Critique build w/ advice, thanks.

Hello All.

Hi shot,

That is a good build but I don't think it meets your stated requirements. You want to play all games at extreme settings and your two 680 2 Gb cards isn't go to do that with a 2560 monitor. Here is a build that is way more powerful than your system with a better case for air cooling you GPUs with less noise.

Frank

Configuration: 701568 Cost: $4959

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 3930K 3.2GHz (Unlocked CPU for Extreme Overclocking) (Six-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 Corsair Pro Gold Series (CMPSU-1200AX) (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)
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: ASUS Blu-Ray Player/DVD Writer (Play Blu-Ray and Burn DVDs) (Model: BC-12B1ST)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 3x SLI Triple (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 4GB (Includes PhysX)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 2: Digital Storm Vortex 240mm Radiator Liquid CPU Cooler (Extreme-Performance Edition)
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: - No Thanks
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

Edited by FrankW - 22 Jun 2012 at 3:41pm

I see the points on the case.  The Hailstorm corsair 800D is a nice looking case compared to the HafX but I can sacrifice some looks for usefulness.  I actually like the look of the syndicate but not sure how that case does?

Am I really going to see a difference in windows operation with the SSD compared to just having two Western Digital Drives?

Am I going to have to run triple GPU's for the monitor resolution of 2560 x 1600 at the highest game settings? 

As for the motherboard I have read plenty that the new X79 chipset 6 core will not really offer too many benefits over the 4 core but does have more cache.  Thoughts?  Is this mother board more future proof?

Thanks,
Shot

I'm really restricted in what I can do this afternoon and evening.      Not at my pc and can' t do a cut and paste config or link.       But, the HafX case is the best. If you compare its 2x 200mm fans and front 230mm fan to other cases, especially the Hailstorm you' ll see why we always recommend it.      The X79 platform is a quad channel ram mobo for video editing, rendering and other apps that can utilize it for ram intense functions.   Gaming doesn't need it.    If you did stay with X79 for tri-sli then the 3820 cpu for $300 cheaper would do it.    As far as Frank's excellant suggestions, the tri-sli gtx680 is needed if you want to max out games like Metro2033 and Crysis Warfare.      Sli, 2x 680 would game on ultra in the 40 and 50 fps range at times.    Most games will play maxed out and stay 60fps but not some of the more demanding.   I can' t link right now but google Anandtech gpu bench, and plug in sli680 to see its performance.    I can do more tomorrow.

Thanks Asangard. 

"This system will be used to surf the web and run games, but I want to be able to play the current games on the highest possible settings with the highest possible frames per seconds."

Hi Shot,

If your above statement is true then, yes you will need three GPUs to play all currant games at the highest possible FPS. But, if you don't play Metro 2033 or Crysis Warefare or will just be happy to turn down some setting on some games, you can play with SLI 680s with no problem. Study the Anandtech site with dual SLI 680s. If you are satisfied with the FPS on the games you play then you have your answer.

With the 2560 resolution I highly recommend the 680 4Gb card rather than the 2Gb card. The higher resolution takes advantage of more Vram.

For gaming there is little advantage with the 6-core CPUs but some just want it. If you go tri-SLI then the X79 is the way to go. One way to go is to get a system that will support Tri-SLI but only get dual SLI. If you are not satisfied with the dual SLI play then you can add the third GPU. Here is another build you might consider.

Frank

Configuration: 701790 Cost: $4025

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 Corsair Pro Gold Series (CMPSU-1200AX) (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: ASUS Blu-Ray Player/DVD Writer (Play Blu-Ray and Burn DVDs) (Model: BC-12B1ST)
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 4GB (Includes PhysX)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 2: Digital Storm Vortex 240mm Radiator Liquid CPU Cooler (Extreme-Performance Edition)
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 1: Overclock CPU 4.0GHz to 4.4GHz
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 (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 think you asked about the on-board sound. Unless you are seriously into music or have a multi speaker sound system that will take advantage of a sound card, you don't need one. The sound is great for gaming in my opinion.

Frank

Edited by FrankW - 23 Jun 2012 at 2:02pm

I'm really contemplating the syndicate box.  It looks good to me.  Should have good airflow.