Hey all, you might have seen my post in the GPU section, but anyways I'm back with a few more questions. I felt like this would be the more "correct" forum, so I made a new post here.
My total budget is up to $1500. Basically I'm loking for the best bang-for-the-buck, and need to make this final. The parts list is here:
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/IwinFTW/saved/22dz
I'll be gaming on it, mainly AAA titles like BF4, Crysis 3, Arma III (though it's not really AAA), Heavily modded Skyrim, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, etc. I want to be able to push the highest settings at 60+ fps. I can sacrifice MSAA/FXAA or some AF if it garners 60+ fps. I've chosen the GTX 760 here as on 1200p, which is what my monitor will be, it absolutely rocks.
The remaining questions I have are:
- I recently changed the cooler, case and PSU to be a Kraken X60, Carbide Air 540, and AX760i, respectively. These are fine options, right?
- Is there anything else I can squeeze a bit more price/performance out of?
Thanks in advance!
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Killerfrenzy96/saved/28tR
Best bang for your buck.
No. THe 7950 is 200 dollars cheaper right now. And can beat the GTX 770 when overclocked.
I'd prefer to stay with Intel for this build, as well as stick with Z87. I like the featureset Z87 provides, as well as the MVIH.
Also, the Crosshair V Formula-Z doesn't support PCIe 3 as well as lacks a few things I really like from the Hero. PCIe 2 isn't really a bottleneck, but it'll eventually become one as newer and more powerful PCIe 3 cards come to market and really start utilizing PCIe 3's full potential.
EDIT: I can be swayed to AMD, as long as you show me nifty software features, PCIe 3.0, at least 4 SATA 6G ports, and 4 or more USB 3.0.
What about this configuration? About the same price but with a MSI GTX 770 Gaming GPU. I already own the Corsair 600T and a TX750M. My Dell XPS 8300 is currently in the 600T, but I can buy a CX430 V2 for $40 or so, and not have to go through the pain of putting the XPS 8300 back in its original case. In the 600T ir performs really well, anyway.
Link: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/IwinFTW/saved/22dz
If possible to wait, AMD is about to release their new GPU and CPU series. Considering both consoles will be using AMD parts you can expect better optimization for them. Any AM3+ motherboard will be usable by steam roller. I would just use an ssd as a boot drive. They have a read/write life due to the nature of the nand chips.
build interior
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1qig0
The FX series seems dated to me IMO. I'm not trying to shoot you guys down here, but it just seems that way, what with AMD quietly killing the series. I could go APU if I can get similar or better performance to the 4670K.
As for SSDs I want to store my favorite games on them, to improve load times and to improve boot times. The XPG SX900 is a real nice deal for a 256GB SSD imo. As for an HDD, I already have a 2TB Barracuda I'm going to use, I guess I forgot to mention that. I like the 7970 GHz. Real nice card and it comes with 4 games.
Ok. If you could give a full list of all the parts you already have it would helpful. I'll take a second look at it with Intel in mind. And will you be over clocking to the point of needing that much cpu cooling? I added .6 ghz to my amd and the 70 dollar air heat sink keeps it under 50c even on full load.
I have a 600T and a TX750M. The 600T is housing my Dell XPS 8300 right now, and the TX750M is powering it. I can go for a CX430 V2 and use it instead, but I want to keep the XPS 8300 in the 600T. It's a great case, and I see no reason to take the XPS 8300 out of it.
You could get something like a Define XL/R4 that fits a 280mm rad (if you go with the Kraken X60), or a Antec P280, etc. I want it to be quiet as well, if you can. If you want to work from my base parts, the link is http://pcpartpicker.com/user/IwinFTW/saved/22dz .
One requirement/request -- if you could work off the Maximus VI Hero that'd be great. I'm choosing this as my mobo, for the featureset and quality.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1qzr1
That air cooled cpu cooler is actually 16 decibels softer than the water cooler.
linus review
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=838qp902hyw
other than that
2 dollars more for 8 cas instead of 9 cas ram
850 watt same edition psu is oddly cheaper than 750 version. If you catch the sale, if not same price with rebate.
Hmm...I really like that CPU cooler but the performance just isn't what I want. I can deal with 16 decibles if it's going into the Define R4, anyway.
The RAM looks quite nice, and I really like it. The only major issue I have with it is how it looks. If it's going into a case without a window I guess it'd be fine, but it'll still bug me until I switch it out. I know the RAM will perform just the same, but I guess I'm just OCD like that haha. Do you think I'll be able to pull tighter timings with the Vengeance Pro's? I'll get the G.Skill if I can't.
As for the PSU, TX850M it is, but can't I save $40, use the TX750M in my new build, use a CX430 V2 in the XPS 8300?
What about getting some NF-A14's for the Kraken X60 later on? It would be quiter, I think.
I know I'm sticking to my original config here a lot. I'm not trying to reject everyone's advice, but I really liked the way the system was in originally. You guys really are helping me a lot through the different options you're providing.
I might have been confused as to what psu you had already. So skipping over the psu.
I'm more familar with air cooling. Had a friend that picked up water cooling early on. A pipe leaked and the oil / whatever in particular the company used got everywhere. No damage besides the pump itself as the stuff doesn't conduct electricity. Just something I've avoid.
I double checked the case fans as I'm guessing you planned to replace them with the Noctuas?
The case fans are actually really good. They top out lower than the Noctuas 18.5 dBA vs 19.2 dBA.
link
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835352007
The ram timings, I would think you could get a timing or two off. Should work out.
I was planning to use the back 140mm in the front and replace that with the NF-F12, and use a side 140mm intake NF-A15 to get positive air pressure (remember the two 140mm in the top). At that level of quietness I shouldn't be able to hear the difference. I took the Noctuas to take advantage of their ridiculous performance and PWM (the MVIH has Fan Xpert 2 and I wan to take advantage of it), but I can go for another set of fans as well. Both Noctuas come with low noise and ultra low noise adapters as well that I can take advantage of if they're too loud (though I doubt that they will at 19 dB).
I've never heard of closed loop cooling leaking. Those coolers rarely leak. If you're doing a custom loop and a fitting is loose, then you can spring a leak (most people test the loop prior to using it). Even rarer do pumps leak. I could go with an air cooler just the same, but personally I like the look and performance of water cooling a lot better.
For the RAM that's great, then. I'll knock the timings down to 8-9-8-26 if I can. $2 doesn't really make a difference.
For fans I know Linus really likes the NF-F12's and NF-A15's, so basically those are the two fans I "like." I heard good things about Corsair's AF120+140 and the SP120, but not really much else from other fans, so if you could recomened a nice PWM fan, that'd be great.
The corsair vengeance 2 x 8 gb 1600mhz I'm using now didn't take to 1866 with relaxed timings, more voltage, and extra 266 mhz. The article I used to see what other people got was claiming close to 400 mhz extra so... Idk.
I must have been cruel to puppies in a past life or something, couldn't lower the timings or raise the mhz. I don't see it being an issue anyways. If it looks cooler the difference would a fraction of a fraction of a percent since ram isn't normally a bottleneck. Good luck on your build though, it looks nice!
Haha thanks, I guess you ran into a streak of bad luck. I'll be sure to post the build here when it's done!