Building 1st Gaming Rig - Need Advice

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   Hello DS Techno-wizards, I welcome all comers with good advice for my new gaming rig that I will be building hopefully (money willing) the end of this year. I'm looking for hardware match approvals/disapprovals and compatability advice if you see any problems with the choices. Thanks in advance!

Case: NZXT 810 Switch
Mobo: Asus Sabertooth Z77
Cpu: i7 3930K Sandy Bridge
Cpu Cooler: Zalman CNPS11X 
Gpu: Nvidia GTX 680 2gb
Ram: G Skill Z 1600mhz (8gb)
Psu: Corsair Pro-series Gold AX1200
Ssd: OCZ Vertex 4 240gb (x2)
Fans: Aerocool Sharks & Silverstone Air Penetrators

Going to stick to Air Cooling - If I OC, it will be on the lower end of the spectrum.

I would love to hear your comments and suggestions! 

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MICHAEL2A Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 160	Quote Reply Topic: Building 1st Gaming Rig - Need Advice Posted: 26 May 2012 at 5:50am
	Hello DS Techno-wizards, I welcome all comers with good advice for my new gaming rig that I will be building hopefully (money willing) the end of this year. I'm looking for hardware match approvals/disapprovals and compatability advice if you see any problems with the choices. Thanks in advance! Case: NZXT 810 Switch Mobo: Asus Sabertooth Z77 Cpu: i7 3930K Sandy Bridge Cpu Cooler: Zalman CNPS11X Gpu: Nvidia GTX 680 2gb Ram: G Skill Z 1600mhz (8gb) Psu: Corsair Pro-series Gold AX1200 Ssd: OCZ Vertex 4 240gb (x2) Fans: Aerocool Sharks & Silverstone Air Penetrators Going to stick to Air Cooling - If I OC, it will be on the lower end of the spectrum. I would love to hear your comments and suggestions!
	NZXT Switch 810 Asus Sabertooth X79 16GB GSkill Memory 2133mhz i-7 X3960, 3.3Ghz-3.9Ghz Intel 520 240GB SSD 2 WD 300GB V-raptors Zalman CNSP11X cooler 2 GTX 680 2GB SLI Corsair HX1050 PSU

Asangard Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List DS Veteran Digital Storm Live Chat Rep. Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1117	Quote Reply Posted: 26 May 2012 at 6:34am
	Hi Michael 2A A couple of things we are going to need. What are you going to use the computer form? What resolution Monitor or Monitors are you going to be using? Any special needs you may have? What is your budget and does that include Monitor, keyboard and mouse or just the computer itself. A couple of things I noticed right off. Your CPU is a Sandy Bridge - E chip which requires a motherboard with a 2011 socket. These boards used the X79 chipset. So I7 3930K will not fit on the Sabertooth Z77 motherboard. The Z77 uses a 1155 socket. The Z77 can use the old Sandy Bridge (i5 2500, i7 2600 and i7 2700) or the new Ivy Bridge Chips (i5 3570, i7 3770). For Air cooling the HAF X 942 Case is tops and the Noctua NH-D14 cooler is considered by many to be the best air cooler. So if you give us the info listed above we can recommend a setup that meets your needs. Edited by Asangard - 26 May 2012 at 10:46am
	All evil comes from within, Not from Without, Therefore, the 1st step on the Holy Warrior path, Is to recognize thyself as thy 1st enemy.

MICHAEL2A Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 160	Quote Reply Posted: 26 May 2012 at 9:51pm
	Hey Asangard, Thanks for the comeback! You made a good call on the Mobo, I missed the socket type. I will go with the X79 Sabertooth. The computer will be used for all the typical multimedia type functions but will be predominately used for high end gaming. I'm currently set with a monitor, keyboard and mice. List follows; Monitor: Asus MS238H (Capable of High-Def resolutions) Keyboard: Razor Blackwidow Dual mouse setup: Miniox 5000 & Roccat Kone Budget for computer only: Approx 3-4K Probably a lame reason to snub the HAF X and Noctua Cooler but I don't like their design. If i can have a case and cooler that are effective yet more aesthetically pleasing, that is the direction I will go. It's a personal taste thing. If I could use the cpu cooler, Zalman CNPS12X, I would have had that on my list but there have been many reports of the PCI-E slot blocking issues on mobos using this cooler. Tomshardware had a good review article on LGA2011 coolers http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/LGA-2011-i7-3960X-Air-Overclocking,3130.html and had the Zalman CNPS12X rated the highest but because of the mobo blockage issues they gave the nod to the Noctua NH-D14. I just don't like the design. Anyway, if you have any other observations they are more than welcome.
	NZXT Switch 810 Asus Sabertooth X79 16GB GSkill Memory 2133mhz i-7 X3960, 3.3Ghz-3.9Ghz Intel 520 240GB SSD 2 WD 300GB V-raptors Zalman CNSP11X cooler 2 GTX 680 2GB SLI Corsair HX1050 PSU