I need a new computer! (LUMOS BUILD)

Welcome back to the forum Psimon!   

I got my first DS rig in 2011, and for my 4th DS rig I recently got a Lumos.   I like a lot of your Config...will give my take on answering your questions.

1). Corsair Crystal Series 570X mid tower ATX case...awesome
      case...you’ll absolutely love it.

2)   The i7-9700K overclocks well and is the performance equal of the more
      expensive i9-9900X in gaming.    For non-gaming applications,
      Hyperthreading can be important, so you’ll have to decide that one.

3).   Yes 64 gb ram is pretty overkill.   Gaming won’t yet use more than
       16 gb RAM.    Nothing wrong with overkill if ya can afford it, but I’d
       recommend you start out with 32 gb and see if you really need more.
       (Ask for a 2 x 16 gb ram kit so you can easily add another equal set if
       you find it is needed.   It’s an easy plug in upgrade to do yourself.

4). I have used all Asus motherboards with Realtek codec on board audio
      and have been very happy listening to High Res 24/192 FLAC files or
      playing iTunes low res stuff as well.    Been able to update drivers
      too...really no problem.    Sound cards are a dying breed because
      on board audio is so darn good now.   I have not used MSI boards, but
      many here like them.   

5). Yes, do overclock the cpu you choose!    You are paying $$$ for K or X
      class processors designed by Intel specifically to be overclocked,
      and you are paying for top level cooling to make sure it stays chilly and
      stable!    Get all the performance out of those processors all the
      time sir, and DS can give you a solid & stable Stage 1 or Stage 2 OC!    
      Now, the hard line tubing isn’t flexible, and when we hear of leaks on
      the forum it’s been hard line tubing.   Shipping can be very rough on
      that stuff, and getting around it to do repairs or maintenance is harder too...
      I do recommend soft tubing if shipping the build, and you can ask DS for
      quick disconnects and a drain fitting with soft tubing.

6). I have the Corsair LL Series fans and like them, but the ML Series
      are top of line and mag lev bearings are expected to last the
      longest.   You can download Corsair iCue software to control the
      RGB color scheme.    As for dog hair... Lol...I have a big black lab
      and it really doesn’t matter what case or fans you get....hair and
      dust will find a way in....lol. ....but if you can place the new rig up on a
      table top, you will collect fewer hairs.    This rig will will be a piece of
      tech art, soomething for you to show off sir!   



Edited by HockeyBuck - 02 Apr 2019 at 2:22am

Lol... Yes prices right now are crazy for the top end Ti gpu’s. For top performance in VR that’s prob what you will want though.

The overclocked i9-9900X runs just a little hotter than the i7-9700k but uses a little less freq and power.   The Corsair AIO coolers are great, but the full pro coolers will cool an overclocked cpu far better as you will have a better pump, added reservoir capacity and thickness, and extra coolant running through larger diameter soft tubing.    All coolers will lose some coolant to evaporation over time...but with a full pro cooler you can easily see that and keep it topped off to maintain top cooling performance. No comparison.    Surprised you don’t consider adding that expensive RTX 2080 Ti GPU to the coolant loop for best performance.

The Lumos case is glass on front, both sides and top, while back and bottom are metal mesh.   The case breathes at the open frame edges between the glass panels.   There is a video on the Corsair site that shows an exploded view of the Corsair Crystal 570X case panels.    It airs quite well and looks awesome!     They can mount a 240mm cooler on top or in front, the 280mm usually in front.    I believe Corsair makes a 360mm AIO that would also fit in the front...you would have to ask DS.   DS can get anything you want.   Personally I would suggest staying with the full HydroLux Pro cooling solution...for a cool stable long term stage 2 overclock.   




Edited by HockeyBuck - 03 Apr 2019 at 11:48am

Lol... The good thing about this forum is that differing points of view are here to be had, and it’s up to each forum member to decide for themselves what’s most useful and important to them.    We each just provide our opinions and experience to help members assemble their personally desired dream build.   

In this case I think I understand Psimon’s desire here... Unlike Cretae and me, Psimon has waited a very long long time to update or replace his 10 yr old DS rig, so he wants to shoot as high as he can with the tech available to make sure the new rig performs at the best possible level, and can compete at a very high level well down the road.   That’s why we are all here as DS rig owners.    

There’s no reason to fear overclocking when DS sets up a stable sensible OC for you based on their extensive experience with the particular overclocked cpu.    Cretae is correct that AIO coolers are cheaper, no maintenance and can cool very well...and you would save some cash to use on other parts of the build, but the HydroLux Pro cooling solution can provide even better cooling performance and certainly does add a certain aesthetic to a build that many DS forum members desire.     Overclocking simply allows you to get all of the CPU performance, held back by design, that you are paying for in K or X class Intel processors.   After maintaining a 2011 Ode and 2012 Hailstorm II build that have both have kept stable Stage 2 overclocks on K class Intel processors all this time...one using an AIO cooler and the other using the HydroLux Pro cooler, I can tell you there’s been no issues with those rigs coolers or processors.   The only maintenance to the Pro cooler in 7 yrs has been to top off the reservoir with fresh coolant a couple times with a long neck squeeze bottle.    Eventually I will want to flush the system and add new coolant, but I don’t need to do anything as it’s performance has been constant and trouble free.    The AIO cooler performance has dropped a couple degrees C in 8 yrs and I’m scheming to replace it soon.    

It’s up to Psimon to decide what hardware choices get his hard earned bucks.    Gonna be a great build!