Could do with a once over and any comments

[evilmunky]

OK so here are the things I am pretty much settled on getting and wanted a sanity check. The machine is used heavily for gaming, video rendering, photo stuff, work, host for multiple heavy usage VM's, is on pretty much 24/7.

Also worth pointing out, I don't like ASUS products anymore and case wise, I like this one - no others (including the coolermaster range) have met my requirements.

I will be doing some overclocking and possibly in the future, adding another graphics card and more watercooling.

* **Motherboard** MSI Z77A-GD65 Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard

* **CPU** Intel Core i7-3770K 3.50GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail

* **Memory** GeIL Black Dragon 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (GD316GB1600C11DC)

* **SSD** OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive (VTX4-25SAT3-128G)

* **Graphics Card** HIS HD 7950 IceQ BOOST 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (H795QC3G2M)*

* **Case** Xigmatek Elysium Full Tower Windowed Case - Black

* **Power** Silent Pro M700 (already have)

* **Cooling CPU** Corsair H100i Hydro Liquid CPU Cooler & 1450rpm SP120 Quiet Edition Twin Pack TTL Bundle #17054 (specialtech)

 

[jamesriley94]

Change the SSD from OCZ to Samsung 830/840 or a Crucial M4.

OCZ drives are unreliable.

Other than that - the rig looks great.

Obviously your choice of case - but I think without full watercooling, huge cases like the Elysium look a little bare and stupid - maybe consider something smaller - but again, that's personal preference.

 

[evilmunky]

Thanks for that - will look at the other drives.

I know what you mean about the case, but I tend to put a lot in and will most likely be going water cooling in the future. I like large cases and will be moving from a normal size 4 year old thermaltake armour that is getting a little cramped so I am after that extra space. I have the office space so its not an issue - as you say, thats a personal preference thing.

Thanks dude.

Also just eben informed that the twinpack sp120's wont be able to be controlled by the H100i controller - anyone able to clarify or put my mind at rest?

 

[jamesriley94]

Thanks for that - will look at the other drives.

I know what you mean about the case, but I tend to put a lot in and will most likely be going water cooling in the future. I like large cases and will be moving from a normal size 4 year old thermaltake armour that is getting a little cramped so I am after that extra space. I have the office space so its not an issue - as you say, thats a personal preference thing.

Thanks dude.

No worries.
Just to add to my point about the case...

That's running a dual Xeon rig, with tri-SLI GPUs, and I still think that looks a little empty.

Bear in mind - your motherboard will only come up to the PCIE power connectors (ish) too, I think it would look incredibly bare.

Just saying there are better, cheaper, more suitable cases out there that may be better for your use - eg - CM Stryker, Switch 810, 600T even.

Still, up to you

 

[evilmunky]

Hmmm you could be right. I have been umming and aahhhing about it for days. Really struggling to find an alternative - with plenty of space to put water cooling in, plus 7 or so HDD's, that has a Window as well. It's pretty much been my sticking point and you could be right. Will have a look at those others

 

[CPMFW]

change the ssd to a crucial m4 or a samsung830/840
and maybe get higher clocked memory sticks... ivy´s love high memory clocks

 

[Bang]

Yup, faster memory. Don't want to choke a nice 3770k with 1600Mhz ram.

I quote our fearless leader from another thread "Ivy loves bandwidth so you want 2133 minimum but IMHO with a rig like that it should be 2400." Seeings how your rig is going to be quite similar I thought I would share it

 

[Innocent159]

Bigger cases is more future prove with xl-atx evolving. I'd go with the big cases but a tiny motherboard looks ridicules in a huge cases

 

[Innocent159]

Bigger cases is more future prove with xl-atx evolving. I'd go with the big cases but a tiny motherboard looks ridicules in a huge cases but that's my opinion

 

[evilmunky]

My problem with faster memory is the massive price increase. I am particularly after 32gb as it allows me to allocate memory to a number of Virtual machines without compromise. I will have a look and see what 2133 stuff I can find. Thanks both

Something like this? Patriot Viper "Black Mamba" Generation 3 32GB (4X8GB) DDR3 PC3-17000C11 2133MHz Quad Channel kit (PV332G213C1QK)

Or are the patriot not much good?

 

[Bang]

I dont know much about the Patriot and have neen considering trying their stuff out.

You might be able to get some Geil or G.skill 2x8GB 1866mhz for not terribly more than 1600mhz, 2133 and 2400 cost about an extra 30% in my area, with 1866 going for about $100, 2133 and 2400 going for about $150.

On the OCZ drive, I had a mate call me a couple days ago and tell me his 3 week old OCZ Vertex 4 carked it.... was he ever angry.....

 

[dalewakelin]

Patriot are good there just not that well known, ive never heard anyone complaining about them and the people i know who have them say there good And :ar: OCZ

 

[Bang]

Before long OCZ will only be able to sell products to the totally computer ignorant. They are doing a great job of establishing a (bad) reputation as makers of killer (they die right quick) SSD drives. :banghead:

 

[Deejeta]

As above, stay away from ocz.Go for Intel or crucial.
I bought some Kingston 2133 ram the other week for peanuts.
You could if your budget allows head in the 2011 socket direction if you run vm's, do heavy encoding. Better memory options as well.
7950 ftw