Preliminary Build Advice

[Calamity]

Hello:

I'm new here on the forums. I have some experience putting PCs together, but wanted to up my level and challenge myself. I am interested in trying a "slight" overclock, but would be more interested in getting longevity out of parts. I have collected and bartered for a good bit of what I have now.

Current (Main) PC

CPU: Intel 870
Monitor(s): PA246 (1920X1200) and 2xVE248(1920x1080)
Ram: 8 GB (Slow, but don't remember speed)
Video: 6950 (I think)
HDD: Seagate Black 1 TB
PSU: CM AX
Sound Card: Asus Xonar Essence

I also have two older AMD machines. One is a AMD 945 that I put into an Antec 900 as a NAS4FREE box. The other is an AMD 1100T that will be turned into something useful. I also have a Synology 210j nas.

Stuff I Do

I work on a variety of different projects and I game:

• Monte Carlo Simulation
• Web Development
• Network Programming
• VMing
• Heavy Multi-tasker
• Gaming (I only game on 1 monitor. I play in Windowed mode.) I play MMO's and RTS games. I rarely play shooters (too slow for that type of gaming).
• Mucking about with Video Stuff (I want to start recording instructions for myself and others. I also want to record some game play stuff).
• Other tasks.

The Strategic Plan

I want to take the PC I'm using now AND my Extra AMD system. Break down the PC I have now and divide it into two systems. I will take the 2xVE248(1920x1080) I have AND the 2XVW222U (1680x?) monitors I have and arrange them in two vertical monitor stands. My 1920x1200 will go with on whatever PC I build.

I would then use something like Input Director or Synergy to share my KB and Mouse between systems. I plan on doing this to increase my overall power and off load some of the video demand onto the other machines.

Network wise I'm going to bump up to a 16-24 port gigabit switch, and keep as many devices on that as possible.

Next Build

This is the first time that I want to theme and customize my build. I'm not the most handy guy around, but I learn quick and have friends that can fabricate about anything. I do not want to bite off more than I can handle for my first themed build.

I want to build around the NZXT Switch 810 Gun Metal case. I liked it when I saw it and found one stupid cheap, so I purchased. I have an ASUS Xonar Essence that I will build around. I need want to research a custom loop. I am interested in learning to para-cord my own cables.

Haswell and IB-E along with the next generation of video will likely be out before I purchase. Not a huge concern. I am researching a Future 2500x1400 screen upgrade (depends how much it takes to push in simulations, games and the impact on recording). I'm trying to find a metric to help decide how much I'll benefit from an "E" level CPU.

I'd like some direction to get me going. I've been collecting guides and watching a lot of YouTube. Any sage advice to get my theme/design going and things to watch out for would be much appreciated.

-Calamity

 

[Calamity]

My post is a bit all over the place. Now you can see the current state of my thought process....scattered.

I'll start with something more direct -> When starting a new custom build, where is the best place to start from...internal hardware, case, color palette or doesn't it really matter?

For the Switch 810 Gun Metal I was looking at:

Orange/Black, Red/Black or Stealth? Any suggestions here?

-Calamity

 

[alpenwasser]

My post is a bit all over the place. Now you can see the current state of my thought process....scattered.

Don't worry, you're not the only one with that problem :lol:

I'll start with something more direct -> When starting a new custom build, where is the best place to start from...internal hardware, case, color palette or doesn't it really matter?

My process is usually:
"Oh, I like this, want." (add 1 component to want list)
"It requries this, that and etc." (add all required components to want list that are needed
for component 1)
"That's also pretty, want." (add another component).
"But it's incompatible with comp. 1 " (ponder which component I want more, remove
the loser and its dependencies from list).

Repeat until you have everything.

Or, to be a bit more concise: For me it's a very organic process. If I get really lost, I just
go to an online shop and work myself through all required categories until I have a
complete build.

For the Switch 810 Gun Metal I was looking at:

Orange/Black, Red/Black or Stealth? Any suggestions here?

-Calamity

Red/Black, though nice, has been done often. Personally, I think a good stealth build would
look very nice in a gunmetal 810. But in the end, this is for you to know, it's your build
after all

 

[Calamity]

My process is usually:
"Oh, I like this, want." (add 1 component to want list)
"It requries this, that and etc." (add all required components to want list that are needed
for component 1)
"That's also pretty, want." (add another component).
"But it's incompatible with comp. 1 " (ponder which component I want more, remove
the loser and its dependencies from list).

Repeat until you have everything.

Or, to be a bit more concise: For me it's a very organic process. If I get really lost, I just
go to an online shop and work myself through all required categories until I have a
complete build.

Thanks for the process. I'll be looking at both IB and SB-E right now as place holders.

Red/Black, though nice, has been done often. Personally, I think a good stealth build would
look very nice in a gunmetal 810. But in the end, this is for you to know, it's your build
after all

I was looking at Dominator Ram with an H100/H100i. I don't hate light or color, but in a stealth system I'd use it sparingly.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Since you use a lot of software for many different tasks i would suggest an i7 3770k with a MSI GD45/55/65 depending on budget. For the case if you do not plan on watercooling then i would say forget the Switch 810 and grab R4/Arc Midi V2/500r or something along those lines.

Does your software support CUDA/OpenCL or GL? If it does support Cuda then a Nvidia gtx 660ti would be ideal. If it suports CL then go for a 7870/7950.

That's my take on this so far.

 

[Calamity]

Since you use a lot of software for many different tasks i would suggest an i7 3770k with a MSI GD45/55/65 depending on budget.

I have not yet decided on a chip set. I'm going to wait until the launches are done for this year and benchmarks are out. This gives me plenty of time to decide.

For the case if you do not plan on watercooling then i would say forget the Switch 810 and grab R4/Arc Midi V2/500r or something along those lines.

I already own the case. I'll use it regardless of water cooling unless there's an excellent reason not to. I do want to take a whack at water cooling.

Does your software support CUDA/OpenCL or GL? If it does support Cuda then a Nvidia gtx 660ti would be ideal. If it suports CL then go for a 7870/7950.

I've just started mucking about with FRAPS and Vegas/CS3 to see what's-what. I've been reading about Fermi vs. Kelper architecture and the disparity in rendering. I'm not currently tied to any software or hardware product, so any suggestions here would be welcomed.


Thanks,

Calamity

 

[OmegaStalker]

If you click on the Artic water link in my sig you'll see my current being build rig:

The way i started it was this,

1) Seen the Cosmos 2 knew i wanted that case

2) Picked what main feature i wanted which was Metal piped watercooling in my case

3) Chose a colour scheme and what mobo lended to it E.G i wanted a white mobo therefore the sabertooth armor was the only option which made me get a z77

4) all the other parts fell into place

Thats how i did it but every one is different =)

 

[Calamity]

If you click on the Artic water link in my sig you'll see my current being build rig:

The way i started it was this,

1) Seen the Cosmos 2 knew i wanted that case

2) Picked what main feature i wanted which was Metal piped watercooling in my case

3) Chose a colour scheme and what mobo lended to it E.G i wanted a white mobo therefore the sabertooth armor was the only option which made me get a z77

4) all the other parts fell into place

Thats how i did it but every one is different =)

That build is crazy good. The Z77 armor mod seals the deal. I really need to get some design thoughts down now.

Thanks for sharing,

Calamity

 

[NeverBackDown]

I have not yet decided on a chip set. I'm going to wait until the launches are done for this year and benchmarks are out. This gives me plenty of time to decide.
I already own the case. I'll use it regardless of water cooling unless there's an excellent reason not to. I do want to take a whack at water cooling.
I've just started mucking about with FRAPS and Vegas/CS3 to see what's-what. I've been reading about Fermi vs. Kelper architecture and the disparity in rendering. I'm not currently tied to any software or hardware product, so any suggestions here would be welcomed.

Thanks,
Calamity

Shortened it up

Haswell will only give around 5-10%cpu performance increase but will have much lower TDPs and such will generate less heat(theoretically) and consume less power.

You did not state you had the Switch so i did not know(i may have missed it) and same with WC intentions.

Fraps is just for recording so it's not biased. Vegas perfers AMD cards and CS3 is outdated(CS6 is current) and Adobe in the future will support OpenGL/CL and CUDA.

 

[Deejeta]

I would definitely look at a 2011 socket upgrade pal. For what you do its a perfect platform. Pair that with a nice high res Dell IPS screen and you'll be laughing. Grab a nice gpu with a whole heap of outputs to cover the rest of your screens.
+1 for the switch 810 as well.

 

[Calamity]

I would definitely look at a 2011 socket upgrade pal. For what you do its a perfect platform. Pair that with a nice high res Dell IPS screen and you'll be laughing. Grab a nice gpu with a whole heap of outputs to cover the rest of your screens.
+1 for the switch 810 as well.

I was eyeing the 3930K. I'm trying to keep an open mind and looking very carefully at all options. I'm probably going to get Fraps full version and the Vegas to get started.

On another note does anyone here have experience with CeraKote? It can go on metal and plastics. It just so happens I "know a guy" that works with this product on a daily basis.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Amd cards will run better with Vegas than Nvidia cards will. At least last i saw this was the case.

 

[Calamity]

I think I got a list decently sorted.

CPU: 3930K
Cooler: H100i
RAM: 32Gb Dominator Platinum - Speed
SSD: Samsun 840 not sure on size
HDD: Looking at Raid 1 + 0
Vidoe: Titan (Compute Testing + 1440p)
PSU: Corsair AX or Seasonic - not sure how big
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate or Windows 8
Case:
UPS:

I need paste and cleaner.

I want to replace the H100i fans and get appropriate case fans. Any Help would be appreciated.

Note: I have a Sound card to add right now. Looking at possibly and additional video card (in the future). I'm also looking at a dual port 10GB NIC as a future upgrade.

Suggestions welcomed. I hope I didn't miss too much.

-Calamity

 

[Feronix]

Just saying, but Dominator Platinums are overpriced. You could get a similarly specced kit for less money if you wanted though I can understand if you like the looks of them.

Get a Samsung 840 Pro SSD, the standard 840 is not quite as good (cheaper though).

Get a GTX 780 over a Titan. Performance is nearly identical but it will save you some money.

For Radiator fans, good ones to consider would be
- Corsair SP120 (Quiet Edition)
- Noctua NF-P12
- Silverstone AP123

As casefans I guess you could go with:
- Corsair AF120 (Quiet Edition)
- Noctua NF-F12
- Bitfenix Spectre Pro

 

[Calamity]

Build is off and running....still need a few things

Hello,

Thanks for all the input on this. I managed to get the build up and running. I wound up getting the P9X79-E WS. This fit better with some of the add-ons I'll be getting for work I'll be doing (not just gaming).

This thing is powerful and zippy. I ended up getting 3 Samsung SSDs 1 for a main drive and two as cache for some 2TB storage drives I had.

There is a bit of noise (coil whine) from the GPU when I put it under load. I currently have the sides and top off the case while I complete the build, so it's a lot more noticeable.

First time with UEFI bios. Seems pretty good, but can be flaky at times.

Should be able to handle what ever I throw at it.

I still need a few bits:

H100i: Push/Pull - I'm missing 8 screws for the bottom set of fans. Might try a local hardware store. I'll just take one with me unless anyone has an Idea on dimension. I looked through the booklet, but didn't really see anything.

I need to swap out the front 200mm fan and possibly add another below that (120/140mm - not sure).

Looking at a Surge Protector and/or UPS.

Education wise I want to possibly attempt a stable over clock. I looked @ XMP and the Asus Turbo Evo. I tried them both. XMP gets me the native 1866 on the ram and 3.8Ghz on CPU, while Turbo Evo 4.1 - 4.2 Ghz and ~1700mhz

 

[NeverBackDown]

Update bios to fix some of the issues.

RMA the Gpu if its bad. Overclock yourself and never let the computer do it for you.