Define R4 - Build Thread / Help Thread

[Carrock]

Hi OC3D,

So its my birthday today and I got a Define R4 from my GF. Yay!
Now I only need to put something in it.

I kinda knew that it was coming, so I have been looking around for what I wanted, but I have run into a snag, since I can't decide on watercooling or aircooling.

The reasons is:
1: I'm on a limited budget, so I can't afford a custom loop, if I have to buy all knew parts.
2: I dont really care about extreme OCing; all I want is quite and from what I can read, thats something I can do with aircooling just as well. Where as the prebuild waterblocks for CPU's is not all the stable or quite.

My current rig is 5 years old.
Specs:
Q6600 @2.4Ghz OC to 2.9Ghz
4 GB DDR II RAM 1066 Mhz
Radeon HD 6770
Samsung 128 GB SSD
Asus P5Q Pro /w custom BIOS
750W non-modular PSU (24+4 pin ATX)

I expect to steal the SSD and the GPU. Maybe even the PSU, but Im not sure it will fit in a newer mobo.

I like the black/white theme in the case, so Im hoping to get parts that fit it, but still remembering that I have a limited budget.
The colour scheme is more important than the specs. I don't really do much other that play WoW and surf the internet. Sometimes the occasional other game, but never a game that requires much.
From what I can read, that means that I should get plenty of RAM, but GPU/CPU doesn't matter as much.

Hope to get some advice on my build

- Carrock

First serious attempt at putting together a build within budget AND something that I feel could be usable

i5-4670k

Asus Z87-A

Kingston HyperX 2x8GB

NH-D14


- Carrock

Edit:
Finished build

 

[d3rrial]

Happy Birthday!
I have no real contributions / recommendations, so I am just going to wish you good luck and have fun building your new PC.

I have had bad experiences with XFX GPUs before, but I can't speak about their PSU lines, I am generally very satisfied with Corsair/Enermax PSUs tho. Please don't consider this comment downrating of the XFX PSU, as I said, I have not owned one of those yet and can't comment on this. Rest of the build looks solid, imo!

 

[WYP]

Happy Birthday!
I have no real contributions / recommendations, so I am just going to wish you good luck and have fun building your new PC.

I have had bad experiences with XFX GPUs before, but I can't speak about their PSU lines, I am generally very satisfied with Corsair/Enermax PSUs tho. Please don't consider this comment downrating of the XFX PSU, as I said, I have not owned one of those yet and can't comment on this. Rest of the build looks solid, imo!

XFX make good PSUs, most if not all of their PSUs are rebranded seasonic units (which are known for being some of the best power supplies in the buisness).
i do agree on xfx gpus though, my 7950 had thermal problems due to missing heat pads.

 

[NeverBackDown]

You can use that motherboard with the CPU but will require a BIOS update. Better off going for a Z77 motherboard over a Z68 motherboard. Better tech and can make use of the new features brought by an Ivy Bridge CPU.

 

[WYP]

You can use that motherboard with the CPU but will require a BIOS update. Better off going for a Z77 motherboard of a Z68 motherboard. Better tech and can make use of the new features brought by an Ivy Bridge CPU.

good spot, didn't notice that. +1

 

[Carrock]

Would an ASrock Z77 Pro4 work?
I have no experience with ASrock as a brand, but from what I can read, people have some complaints, tho nothing major...

I could go for a Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H - Rev. 1.0, which would also make me able to keep my current PSU (which is a Corsair and has served me without fault for 5 years)

Is either of those a good option?

- Carrock

Edit:
Just to clarify:
The ASrock as pretty colors, but the Gigabyte seems better.

 

[NeverBackDown]

What about MSI G41? Can not do SLI though if thats a concern.

 

[Carrock]

I need some more info other than MSI G41 - there are apparently many different versions.

Also I have no idea about MSI motherboards, are they any good?

- Carrock

 

[WYP]

Would an ASrock Z77 Pro4 work?
I have no experience with ASrock as a brand, but from what I can read, people have some complaints, tho nothing major...

I could go for a Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H - Rev. 1.0, which would also make me able to keep my current PSU (which is a Corsair and has served me without fault for 5 years)

Is either of those a good option?

- Carrock

Edit:
Just to clarify:
The ASrock as pretty colors, but the Gigabyte seems better.

Both those motherboards would work fine, i personally can't fully recommend the Asrock as i have never worked with one and also the complaints you said other users had. I personally some of their boards just scream cheap.

Gigabyte is my brand of choice, i have never had any issues with any that i have worked with.

if you plan on overclocking i don't know how that msi g41 would cope as it doesn't have much cooling on the board.
It would be very helpful if a link was provided as there are many versions of that board, some of many of which are not z77 chipsets (non-overclocking chipsets)

 

[Carrock]

Okay I might have made a HUGE oversight...

I currently have a Corsair TX750W in my build, which I thought was outdated, but as it turns out I might be wrong, since it looks like it will fit nicely into new motherboards!
This will make me save a bunch of money, which I now can spend getting a better stuff on all the other parts.

Second serious attempt at a build:

CPU:
Core i5 I5-4670K 6 MB (Intel Boxed)
Fast CPU that tests well, without getting to hot, but while still being able to OC.
This could probably be upgraded to a i7 in the future, when there comes a new intel chip out and the prices drop.

Motherboard:
ASUS Z87-A
I have an asus motherboard now and the more I read about it, the more I feel that I should get asus again.
I like their design, tho they seem to test just as good as Gigabyte.

I can use the fan controllers from the case to control the 3 fans I plan on getting, while the 4 pin headers there are on the motherboard, is something I could use for a future upgrade to watercooling.

Noctua NH-D14
Good cooling without sound.

Fractal Design Silent Series R2 140mm
Big and quite, with low start up voltage.
Not PWM, but I can live without atm.

Kingston HyperX blu 2 x 8 GB Black or Corsair XMS3 2 x 8 GB Black
Both are around the same price, and on paper they look identical, but Im unsure as to which is better in the long run?
I have checked that they will fit under the NH-D14.
It has to be 2x8GB since I want to upgrade to 32GB in the future.

If anyone wants like to it, I can get that.
This feels closer to a final build than the other. Even tho I'm still a bit under budget!

- Carrock

PS: On a side note I have around 12 post-its on my desk, with builds that didn't make it to this forum

 

[WYP]

looks good, i hate the gold colour scheme on the new asus motherboards but it will work well.
as for the ram they will both work the same if they run at the same frequency.

 

[Carrock]

Ye in these parts the colors don't really match that good...
But hopefully they work better and have better options for upgrading in the future!

- Carrock

PS: Pics aren't long away now!

 

[NeverBackDown]

Mine as well go for a 4770k now then. No point in wasting money on a 4670k. Asus boards IMO aren't very good. Gigabyte and MSI are the top 2 IMO.

 

[Carrock]

I cant afford a 4770 atm.
And I know I need to upgrade my GFs computer within a fairly short period, so she can get the 4670.

Okay everything I've been able to find about the Z87-A is good.
Do you know of a more specific Gigabyte or MSI equivalent?

 

[NeverBackDown]

GIGABYTE GA-Z87X-D3H is the best board around the same price and in my opinion better as well.

 

[Carrock]

That is remarkable similar.

I've given it a look over and I cant find any major differences.

The Gigabyte does look a little bit better tho, but its all minor stuff.

I will decide later tonight and place my order.

- Carrock

 

[WYP]

GIGABYTE GA-Z87X-D3H is the best board around the same price and in my opinion better as well.

i second that, gigabyte is my brand of choice for motherboards

 

[Carrock]

It is done!

Ended up picking the Asus motherboard and Kingston RAM.

- Carrock

 

[Carrock]

Finished build

Okay, so I finished my build.

I haven't had time to OC it yet, but so far its a huge upgrade for me!

My old case vs the new.
The old case is still good, but I like the options in the new case. Primarily the option to put WC in it, at some point.

The old case even had some custom mods.
You might not notice this, but the "paint" job is actually just a piece of paper.
Ye I know, its pretty hard to see...

The new case with all the new bits installed.
Took about an hour.
I am still baffled at how huge the NH-D14.

The old case.
Way to much dust. I have tried to do something about it in the new build, 2 fans for intake, with dustfilters and then 1 fan blowing out. Hoping to generate a bit of overpressure, to keep the dust out.

In my old case I had the SSD laying on the case floor, not a stable solution.

The interior of the 2 cases next to eachother, before I take the old one apart for good.
Spendt alot of hours with that case, so its a sad goodbye.
I'm still thinking about what I'm going to do with it now.

In the old case I didn't have any zip-ties, which I have now, so even tho the PSU isn't modular I can try and keep it a bit tidy.
I had to move the cables around a bit from this position, but I managed to get them in there without shorting anything out or making a dent in the case

The finished case.
Booted in the first go.

SPEC:

New bits:
Fractal Design Define R4 Black Pearl
Asus Z87-A
Intel i5-4670k
Kingston 2x8GB 1600 Mhz
NH-D14

From old PC:
Corsair TX750W
Radeon 6790
Samsung 128 GB Pro

Future:
WD Black 2TB (wires are pulled, so just have to connect it.)

 

[Feronix]

Looking good!