Assess My Build

[Kyle]

Hi, this is my first post on this site so I hope that I'm doing this properly. I'm going for a gaming/3D modelling/Every-day use PC. is the max I'm going to spend (excluding screen, keyboard, speakers, mouse, etc.). It's also my first computer build

Here's a build list (if there's any place i could save money, get better value for my money or if there's a compatibility issue or something, please tell me):

Graphics: EVGA GeForce GTX 660Ti

CPU Cooling: Corsair Hydro Series H100

PSU: Corsair Gaming Series 800-Watt

RAM: Kingston HyperX 16 GB Kit (4x4 GB Modules)

HDD (Maybe SSD?):Seagate Barracuda 3TB 7200RPM 6Gb/s 64MB Cache

Motherboard: Gigabyte Intel Z77 UD5H

Case: Cooler Master HAF X Full Tower

SATA Disc Bay: Asus 24xDVD-RW

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K (Ivy Bridge)

For links to any of the above, just paste the name into Amazon.com and take the first result for all of them.

 

[MonsterKiller]

I'd imagine you could easily get away with a 650 watt power supply rather than 800.

 

[drunkenvalley]

He can get away with mostly every decent powersupply. The fanless Seasonic PSUs for example...

 

[Kyle]

Thanks for the quick replies but I'm thinking of having a 100-Watt speaker system in the future. I also want to swap out the fans for LED backlit ones. I just thought I would safeguard myself. Should I still get a lower one?

 

[MonsterKiller]

The speakers wont draw power from your computers power supply, they are likely to have their own power source. As for LED fans, they wont really take up any extra power at all. You would still be okay with a 650 or 700 if you really wanted.

 

[jamesriley94]

Even drop to a 500w psu if you can.
Silverstone Technology SilvStone ST50F-P 500W
That's a good choice.

As said about the speakers - they'll have their own amp and wont draw power from the psu.

Also, you need to change RAM to get 1.5v or lower. The kingston RAM is 1.65v and can damage Ivybridge cpus

 

[Kyle]

The speakers wont draw power from your computers power supply, they are likely to have their own power source. As for LED fans, they wont really take up any extra power at all. You would still be okay with a 650 or 700 if you really wanted.

Okay well I don't know much about sound systems but when I watched a review of the Logitech X-540 (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Surround-Speaker-System-Subwoofer/dp/B000JJM8XE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pdT1_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=38MHL4C9HCGB7&coliid=I24NMTV7V9TTVL) it didn't seem to have an external power cable so I assumed that it got the power from the power supply. I probably sound like an idiot

 

[drunkenvalley]

Ideally 1.5v, james, but 1.65v is the maximum 'safezone'. o.o

 

[jamesriley94]

Ideally 1.5v, james, but 1.65v is the maximum 'safezone'. o.o

I've heard otherwise about that, but regardless - there's far better offerings these days than the Kingston set, that are rated at 1.5v - such as Mushkin and Corsair sets

 

[drunkenvalley]

I've heard otherwise about that, but regardless - there's far better offerings these days than the Kingston set, that are rated at 1.5v - such as Mushkin and Corsair sets

Yes, there definitely are. Kingston have 1.5v versions technically, but I've yet to actually see them in stores...:lol:

Anyway, Corsair's stuff has been almost entirely 1.5v, with Vengeance LP White being 1.25v. Basically, you can hardly go wrong with their brand...

 

[Kyle]

I was going to get some Corsair sticks but PC Format gave these a higher score because of latency or something

 

[jamesriley94]

Is it the 2133mhz kit you're looking at?
Get: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Ven...1_8?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1346089590&sr=1-8

 

[Kyle]

I just found some RAM at the same price except it's 2 strips of 8gB. Should I get the 2 strips so I can still have 2 free RAM slots or is there a performance loss?

 

[jamesriley94]

2 sticks of 8gb is absolutely fine since the processor works in dual channel anyway

 

[Kyle]

Is it the 2133mhz kit you're looking at?
Get: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Ven...1_8?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1346089590&sr=1-8

Those ones are almost 60USD more, is it really worth it? I'm all for learning

 

[jamesriley94]

If there's something for cheaper with 2x8gb sticks then by all means go for them - I'd just advise finding them with voltages at 1.5 or lower. Even if it will run properly - all new RAM is 1.5v or lower, so if you buy a 1.65v kit it could have been sat on a shelf for a few years

 

[Kyle]

If there's something for cheaper with 2x8gb sticks then by all means go for them - I'd just advise finding them with voltages at 1.5 or lower. Even if it will run properly - all new RAM is 1.5v or lower, so if you buy a 1.65v kit it could have been sat on a shelf for a few years

How do you find out the voltage? It's not on any of the Amazon.com product descriptions. And what's the difference between the different voltages/what do they mean?

 

[drunkenvalley]

It's honestly what it says on the tin. They use a tad more power. Newer generations of memory controllers are tuned towards 1.5v, and consider them ideal. However, it has a tolerance of up to 1.65v.

What's your location, out of curiosity? Amazon.com may not be the best store for you.

 

[Kyle]

It's honestly what it says on the tin. They use a tad more power. Newer generations of memory controllers are tuned towards 1.5v, and consider them ideal. However, it has a tolerance of up to 1.65v.

What's your location, out of curiosity? Amazon.com may not be the best store for you.

I live in South Africa lol so there aren't many shops with as many options as Amazon.com for electronics. I'll put my location on my profile :mellow:

 

[Kyle]

Okay I found 2x8gB for a reasonable price and they're 1.5v. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Modu...qid=1346093255&sr=8-12&keywords=kingston+16gb