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cabbio540
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My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Fri Sep 16, 2011 3:42 pm

After 3 faithful years of service, I have decided to upgrade my old computer and was wondering if you guys could help me out with the build/ suggestions for any improvements or changes.
The build is loosely based on Tech reports system guide and a mix between the sweeter spot and utility player. The computer will be used for a variety of things including gaming, photoshop work, 3d modelling, and terrain generation. I also like to edit video and do motion graphics.

I am hoping to run 3 monitors (already have2) in an eyefinity configuration, so need display adapter, but am not sure which one to go for?. I will also be taking one of my old drives out of my pc to use for programs (7200rpm 1tb), and for the storage of other things am not too bothered about 5400rom drives. What's your opinion on 5400rpm vs 7200rpm?

So far I have:

1 x Intel Core i7 2600k 3.4GHz Socket 1155 8MB Cache Retail Boxed Processor
1 x Asus P8Z68-V PRO Z68 Socket 1155 8 Channel HD Audio ATX Motherboard
2 x Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz XMS3 Memory Kit CL9 1.5V unbuffered
1 x Corsair 120GB Force 3 SSD 2.5" SATA-III 6Gb/s Read = 550MB/s, Write = 510MB/s
1 x Asus Xonar DG 5.1 Surround Sound Card with Built in Headphone Amp PCI - OEM
2 x 120mm Blue LED Fan - 4pin Molex Connection
1 x Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro rev 2 Socket 775, 1156, 1155, 1366, AM2, AM3 Heatpipe CPU Cooler
1 x Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver Thermal Compound Thermal paste 3.5gram
1 x Antec TruePower New 650W Modular PSU
3 x Samsung HD204UI Spinpoint F4 2TB Hard Drive SATA 5400RPM 32MB Cache - OEM - 3yr Warranty
3 x Xenta SATA 2.0 to right angle SATA 7-pin Cable (Red) 46cm / 18"
1 x PowerColor HD 6950 2GB GDDR5 DVI HDMI 2mini DisplayPort PCI-E Graphics Card
1 x LG W2442PE-BF Full HD TFT LCD 24" HDMI Monitor
1 x Antec 300 Three Hundred Case

I know to come here because you guys helped me with my first build and I know there is a wealth of knowledge out there.

Thanks for you help.
 
codedivine
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Re: My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Fri Sep 16, 2011 3:52 pm

Looks good overall. Stick to 7200rpm drives. Speed difference between 5400rpm and 7200rpm can be noticeable.
Not too sure about the CPU heatsink and the case. Better alternatives should be available for both though I am not too sure myself.
 
cabbio540
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Re: My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Fri Sep 16, 2011 4:06 pm

Thanks for your reply. I wasn't too sure about heatsinks for the CPU. Its the same one i have at the moment and it seems to work quite well. I'm hoping for marginal overclocks, nothing too major. I have an OC'd q600 from 2.4Ghz to 3.2Ghz on it.

As for the case. I was thinking about the Corsair Obsidian Series 650D but its a little bit out of my price range unfortunately. I'm open to suggestions though.
 
cabbio540
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Re: My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Fri Sep 16, 2011 4:10 pm

I was wondering if people think 650W will be enough to power it, or should I look at 700w? I will be using 1 SSD and internal 4 Hard drives in it, along with GPU, sound card etc? Wouldit have any effect on an overclock having a psu at 650W?
 
Sunburn74
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Re: My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Fri Sep 16, 2011 4:16 pm

That is alot to pack into an antec 300. You spend a crazy amount on the internals and literally pick something from the budget bin to pack it in.

Go with the corsair 650d at the very least. It should be a marginal increase in price.

Also I've owned the ram you are buying and I must say I had a lot of problems with them. In fact, when i later looked at the newegg reviews for that ram I wasn't alone. I ended up buying a set of 16gb corsair vengeance and all the issues I had went away. Long story short, I don't trust the xms3 ram and don't recommend them.

I'm not sure how quiet that antec psu is. 650 should be more than enough. At max load you'll draw like 270ish I believe. I'd be shocked if you even hit 300w at max load.
i7 2600k @4.4 ghz 1.26v - GA-P67X-UD3 - 16gb Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600mhz - Evga Geforce GTX 570 - 2x 120gb Vertex 3 Raid-0 - Seagate Barracude 1.5TB - Silverstone FT02- HP 2709M Monitor
 
cabbio540
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Re: My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Fri Sep 16, 2011 4:25 pm

Thanks for your reply. I'll look into other cases and RAM. Thanks for the info about the PSU aswell, I have no idea about power loads etc.
 
codedivine
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Re: My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:12 pm

650W is more-than-plenty for the build. Just make you sure you pick a good branded PSU. I usually like Corsair but any decent 80+ certified PSU should do.
If you have used the heatsink before and are happy with it and are not planning to overclock, then sure just use that one.
As for cases, apart from the Obsidian you can also consider some Lian Li cases under their brand "Lancool". These are usually very well built, cost less than $100 and still very spacious and relatively easy to work with.
For example, here is one case that is about $90 and has great ratings on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811112099
 
codedivine
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Re: My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:22 pm

Actually, for PSU, you should be fine with even a 550W PSU as long as it is from a good brand and is say 80+ bronze certified.
edit: And make sure the PSU has sufficient PCIe connectors. OTOH, going for a 650W will enable you to do cross-fire in the future if you want.
 
JustAnEngineer
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Re: My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Sat Sep 17, 2011 11:08 am

cabbio540 wrote:
1 x Corsair 120GB Force 3 SSD 2.5" SATA-III 6Gb/s Read = 550MB/s, Write = 510MB/s
While this SSD uses the same SandForce SF-2281 controller, it uses slower flash memory chips than the Corsair Force GT or the OCZ Vertex 3 Max-IOPS. It still has amazingly-quick random access compared to a mechanical hard-drive, but the transfer rate for incompressible data will be about half as fast as the maximum throughput.

cabbio540 wrote:
1 x Asus Xonar DG 5.1 Surround Sound Card with Built in Headphone Amp PCI - OEM
Have you considered the SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium or SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro? They can give you better 3D sound in older games.

cabbio540 wrote:
2 x 120mm Blue LED Fan - 4pin Molex Connection
Get some good PWM fans to plug into your motherboard's fan controllers.
http://www.coolerguys.com/pwmfans.html
... or, just buy the "Three Hundred Illusion" version of the case that comes with two more of the 120mm Antec Tri-Cool LED fans installed at the front of the case and adds LED illumination to the two-speed 140mm fan at the top.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... 11-129-066

cabbio540 wrote:
1 x Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro rev 2 Socket 775, 1156, 1155, 1366, AM2, AM3 Heatpipe CPU Cooler
I'd suggest a 120mm cooler for your CPU rather than 92mm. The larger fan will provide more cooling with less noise than the smaller one. The CoolerMaster Hyper 212+ is an inexpensive and popular example.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835103065

cabbio540 wrote:
1 x LG W2442PE-BF Full HD TFT LCD 24" HDMI Monitor
For your photo editing work, you need to use an IPS or PVA LCD panel. TN LCD panels just won't cut it because of their poor color and brightness accuracy and the issues with horrible changes in hue and brightness with different viewing angles. Take a look at the excellent Dell UltraSharp U2410.
· R7-5800X, Liquid Freezer II 280, RoG Strix X570-E, 64GiB PC4-28800, Suprim Liquid RTX4090, 2TB SX8200Pro +4TB S860 +NAS, Define 7 Compact, Super Flower SF-1000F14TP, S3220DGF +32UD99, FC900R OE, DeathAdder2
 
mdk77777
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Re: My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Sat Sep 17, 2011 1:45 pm

Memory:

With prices coming down, matched sets good 1600 CAS 9 can be had for less than $100.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820233198

Get the four sticks together and save yourself any grief. When the delta was 2x, I would agree with buying two 8GB sets, but the price difference is too small now to bother.

SSD:

The Corsair is priced well. However, there are significant complaints with BSOD on that model. There are new firmware, so check and see if it ships with the newest and you should be good. Otherwise, be prepared to flash. If you want greater stability, I would opt for the cruical:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820148442

Slower on the writes, but fewer complaints, (however,there is also firmware updates, but fewer complaints in general)

Case:

Definitely look at the LIAN LI:

Always a bunch on sale for $60-$100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... me=Lian-Li

Good cable management and good HD support in addition to good quality fans.

HAF 932 would be great, but starting to get pricy at $140

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119160


Card:

Powercolor is the only brand of card that ever failed for me. (3x RMA same model) hence I just don't trust them.

$260 AMIR, better quality and all-ready for your three monitor set-up :wink:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102929
 
cabbio540
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Re: My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:42 am

Thanks for all the help.

I have decided to go or the NZXT H2 case and have also changed my RAM to the 16gb corsair vengeance. I'm also looking at a few different SSDs.
 
middydj
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Re: My second build. Can i get your opinions please?

Mon Sep 19, 2011 4:02 pm

Looks great. Case change and your good to go.

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