Checking a PC build for compatibility/improvements.

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Reibusu

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#138941 22-Jan-2014 13:19

I've been saving up for years and researching for months and am finally ready to build my next gaming PC. I haven't done it in a while though, so was wondering if any experts out there could maybe review my components for any compatibility issues or any suggestions of improvements that could be made. I'm think everything should work together, but just wanted to double check before I commit to buying. Thanks in advance.

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($458.85 @ PB Technologies)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($204.00 @ Paradigm PCs)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD4H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($329.95 @ Computer Lounge)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($257.00 @ Paradigm PCs)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($199.95 @ Computer Lounge)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($125.00 @ PC Force)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card ($1199.95 @ Computer Lounge)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($218.50 @ PB Technologies)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 850W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($299.95 @ Computer Lounge)

Lias

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#972248 22-Jan-2014 13:44

I'd buy everything from one supplier.. Makes life so much easier if something goes wrong. If you talk to Computer Lounge, they will often price match, particularly if your ordering a whole system.

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sidefx

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#972271 22-Jan-2014 14:17

Will you be building yourself? Overclocking?

What sort of games? At what resolution? How many monitors do you plan to run?

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Reibusu

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#972288 22-Jan-2014 14:47

Ah yeah, those prices are just copied and pasted from my pcpartpicker list, but I'm planning on getting comp lounge to price match hopefully.

Yeah I'm building it myself, not OCing straight away but with a view to in the future, running it on a 1440p monitor, and mostly RPGs and MMOs.

sidefx

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#972295 22-Jan-2014 15:00

Personally I'd consider an i5 CPU for gaming and possibly saving a little money by dropping to a slightly lesser GPU (straight 780 perhaps)

I'd also highly recommend a bigger SSD.

(EDIT: Oh, also a personal preference, but I also prefer to stick with a good 3rd party air cooler)

Otherwise looks good; should be a monster system!

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Reibusu

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#972302 22-Jan-2014 15:14

Ah, see I was told I wouldn't need more than a 128gb SSD. I was planning on running my OS and the two or three games I play the most off it. I might offset the cost of a bigger one with downgrading to an i5 CPU. Cheers for the info.

timmmay

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#972303 22-Jan-2014 15:19

128GB SSD is fine for most things, unless games take up heaps of space. Not sure you need the K CPU, or how useful i7 is over i5. Water cooling is perhaps overkill, the compressor makes a bit of a noise I've read.

garvani

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#972325 22-Jan-2014 15:55

Definitely go for the i7, now that the ps4/xbox one are out with 8 cores, games will be designed around this! The theory that you don't need an i7 for games is outdated, that was the case 2 or 3 years ago, not so much now.

Agree about the SSD, i would get a 256, i have a 256 with 3 or 4 games loaded and im down to about 90gb free. Some of these games are getting HUGE, id hate to think how big my BF4 install will be by the time the next 4 DLC packs get installed.

Look up the Noctua NH-D14 air coolers, id take one of them over the hassle of watercooling anyday! #edit: But ive just seen that your actually looking at the H100i which is a decent self contained unit. Would still look at the NH-D14 as an alternative.

Change up the Seagate for a western digital black, seagate has the highest failure rate among hard drives at the moment.

Graphics card maybe a little overkill but if you have the cash go for it!

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sidefx

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#972343 22-Jan-2014 16:19

garvani: Definitely go for the i7, now that the ps4/xbox one are out with 8 cores, games will be designed around this! The theory that you don't need an i7 for games is outdated, that was the case 2 or 3 years ago, not so much now.

I always prefer to buy for the now, not what might be.

(Also AMD Cores (in consoles) != Intel Cores and HT shouldn't really be compared to real cores IMO)

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garvani

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#972359 22-Jan-2014 16:36

sidefx:
garvani: Definitely go for the i7, now that the ps4/xbox one are out with 8 cores, games will be designed around this! The theory that you don't need an i7 for games is outdated, that was the case 2 or 3 years ago, not so much now.

I always prefer to buy for the now, not what might be.

(Also AMD Cores (in consoles) != Intel Cores and HT shouldn't really be compared to real cores IMO)

Its a fair point but he is buying now, and the consoles are out now with 8 cores so it would make sense to go for it. It is cheaper now to go for the i7 than to get the i5 and then decide to upgrade it later on, and your talking about $140 difference between the two, if the difference was $300 it maybe a different story.

Lets face it, Intels HT is probably stronger than AMD's slapped together Jaguar cores in the PS4/Xbone anyway.

Reibusu

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#972380 22-Jan-2014 17:11

Well if nothing else you've given me lots to mull over, so thanks for all your advice. I'll have to compromise somewhere, so it's between a bigger SSD and the i7 at the moment.

sidefx

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#972385 22-Jan-2014 17:25

You could probably save a bit of money by exchanging the liquid cooler for an air cooler and get both the i7 and SSD... especially if you're not planning to overclock straight away. When you do decide to overclock - well, just to give you an idea, I have a Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO and didn't have too much trouble getting my i5 from 3.4GHz to 4.4GHz - and temperatures are fine.

(EDIT: Though I think the Hyperthreaded i7s run a bit hotter when HT is enabled... there is the option of disabling it, but I still reckon you don't need an i7 ;-) )

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timmmay

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#972387 22-Jan-2014 17:27

Are you planning on overclocking? If not the non-K version is $40 cheaper. I have the 2770K, I've never bothered overclocking. Noctna coolers are excellent, mine has dual 140mm fans, but I keep them running super slow as it's very effective that way.

DravidDavid

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#972593 23-Jan-2014 08:11

Ditch the water cooler. It's over-kill and makes a lot of noise. You want one of these bad boys: Noctua NH D-14

I'm running an overclocked X6 1090T @ 3.8GHz. It's never gone wrong. There have been some complaints about the new i7's running too hot for it, but I call BS. Anything is better than the stock cooler those things come with. Something you should be getting rid of as soon as you get an Intel processor, not matter what it is.

Good luck!

Reibusu

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#972702 23-Jan-2014 11:08

Yeah I'll definitely be overclocking at some point, hence why I'd be getting as K, and that was my concern that with an i7 I'd really need a liquid cooler to do so. If I were to get a standard cooler I think I'd gothe Noctua, so good to see it get mentioned. Though I did see the Thermaltake NIC C5 recommended specifically for my chosen i7.