[Faina]

Experts,

I need your help for understand if I'm doing the things right or not. I want upgrade my machine: I've already SSD disks, so I'm focusing on MB+Processor+Ram

After some research with my small knowledge I ended up with Intel i7-4771 + Asus z87-pro + Ram no idea....
What do you think? Can I have the same for less money or a lot more with a little budget increase? What reasonably priced RAM spec I have to buy? I will not OC.

Do you think I need to change the power unit (current conf asus pk5-pro + Intel core duo)?

Thanks in advance to all!!

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Gday Faina, Please supply us with a little more information so that we can better help you.
What will be the main use for the computer, general office/browsing/facebook? enthusiast gamer? Video/photo editing?
What will be your budget?
in which country will you purchase parts?
Is your current computer a custom built one? or if like a Dell, or HP, please give the brand and model number.

Do you think I need to change the power unit (current conf asus pk5-pro + Intel core duo)?

Sorry, but those two items are just referredto as MB and CPU. The PSU, (power supply unit) You will need to open the computer case and let us know the brand/model.

[iammykyl]

Gday Faina, Please supply us with a little more information so that we can better help you.
What will be the main use for the computer, general office/browsing/facebook? enthusiast gamer? Video/photo editing?
What will be your budget?
in which country will you purchase parts?
Is your current computer a custom built one? or if like a Dell, or HP, please give the brand and model number.

Do you think I need to change the power unit (current conf asus pk5-pro + Intel core duo)?

Sorry, but those two items are just referredto as MB and CPU. The PSU, (power supply unit) You will need to open the computer case and let us know the brand/model.

[Faina]

iammykyl, thanks for your answer.
I use my PC for heavy photo editing (1 tiff ~300Mb). I've already changed my HDD to an SSD (4 disks now) and now my bottleneck is the CPU.
My budget is around 700 USD, but a little bit more (or less :-)) ) is fine.
I will purchase the parts in Japan. My computer is custom build.
The PSU is a Huntkey HK550-14gp.

btw, do you recommend a different cooling system from the Intel standard one?

thanks!

[iammykyl]

Gday.
As this is to be a workstation as against a gamer, we would like more info so we can best help you.
Please list all your HDDS.
computer case.
Operating system.
Software used for Photo editing, IE. Adobe.
If it is not Adobe, can you select what process is done on a particular drive, IE, scratch disk, source, export.

[Faina]

iammykyl,

here my HDDs:
- C: - intel SSD 160Gb - boot and programs
- D: - intel SSD 80Gb - "User" folders, scratch disk, work-in-progress data (my pics)
- E:,F: - Hitachi HDD 320 Gb - (these are the older disks) - WiP data backup, temp folder

Computer case is unnamed one, sorry... anyway is a desktop (can mount big mb), with no fans on the case, but big opening on both sides

OS: win 7 64 bit

For edit my pics I use mostly NX2, but I use lightroom and PS as well. On all the software, I set up D: as scratch disk. The same disk is the source and the export as well

thanks :-)

[iammykyl]

Gday
Thanks you for the additional info.
HUnskey make very poor PSUs and yours is about the bottom of the heap. I think if you use it in your new build it will not have enough amps on the 12v rail to adequately support a stable system. Even if it does power up, it is likely over time to damage parts.
When a stock cooler is supplied in a retail CPU box, it is more than good enough to cool the CPU, hence the three year warranty. They can be a bit noisy at times.

Your budget is a little low for the type of rig you want to build. Prices are US based, was a bit to hard to find prices in Japan.
First suggestion, stock cooler included. > http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2FtoY
Second build, not supplied with a cooler, so you have to buy your own, > http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2FslO Early releases of the X79 bords nmeeded a BIOS update, more recent boards do not, you just need to ensure it has a sticker, as in the image.

The second build has a much better upgrade path for the CPU.
I think you could get better results from your workflow performance with a different setup for the HDDs.

[Faina]

iammykyl,

thanks very much for the info: the second configuration is really high spec, but unfortunately out of budget... :-(

let's focus on the #1: I have a couple of questions

- why you recommend the 4770k that is older than the 4771 and with similar performance?
- same for the AS Rock: some people say that it's done with low level component compare to the Asus.
- is better spend a little more and get a faster RAM or I will not see cost/benefit results?

what PSU do you recommend? You can find price and what is sold here here www.yodobashi.com (in Japanese but the products code are the same)

What disk configuration do you recommend for my workflow?

Sorry for keep asking you... I really appreciate your help

Regards

[iammykyl]

Gday Faina.
Answering your questions is not a problem, as many as you like.

why you recommend the 4770k that is older than the 4771 and with similar performance?

The 4771 released Q1/2013 > http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-4770K+%40+3.50GHz
The 4770K released Q2/2013 > http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-4770K+%40+3.50GHz Rank 30, just above the 4771 Rank 36. > http://www.cpubenchm...3.50GHz&id=1919
On the desktop you would probably notice no difference but for under $20 more, worth having just in case you decide to overclock in the future.

same for the AS Rock: some people say that it's done with low level component compare to the Asus.

User reviews are mostly negative for all brands and often will be something like, "my sound does not work, the MB is useless" when in fact it's just because the user has not configured correctly or installed drivers. If you feel more confortable going with Asus or Gigabyte, some similar board to look at, or you can pick a board you like the look of and let us know, > http://www.newegg.co...128-592:$$$$$$$

is better spend a little more and get a faster RAM or I will not see cost/benefit results?

No. getting faster RAM means you will have to overclock it, generating more heat, potentially more unstable, very little if any difference on the desktop,


Any one of these PSUs will be OK for your system, > http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007657%204027%20600053810%20600053803&IsNodeId=1&name=8

If you don't mind, I would like to decide on your build first, then look at your HDD configuration.

[Faina]

Iammykyl,

thanks as always!

So, based on the CPU benchmark, even if the 4770K is based on old architecture (this is what I meant with "older" :-) ) is better than the 4771. So let's go with that

For the MB, let's go with the Asus Z87-pro. For the RAM, I can't find g.skill here: can you please recommend something from Princeton, A-data, Elcom or Umax?

For the PSU, I can't find any of your recommendation here: can you please tell me the spec so I can investigate and go back to you?

thanks

regards

[iammykyl]

Gday.
Good choice for the MB, product page where you can downlad the user manual, > http://www.asus.com/...Z87PRO/#support
Can't find that RAM on the QVL, Qualified vendors list, that's ram that has been tested on the MB.
RAM, > http://www.ocworks.c....x=0&search.y=0
PSU, > http://www.ocworks.c...ts/detail/10931
PSU. > http://translate.goo...Ym6q3BcYuKCwMAg

[Faina]

iammykyl,

Thanks for your anwer :-) You are better than me in finding Japanese shops...

So the final configuration is:

MB: Z87-Pro
CPU: Intel 4770K
RAM: (F3-1600C9D-16GAR) this is not in the QVL: can you please recommend me one?
PSU: SilverStone STRIDER PLUS SST-ST60F-PS (600W)

A little bit over budget but I think is fine.

Now what is your recommended disks set up?

thanks

regards

Edited by Faina, 23 January 2014 - 09:00 PM.

[iammykyl]

Gday.
The RAM is OK, correct specification, the last letter on the code, donates the colour of the stick, Voltage is correct, cas latency can vary, but OK.
> http://www.newegg.co...%24%24%24%24%24
The build look excellent. I do recommend you add a mini internal diagnostic speaker to the build, like this, > http://cwc-group.com/8ohm.html

Hard drives information has been gathered over a number of years but I do not profess to be an expert on the subject.
Number/configuration and what goes where is determined by the application used. SSDs have advanced a lot now and I think they are suitable for a cache or scratch disk. never defrag a SSD, in general, keep at least 25% free space on all drives, do not partition a drive except for archive or backup, only use 7200rpm or faster for main drives, where possible read and write to seperate drives, use a scratch of cache disk.do not use RAID 0 for the OS drive.

http://www.computer-...oom-performance
Note that ver 4 is faster than ver 5 http://www.youtube.c...h?v=ybyYQEmqFs8
some info and video about backup. http://forums.adobe....message/5893886
ACR cache http://www.lightroom...est-speed-tips/
Great site, heaps of information. http://digital-photo...tional-hardware

Will post, PhotoShop/ later.

[Faina]

Iammykyl,

Thanks: I will proceed with the purchase then.

I really appreciate your support and all the time you spent on my problems.

regards

[iammykyl]

Your welcome Faina\
Have you done any computer building/repairs before?
Sorry, not got around to the PhotoShop bit yet.

[Faina]

Iammykyl,

yes I built already a couple, I should be fine probably :-) but if you have any "advanced" tips they are very welcome of course

Just if you have any BIOS recommendation: I saw that you have to enable the XMP for use properly the RAM. Do I need to know touch anything else?

thanks as always!!

regards