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Asking for advice on hardware options

Post Date: 2011-10-08
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Kibble View Drop Down
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Posts: 7 		  Quote Kibble Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Asking for advice on hardware options
    Posted: 08 Oct 2011 at 5:36pm
Budget: $2300 ideally, $2500 comfortably, up to $2700 if necessary
Expectations: able to play Skyrim at high settings... which probably won't require much, honestly, but I'd also like to be able to get reasonably good performance from games for at least a few years.
Usage: single-monitor gaming (1920x1200), dual-monitor everything else (writing/compiling code, photoshop, web browsing, office, etc.)
Special Needs: house has pets, so I'm worried about hair getting into the system (I've already set up a "clean room" that the pets aren't allowed in, and planning on putting the tower somewhere up high where (hopefully) any hair that gets into the room is less likely to get into the computer).

I've looked at the custom configuration options, and I have it somewhat narrowed down, but I'm not really much of a hardware guy. So, with the above in mind I'd like some recommendations on the following questions:

1) What's the practical difference between an i7 2600K and an i7 960?
2) Which would be more appropriate for my purposes, the GTX 570 1.2GB or the GTX 580 1.5GB?
3) Are there any important differences between the HailStorm case and the Assassin case?
4) Is there a big difference between the default 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm RAM and the 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Corsair Dominator with DHX RAM?
5) I've heard that SSDs have a pretty high failure rate, would it be better to get two of the 60GB Corsair SSDs rather than the one 120GB Intel SSD?
6) Are the standard chassis fans acceptable?
7) Is it worth springing for the Noctua NH-D14?
8) Is the default ASUS Sabertooth X58 motherboard sufficient?

Thanks for your help! :)
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Oct 2011 at 7:41pm
1. 2600k is more powerful cpu, runs cooler, oces higher, and uses less power.

2. 570

3. the case you choose should be based on if you are going air cooled or lced, hailstorm is for lc on cpu/gpu, assassin is for air cooled but haf x will do a much better job, it has better airflow, more room and cost less.

4. no.

5. all ssds are not the same and you have gotten some bad info, but if failure rate was higher wouldn't getting 2 ssd double your chances of failure? go with 120GB good ssd like intel 320.

6. yes depending on the case, for example haf x has great airflow.

7. not really, the a70 will do a good enough job.

8. thats the old platform you don't want that.

if you want a system with 2 gpus look at ode 3 if not and you just want a single gpu system then look at ode 1.

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Kibble View Drop Down
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Posts: 7 		  Quote Kibble Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 9:13pm
Awesome, thanks for the recommendations. Have created a configuration, ticket number 604197. Mostly now I just need some advice on what motherboard to go for.
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 10:03pm
did you look at ode 1?

your own config is suppose to be a single gpu system or were you looking for sli ability?

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Posts: 7 		  Quote Kibble Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 10:18pm
I looked at the ODE 1, but didn't see a way to include a primary SSD, wireless card, or recovery partition, so I went with a config that resembled your recommendation. Just looking for a single GPU.
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 10:23pm
you can add it the ssd your self or pay extra $50 per change you want to make to ode plus the cost of the part.

wireless card you can add your self again, easy, I recommend you go with win7 cd instead of partition. that drive goes bad, your partition is gone, plus you can do more with the cd.

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Posts: 7 		  Quote Kibble Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 10:40pm
Oh cool, I didn't realize that you could specify changes to the ODE. Where would I specify that?
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 10:53pm
I think in the special notes, so lets say you want to add the ssd and wireless card, thats $50 per change, so total of $100 for the change alone then you have to pay for the ssd and wireless cards themselves.

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Posts: 7 		  Quote Kibble Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 11:11pm
Yeah, that's what I figured... but there's no special notes section on the ODE customization page! :D
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 11:45pm
email them here [email protected]

tell them which ode you want and what changes you like to make and that you are aware of the $50 extra charge per modification.

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Posts: 7 		  Quote Kibble Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 11:47pm
Thanks a lot, man. You rock!
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 11:58pm
My pleasure and good luck            

Don't forget to post review and pics of it when you get it

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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Oct 2011 at 12:06am
make sure you request the side mesh grill, it will come separate and has space for 4 x 120mm fans, you should add those yourself later for best airflow.

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Posts: 7 		  Quote Kibble Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 11 Oct 2011 at 2:28am
Planning on ordering the ODE today, do I just need to tell them to include the mesh side grill, or will I need to be more specific?
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 11 Oct 2011 at 4:03am
tell them to include the mesh side grill

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