Build Suggestions

Go Big? Not-So-Big? Build on my own? Taking a look at 3 definite possibilities right now... After months of agonizing over this, time is running out.

Please take a look at let me know your thoughts:

My Choices:
1920x1080 FPS gaming. Will try to push CPU to 4.2Ghz once received.
Motherboard: Other suggestions?
5870: Fermi may be neck and neck with the 5870 in benchmarks, but it's constantly proven to sip power and run cooler overall/at idle.
80GB SSD: I have been running a 74GB Raptor for years without filling it. That raptor will be going into this build as a storage drive.

Go Big Configuration:
The Stage 6 LCS runs about $850 compared to stock, and is $725 more than the Noctua 120mm. If I consider the install time and money for components, I can see the break even point on the $700+ LCS. Pros/Cons, Thoughts?

Build Ticket: 409699
Total Price with Instant Savings: $3,880.00

Chassis Model:      Black OPS HailStorm Edition
Processor:              Intel Core i7 930 2.8GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard:       EVGA X58 LE Edition SLI (Intel X58 Chipset)
System Memory:    6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified
Power Supply:       1000W Corsair (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)
Hard Drive Set 1:   Operating System: 1x (80GB Solid State (By: Intel)
Internet Access:     Wireless-PCI N 300Mbps (Supports 802.11n/g/b)
Video Card:           1x ATI Radeon HD 5870 1GB
Sound Card:          Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 6: Sub-Zero LCS Dual Loop: CPU & Single Video Card & Chipset
H20 Tube Color:   White Tubing with High-Performance Fluid
Chassis Airflow:      Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Noise Reduction:   Noise Suppression Package
Boost Processor:     FREE: Stage 1: Overclock the processor between 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz
Boost Video Card:  FREE: Yes, Overclock the video card(s)
Windows OS:          Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64-Bit Edition)



Not-So-Big Configuration:
This is a very similar build to the Go Big one, less the liquid cooling, and cutting down some of the options to save some dough. For what I get for this price, I lean more towards building it on my own.

Build Ticket 409701
Total Price with Instant Savings: $2,654.00

Chassis Model: Cooler Master HAF 932
Processor: Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: EVGA X58 LE Edition SLI (Intel X58 Chipset)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified
Power Supply: 750W Digital Storm Certified
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (80GB Solid State (By: Intel)
Optical Drive 1: DVDąR/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 22x / CD-Writer 48x)
Internet Access: Wireless-PCI N 300Mbps (Supports 802.11n/g/b)
Video Card: 1x ATI Radeon HD 5870 1GB
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: Noctua Dual 120mm Fans
Boost Processor: FREE: Stage 1: Overclock the processor between 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz
Boost Video Card: FREE: Yes, Overclock the video card(s)
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64-Bit Edition)


Go It Alone Configuration:
A quick look at what I configured on NewEgg using some of their combos:
With Shipping included for both they are UNDER $2000 each
Pros:
Save lots of $$$. Save lots of Time [3 day shipping, less than a week from order to build completion]
Cons: Time out of my pocket, time is money. (build, install, drivers, testing, cable management, etc)
No warranties on build.

ATI Build $1935
Chassis Model: Corsair Obsidian Series 800D
Processor: Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366
CPU Cooling: CORSAIR Cooling Hydro Series CWCH50-1 120mm
Motherboard: EVGA 141-BL-E757-TR LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX X58 SLI LE
System Memory: CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600
Power Supply: CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-950TX 950W
Hard Drive Set 1: Intel X25-M  80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive
Optical Drive 1: ASUS 24x DVD Writer w/LightScribe Support
Internet Access: D-Link DWA-556 PCI E Wireless N Adapter
Video Card: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit DDR5

nVidia Build $1977
Case: Corsair Obsidian Series 800D CC800DW Black Aluminum
Motherboard: EVGA 141-BL-E757-TR LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX X58 SLI LE
CPU: Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core
Cooling: CORSAIR Cooling Hydro Series CWCH50-1 120mm
GPU: EVGA 015-P3-1482-AR GeForce GTX 480 SuperClocked 1536MB GDDR5
System Memory: CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600
Power Supply: CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-950TX 950W ATX12V v2.91 SLI Ready
Hard Drive: Intel X25-M G2 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive
Optical Drive: ASUS 24x DVD Writer LightScribe Support - OEM
Internet: D-Link DWA-556 PCI Express Xtreme Desktop Adapter
Other: FREE DIAMOND ATI TV Wonder HD 650 Combo Tuner TVW650PCIEV PCI-Express x1

Edited by 2Cigars - 27 May 2010 at 6:58pm

the evga mobo is great... 3 pci-e slots, rock solid as well. it has 1 16x lane and 2 8x lanes. the only other better mobo would the 3x classi but for your needs it really isn't needed.

don't expect to fit too much on a 80gb ssd. with the games running a min of 10 gb each now at days that isn't much room for games/ os/ apps. always plan 25% more then you need. the 160 gb intel is the best ssd offered. perfect n size, quality, and stats.

the second drive (1tb) is almost as fast as a raptor and this is for music, movies, documents, work, ect.

The ATI 5870 is the best video card I have ever had. That the GTX 480 might do some things marginally better is far less important to me than that portion of my power bill that is 40% lower than if I had one. It is also a stone cold fact my system is cooler. Does that help at all?

well the LC at ds isn't exactly quiet... you got the rad fans and case fans and gpu fans

you forgot trouble shooting the os!

Update: Build 404812

Decided on Obsidian + 480 + going after 4.2Ghz. As DST4ME knows, looking at his rig, Air flow in Obsidian is not great, meaning I need LC.

I sent an email requesting to know exactly which CPU/GPU/Chipset blocks will be included, as well as the fans, radiator, reservoir, tubing, quick disconnects, etc. I have a feeling I am going to have to special order fans and a fan controller to get exactly what I want.

My big push is to get the system made with all internal Liquid Cooling. I know this would require them to remove the lower HDD cage and cut hole in bottom of the case... But what a great look it could have.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=237548&page=9


http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=235461

I like the XSPC rads. They seem to be a great combination; good heat dissipation, low restriction, work very well at low fan speeds... I really like the application in the above black-and-white Obsidian with the XSPC RX 360 in top and the RX 240 in the bottom, with the lower drive cage removed (As you can tell, I am not big on storage space needs).

I think my waterblock of choice would be the EK Supreme HF as some of the charts I have looked at have it on top of the pack. If I do the EK WB on the CPU, then I will just go EK on the mobo and GPUs. Last chance to talk me out of it and into a potentially better set of blocks! lol

I am good with most hardware, but Fans I am not. I was actually doing some research earlier today. Found this nifty chart [downsized for 56k ]:

http://www.xbitlabs.com 120mm - 140mm Fan Roundup Graph

Full Article HERE - xbitlabs - Fan Roundup

Thoughts?


EDIT: Anyone else find it funny in one of the Obsidian pics I posted that they are watercooling their ram? I know some ram can get warm [not really DDR3 though], but with the extra restrictions it adds to their loop, not to mention the cost... Just seems like a waste.



Edited by 2Cigars - 30 May 2010 at 3:16am

I don't like fan controllers cause all it does is lower rpm which lowers the cfm, with the fans on rads, you want quiet fans that you don't have to turn down.

for cpu wb swiftech xt has the best temps, heatkiller is the same or just a degree or so higher.

both swiftech and ek WB are good for gpu.

LC on ram is waste unless you are a benchmarker trying to push that ram to its limits, I'm not even sure if its needed then to be honest.

With good LC on cpu/gpu, don't worry about the case fans, you are good to go, you can change them if you like but its not needed. your temps will mainly depend on your wb/rads/fans on rads.

the performance with proper setup, with be the same or just 5 degrees difference between ek and swiftech gpu wb.

that test means absolutely nothing, unless you are looking for case fans.  to know how good a fan performs, they have to be tested on radiator, not open air.. the numbers change dramatically

justin is a whiz at LC, he is a benchmarker so he pushes everything to the edge, he is the one that recommended Gentle Typhoon, but only for low cfm rads, not cases, the 13 model I believe is the one he would recommend for feser or xspc rx rads.

if you want to see a LC system with 5 or more triple and quad rads, head over to the general section and checkout his pc the "the drunken monkey".

Edited by DST4ME - 31 May 2010 at 4:23pm