watercooling CPU just get something simple from Xspec, koolance, or swifttech. it will at least perform a lot better than the all in ones but takes a bit of maintenance. then when you are ready to get stuff more things inside like a second video card, you can buy the water blocks and water cool the GPUs

 

[Zotk7]

Thanks again for your input, it all really is appreciated!
I'll certainly look into getting an SSD from A-data, after reading a few reviews of course!
I'm toying with the idea of water cooling, but at the same time is it really much better than a decent air cooled system?

 

[boulbox]

H100 vs Noctua D-14, go for Noctua if it is cheaper