Out with the old, in with the new!

[Andy101]

Hello Guys i'm new here but i have been watching the TimeToLiveCustoms channel for ages on youtube. So i thought i'd step by and ask for help regarding the new rig i'm building!

The major change i'm doing this time around is that i'm now going to get watercooling for my CPU and GPU. So this is completely new territory for me so any help is greatly appreciated!

The PC spec:

Graphic card:
ASUS GTX 780
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-306-AS

Memory:
Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB 2400Mhz
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-373-CS

SSD:
Samsung 256GB SSD 840 PRO
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-159-SA

HDD:
Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB SATA 6Gb/s
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-368-WD

Motherboards (need help to chose the correct one.. since there are many good and bad motherboards this gen:

Asus Z87 MAXIMUS VI HERO
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-563-AS

MSI Z77A-GD65 Gameing Series
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-228-MS

Gigabyte Z87X-UD4H Intel Z87
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-446-GI

I'm allso open for other suggestions! However i'd like to have the theme colors in Red

Processor:
Intel Core i7-4770K
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-471-IN

Powersupply:
Corsair AX860i
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-108-CS

Computer Case:
Corsair 900D
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-120-CS'

Fans:
Corsair SP120 Performance Series High Pressure x7 (For radiators)
Corsair AF120 Preformance Series Low Noise High Airflow x3 (For the front of the case)
Corsair AF140 Preformance Series Low Noise High Airflow x1 (for the back)

Watercooling:

1x XSPC AX480 Quad Fan Radiator (Black)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-181-XS

1x XSPC AX360 Triple Fan Radiator (black)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-179-XS

1X XSPC Raystorm CPU Block (intel)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-069-XS

1X EK Water Blocks EK-FC Titan - Nickel Full Cover Waterblock
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-336-EK

1X XSPC D5 Dual Bay Reservoir/Pump Combo
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-163-XS

3X Mayhems X1 - UV Red Concentrate 250ml (need to have spare for later)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-047-MH

4X XSPC 7/16" ID [16/11mm] Clear [1 meter] (Need to have some spare if i fail at some cutting)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-031-XS

10X XSPC G1/4" to 7/16" ID, 5/8" OD Compression Fitting (Black Chrome)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-103-XS

1x XSPC K2 Thermal Compund 1.5g
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-000-XS

1x Corsair Generation 2 Sleeved Cable Kit (AXi / AX / HX / TXM) - Red
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-126-CS

These are the things i mixed together myself with some help along the way. But i'd like some feedback and tips if i should change something, or add different fittings for better tube routeings etc would be greatly appreciated!.. ^_^ (Want to make it look as good as possible!!)

Future plans:
I plan to add another GTX 780 in the future if it becomes needed thats the reason for the 480 and 360 rad.

Thanks!

Kind Regards
Andy

 

[MacLeod]

Im not that much up on the water cooling so Ill let others help you with that.

As for the other components, you might not need that i7 depending on what youre wanting to do with your rig. If youre going to be gaming mainly (which I assume you are by going with a GTX780), you could go with the i5 which has virtually the same gaming performance as a i7 but for $100 less.

The power supply is overkill. The AX760i would be a better choice or a quality 650'ish watt unit like the Seasonic Platinum 660 which is about the best on the market.

For you motherboard choices, the Asus would be my choice even though its more expensive. Their UEFI BIOS is just the best in the business and the new Z87 series UEFI is even better with tons of cool ass features. The Gigabyte would be my 2nd choice off that list but generally I try to stick with Asus especially with this new UEFI that theyve got for Haswell.

That case is awful nice but awful expensive. There are other full tower cases out there a whole lot cheaper that would be just as nice. Ive always like the Sliverstone Raven even though its getting pretty old these days. Just always liked the looks of them. The NZXT Switch 810 is also very nice. If youve got the money to burn, thats cool but there are just as good for a $100 less.

 

[| raVen |]

-If you want 780 reference card you should't buy that one from Asus, as its more expensive than this one from MSI and its exactly the same card just with different box http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-200-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1341

-Memory good.

-SSD good.

-HDD good( but link from Neweeg...?)

-Motherboard, go for Gigabyte UD4H, also you listed MSI Z77A-GD65..., if you want 4770K you have to go for z87 chip, as the old z77 is not compatible.

-PSU good.

-Case good

Watercooling:

First of all you should use quiet edition fans, because if you are doing watercooling its all about making things quieter, so performance edition fans are not an option!
Go for SP120.
For the radiator use something full size (60mm thick), as you have room for that, IMHO you should use thinner rads only if you don't have a space, but that not the case with 900D.
So you looking at getting something like Alphacool UT60, Phobya G-Changer, EK XTX.

-Pump and res, good choice, its always good to go for dual pump setup, as you are getting better performance, and in case that one of the pump fail, your system will still work with no problems, just remember to set them up at level 3, cus that will make them quieter and you will still have good performance.

- You should go for bigger diameter tubing(look better, especially in big case like 900D)
Go for this tubing http://specialtech.co.uk/spshop/cus...-13-19mm-Tubing--Crystal-Clear-pid-17677.html
is really nice and doesn't cloud( I'm using it for about 4weeks now and still look great, my old tubing stat clouding after 3weeks)

-XSPC compression fitting are a bit bulky, if you want silver/chrome fitting go for:
- http://specialtech.co.uk/spshop/cus...ubing-Shiny-Silver--BP-CPF-CC5-pid-11276.html
- http://specialtech.co.uk/spshop/cus...r-12-ID---34-OD-Tubing--Silver-pid-13941.html
- http://specialtech.co.uk/spshop/cus...D-13-19mm-Tubing--NZL-V13-19KG-pid-12879.html

-With thermal paste I will rather go for AC MX4 or NTH1, don't know about XSPC stuff as I never used it before.

All the rest looks good for me.

 

[Andy101]

Thanks for the reply's

Regarding the build or rather the purpose for it is going to be for gameing as you mentioned MacLeod. However i want the gaming build quiet and be able to OC to the limit of the Graphic Card awell as the CPU. Reason for the I7 is to be able to render movies aswell as recording + Streaming. I apologize for not mentioning this before it completely slipped my mind.

Yeah noticed that the MSI MB was the wrong generation mixed the 1155 with 1150 -.-

I've change the build abit now.

1x MSI GeForce GTX 780
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-200-MS

3x Corsair SP120 Quiet Series High Pressure Dual Pack
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-010-CS

1x Corsair SP120 Quiet Series High Pressure
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-009-CS

1x Corsair AF120 Quiet Series low noise Dual Pack
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-003-CS

1x Corsair AF140 Quiet Series low noise
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-006-CS

x1 Artic Cooling MX4 (4g)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-003-AR

x10 Bitspower True Silver Compression fitting CC2 for 13/10mm Tube
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-276-BP

1x EK-CoolStream RAD XTX (480)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-162-EK

1x EK-CoolStream RAD XTX (360)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-161-EK

There are only 1 thing left now.. I can't decide which motherboard :/ Any1 that can put the final nail in the coffin for me? For the reasons mentioned above which gives the best stable OC or best Bios (features) etc.. Then i can finally complete my order and start building!

Andy

 

[MacLeod]

Again, I gotta say Asus for the motherboard. If for no other reason than the UEFI. It really is superband makes ooverclocking and navigating around the BIOS a whole hell of a lot easier.

 

[WillSK]

Again, I gotta say Asus for the motherboard. If for no other reason than the UEFI. It really is superband makes ooverclocking and navigating around the BIOS a whole hell of a lot easier.

I have to say based on Toms review, a lot of people would disagree re the motherboard. It is very overpriced considering overclocking ability on the z87 chipset is pretty identical across all mid to high end boards and that the silicon lottery is much more the deciding factor. The asus MoBo is a ridiculous price to performance ratio in my opinion and you would be far better off saving yourself the money and getting the Z87 GD65 gaming or the UD4 to go with your colour scheme

Edit: I just realised it's the hero and not the extreme you listed so the price/performance ratio is far better so you can ignore my initial comment but I still stand by what I said regarding the z87 chipset. It's very chip dependent rather than MoBo imo

 

[MacLeod]

Agreed. I'm not saying go Asus for better overclocking because Gigabyte is just as capable as is MSI. I was recommending Asus based solely on the UEFI being so good. That tips it in my favor.

Full disclosure, I am a pretty big fan of Asus. I've had nothing but brilliant results with them over the years and they always seem to do very good in the toughest reviews so I am a little biased towards them.

 

[JR23]

Do you really want an AXi? I've been messing with Corsair Link from the start and I like it but I wouldn't trust it with power delivery. I bought an AX860 platinum and haven't been dissapointed, it just sits in the corner providing power, very quietly! I wouldn't swap it for an AXi although I think the casing does look a little better esp the fan guard. I've heard the AXi's are a PIA to set up and every time you turn them on the fan spins to 100%. The AX default profile is perfect.

Also if you can run them I would recommend the SP120 PWM High performance editions. I've had both the normal high performance and quiet editions and the PWM's are the best of both with 700rpm silence and 2400rpm cooling when called on.

BTW the red corsair sleeved cables are beautiful!

JR

 

[MacLeod]

The AXi's are getting rave reviews from the Jonny Gurus and HardOCP's of the world. I'd have no problem using one at all.

 

[WillSK]

The AXi's are getting rave reviews from the Jonny Gurus and HardOCP's of the world. I'd have no problem using one at all.

i've always wondered regarding the AXi's. They seem like a fantastic product but if i'm honest with myself i doubt i'd use the link software and therefore would more likely save myself a few quid and get the standard AX 860 platinum