[Tech] New PC Build

[Belegon]

Hello all, just want some opinions/ ideas on the PC im about to build...

Case: Coolermaster HAF-X
Mo-Bo: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD7
CPU: Intel i7 3.40Ghz
CPU Cooler: Coolermaster V8 w/ Arctic silver 5
GPU: MSI Geforce GTX560Ti, two of for SLI
RAM: Mushkin Redline DDR3, 4 x 4GB
PSU: Coolermaster Silent Gold (Modular) 1000W
Hard Drive: 1TB Seagate Barracuda

As well as BR RW drives etc. What do you think? and anyone know where i can get components cheap? I found Aria.co.uk the cheapest so far.

 

[Ronin Storm]

Suggest doing component by component price checks between:

• Scan
• Overclockers
• Tekheads

And Aria, as you've already found.

Been a while since I've looked at any of this, but aren't the Coolermaster CPU coolers like jet engines for noise?

Also, no case fans? No soundcard? Checked your board for nVidia SLI?

Looks like you're going all in on price, so perhaps consider a SSD for your system drive?

 

[Belegon]

The HAF-x comes with a 230mm front fan, a 200mm fan top and side and a 140mm at the back.

Can mount another in the top and buy a VGA duct with one in too.

Wasn't sure if a sound card was nessessary as the mo-bo has 7.1 built in, im guessing it takes a load off but not sure if it was worth it.

Mo-bo does support upto 3 cards in SLI.

did consider a SSD but not heard alot about them as to wheter they are worth it?

 

[Silk]

Make sure the SLI on that mobo allows for 2 cards to be spaced apart with max performance. Some motherboards are retarded and need you to use specific slots to get the most out of your SLI, and then even more retarded because it's usually the two that are right next to each other. Not good for air cooled systems.

 

[Belegon]

Looks like theres a bit of space, the case has got an "air funnel" so it routes the air at the GPU's... whether this works is another matter.

 

[Traxata]

Looks like theres a bit of space, the case has got an "air funnel" so it routes the air at the GPU's... whether this works is another matter.

You might want to hold off for a month, the new AMD 8 core chips are released on the 12th and the top end one is currently $245. If you can wait a month for people to start doing reviews and benchmarking them do so, as it might be worth going AMD instead

A soundcard isn't specifically needed, my mobo has an XFI II on board (Which does upto 8.1 maybe?) I use 5.1 + USB headphones.

Also, if you can justify it, Arctic Silver 5 takes 100 hours to 'burn in' before it's stable, I have AS 5 Formula 5 and this stuff http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-001-ID which makes a noticable difference (provided you care about 2-5*C differences)

 

[Belegon]

won't be buying for about a month yet, so will wait to see the new AMD cores, thanks for the paste suggestion, looks to review alot better than arctic silver, so may be the way to go.

Thanks very much

 

[Belegon]

Ok, after weeks of changing about, now i have the money, here is the PC im gonna build....

Case: Coolermaster HAF-X
Mo-Bo: Asus P8Z68 Deluxe
CPU: Intel i7 (sandybridge) 3.4Ghz
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 Liquid Cooler (comes With Shin-etsu x23 paste applied)
GPU: Asus Geforce GTX580
RAM: 16GB Mushkin Redline DDR 3 2133Mhz
PSU: 800W Coolermaster Silent Gold Modular
SSD: Mushkin Chronos 120GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2TB
DVD: LG GH22NS70

Whatcha think?

 

[thatbloke]

Ok, after weeks of changing about, now i have the money, here is the PC im gonna build....

Case: Coolermaster HAF-X
Mo-Bo: Asus P8Z68 Deluxe
CPU: Intel i7 (sandybridge) 3.4Ghz
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 Liquid Cooler (comes With Shin-etsu x23 paste applied)
GPU: Asus Geforce GTX580
RAM: 16GB Mushkin Redline DDR 3 2133Mhz
PSU: 800W Coolermaster Silent Gold Modular
SSD: Mushkin Chronos 120GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2TB
DVD: LG GH22NS70

Whatcha think?

looks FRICKIN SWEET.

Only thing I might change would be the cooler, to a H70 or maybe a H80.

 

[eMP3Danie]

Very nice... Overclock it to about 4.2GHz and you got a winner

 

[Traxata]

looks FRICKIN SWEET.

Only thing I might change would be the cooler, to a H70 or maybe a H80.

The h60 is a bit on the poo side.... AMD and Intel have bought the h70 and modified them slightly so they're a bit more unique. It is definately worth getting the h70 or even the h80

 

[Belegon]

H80 it is,

after reading up about it, looks alot better.

Just needed to work out in my head how to hook it up to the mo bo.
The two fans connect to the pump itself (which regulates speed) the pump is connected by one 4 pin Molex to the PSU and one 3 pin mo-bo fan connector (using one wire) to the CPU_Fan slot. Just need to know which one to connect to.
On mobo CPU_FAN looks like this:

GND, CPU Fan PWR, CPU Fan In, CPU Fan PWM respectivley

T--------T
| o o o o |
L====---|

On Pump looks like this: (1 is the cable) (top down view)

T------T
| o o 1 |
L--==--|

Sooo, does the cable go to "CPU Fan In". (A)
T--------T
| o o 1 o |
L====---|

Or "CPU Fan PWM" (B)
T--------T
| o o o 1 |
L====---|

Guessing that In is the Input for speed monitoring etc?

PWM is pulse width monitoring? That governs speed right?

Im guessing it goes to "CPU Fan In" as per (A) - mainly because thats where the clip on the 3 pin lines up! *Note intricate knowledge of PC building here....

Any of you tech heads able to clear this up? the corsair website is vaige as ever.

 

[Traxata]

H80 it is,

after reading up about it, looks alot better.

Just needed to work out in my head how to hook it up to the mo bo.
The two fans connect to the pump itself (which regulates speed) the pump is connected by one 4 pin Molex to the PSU and one 3 pin mo-bo fan connector (using one wire) to the CPU_Fan slot. Just need to know which one to connect to.
On mobo CPU_FAN looks like this:

GND, CPU Fan PWR, CPU Fan In, CPU Fan PWM respectivley

T--------T
| o o o o |
L====---|

On Pump looks like this: (1 is the cable) (top down view)

T------T
| o o 1 |
L--==--|

Sooo, does the cable go to "CPU Fan In". (A)
T--------T
| o o 1 o |
L====---|

Or "CPU Fan PWM" (B)
T--------T
| o o o 1 |
L====---|

Guessing that In is the Input for speed monitoring etc?

PWM is pulse width monitoring? That governs speed right?

Im guessing it goes to "CPU Fan In" as per (A) - mainly because thats where the clip on the 3 pin lines up! *Note intricate knowledge of PC building here....

Any of you tech heads able to clear this up? the corsair website is vaige as ever.

Yeah it's as per (A)


The connector will do this.

Going by that picture, it'd be the cable furthest to the left (3).

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/cs-012074.htm

 

[Belegon]

lol posted same image in same minute! now removed it

yeah, CPU FAN IN is same as CPU TACH control, for speed monitoring, which is what i wanted.

Thanks Trax

 

[Belegon]

Well after a Washing machine failure, the expensive PC build had to be dropped a few hundred Quid. Without further ado, this is what im now waiting on. Woooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Case: Coolermaster HAF-X
Mo-Bo: Asus P8Z68 Deluxe
CPU: Intel i5 (sandybridge) 3.3Ghz
CPU Cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 Pro
GPU: Asus Geforce GTX560 ti (will be SLI when i can afford another)
RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengence 1600MHz
PSU: 850W Corsair HX Modular
SSD: OCZ Agility 60GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB
DVD: LG GH22NS70

 

[Traxata]

Well after a Washing machine failure, the expensive PC build had to be dropped a few hundred Quid. Without further ado, this is what im now waiting on. Woooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Case: Coolermaster HAF-X
Mo-Bo: Asus P8Z68 Deluxe
CPU: Intel i5 (sandybridge) 3.3Ghz
CPU Cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 Pro
GPU: Asus Geforce GTX560 ti (will be SLI when i can afford another)
RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengence 1600MHz
PSU: 850W Corsair HX Modular
SSD: OCZ Agility 60GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB
DVD: LG GH22NS70

Which version of the P8Z68 did you get? I hope you picked the Gen3 (PCIE32X) version.

If you didn't, I'd suggest you see about sending it back and getting that one.

When Ivy Bridge comes out (IIRC next summer?) It'll be on 1155 chipset, but in order to get the most out of it (and the new range of GPUs coming out in march (TROLOLOLOLOLOL BLOKE) the 7950/70/90 will be PCIE x32 much like the new stuff from nvidia too) Means you get to keep most of your system intact when you upgrade again not needing a new chipset saves quite a bit of cash I find Which is why Spicypixel and I have done (we bought the same mobo's though he opted for the i7 2700K compared to my i5 2500K)


Mostly the differences between Sandybridge and Ivy bridge will be like for like chips (not really) with lower thermals and a (from what spicy found) a bump of 100hz for stock.

 

[Belegon]

yeya i got the Gen 3 Varient! roll on the 32x
Looked into that to make sure the PC is at least a bit future proof!
Will get more bits for/ upgrade again when my work shares are paid out - about mid next year.

PCIE32X High five *Slap!

 

[DocBot]

ooh, I'm gonna get me one of those motherboards as well. Are you planning on using the SSD cache thingamabob? and if so, could you tell how it goes? I'm not sure it's worth the hassle of installing in raid, myself...

 

[Belegon]

in not sure yet as my boot drive will be SSD anyway, im gonna play about with it though and see if it does make any noticable difference to anything of the disc drive.

It's all built now, gonna install OS tommorow
Cable managment - not easy to get right, but looks less of a mess than my old PC! And the HAF X case, omg - if anything its too big! you can sit a child in it!

But yeah, that motherboard just seemed to blitz all the reviews and the push button overclocking interested me alot, be good to see what it can do itself - ive heard from a friend, he got +36% out of it on an i5 3.3Ghz, which is damn good I think!

 

[Belegon]

Now up and running! From on to windows in 12 seconds! Monster PC, now for overclocking and bf3 on ultra! Yeya!