New Rig

sand_man

sand_man

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So every 2-3 years I like to upgrade my rig.

I classify myself as a light user so there's every likelihood that what I've put together here is surplus to my needs and then some. I do however have 3 x 23" monitors connected to my current rig and would continue this config with the new rig.

Parts are sourced from PCinternational (90%) and Rebeltech (only the ssd) and inc vat.

Here it is:

ASUS P8Z77-VPRO R2506

Coolermaster HAF XM -ATX R1276

CORSAIR Professional Series HX1050 1050WOCZ R2392

4GB DDRIII-1600 (Corsair/Kingston) x 2 R608

VERTEX 4 128GB 2.5" R1371

Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 7870 R3418

Intel Core i7 3820 Processor R2935

Total cost is around R14.5k and I have a couple of 2TB hardrives and a DVD writer that I would drop in the case as well.

My question is do all these components play nicely with each other?

Is there anything you would do differently?

I'm probably missing an after market cooling fan, Transformer 4 maybe?

My primary objective is 3 years forwards compatibility. If I can save a few bob with alternate components than so be it (but cost isn't the priority). PSU is probably overkill for example.
 
You can shave R1k off by using a ASRock Z77 Extreme4 or somehting like that MB. Yeah the PSU does look like serious overkill.
 
My current setup is:

ATI Radeon HD6870
Corsair TX850
Vertex 3 120gb SSD (primary)
2 x 2TB drives
i5-750 CPU
Asus P7P55D LE
8gb RAM @ 1333
CM690 chassis

I could also just upgrade MOBO and CPU and keep the rest...?? R5k tops!!
 
The performance of the pc currently is excellent and already surplus to my needs but I am noticing lag which I attribute to bandwidth limitations associated with my motherboard. IE If I run multiple HD videos I notice reduced frame rates. I'm obviously not getting the maximum performance out of my ssd either on account of the 3gb sata connections.
 
sand_man said:
My current setup is:

ATI Radeon HD6870
Corsair TX850
Vertex 3 120gb SSD (primary)
2 x 2TB drives
i5-750 CPU
Asus P7P55D LE
8gb RAM @ 1333
CM690 chassis

I could also just upgrade MOBO and CPU and keep the rest...?? R5k tops!!
Click to expand...

Keep everything else, only change the motherboard, CPU and chassis if you're looking for a nice new one. You can repurpose your older parts for use as a server or HTPC, or just keep them as spares in case you need them or decide to build up a box for someone who needs it. The SSD you can change if you feel like it, but I'd recommend moving to a 256GB drive rather than sticking to the same 128GB limitation. My recommendation would be:

Intel Core i5 3570K @ R2272
ASUS P8Z77 V-LX @ R1708
Cooler Master HAF 912 @ R949
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB @ R2537
Total: R7466

However, you should check out some of the prices of stuff online. You might end up with better bargains. For example:

Intel Core i5 3570K @ R2489
ASRock Z77 PRO4 @ R1321
NZXT Tempest 410 @ R749
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB @ R2537
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo Turbo @ R348
Total: R7444

It might be only slightly lower in the end, but you can easily just get the CPU for cheaper elsewhere. At least with buying online, you have a better selection of components.

Also, one last thing. In your OP you listed a Core i7-3820 with a Z77 board. The i7 you looked at uses the LGA2011 socket, whereas Z77 only features the LGA1155 socket. You'd need to choose an X79-based board if you want to go that route.
 
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NAG - Wesley said:
Keep everything else, only change the motherboard, CPU and chassis if you're looking for a nice new one. You can repurpose your older parts for use as a server or HTPC, or just keep them as spares in case you need them or decide to build up a box for someone who needs it. The SSD you can change if you feel like it, but I'd recommend moving to a 256GB drive rather than sticking to the same 128GB limitation. My recommendation would be:

Intel Core i5 3570K @ R2272
ASUS P8Z77 V-LX @ R1708
Cooler Master HAF 912 @ R949
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB @ R2537
Total: R7466

However, you should check out some of the prices of stuff online. You might end up with better bargains. For example:

Intel Core i5 3570K @ R2489
ASRock Z77 PRO4 @ R1321
NZXT Tempest 410 @ R749
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB @ R2537
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo Turbo @ R348
Total: R7444

It might be only slightly lower in the end, but you can easily just get the CPU for cheaper elsewhere. At least with buying online, you have a better selection of components.

Also, one last thing. In your OP you listed a Core i7-3820 with a Z77 board. The i7 you looked at uses the LGA2011 socket, whereas Z77 only features the LGA1155 socket. You'd need to choose an X79-based board if you want to go that route.
Click to expand...

Makes sense.

Maybe i7-3770? The 3770k is R500 dearer and I don't intend on over clocking so extra cost not really justified.
 
sand_man said:
Makes sense.

Maybe i7-3770? The 3770k is R500 dearer and I don't intend on over clocking so extra cost not really justified.
Click to expand...

You could, but if you only use this for gaming and watching movies/series, you won't benefit from the extra four threads. While more apps are increasingly multi-threaded, single-core performance is still where it's at. You could get the i7 along with a cheaper H77 board as well, that's your prerogative. You could also get the i7-3820 and an X79 board if you plan on doing something like Crossfire or SLI in the future, maybe 2-3 years from now. I prefer the middle option because its the most flexible and cost-effective.

Also, if you want a GPU upgrade, you can start looking at an HD7950 3GB/GTX660 Ti 2GB. Those should be your default starting points for a triple-display setup.
 
Your PSU is far too much, look for a 600w roughly 1k, get the haf-x(you buy once, you won't buy again) only 500 rand more and look for a 12gb package if possible.

If you ever buy a high end card you want to make sure you won't need too change the case again, i went through a period of buying cases but then i dropped 2k on my 932 coolermaster and i won't ever need another one. Wesley has given you good options for the rest. 2k for psu is madness.

Ponder:
You can shave R1k off by using a ASRock Z77 Extreme4 or something like that MB. Yeah the PSU does look like serious overkill.

Amazing boards from what i have read, as good as asus but much cheaper. You can be one of those people who buy name brands but you are wasting money because asrock are making some of the best mobo's at the moment and they are cheap.
 
killadoob said:
Your PSU is far too much, look for a 600w roughly 1k, get the haf-x(you buy once, you won't buy again) only 500 rand more and look for a 12gb package if possible.
Click to expand...

I would be reluctant to go below 850w on the PSU. I may want to add another card later on, not necessarily but perhaps. I don't understand what you mean by 12gb package.

Like the sound of the ASRock mobo. Let's say I'm happy to drop R2.5k on a board, which ASRock would I get at that price? and how does it compare to the Asus board in that price range?

If you ever buy a high end card you want to make sure you won't need too change the case again, i went through a period of buying cases but then i dropped 2k on my 932 coolermaster and i won't ever need another one. Wesley has given you good options for the rest. 2k for psu is madness.

Ponder:
You can shave R1k off by using a ASRock Z77 Extreme4 or something like that MB. Yeah the PSU does look like serious overkill.

Amazing boards from what i have read, as good as asus but much cheaper. You can be one of those people who buy name brands but you are wasting money because asrock are making some of the best mobo's at the moment and they are cheap.
Click to expand...
 
12gb or 16gb ram.

You are wasting money buying 850w, i run my 6990 on a 650 corsair that cost 800 bucks. So i cannot grasp why you would need a 850w psu to run two cards when my poweer hungry 6990 runs perfectly, some may not believe this but i had a third 6970 when i was bitcoin mining on the same psu unit. So my 800 rand 650w ran 3 6970's basically. 6990 plus one 6970

It;s your money but ensure you are not wasting it, everything is getting less and less power hungry so the days of 800-1000w psu's are gone in my opinion but again it's my opinion and i may be wrong. I don't know everything but i will put in my 2 cents haha.
 
killadoob said:
12gb or 16gb ram.

You are wasting money buying 850w, i run my 6990 on a 650 corsair that cost 800 bucks. So i cannot grasp why you would need a 850w psu to run two cards when my poweer hungry 6990 runs perfectly, some may not believe this but i had a third 6970 when i was bitcoin mining on the same psu unit. So my 800 rand 650w ran 3 6970's basically. 6990 plus one 6970

It;s your money but ensure you are not wasting it, everything is getting less and less power hungry so the days of 800-1000w psu's are gone in my opinion but again it's my opinion and i may be wrong. I don't know everything but i will put in my 2 cents haha.
Click to expand...

Oh, okay I follow on the ram.

Yeah, I had a HD4890 running on 650w Huntkey PSU and I wanted to add another HD4890 when I was looking to upgrade to 3 monitors. That 650w wouldn't have managed, warranted the Huntkey is a POS and the HD4890 is dated and power hungry (190w). I ended up upgrading both my card and my PSU to what I currently have, TX850 and HD6870. Just feel more comfortable with some leg room regarding psu.
 
sand_man said:
Like the sound of the ASRock mobo. Let's say I'm happy to drop R2.5k on a board, which ASRock would I get at that price? and how does it compare to the Asus board in that price range?
Click to expand...

I don't see why you really need to spend any more money than this http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77 Extreme4/
But if you feel you have to drop ~R2.5k on a MB then maybe look at ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Professional or ASRock Z77 OC Formula or any of their other higher end boards http://www.asrock.com/mb/index.asp?s=1155
 
Yeah lots of people are buying those boards, that's probably why they are out of stock :D

I think there is another place that also sells them, hopefully someone else can shed some light on that.
 
sand_man said:
I ended up upgrading both my card and my PSU to what I currently have, TX850 and HD6870. Just feel more comfortable with some leg room regarding psu.
Click to expand...

Seriously, keep the TX850. That's all the PSU you'll ever need. One GTX670 consumes around 200W at boosted speeds. Two pushes that up to around 380W and then you add in around 150W for an overclocked Core i5-3570K running at 4.5GHz - that's only topping out at around 550W power draw on very intensive use, far less than what your PSU is capable of. You don't need a new one.

8GB RAM is also quite enough, you don't need 12 or 16GB just yet. I also recommended you the Asrock Pro 4 - its almost identical to the Extreme 4, just that the heatsinks are bigger, it might overclock better and the Extreme 4 has rotated SATA ports. In all other aspects, they're identical.
 
NAG - Wesley said:
I also recommended you the Asrock Pro 4 - its almost identical to the Extreme 4, just that the heatsinks are bigger, it might overclock better and the Extreme 4 has rotated SATA ports. In all other aspects, they're identical.
Click to expand...

Does the Pro 4 not have less PCI slots?
 
ponder said:
Does the Pro 4 not have less PCI slots?
Click to expand...

It actually has more PCI slots, but only one PCI-Express 1x slot. The Extreme 4 has two PCI and two PCI-E 1x slots.

But then again... PCI? Meh.
 
sand_man said:
Fair emuff...

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=6038

So this would do me fine (when in stock)...?
Click to expand...

My advice sandman is do not take a forum user saying yes that is fine as the answer, suggestions yet but go and read some reviews. they get technical and point out possible issues and so on. I never buy a motherboard based on someone's opinion. it is one component you want to ensure is perfect.

Do you use any other ports apart from gpu port? do you have a pci sound card card or something like that because you need to factor that sort of thing in but you are not stupid so i am sure you know that. Although you like hamilton so maybe not :p just kidding dude.

Seriously research before buying a motherboard and read a minimum of 5 reviews, proper with reviews with more than one page :D. Check out the different models, sometimes a slightly more expensive model is better and it's only 100 bucks more so look at the next level as well, not sure if it's the 6 or not or what the price difference is but don't go buy something because killadoob(example obviously) says it's good.

I think that is about the only component you need to research well and you should look into nvidia as well, unless you are one of those i support ati no matter what. I am not an nvidia fan but i buy the best i have owned both and based my choice on reviews. It's terrible to have that amd fanboy type way of thinking, even though amd is slower people will buy their cpu's because they support amd. There is no loyality in the computer world, it's all about performance and price and who makes it is irrelevant. If you are a fanboy that is also fine though but it's silly to purchase stuff based on the maker. obiously jeans for instance you buy name brands because the cut is good and the cheap shyte looks crap but computers not a chance. Price and Performance. Warranty as well, gigabyte is 3 years what is the warranty with asrock i wonder, i will leave that for you to check and let us know.

O and don't buy shyte psu's, buy corsair if possible, best psu i have ever used. 650w ran 3 6970's :D and they were all maxed mining bitcoins 24/7. I sold the one when i stopped because 3 6970's is overkill. Well it was actually 1 6970 and a 6990,i don't think a 6990 is two 6970's it hhas two 6970 gpu's on the pcb where as my 9800x2 was literally two 9800's.
 
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