Reasonably High end build

brownej

I'm looking at putting together a reasonably high end build and I'm just want to make I'm not making any rookie mistakes. I've never actually put a computer together from scratch before but I've disassembled and fixed loads so the whole putting it together doesn't phase me. I've put a bit of thought into this but would appreciate any feedback on it. I've rounded off some of the prices from HWVS.
What I want is a good computer that will play a few games (even in a couple of years time) and will be fast for editing photos in photoshop.

CPU
i7 2600K (LGA1155) €285
MB
Asus P8P67 pro €160
RAM
8GB (2*4GB) Corsair Vengeance 1600 CL8 €115 (low latency)
GPU
Radeon HD 6950 2GB €240
HDD
A-data 64GB SSD €110 (for operating system)
WD Cavia Black 1TB 7200rpm 64MB cache €75
Case
Silverstone FT02 €225
PSU
700W Cougar S Power quiet supply €125
Operating System
Windows 7 home premium €88
Optical drive
LG Bluray burner €82
WLAN
TP link adapter €15
I have a monitor Dell SX23 and keyboard and mouse. I think I'll probably go for an additional monitor when my bank balance recovers

Total ~€1500

I am aware of the current issues with the intel cougar point chipset and the fact that it only affects the 3Gb/s SATA ports. The ASUS motherboard has 4 6Gb/s ports which should be enough for me.
I'm choosing the i7 2600k as I may decide to overclock it at a later date as an upgrade path.
The case is a bit of an indulgence but it has sound padding in it which should help with the noise. I am sticking with the standard intel cooler (for now) as I'm hoping that the noise insulation on the case will be enough. Any feedback here would be much appreciated.
The GPU is another indulgence as I had originally started out with the GTX460 and then went to the GTX560 as sure t'was only another 20 quid which then lead me to the HD6950 as sure t'was only another 20 quid again. The upgrade path here is of course if I want to get another one and put them in crossfire mode.
The PSU is something I could do with advice on as I want something quiet but I'm not sure on brands power required etc.
The RAM is the fastest (CL8) 1600 that I would go to and I think it's a good choice (hopefully).
The SSD has good specs 300MB/s read/write which puts it at the limit of the SATA interface on it.

Any advice or comments are appreciated. Oh and let me know if I've left out something obvious.

uberpixie

PSU:seasonic 650W €146
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?adp=0&aid=30021&agid=1629&apop=0

You can't go wrong with a seasonic power supply, I have an older 600w model and it is the quietest part in my build..... Worth every penny.


CASE: Antec p183 €132
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=30924&agid=631

If you want an extremely quiet case but want to save €100 quid... Antec P183.
Doors are a double layer of aluminium with a plastic layer between (plenty of padding), I would change the default case fans to something better but that is my personal preference.

VenomIreland

uberpixie wrote: »

PSU:seasonic 650W €146
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?adp=0&aid=30021&agid=1629&apop=0

You can't go wrong with a seasonic power supply, I have an older 600w model and it is the quietest part in my build..... Worth every penny.


CASE: Antec p183 €132
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=30924&agid=631

If you want an extremely quiet case but want to save €100 quid... Antec P183.
Doors are a double layer of aluminium with a plastic layer between (plenty of padding), I would change the default case fans to something better but that is my personal preference.

Is there any need for such an expensive PSU?

Maj Malfunction

uberpixie wrote: »

CASE: Antec p183 €132
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=30924&agid=631

If you want an extremely quiet case but want to save €100 quid... Antec P183.
Doors are a double layer of aluminium with a plastic layer between (plenty of padding), I would change the default case fans to something better but that is my personal preference.

+1 on that choice of case. I have a P193 and in fairness it is a quiet case with plenty of cooling too. If you want windows for bells and whistles then the Silverstone will fit the bill.

Serephucus

If you're worried about noise isolation, a Caviar Black drive is not the drive for you. You can kill most of it by hanging it*, but I'm still not sure if you'd be happy with the results. Then again, stock Intel cooler... might not hear it over that. Not sure.

* If you pick up some Stretch Magic on Amazon - about €5 for a few meters - you can suspend your HDD in a 5.25 bay. You end up with something like this, and it really helps. I myself have four HDDs suspended in this way, and now I need to replace my freakin' PSU because it's suddenly become one noisy fraker.

brownej

Serephucus wrote: »

If you're worried about noise isolation, a Caviar Black drive is not the drive for you. You can kill most of it by hanging it*, but I'm still not sure if you'd be happy with the results. Then again, stock Intel cooler... might not hear it over that. Not sure.

I picked the caviar black as it looks like a fast drive, I didn't realise it was so loud. Are there any other drives out there with good performance but quiet?

PogMoThoin

Get this if you want a fast 1TB drive:
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=17394&agid=689

You can get a 2TB drive for the price of the one you listed, not as fast as the f1 though
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=38561&agid=1284

Also agreed on psu, its the one component that if chosen wisely will easily last through 3-4 builds so its wise to buy bigger than you need. Never skimp on a psu. This cheaper Corsair would be fine (theres a cheaper €72 one that would be fine but its not in stock atm):
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28059&agid=1629

Serephucus

I'll second Póg's suggestion. I have two of the 1TB drives he listed - and two of the 2TBs - and the 1TB's are very quick. They actually beat my old 74GB Raptor on sustained reads and writes, though the bursts aren't quite as good. Both drives are quiet, though obviously the 1TBs are a little more noisy than their 2TB counterparts.

If it's going to be used for games, get the 1TB, if it's just for movies and music and the like, get the 2TB. I myself have my OS on a 32GB SSD, games and apps on a 1TB drive, and movies, music, documents and TV on a 2TB. The 1 and 2TB drives have identical drives serving as backups, and my SSD is backed up to an offsite server.

Really though, you're not going to notice that much difference with a faster hard drive. Especially if it won't have an OS on it. FYI, with the size of SSD you're looking at, you may as well put a few apps on it. Your browsers, IM clients, media players, etc. day-to-day stuff, that'll make your systems as a whole seem a lot more snappy.

brownej

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Get this if you want a fast 1TB drive:
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=17394&agid=689

You can get a 2TB drive for the price of the one you listed, not as fast as the f1 though
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=38561&agid=1284

Also agreed on psu, its the one component that if chosen wisely will easily last through 3-4 builds so its wise to buy bigger than you need. Never skimp on a psu. This cheaper Corsair would be fine (theres a cheaper €72 one that would be fine but its not in stock atm):
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28059&agid=1629

Thanks for that. Those Samsung drives look much better than the caviar black. Higher internal data rates and the 1TB has noise levels of only 27db. They're cheaper too.

brownej

Serephucus wrote: »

I'll second Póg's suggestion. I have two of the 1TB drives he listed - and two of the 2TBs - and the 1TB's are very quick. They actually beat my old 74GB Raptor on sustained reads and writes, though the bursts aren't quite as good. Both drives are quiet, though obviously the 1TBs are a little more noisy than their 2TB counterparts.

If it's going to be used for games, get the 1TB, if it's just for movies and music and the like, get the 2TB. I myself have my OS on a 32GB SSD, games and apps on a 1TB drive, and movies, music, documents and TV on a 2TB. The 1 and 2TB drives have identical drives serving as backups, and my SSD is backed up to an offsite server.

Really though, you're not going to notice that much difference with a faster hard drive. Especially if it won't have an OS on it. FYI, with the size of SSD you're looking at, you may as well put a few apps on it. Your browsers, IM clients, media players, etc. day-to-day stuff, that'll make your systems as a whole seem a lot more snappy.

Thanks for that I'll definitely adjust my build accordingly.
As a matter of interest how loud are the drives? I would guess they should be quieter than the graphics card or case fans.

Serephucus

brownej wrote: »

As a matter of interest how loud are the drives? I would guess they should be quieter than the graphics card or case fans.

Oh jaysus yeah. When I say noisy, you're talking to someone who has an extremely quiet PSU, suspended hard drives, watercooled components, very low speed fans, and four different types of soundproofing in his computer. Over any GPU with a fan, you won't hear them. They might add a bit of a hum to your case if they're hard-mounted, with no form of sound aborbsion in between, but that's about it.

As long as you can spare the 5.25 bays, I'd definitely recommend suspending the drives. After that, as long as you have a reasonably quiet PSU, a GPU that's not a leaf-blower, and quiet fans, your computer will be fine*.

* Then again, this is all relative. I don't know how quiet you want the thing. ATM, my fridge makes more noise than my computer. (small apartment. )

IrishMetalhead

heres what i would reccomend for the case a fractal define r3

http://www3.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=36379&agid=631

it's alot cheaper and just as good and quiet as the p183

dwighet

IrishMetalhead wrote: »

heres what i would reccomend for the case a fractal define r3

http://www3.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=36379&agid=631

it's alot cheaper and just as good and quiet as the p183

Im using the same case an would thoroughly recommend it... Its a very quiet case.....Im running 7 noctua fans(actually its 11 fans including cpu and graffixs coolers) in mine and its in the sitting room and it can only be heard when the tv is off...(which is a big plus while herself is watching her soaps and I have the headphones on and playing Metro )

It has plenty of room for the largst of graffix cards...(6970) with an inch to spare...

The case also comes with a fan speed control which does 3 fans...another bonus..
Heres a pic of the r3 with all my goodies installed
[IMG][/img]