The Black Beast

[Feronix]

Heya guys! You may have already heard some of my ideas in other threads but I figured I'd just make one main thread for all my questions about this build. I'm currently still in the progress of selling my current pc (There's actually nothing wrong with it, I just want a new one ._.)

The idea is to have an ALL BLACK computer, hence the name "Black Beast" (it'll be pretty high end). The only colour that you'll be able to see is the brown-ish heatsink on the Sabertooth mainboard, but that will be covered by GPU for the biggest part, so I don't really worry about that.

The whole build will be in a Corsair Obsidian 650D, as I wanted a mid-tower with a window (otherwise it'd make little sense making everything black, eh?) and support for an H100i. I know, I know, a "beast" should have a proper watercooling loop, I just don't have the budget for it atm, nor any experience with watercooling and I don't want to screw up such an expensive build. Please don't murder me for this

I'll do some slight modding to the case, including shielding off the power supply and making some sort of cover that hides the top fan spaces, but does allow airflow of the H100i coming out. It sounds kind of vague atm, but honestly I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, I need to have seen the case in person first
I *will* take out all the stock fans.

I'll also have to do some slight "modding" to some of the components, like the GTX 670 FTW, which has a green "Geforce GTX" logo on it. I'll be using a black permanent marker to mask this out (I know that it works cause I've done it before). One other thing is that my rear fan will have these black-red-yellow cables, I'll find a way to make these black. I might just wrap it in black hockey tape (which usually goes on ice hockey sticks)

I want your guys opinion on this build please! I won't immediately go all out with SLI cards 'cause I'm on a budget atm



Here is the full specs list:

Corsair Obsidian 650D

Intel Core i7 3770k Boxed

Corsair Hydro H100i

Asus Sabertooth Z77

EVGA GeForce GTX 670 FTW 2GB

Patriot Viper 4x4GB 2133MHz CL11

LG Blu-ray BH10LS38

Corsair Professional Gold AX750

Corsair Sleeved Cables - Black

Samsung 840 SSD 128GB

WD Caviar Black 1TB

Bitfenix Spectre Black 200mm (replace front fan)

Bitfenix Spectre All Black 120mm (replace rear fan)

Internal USB 3.0 Adaptor (Case comes with pass-through)

Windows 8 64 Bit OEM (Legal copy)


And here is a list with future upgrades:

EVGA GeForce GTX 670 FTW 2GB

2x EVGA GTX670 FTW Backplates

Asus Xonar D2X /XDT



What do you guys think? Is this fine or would you guys change anything? Before anyone says "Z77 MPOWER!" I know, but no... I just want the Sabertooth for this build. It'll be a personal build, not for someone else

I'm only going to overclock the CPU slightly, to maybe 4GHz as it can get really, really hot in my room during the summer and I don't want to keep messing around with clock speeds back and forth. I just want to do it and be done with it tbh... I don't have much experience with overclocking ^^'


The rig shall be used for:

- Gaming (I actually just realised I don't game that much anymore, but the games that I do play are quite demanding) like Far Cry 3, GTA IV/V and all that. I own a few games with PhysX so I prefer to go with Nvidia cards (I heard that CUDA also helps out in Adobe applications?) Even though a 7970 might be a bit faster for the same price.

- PhotoShop, I do this a lot, mainly as a hobby but I do ocasionally get people that ask me do make them something for a small amount of money.

- Video editing in Sony Vegas and After Effects. I just want to get a lot more serious with my video editing. I really want to learn it and an i7 and fast/plenty RAM just really help out with this software, even though it's not *completely* necessary.

Let me know guys! I'll make a build log once I start this project

Thanks in advance,
Rick

 

[Mhyles]

Are you going to be using the i7 to it's full potential? If not, take it out.
I wouldn't go with the Sabertooth, as it's overpriced for what it is. If you going with something black, why not, go with the MSI MPower or something from ASRock?
Get (2x8) RAM.
Great choice of PSU.
Get the Samsung 830 series, IIRC, they are cheaper and faster. It may be the other way around though.
Change to a Caviar Blue.
Get a 7950, as it's on par with the 670 with the recent driver udates, and beats the 680 when OC'd.

 

[Feronix]

Are you going to be using the i7 to it's full potential? If not, take it out.
I wouldn't go with the Sabertooth, as it's overpriced for what it is. If you going with something black, why not, go with the MSI MPower or something from ASRock?
Get (2x8) RAM.
Great choice of PSU.
Get the Samsung 830 series, IIRC, they are cheaper and faster. It may be the other way around though.
Change to a Caviar Blue.
Get a 7950, as it's on par with the 670 with the recent driver udates, and beats the 680 when OC'd.

-Yes

-The Sabertooth does what I want it to do, and the look is the inspiration for the entire build. Asrock boards are dark brown btw

-For some reason the 2x8 is €140,- while the 4x4 in only 90. I see no need to upgrade to even more than 16GB's anytime soon, so honestly I don't think this matter much?

-Thanks, c3d: helped me on that one

-840 is slightly faster, but the shop I'm ordering it all from does not have the 830s at all. In all other shops they cost just as much as the 840 does where I'm getting it (kinda weird, but oh well :L)

-What's the actual difference? Couldn't really see any difference in specs and the prices are also similar, but I figured the "black" would go so well with thuis build xD

-Hmm, been a while since I've had a look at these cards! I'll try finding some benchmarks, thanks
Would go with 7970s though, since they're the same price as the 670 anyway (btw, this is a 670FTW so actually it's pretty much a reference 680 I think?)

I'll have a look, thanks

 

[Mhyles]

-Yes

-The Sabertooth does what I want it to do, and the look is the inspiration for the entire build. Asrock boards are dark brown btw

-For some reason the 2x8 is €140,- while the 4x4 in only 90. I see no need to upgrade to even more than 16GB's anytime soon, so honestly I don't think this matter much?

-Thanks, c3d: helped me on that one

-840 is slightly faster, but the shop I'm ordering it all from does not have the 830s at all. In all other shops they cost just as much as the 840 does where I'm getting it (kinda weird, but oh well :L)

-What's the actual difference? Couldn't really see any difference in specs and the prices are also similar, but I figured the "black" would go so well with thuis build xD

-Hmm, been a while since I've had a look at these cards! I'll try finding some benchmarks, thanks
Would go with 7970s though, since they're the same price as the 670 anyway (btw, this is a 670FTW so actually it's pretty much a reference 680 I think?)

I'll have a look, thanks

In the ASRock boards, you can't really notice that's it's dark brown tbh.

The more channels of memory you use of ram, the slower it gets. So get a 2x8 if your going OK on RAM.

The Blue is slightly faster, for cheaper.

Don't get the 7970 it's quite a waste of money, seeing as the 7950 is only 5% - 15% behind, which can easily made up in an simple overclock.

 

[Feronix]

In the ASRock boards, you can't really notice that's it's dark brown tbh.

The more channels of memory you use of ram, the slower it gets. So get a 2x8 if your going OK on RAM.

The Blue is slightly faster, for cheaper.

Don't get the 7970 it's quite a waste of money, seeing as the 7950 is only 5% - 15% behind, which can easily made up in an simple overclock.

True, I guess I just really want the Sabertooth

Hmmm, I'll see if i can find a 2x8 kit then, thanks!

Thanks for letting me know, I'll swap out the black for a blue

Still not sure on the GPU, I'll look up some benchmarks when I have time tomorrow

 

[S_I_N]

wtf blacks are faster and better than blues dont know where ya got your info from

on current intel offering there is no difference between 2x8gb or 4x4gb so if 16gb is the goal I'd get the best least expensive option. I have recently gone from 2x4gb to 4x4gb both 1866 and have not seen any slow downs so not sure where thats coming from ether

 

[Feronix]

wtf blacks are faster and better than blues dont know where ya got your info from

on current intel offering there is no difference between 2x8gb or 4x4gb so if 16gb is the goal I'd get the best least expensive option. I have recently gone from 2x4gb to 4x4gb both 1866 and have not seen any slow downs so not sure where thats coming from ether

Yeah, I was actually thinking that about the HDD's but I was going to check tomorrow Also didn't know that about the RAM, thanks for the heads up mate

Happen to know what's the deal with these GPUs as wel?? :3

 

[Mhyles]

wtf blacks are faster and better than blues dont know where ya got your info from

on current intel offering there is no difference between 2x8gb or 4x4gb so if 16gb is the goal I'd get the best least expensive option. I have recently gone from 2x4gb to 4x4gb both 1866 and have not seen any slow downs so not sure where thats coming from ether

Sorry, I got it wrong. There is very minimal difference between the Black and Blue, but the Blue is cheaper so you may aswell just go with it tbh. 2x8GB is cheaper, IIRC.

 

[S_I_N]

he's building an ultimate rig why would he go with lower end stuff. yes both are good but blacks rock. plus he stated the 4x4gb was 50quid cheaper than the 2x4gb


with the gpus its all persoanl preference. I like Nvidia the best but Iam currently running xfired 6950's only because my monitors DP is more favorable to AMD

 

[Mhyles]

he's building an ultimate rig why would he go with lower end stuff. yes both are good but blacks rock. plus he stated the 4x4gb was 50quid cheaper than the 2x4gb


with the gpus its all persoanl preference. I like Nvidia the best but Iam currently running xfired 6950's only because my monitors DP is more favorable to AMD

Ultimate rig, means spend money out on things that are not necessary? The Blue and Black have minimal performance differences, why go with something that's more expensive?

 

[Feronix]

That's a difference between you and me. You see it as spending just a little less for a small decrease in performance, I see it as spending just a little more for a small increase in performance

Btw Mhyles, mind linking me to some benchmarks where the 7950 is actually better than a 670/680? Cause I can't seem to find any

 

[nothingspecial]

Just to chip in with my $0.02, if you're using Vegas/After Effects (and Premiere?) a lot, definitely got for nVidia GPUs, as After Effects/Premiere love a bit of Cuda action. Switch to the Mercury Playback Engine, and you'll basically never have to pre-render while editing. Pretty sure Vegas can use it as well.

Also, more threads = better for rendering, so definately go for the 3770k over the 3570k.

 

[ccaution]

( Unless you found that 1TB dirty cheap, get youself a >2GB drive. The pound/gb is far better on those bigger drives )

 

[Feronix]

Just to chip in with my $0.02, if you're using Vegas/After Effects (and Premiere?) a lot, definitely got for nVidia GPUs, as After Effects/Premiere love a bit of Cuda action. Switch to the Mercury Playback Engine, and you'll basically never have to pre-render while editing. Pretty sure Vegas can use it as well.

Also, more threads = better for rendering, so definately go for the 3770k over the 3570k.

Thanks for the helpful comment!
Yeah, I'm an Nvidia guy anyway, not that I don't want to give AMD a chance... I'll stick with the 670 FTWs as they're basically reference 680s anyway, and it would save me €110,- per card, lmfao....

( Unless you found that 1TB dirty cheap, get youself a >2GB drive. The pound/gb is far better on those bigger drives )

The WD Black 1TB is €80,- and and a 2TB is €145,- where I live... Would save me like 10-15 euro in the long run but I don't think I'll need a drive that big anytime in the near future. Thanks for the tip though



I had a question on the SSD btw. I have a system with an SSD at the moment, it's a 60GB drive on which I installed Windows (Which is usually 15-20GB max, right?) This is my C: drive. It has a WD Caviar Blue 1TB for storage, which is my D: drive. However, windows sees my SSD as the primary harddrive and installs all temp files there. Everything on the desktop also ends up on the SSD and installation Wizards always try to install it on the C: drive as well, I have to change this to E: manually every time...

Is there any way to make this easier? Like making the storage drive C: and the SSD the D: drive while still booting from the SSD and having my Windows on there? I could use some help here :lol:

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Feronix]

Made this airflow design, decided to make space for an extra fan to cool the GPUs more and create positive airflow. It will be mouted on the inside of the PSU cover with a black fan grill on the top for looks. Will probably get a dust filter for the cutout where the air enters the case.

Decided to work with brushed aluminum for those covers as it looks sleek and it's on the front of the case as well. Hoping it will give a much cleaner look

 

[Etlar]

That's a difference between you and me. You see it as spending just a little less for a small decrease in performance, I see it as spending just a little more for a small increase in performance

Btw Mhyles, mind linking me to some benchmarks where the 7950 is actually better than a 670/680? Cause I can't seem to find any

On the card, if you see all the infomation you will see that AMD will kick some ass. Have my self a 7970 GHZ from XFX and it just keep going hard on the 680 whit the new drivers. And that is to all 7970 cards.