Help on a new build..

Hello everyone,

First post here! I'm looking to buy a new no compromise gaming monster. I also surf the web and watch 3D blueray movies but the main focus is and will always be playing the latest games at the highest settings! So.. What else.. I'm not super rich or anything but I have a good job and I stretch (give or take)5K for my next rig.. Right on! Before we start though I will tell you a few things to consider:

- For the foreseeable future I will *ONLY* play @ 1080P 2D 60hz, 720p 3D 60hz and watch bluerays at 1080P 24hz. No multimonitor setup, 3D surround yada yada yada.. Unfortunately

- I willing to spend good money on my new gaming rig, but it doesn't mean that I like to flush money down the toilet for a 3% difference.

- Non negotiable part are the hailstorm case with the corsair 1200W supply. I know it might be an overkill even for a 690, but I like to have enough juice.. just in case;-)

This is what I know.. Here is what I dont't.

- 2600K, 3930K OR 3770K. More specifically. What platform is better for hardcore gaming and why.

- 4 core with the stage 3 OC or 6 core with lower OC. Will games in the foreseeable future take advantage of the extra 2 cores?

- To raid or not to raid.. Is really worthed for gaming and overall system snap/responsiveness? Thinking to go dual 530.

- Is true that Ivy runs too hot? Meaning less headroom for DS techs to play with, right? So 2600K and 3930K OC better?

- Will a 690 be an overkill in my situation? I do wanna buy the best/fastest video card I can afford at the moment.

- Memory 8 or 16? Should I go all the way down to the dominator GTX?

- I initially wanted to go Aaaaall the way to H2Ocustom cooling waterloops bla bla bla.... But I dont really have the timen(nor the skills for that matter) to maintain, refill.. So I thought the H100 looks a good compromise! What you guys think?

- lastly there is extreme motherboard coming up soon for the Z77 platform?

I'm looking forward for any advice, comment... Thanks in advance!

Hi brianj...Welcome to the forums.  

 

The X79 platform is for those that video render, CS6, 3D editing, etc.  Gaming doesn't need the quad channel mobo or 6 core i7-3930k chip.  I don't see it  needed for some time if ever but it's impossible to tell.

The HafX case is the best for air cooled systems but you said no compromise so I'm not gonna bore ya.

 

The over heating with IB is with oc above 4.8 if I read it right.  For oc stage 2 you're good to go from what I've read and what Alex from DS stated from their own testing.  Higher than that should be water anyways IMHO. 

 

I don't get into the plus and minus of RAID as much as others but for performance gain it would seem the speed of todays SSD would nullify it.

 

Ivy Bridge does give a 10-15% everyday performance increase and Pcie 3.0  and  much improved integrated gpu that gaming with discrete card like this wouldn't care about.

 

 The Z77 mobo's have Native USB 3, easier oc and fan control in a easier to navigate Bios window, pcie3.0 support, etc.  Most of these you probably won't use but it has all that 2600k  has and more so why not. 

 

8GB ram is all gaming can use.

 

The H100 will do the job just fine.  No maintenance and stays quiet if left on low or medium setting.  We like the air cooler better.  The D14 or Phanteks cools just as good , stays quiet and iis very relaible.  Not much to go wrong with a big block of cooling fins.  The H100 is good though, so your pick as always.

 

I believe there is a Z77 Extreme coming out but I have no info.

 

You didn't mention monitor size but for 24" at 1920x1080 the gtx690 is overkill for most games.  However games like BF3 and Metro2033 on ultra settings will dip into the low 50's at times with single gtx680.  So if above 60fps plus, at all times on ultra asettings is the goal then the extra 680 inside the 690 is necessary to keeps the extra 10-15 fps. 

 

Hope this helps and good luck.

Edited by bprat22 - 06 May 2012 at 1:19pm

Hi brianj,

bprat22 has given you good advise and a great system.

However, since he didn't talk about the Hailstorm case I have some comments. The Hailstorm is a great case for liquid cooling. It is not a great case for air cooling. Even if you use the H100 cooler for the CPU your GPU will be air cooled. The Hailstorm has never been a good case for air cooling normal GPUs but you have selected the 690. The 690 has one 680 that dumps its heat directly into the case compounding the problems with air cooling in the Hailstorm. So we have the H100 blowing warm air into the case and the 690 blowing hot air into the case and the case is not the best choice for air cooling.

Frank


Edited by FrankW - 07 May 2012 at 8:03am