[brettt777]

I am building a completely new system:

 

i7-4770 CPU

GTX-770 VGA

16GB DDR3 RAM

2 TB Seagate HDD

1KW Zion PS

Thermaltake RX-I case

MSI Z-97 G45 MB

 

I was also looking at a Sound Blaster Zx sound card. But this MSI motherboard has this Sound Blaster Cinema thing that's suppose to be so good. I do a lot of gaming and also listen to and watch a lot of media so the sound is as important to me as the video. Do I need a sound card with this motherboard or will I be able to get top quality sound without it?

 

Also, the RAM I am looking at is HyperX Fury series 1866 DDR3. The MB can OC up to 3000. Can this RAM be easily OC'd or will it be a bottleneck?

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Hi Brett,

 

I have the Sound Blaster Z and i find it very good for Gaming,movies and music, sounds great to me on Logitech 5.1 Speaker system.

 

Is the Sound Blaster Cinema Intergrated ? If so then of course a seperate one is always better.

 

For RAM i would trust these brands more, not sure about overclocking, but can look into them more, sure they can.

 

http://www.newegg.co...Desktop Memory-

_-N82E16820231528&ef_id=U4Y6vwAABQgx0rYv:20140528193631:s

 

http://www.newegg.co...0140528193708:s

 

Good heat spreaders too.

Edited by jds63, 28 May 2014 - 01:42 PM.

[jds63]

Hi Brett,

 

I have the Sound Blaster Z and i find it very good for Gaming,movies and music, sounds great to me on Logitech 5.1 Speaker system.

 

Is the Sound Blaster Cinema Intergrated ? If so then of course a seperate one is always better.

 

For RAM i would trust these brands more, not sure about overclocking, but can look into them more, sure they can.

 

http://www.newegg.co...Desktop Memory-

_-N82E16820231528&ef_id=U4Y6vwAABQgx0rYv:20140528193631:s

 

http://www.newegg.co...0140528193708:s

 

Good heat spreaders too.

Edited by jds63, 28 May 2014 - 01:42 PM.

[iammykyl]

Gday.

Can you use this site for choosing parts, when finished, copy and paste the address from the Permalink window into your reply.

>http://pcpartpicker.com/

is this a gaming build? will you be editing photo/video using specific software like Adobe?

What sound system are you using, just straight to speakers or through additional hardware?

what is your budget?

 

If you do not intend to SLI 770s, a 1Kw PSU is way over the top.

Please check the MB manufacturer QVL for selecting RAM.  

[brettt777]

Gday.

Can you use this site for choosing parts, when finished, copy and paste the address from the Permalink window into your reply.

>http://pcpartpicker.com/

is this a gaming build? will you be editing photo/video using specific software like Adobe?

What sound system are you using, just straight to speakers or through additional hardware?

what is your budget?

 

If you do not intend to SLI 770s, a 1Kw PSU is way over the top.

Please check the MB manufacturer QVL for selecting RAM.  

 

I do hope to add another 770 and SLI so that's why I have the 1KW PS.

It will be primarily gaming but also a lot of multimedia.

My sound system is an old Dell set with two amplified desktop speakers and an amp/crossover in a big sub woofer. It's got a few years on it but still sounds great.

 

 

 

[iammykyl]

Thanks for the update.

I am a bit of a philistine regards sound so won't recommend a specific card.   I do however browse articles and think this one may be of interest to you.   If my build, would try the integrated solution before deciding if I really needed a dedicated card.

> http://www.tested.co...d-card-matters/

Some info on the 770 with a high end build specs, total system draw under full load, = 373w + 230w TPD second card = 603w.  Can't find any info on the Zin PSU you mentioned.

> http://www.hardocp.c.../9#.U5GOWXK1ZQm

 

 

Also, the RAM I am looking at is HyperX Fury series 1866 DDR3. The MB can OC up to 3000. Can this RAM be easily OC'd or will it be a bottleneck?

There is little evidence to support using RAM faster the CPU native support.   The performance scaling to cost is marginal, you will generate a lot more heat and possible stability problems.   Unless you are performing photo/video editing, 8GB is enough for the build,   Put the $$ into a 770 with 4GB VRAM.