My 2011 Build

[tom25]

This is the computer i plan on using for gaming and other odd things

The components im using are:

Motherboard=MSI X79A-GD45-8D
CPU=Intel Core i7 3820
RAM=G.Skill 16GB 4x4GB RipjawsZ DDR3 2400
GPU=2-way SLI 2GB EVGA GTX 660 Ti
PSU=Corsair HX750 750W 80 plus GOLD Professional
HDD=Seagate Barracuda Green 1.5 TB
SSD=Corsair NEUTRON GTX 120GB SSD (For OS)
OS=Windows 7 Ultimate
Case=Zalman Z11
CPU Cooling=Intel LGA2011 Liquid Cooling Solution

Any recommendations will be appreciated

 

[jamesriley94]

Don't go 2011.
Will you be doing video editing and rendering?
If not, you'd be far better off saving money and going for a 3570k and MSI Z77 mPower. Then spending the extra money on a GPU.
Graphics power is far more important than CPU grunt these days in games.

Also, for a gaming rig you don't need 16gb of RAM - especially considering todays prices. Look at an 8gb kit.

Maybe think about a full modular power supply as I should have saved you enough money for one there.
Also, think about a better case.
And don't buy that CPU cooler. Even an air cooler such as a Noctua NH-D14 will out-perform it. If you want a AIO watercooling unit, look at the H100i.

Quite a lot of money spent in the wrong places here IMO.

 

[Feronix]

Don't go 2011.
Will you be doing video editing and rendering?
If not, you'd be far better off saving money and going for a 3570k and MSI Z77 mPower. Then spending the extra money on a GPU.
Graphics power is far more important than CPU grunt these days in games.

Also, for a gaming rig you don't need 16gb of RAM - especially considering todays prices. Look at an 8gb kit.

Maybe think about a full modular power supply as I should have saved you enough money for one there.
Also, think about a better case.
And don't buy that CPU cooler. Even an air cooler such as a Noctua NH-D14 will out-perform it. If you want a AIO watercooling unit, look at the H100i.

Quite a lot of money spent in the wrong places here IMO.

100% agree with this!
Though an H100i won't fit in the Zalman z11 case.

 

[alienware]

Hmm yeah the 3770k should actually work out faster in the end due to the fact you can overclock it.

 

[Feronix]

3820 is actually overclockable, but out of the box the 3770k is faster

 

[alienware]

How do you clock them? FSB?

My mate has one in his Alienware never looked at clocking it tbh.

 

[jamesriley94]

How do you clock them? FSB?

My mate has one in his Alienware never looked at clocking it tbh.

The turbo still goes to like 42 I think. Most users can get 4.6ghz+ out of them, but it's way more hassle than with Ivy.

As for the Z11 case - I know, that's why I recommended a new case before suggesting the H100i

 

[alpenwasser]

I have to agree with the previous statements. LGA 2011 only makes sense
if you really need those extra PCI-Express lanes (you don't for gaming)
or if you need some serious CPU power, in which case the 3930k would be
advisable.

You don't need 6 cores for gaming, and if you go 4 cores, an 1155 rig with
either a 3770k or a 3570k (for gaming the 3570k will be absolutely sufficient)
is a lot more affordable, i.e. a much more reasonable investment.

As for the CPU cooler, I either recommend something like the Noctua
NH-D14 or if you really with so go for AIO, an H100i.

Regarding the GPUs, where I live you can get one 7970 for about 75% of
the price of two 660 Ti's, depending on which version you choose, while
(according to Google ) the 660 Ti's will be only marginally faster, if at
all, depending on how well the specific game scales.

 

[tinytomlogan]

Moved to new build advise.

 

[Feronix]

The turbo still goes to like 42 I think. Most users can get 4.6ghz+ out of them, but it's way more hassle than with Ivy.

As for the Z11 case - I know, that's why I recommended a new case before suggesting the H100i

Yeah, just thought I'd point it out just in case (no pun intended) he'd run out to buy an H100i only to find out that it won't fit :lol:

@AlpenWasser: I was looking at comparisons of SLI 660's (non Ti) earlier and even those pulled away from top end cards like the GTX 680 and HD7970 by quite a bit? Something like 15-20% iirc

 

[alienware]

Aye the 660 easily sails ahead of the 680 in nearly all tests. In some it's close to the 690 which is crazy.

660ti SLI would be pretty damn powerful tbh.

 

[tom25]

i will be rendering, game development, video editing and a bit of software development and yes i know the 3770k would be ample for gaming i would be building a 1155 computer if it was just for gaming

 

[alpenwasser]

@AlpenWasser: I was looking at comparisons of SLI 660's (non Ti) earlier and even those pulled away from top end cards like the GTX 680 and HD7970 by quite a bit? Something like 15-20% iirc

Aye the 660 easily sails ahead of the 680 in nearly all tests. In some it's close to the 690 which is crazy.

660ti SLI would be pretty damn powerful tbh.

Aargh, my Google-Fu has indeed lead me astray somewhat :banghead:

It would appear that for some reason the top search results I got were
some specific sets of benches in which the 660 Ti Sli did not kick ass.
I actually had to dig quite a bit to find benches consistent with your
statements in the past 30 Mins. WTF, Google, are you trying to make me
look stupid?:headscratch:

Well, objective achieved :lol:
Anyway, apologies for my daily dosage of derp :crazy:


EDIT:

i will be rendering, game development, video editing and a bit of software development and yes i know the 3770k would be ample for gaming i would be building a 1155 computer if it was just for gaming

Well if you want to take advantage of 2011 I would really recommend
a hex core CPU. The 2011 quad core does not really offer that much more
besides the markup of the 2011 platform. It is faster in some things, but
not by much, and the platform costs a lot more.

For example, see anand's
benches.

 

[jamesriley94]

The 3770k is better than the power-hungry 3820.

Plus you can get a better motherboard for cheaper on 1155.

Even with rendering, you're still better off with a 3770k over 3820.

The only point of going 2011 is for a 3930k or better

 

[alpenwasser]

The 3770k is better than the power-hungry 3820.

Plus you can get a better motherboard for cheaper on 1155.

Even with rendering, you're still better off with a 3770k over 3820.

The only point of going 2011 is for a 3930k or better

Argh, my edit was ninja'd h34r: :lol:

Anyway, ^^^This.

 

[tom25]

thanks ok i should get the 3930k insted and is the psu ok

 

[jamesriley94]

It's fine power wise. But considering this build is pretty high end, it would look so much better with a fully modular power supply.
Have a look at the AX760, or a Seasonic unit, or a Silverstone Strider. All great PSUs, and all fully modular.

 

[tom25]

thanks im going to get the ax760

 

[alpenwasser]

thanks im going to get the ax760

Be aware that there's a 760 and a 760i.

TPU and HWS have some very good PSU reviewing methodology, so here's
their reviews for both units:

• TPU AX760i review
• TPU AX760 review
• HWS AX760i review
• HWS AX760 review

 

[pcjunkie429]

Be aware that there's a 760 and a 760i.

TPU and HWS have some very good PSU reviewing methodology, so here's
their reviews for both units:

• TPU AX760i review
• TPU AX760 review
• HWS AX760i review
• HWS AX760 review

Depending on if he gets a case that supports the H100i, (not to mention the H100i itself) he might not even need the "i" version of the PSU. The only difference is Corsair Link support, isn't it? :headscratch: