Gaming PC Questions/Advice NeededPost Date: 2012-05-13 |
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Elk 
Newbie 
Joined: 13 May 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3 |
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 Topic: Gaming PC Questions/Advice NeededPosted: 13 May 2012 at 2:14pm |
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Budget:
~4000 Expectations: Able to play the newest games at Max Res. with Great FPS and Ultra Settings Usage: Gaming / General Use / Some Photoshop / Movie Watching / Listening to Music Special Needs: Preferably Not Liquid Cooled (May not be possible with current configuration) Saved Ticket #: 687791 Specifications: Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master 942 HAF X Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish Processor: Intel Core i7 3820 3.6GHz (Turbo Mode up to 3.8GHz) (Quad Core) Motherboard: ASUS Rampage IV Extreme X79 (Intel X79 Chipset) (Features USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s) System Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested) Power Supply: 1200W Digital Storm Certified (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition Highly Recommended) Expansion Bay: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (120GB Solid State (By: Corsair) (Model: Force GT Series CSSD-F120GBGT-BK) (SATA 6Gbps) Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (1TB Western Digital Caviar (7200 RPM) (Model: Black Edition) Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: Blu-Ray Player/DVD Writer (Play Blu-Ray and Burn DVDs) Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections) Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2GB (Includes PhysX) Add-on Card: - No Thanks Sound Card: ASUS Xonar Essence STX Virtual 7.1 (PCI-Express Slot Based) Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 2: Phanteks PH-TC14PE Extreme Performance H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (White) Enhancements: - No Thanks Chassis Mods: - No Thanks Noise Reduction: Noise Suppression Package Stage 2 (Optimized Airflow & Fan Speeds with Noise Dampening Material) LaserMark: - No Thanks Boost Processor: Stage 1: Overclock CPU 4.0GHz to 4.4GHz Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s) Boost Memory: Memory Fan Kit Only (Does not include memory overclocking service) Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64-Bit Edition) Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows 7 CD) Virus Protection: - No Thanks Office: - No Thanks Game: - No Thanks Display: - No Thanks Surge Shield: - No Thanks Speakers: - No Thanks Keyboard: - No Thanks Mouse: - No Thanks External Storage: - No Thanks Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 10-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 4 Year Limited Warranty Questions: 1. Should I go with the i7 3930K processor instead? 2. Can the Dual GTX 680 be properly cooled with fans or do I need a Liquid Cooled System? 3. Is the 1200W Power Supply overkill for this system? 4. Any general recommendations / advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. |
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Sirus
Newbie
Joined: 10 May 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7 |
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Posted: 13 May 2012 at 2:59pm |
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If you're going to run SLI GTX680, I'd either LC, or have fans drilled and installed next to them in the case. You'll find that option under chassis mods. Also note you'll have to use Stage 6 LC if you LC it. As far as the 3930, I think the Overclocked 3820 should serve you quite well. The 1200W power supply isn't really overkill, but it does give you some buffer. Also, you forgot your free T-shirt.
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Yes, I really am that guy.
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Asangard
DS Veteran 
Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2209 |
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Posted: 13 May 2012 at 4:56pm |
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Hi Elk and welcome to the forums.
1. DS doesn't OC the 3820 CPU. It isn't a K (unlocked) chip so if you want OC DS will recommend the i7 3930K CPU. 2. The HAF X is a really good case for air cooling and the GTX 680 fans push the hot air out the back so LCing isn't required. 3. I would recommend the Corsair 1050HX. It will handle this system and has a 7yr warranty. If you looking for more power for adding stuff down the road I would recommend the Corsair 1200 Pro Gold. 4. With the X79 platform DS will recommend the Corsair H100 CPU Liquid Cooler at least. 5. The X79 platform is really designed for video/photo editing and rendering. For gaming it isn't needed. If you are not doing much of this then you could go with a Z77 system. 6. I would recommend changing the Corsiar SSD for the Intel 520 SSD. It is better and has a 5yr warranty. 7. Most don't reccommend the noise suppression package with the HAF X case. It has large fans that turn slowly so less noise. 8. I would go with stage 2 OC. 9. I would drop the memory fan kit. Again the HAF X case has great air flow. 10. The HAF X case has room at the top for a 2nd 200mm Fan. You could have DS install the 2nd fan. Here is a configuration for a Z77 System. Config #687841 Cost $3915 Explanations below Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master 942 HAF X Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish Processor: Intel Core i7 3770K 3.50 GHz (Unlocked CPU) (Quad Core) (Requires Z77 Motherboard) Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V DELUXE (Intel Z77 Chipset) (Higher Overclocks and Unique Wi-Fi Features) System Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested) Power Supply: 1050W Corsair Pro Silver 1050HX (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible) Expansion Bay: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (180GB Solid State (By: Intel) (Model: 520 Series) Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (1TB Western Digital Caviar (7200 RPM) (Model: Black Edition) Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x) Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections) Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2GB (Includes PhysX) Add-on Card: - No Thanks Sound Card: ASUS Xonar Essence STX Virtual 7.1 (PCI-Express Slot Based) Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 2: Noctua NH-D14 SE2011 Extreme Performance H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans Internal Lighting: - No Thanks Enhancements: - No Thanks Chassis Mods: - No Thanks Noise Reduction: - No Thanks LaserMark: - No Thanks Boost Processor: Stage 2: Overclock CPU 4.5GHz to 4.8GHz (Requires Pro/Deluxe/Sabertooth Motherboard) Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s) Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64-Bit Edition) Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows 7 CD) Virus Protection: - No Thanks Office: - No Thanks Game: - No Thanks Display: - No Thanks Surge Shield: - No Thanks Speakers: - No Thanks Keyboard: - No Thanks Mouse: - No Thanks External Storage: - No Thanks Exclusive T-Shirt: FREE: Digital Storm T-Shirt - Black (Extra Large) Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 10-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty I used the i7 3770 CPU it has hyperthreading wich Photoshop can use I believe. I used ASUS P8Z77-V DELUXE motherboard. This board has build in WiFi. If you don't need the WiFi you could go with the Z77 Sabertooth and save some $48. Plus the Sabertooth has a 5 yr warranty. For Gaming you only need 8GB of RAM but since you use Photoshop I put in 16GB of RAM. I put in the Intel 180GB 520 SSD. The Intel 520 Drives are better than the Corsairs and have a 5 yr warrently. Most reviews recommend at least a 180GB SSD. I used the Corsair 1050HX PSU. It has plenty of power for this system and has a 7 yr warranty. I used the Noctua NH-D14 air cooler. I prefer the Noctua over the Phanteks as the connections to the motherboard are a little more robust. Both are excellent coolers and you can't go wrong with either one. I dropped both the noise suppression system and the memory fan kit for reasons listed above. I did remember the free T-Shirt this time but forgot to add your white interal lighing system. I hope this helps.
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Not from Without, Therefore, the 1st step on the Holy Warrior path, Is to recognize thyself as thy 1st enemy. |
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John
Newbie
Joined: 17 Jan 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 41 |
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Posted: 13 May 2012 at 5:53pm |
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what is the resolution of ur monitor?
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Elk
Newbie
Joined: 13 May 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3 |
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Posted: 13 May 2012 at 7:38pm |
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Asangard:
Thank you for your advice. It definitely helps and makes sense. Thank you also for including a build that, in fact, saves me a bit of money and has everything that I need. I am planning on calling DS tomorrow to double-check the build and will hopefully be able to order within the week. |
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Elk
Newbie
Joined: 13 May 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3 |
Quote Reply
Posted: 13 May 2012 at 7:39pm |
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John:
The resolution of my monitor will be 1920 x 1080. 24" monitor. |
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Asangard
DS Veteran
Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2209 |
Quote Reply
Posted: 13 May 2012 at 8:24pm |
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With your 1920 x 1080 resolution you could go with a single GTX 680. This will handle almost all games on untra settings. There are a few games that might drop below 60 FPS. If you find that the single card isn't up to what you want you then could add a 2nd card. Here is a link to a review of the GTX 680 it shows the performace of the card vs many different games and different resolutions:
I hope this helps
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Not from Without, Therefore, the 1st step on the Holy Warrior path, Is to recognize thyself as thy 1st enemy. |
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