Would like a little help. : )

[marick626]

Hey everyone,

This would be my 2nd build so I am not a total noob but haven't built one in over 5 years. I have compiled a list of parts with a bit of research but would like a few suggestions as to where I could save money or change stuff for better hardware you recommend if able.

CPU: Intel 980x

I hate intel for overpricing their hardware, but there are no amd boards that support SLI so that is my only solution and I want the best.

Motherboard: Asus Rampage III extreme

Case: Cooler Master HAF-X

I hate the look of this case but its cheap and has good cooling. I would prefer a fractal but no reseller ships to my location (PR in the caribbean) or a lian-li but expensive.

PSU: Corsair AX1200

GPU: 3x MSI 580GTX

Ram: 2x 12gb mushkin blackline (by recommendation of Tom) 1600mhz

HDD: 2x crucial C300 128gb SSDs (planning on raid 0 SATA 3) & WD caviar black 1.5 tb

CPU cooler: Noctua NH-D14

Looking into water cooling but have never done it before.

Budget is around 5,000USD or 3,173.88GBP

 

[alicarve]

CPU: Intel 970 saves money and oc good

Motherboard: Asus Rampage III extreme

Case: Cooler Master HAF-X -have a look at the nzxt phantom or the bitfenix collosus

PSU: Corsair AX1200

GPU: 3x MSI 580GTX

Ram: 2x 12gb mushkin blackline (by recommendation of Tom) 1600mhz

HDD: 2x crucial C300 128gb SSDs (planning on raid 0 SATA 3) & WD caviar black 1.5 tb

CPU cooler: Noctua NH-D14

everything else is good

 

[Aurus_OC]

I don't know about how those Crucial SSDs perform over long term in a RAID config, quite concerned about the garbage collection. So I would need some input from somebody who has tested them / knows about them more.

Like Alicarve said go with the i7 970 it is better than the 980X if you don't plan on dicing or liquid nitrogen cooling, or other crazy overclocking.

If you don't like the look of the Haf X then don't buy it. I would consider the NZXT Phantom, Bitfenix Colossus, or the Silverstone FT02. Those are all great cases.

But other than that, this looks like it is going to be an amazing rig. Looking forward to seeing it come together!

 

[marick626]

CPU: Intel 970 saves money and oc good

Motherboard: Asus Rampage III extreme

Case: Cooler Master HAF-X -have a look at the nzxt phantom or the bitfenix collosus

PSU: Corsair AX1200

GPU: 3x MSI 580GTX

Ram: 2x 12gb mushkin blackline (by recommendation of Tom) 1600mhz

HDD: 2x crucial C300 128gb SSDs (planning on raid 0 SATA 3) & WD caviar black 1.5 tb

CPU cooler: Noctua NH-D14

everything else is good

The 970 is only $100 cheaper than the 980x, would rather spend the extra $100 for the better cpu.

I don't like the phantom either, too much plastic, and the bitfenix does not have any reseller that ships to PR. So I am out of luck as usual lol.

 

[Aurus_OC]

The 970 is only $100 cheaper than the 980x, would rather spend the extra $100 for the better cpu.

I don't like the phantom either, too much plastic, and the bitfenix does not have any reseller that ships to PR. So I am out of luck as usual lol.

The 980x is not better than the 970. It just has an unlocked multiplier and a higher stock frequency, but with a little bit of overclocking it is just as good if not better.

 

[marick626]

The 980x is not better than the 970. It just has an unlocked multiplier and a higher stock frequency, but with a little bit of overclocking it is just as good if not better.

Please enlighten me, I am still learning. How can the 970 be better than the 980x? Wouldn't an overclocked 980x be better than an overclocked 970?

 

[Stryker64]

980x is the noob friendly overclocker where people just bump up the multiplier. The 970 has a locked multiplier so you need to tinker with the FSB, RAM timings and all that, a lot more complicated, but you should be able to get a similar overclock.

Also I'm not 100% on this, but processors with an unlocked multipler don't like the FSB being tinkered with so you might get a higher clock with the 970.

 

[Tortuga]

What he means is, the 970 is actually the same chip as the 980x the only difference in the two chips is the 980x has an unlocked multiplier making the overclocking alot simpler...not necessarily easier. Most people who know where they are doing can get the same results out of the 970, even though the multiplier is locked. A little research and know how, can save you money time and time again while cpu shopping. The extreme addition is the equivalent of AMD Black edition...unlocked multipliers. Same story there, most people who know better usually save a few bucks, and go for a locked multiplier and get most of the overclocking out of the motherboard.

 

[Aurus_OC]

Yepp Zeals, got it nailed imo. Pretty much if you know what you are doing when overclocking you won't need the unlocked multiplier unless you are doing some extreme overclocking. If you are aiming for casual overclocks and/or a stable 24/7 overclock the 970 will give you the same if not better results.

EDIT: Oh and Tortuga you're right aswell

Didn't see your post at first, you are all too quick for me

 

[Tortuga]

Yepp Zeals, got it nailed imo. Pretty much if you know what you are doing when overclocking you won't need the unlocked multiplier unless you are doing some extreme overclocking. If you are aiming for casual overclocks and/or a stable 24/7 overclock the 970 will give you the same if not better results.

EDIT: Oh and Tortuga you're right aswell

Didn't see your post at first, you are all too quick for me

Lol, Zeals has been beating me to the punch all day.

 

[FunkyMonkey90]

As everyone else has stated get the i7 970, as for the phantom being plastic I can assure you the plastics used are solid as a rock.

Also I would get just 1 c300 as Aurus said it depends about the garbage collection and surely it would still be quick enough?

As for the 3 580's why not just get 2 and save a bit of money to upgrade your monitor(s)? =]

 

[thestepster]

yeah anything over sli is poo just drop a 580 and spend it elsewhere mate

 

[Stryker64]

Don't the 6970s scale better in multi GPU setups compared to the Nvidia cards?

 

[SnW]

Nice F@H rig !

 

[tinytomlogan]

Please enlighten me, I am still learning. How can the 970 be better than the 980x? Wouldn't an overclocked 980x be better than an overclocked 970?

The 980x is designed to be used with a higher multiplier,

The 970 is design to have a higher BCLK and a lower Multiplier

Long and short of it unless you are a complete n000b with too much money OR planning on overclocking subzero the 970 is the smart buy because it will easily do 4.2GHZ+ in the right hands. Other than the multiplier and BCLK abilities they are the same CPU just speed binned for their different abilities.