[Peeps2244]

I am building a gaming PC for the first time and have selected the following parts below.
Can you take a look and give me some advice\guidance on where i could improve my system and if i have made any mistakes with the compatibility of my parts.
I am concerned around the motherboard the most as this is the part i found the most difficult to choose, i got lost in a sea of boards to choose from.
I am wiling to spend a couple hundred more if i need to or likewise if there is a better part for less money i don't like getting ripped off either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. This will be my main rig for a few years and would like to have the option to upgrade in the future.

Case:
Cooler Master HAF X

Power Supply :
CoolerMaster Silent Pro Gold 800W

Motherboard:
ASRock Z77 Extreme4

CPU:
Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E Six-Core 3.2GHz-3.8GHz Turbo LGA 2011 Unlocked Multiplier

Memory:
Samsung Electronics Extreme Low Voltage 30nm UDIMM 4 Not a kit (Single) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM MV-3V4G3/US
x 4

Graphics card:
EVGA GeForce GTX 670 915MHz 2GB PCI-Express 3.0 HDMI

Storage(HDD & SSD):
Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5 inch SATA Solid State Drive
WD Green 500 GB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, SATA III, 64 MB Cache - WD5000AZRX

Optical Drive:
Lite-On iHBS212

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Gday Peeps2244,

To help us configure a build for you, please answer all the questions.


In which country will you be purchasing your parts?
Will you be gaming over multiple screens?
What monitor/s will you be using, brand and model please?
Do you have a OS to use? must be retail version not OEM to use on a new system.
Do you a preference to the case, ie conservative, windowed side panel, LED fans?
Budget? a ball park figure please.

Your proposed parts are a bit over the top for a gaming rig, CPU, PSU & Motherboard.

[iammykyl]

Gday Peeps2244,

To help us configure a build for you, please answer all the questions.


In which country will you be purchasing your parts?
Will you be gaming over multiple screens?
What monitor/s will you be using, brand and model please?
Do you have a OS to use? must be retail version not OEM to use on a new system.
Do you a preference to the case, ie conservative, windowed side panel, LED fans?
Budget? a ball park figure please.

Your proposed parts are a bit over the top for a gaming rig, CPU, PSU & Motherboard.

[Peeps2244]

Ah i was wondering why so little replies. Thanks iammykyl i should have provided more detail.
So answers to your questions..
In which country will you be purchasing your parts?
Dublin,Ireland
But of course i will be buying them anywhere cheap online, so mostly websites based around the UK.

Will you be gaming over multiple screens?
No, Dell TM UltraSharpTM U3011 30" Monitor with PremierColour
Do you have a OS to use?
Yes, Windows 8 Pro retail.
Do you a preference to the case, ie conservative, windowed side panel, LED fans?
I am pretty set on the case Cooler Master HAF X.
But it doesn't have to be conservative, would like windowed thinks its cool and LED are nice but not essential.

Budget? a ball park figure please.
1000 - 1600

[phillpower2]

Hello Peeps2244

I hope you do not mind but I have also put you a list of parts together so that you can compare what I have come up with to what iammykyl suggests, they will most likely be quite similar http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/yzDQ

[iammykyl]

Thanks for the update.

Nothing wrong with your first post. We are all volunteers on the site, so depends how many on line at any given time, and where we live, response time can be variable.
Been out tonight, so this just a quick reply as is 1.00AM here in OZ, and I am off to bed but will post a build in the morning. Phillpower2, who live in the UK, may come on
in the meantime.

[iammykyl]

Looks like I can go fishing first, or maybe a bit of putting? Ah Phillpower2.

[phillpower2]

Looks like I can go fishing first, or maybe a bit of putting? Ah Phillpower2.

[Peeps2244]

Okay attempt two since i have found out my original motherboard and cpu were incompatible.
iammmykyli used that website pcpartpicker which is handy have the link below adjusted.

Cooler Master HAF X
CoolerMaster Silent Pro Gold 800W
ASUS Rampage IV
Intel Core i7-3930K
G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory x 2
Nvidia GeForce GTX 680
Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5 inch SATA Solid State Drive
WD Green 500 GB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, SATA III, 64 MB Cache - WD5000AZRX
Lite-On iHBS212

I tried to put the parts together here
http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/yAm2

But its coming in hot and heavy at 1702 sterling and the i could not find the exact optical drive & power supply.
Can you tell me if i would have any capabilities issues again and if i can save anywhere that wont hurt performance to much.

[Veeg]

As the parts that you have listed look good to me and that MOBO ought to serve you well..

[phillpower2]

Hello Peeps2244

First of all please do not take any of the guidance offered as criticism of your parts in any way, we are trying to get you the performance that you require and for the best possible price.

From reply #2 of iammykyl

Your proposed parts are a bit over the top for a gaming rig, CPU, PSU & Motherboard.

The MB, video card and PSU are not only more than you need they are crippling your budget.

i7 CPUs are used by games programmers, 3D software engineers and CAD experts who need the HyperThreading technology that i7 CPUs have, the average user and gamers rarely use the 4 cores that a quad has and that is why you only need an i5 CPU, the performance you require for gaming can be achieved by a card that will cost you £100+ less which in turn will not require a PSU with an 800W gold output, once you have settled on a list of parts and confirmed that they are all available use a PSU like the example at the attached link to help avoid over spending on a PSU while making sure that you have adequate output, check the other links to ensure that you choose a quality brand.

http://images10.newe...tage-Calculator

PSU to trust and brands to avoid please refer to the two attached links http://www.10stripe....d/psu/brand.php and http://www.pcmech.co...ad.php?t=208143

PSU database http://www.realhardt...vos/Page541.htm

[iammykyl]

This review deals with one game, but is typical for CPU usage. last graph on the page, although the i5 3570K is not listed, the slightly inferior 2500K is. Hardly any difference in fps. This is why, for a gaming rig, we suggest putting your $$ into other parts rather than a top end CPU that you would not utilise.

> http://www.techspot....ance/page7.html

Often our builds are very similar in specs but do differ in brands as our personal preferences come into play (and I have shares in different companies to Phillpower2, ) His build is great, but as you have a little more in the pot, I would go, 240GB SSD, GTX 670. I also prefer low profile RAM, performs the same and does not interfere with any cooler installation.

http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/yEWe

Please let us know on the builds, what you do or do like.

[Peeps2244]

Thanks iammykyl that's a very interesting article and has given me pause for thought on the i7 chip now.
Oh by the way i made a mistake on my list 680 is out and 670 is back in.
You are telling me and all the articles i have read that i am not getting much more for my money there. So i am sold on that
I also did a bit more looking on the PSU.

So you asked me what i do and don't like on the build as well.

Cooler Master HAF X - Really like this so going to stick with it.
Corsair TX CMPSU-750TX 750W - Did a bit more research here and like this and its cheaper.
ASUS Rampage IV - Really like this and the the reviews are outrageous. So unless i can see another board that's as good looking and gives the same performance?
Intel Core i7-3930K - Reconsidering now
G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory x 2 - I do like these and i see they come in red to match the motherboard
Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 - Yes like this and i will stick with it now. If i need more power will add another later.
Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5 inch SATA Solid State Drive - Might drop to lower size or cheaper card?
WD Green 500 GB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, SATA III, 64 MB Cache - WD5000AZRX - Have no preference here as long as its solid and cheap
Lite-On iHBS212 - no preference but would like blu ray


Also can i ask another newb question. I don't see any cooling for the i7-3930 i am currently looking at.
Do i really need this should i invest and whats good and easy to install. I have seen thinks like the Crosair H100, which looks over the top and hard to fit for a newb like myself.

[iammykyl]

But its coming in hot and heavy at 1702 sterling and the i could not find the exact optical drive & power supply. <br style="color: rgb(13, 41, 117); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242);">Can you tell me if i would have any capabilities issues again and if i can save anywhere that wont hurt performance to much.

Just looked at the link Post #8, I think we have a basic misunderstanding with regards the CPU.

I am building a gaming PC for the first time

an i5 CPU would be the best choice.

I don't see any cooling for the i7-3930 i am currently looking at.

The X79 Socket CPUs are supplied without a cooling solution, so you have to buy your own, more expense.

http://www.aria.co.u...ource=skinflint Use, professorial workstation using Adobe software or similar. Total waste of money for gaming.

http://www.aria.co.u...productId=49758 Use, home enthusiast video/photo editing, heavy applications games that do better with Hyper Threading. NB. Gong to spec this to give you and edge and Hyper Threading where needed.

http://www.aria.co.u...productId=49755 Use, top CPU for a gaming rig, able to do most home users video/photo editing, runs all applications very well, can be over-clocked, does not have Hyper Threading.

Mobo, The Rampage is only available in Socket X79 so will spec the Sabertooth.
The BluRay drive selected was read only, no write at all so changed.

> http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yUMt

Let us know what you think of the changed build. Make any changes on the page using the edit button, then copy and post back the new Permalink.

Edited by iammykyl, 22 January 2013 - 08:23 PM.

[phillpower2]

Nice build iammykyl and thanks for the shares

Swap the WD 500GB Green HDD Peeps2244 as it is not an economical choice, see links below;

http://www.aria.co.u...ource=skinflint

http://www.aria.co.u...ource=skinflint

[Peeps2244]

Did i miss something where is the new http://pcpartpicker.com/ link i cant see it in either of your last two replies and i clicked the earlier link it doesn't seem to have the new parts you mentioned?
Thanks for all the advice guys, very helpful and patient.