[Shazbam]

Hey guys, I posted here a while back ( I think it's been a year or 2 though :S) but your help was much appreciated then, and so here I am for some more suggestion/opinions on a new build I am working on.

Before I go any further here are the parts I'm currently looking at:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ NCIX)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (Purchased For $79.99)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($8.29 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($189.79 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($409.99 @ NCIX)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm Fan ($19.99 @ Memory Express)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm Fan ($19.99 @ Memory Express)
Total: $1068.03
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-22 19:39 EDT-0400)

The build will be for games, running VMs, video editing basically an all around beast. I will be overclocking and was wondering if the H80i will be sufficient as I have read many reviews stating Haswell is quite the heat, but I think if I stay under 1.25v I should be fine.

I will be reusing most of my previous hardware (SSD, HDD, Case [corsair 600t], opticial drive, OS, etc..) and so what do you guys think? any suggestions for different brands or models?

Thanks in advance for the help/info/suggestions/opinions!

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Welcome back Shazbam

Some pointers for you which will hopefully save you some cash;

CPU: Unless you plan on editing videos as a professional career you will not utilize the HyperThreading technology that the i7 CPU has which I might add comes at a significant cost.

CPU cooler: See my canned text below;

Your aftermarket cooler, a very important thing I must make you aware of is that you do not need the additional heatsink and CPU fan and if you did use it you would void your CPU warranty both AMD and Intel are clear on this, see below;
AMD;
This Limited Warranty shall be null and void if the AMD microprocessor which is the subject of this Limited Warranty is used with any heatsink/fan other than the one provided herewith.
Full AMD article @ http://support.amd.c...earLimited.aspx

Intel;
damage to the Product due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical power, abnormal electrical, mechanical or environmental conditions, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing;
Full Intel article available @ http://www.intel.com...b/cs-009862.htm

If you intend overclocking regardless of voiding the warranty by using an aftermarket cooler see if you can get an OEM CPU as they are less expensive as they come without a cooler and any warranty is provided by the merchant.

Quite an old article but worth a read http://www.pcpro.co....or-overclockers

GPU: You are paying more than you need to for only a slight improved performance over the GTX 670 http://www.superbiiz...MSI-670_PE&c=CJ

I note that you intend reusing the present OS, can I ask whether or not you have a full retail disk and product key that is not or will not be in use on another computer when you install it on your new build.

[phillpower2]

Welcome back Shazbam

Some pointers for you which will hopefully save you some cash;

CPU: Unless you plan on editing videos as a professional career you will not utilize the HyperThreading technology that the i7 CPU has which I might add comes at a significant cost.

CPU cooler: See my canned text below;

Your aftermarket cooler, a very important thing I must make you aware of is that you do not need the additional heatsink and CPU fan and if you did use it you would void your CPU warranty both AMD and Intel are clear on this, see below;
AMD;
This Limited Warranty shall be null and void if the AMD microprocessor which is the subject of this Limited Warranty is used with any heatsink/fan other than the one provided herewith.
Full AMD article @ http://support.amd.c...earLimited.aspx

Intel;
damage to the Product due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical power, abnormal electrical, mechanical or environmental conditions, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing;
Full Intel article available @ http://www.intel.com...b/cs-009862.htm

If you intend overclocking regardless of voiding the warranty by using an aftermarket cooler see if you can get an OEM CPU as they are less expensive as they come without a cooler and any warranty is provided by the merchant.

Quite an old article but worth a read http://www.pcpro.co....or-overclockers

GPU: You are paying more than you need to for only a slight improved performance over the GTX 670 http://www.superbiiz...MSI-670_PE&c=CJ

I note that you intend reusing the present OS, can I ask whether or not you have a full retail disk and product key that is not or will not be in use on another computer when you install it on your new build.

[Shazbam]

thanks for the replies,

1) I was wondering if VMs benefit from HyperThreading (thought they did I could be wrong)?

2) Also what do you mean by a OEM CPU?

3) I will looking into 670 vs 770 thanks.

4) I won't be re-installing the OS, it is already installed on one of my drives, is that a problem?

[phillpower2]

A1: See spec examples http://www.vmware.co...quirements.html and http://technet.micro...y/bb740949.aspx

A2: OEM = original equipment manufacturer, a bit misleading in this instance as Intel still manufacture the CPU but they do not provide the heatsink, cooling fan or warranty for the chip, they sell the processors in bulk quantities to third parties such as system builders like ASUS, Dell, HP or independent merchants who then provide the warranty.

Example OEM CPU http://www.overclock...rodid=CP-473-IN note that the warranty is only one year, this is typical but some warranties are actually not even for as long as one year.

A3: The 770 is a great card but not worth the price it cost compared to the 670.

A4: Please see my canned text below;

Just a cautionary note, unless your OS disk is the full retail edition you cannot use it with a new MB as an OEM disk is tied to the original MB it was paired with, to use an OEM disk with a new MB is software piracy and therefore illegal.
Exceptions to the above are 1: If your MB is replaced under warranty and 2: If your MB is replaced out of warranty with an alternative type but same brand due to the original model no longer being available, an upgraded MB however will require the purchase of a new OS licence.
If you have a full retail disk and a product key that is not or will not be in use on another computer the OEM restriction/s is/are not the same.

You are welcome BTW

[Shazbam]

Thanks for the info again,

1- not sure what I am supposed to see except the fact that is says a dual-core can run it so I pretty much don't need hyper-threading?

2- I was confused at first but I get what you mean now by OEM, by I don't see why I should by an OEM instead of from intel? either way if I OC th warranty is gone so I don't see the difference of buying a chip without one?

3- Well then the 670 it is

4- I see so when I installed Win7 the first time it tied itself to my mobo, so I will add that to my list then thanks.

Again thanks for the great info/tips and links for even more info, appreciate it!

[phillpower2]

You are welcome Shazbam

A1: All good then

A2: OEM items are less expensive than the boxed retail type as you do not get the HS/cooling fan or 3 year Intel warranty, this makes an OEM 20 - $30 cheaper which is better in your pocket than someone else`s - why pay for what you will not get the benefit of.

A3: Good decision on the card

A4: What type of disk did you use for the installation, provide a link to the disk so we can take a look as we would not like you to spend money on a new disk if the disk that you used was a full retail type.

[Shazbam]

1- perfect

2- I see, now I get it

3-

4- When I built my PC last year I had bought Win 7 home premium with it, and installed in on a 2tb drive. So could I re-install with it if I do have to re-format for it to work on the new mobo?

[phillpower2]

Apologies for the delay getting back to you Shazbam!

A4: This depends on the type of disk and subsequent software license that you purchased, which one of the two examples attached did you purchase http://www.newegg.ca...FC-C8junctionCA or http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B002DUCMT2
If you purchased example one you cannot reuse the product key as it is for a single use as in it is tied to the MB that was present when the OS was first installed, if the disk/license that you purchased is the same as example two then you can reuse the product key as long as the product key is not in use on another computer, migrating the second example OS/disk/product key to your new build would be completely legitimate in other words as you are actually removing the HDD with the installation on it from your present computer and adding it to your new build albeit after reinstalling the said OS, you would need to back up your existing data first before any format.